Two very different children

Robbie's ABA therapist has been asking me to save pictures from magazines with people doing activities and showing emotion. Dancing, running, smiling, crying, hugging- etc, etc. These are things Robbie doesn't just pick up- like other kids would. A perfect example is our 2 and a half year old daughter. Yesterday she looked at a magazine picture. It showed a woman drinking a diet Pepsi can out of a straw. "Mommy, she's drinking soda. There is a ball- look a circle." This morning I showed Robbie the same picture and asked him what the woman was doing. "Soda" was the response. ( He loves Soda- like all kids- and doesn't get it very often) I asked again- "Yes it is soda- but what is she doing with the soda?" "Soda" was the response. It is amazing to me the way our brains' process information. No one had to teach Lexi what drinking was- but for Robbie, it will have to drilled into his head.

Imaginary play is another example. Both kids are sitting having a "tea party." Lexi says "Mommy look I have coffee. It's yummy." as she drinks the water in her cup. Robbie sits silently and puts his fingers in the cup, feeling the water, pouring it out onto the table. Then gets up and asks for a cookie. He remembers the last time they played this game- they had cookies. His play is more sensory focused. Her play is more imaginary.

On a sweet note, Lexi is doing really well at daycare. The teachers in her room commented on how much she is talking and how well she plays with other kids. They also told me a psychologist came to the daycare to evaluate a little boy in her class. The diagnosis has been determined Autism Spectrum Disorder. The psychologist commented to the teachers on how kind Lexi was to this boy. She helps to guide him to different activities and is the only one who tries to play with him. I was told this empathy is rare in a 2 year old. The teachers explained to the psychologist that Lexi has an Autistic brother. They see her as patient and kind. That makes my heart melt.