DD(2) has stopped trying to walk etc - how can I motivate her?

[Jenkeywoo]

dd2 has spastic diplegia - has been crawling since xmas, began to pull to stand in Jan and was really motivated to walk - she used to try to use a little shopping trolley but found it very hard.

A couple of weeks ago at physio we were given a Kaye walker - in the physio session she was using it amazingly and was whizzing round the room. I took it home full of hope but since then she has flatly refused to use the kaye walker, also now won't use her shopping trolley or even stand up at the settee as she used to.

Dh said I have to just put her in the kaye walker and leave her to it. I did this and she ended up getting so cross that she flung herself to the floor and landed in a really awkward way as she had her AFOs on.

I am very sympathetic to my lovely little girl and don't want to make her do something that she detests but she does need to at least have a go. Does anyone have any advice on how to motivate her? I'm considering putting away all the walkers and stuff and giving her a total break but I don't know if that would help. At the moment she is content to just sit on the settee and watch TV or flick through the Argos catalogue - she can't even be bothered to play really.

I'd say just give her a break - I periodically do that with DS1, in fact he is on a break from his tripod sticks atm. I find he tends to need to go back to his comfort zone for a bit (a week or so) and then I bring them out again. We have had this a few times now, especially for the tripods as they are hard work. I also find that if DS1 is reluctant to stand, walk etc it often means he is coming down with something, this time it is a suspected ear infection.

thanks Riven and HairyMac - I guess all children go through phases where they don't want to do stuff just because they can. Dd has been telling me that she has a headache these last few days and on different occasions in the last week has told me that her arm, knees and feet hurt. I am lucky that she can tell me what hurts and I don't doubt her -maybe she is a bit under the weather and just doesn't feel up to the challenge. It's hard knowing how hard to push as I understand that I can't rely on physio once every 3 weeks but I really don't want to make all day therapy either. I'm going to put the Kaye walker away and just let her chill her a few days.

thanks Riven and HairyMac - I guess all children go through phases where they don't want to do stuff just because they can. Dd has been telling me that she has a headache these last few days and on different occasions in the last week has told me that her arm, knees and feet hurt. I am lucky that she can tell me what hurts and I don't doubt her -maybe she is a bit under the weather and just doesn't feel up to the challenge. It's hard knowing how hard to push as I understand that I can't rely on physio once every 3 weeks but I really don't want to make all day therapy either. I'm going to put the Kaye walker away and just let her chill her a few days.

yes chilling is good

do you do a few daily stretches? I know exactly the shall we/ shan't we guilt of too much/ not enough therapy (my dd uses a kaye walker, currently learning to use elbow crutches reluctantly)

how old is your dd?

my dd was 2 at the end of march so still quite young really - physio said she's about the age to start with a kaye walker. She is also just becoming aware that she is different than other children her age and at the moment it is making her feel really cross (understandedly)

it most likely huts when she walks. which might put her off.(have had this with dd and her stander)
where do you do the walking?

I think dd was 3 before she got the walker

or at least before she started walking with it