Week 2 Progress

Sorry for posting Raiyan’s week 2 progress a bit late as these entries should be done every Tuesday since he started his ABA therapy three Tuesdays ago.

Alhamdulillah, things are progressing well. I am learning to notice and value the small details as opposed to unreasonably expecting spectacular results which I have accepted are just not realistic (just shows the kind of impatient person I am!) More of Raiyan’s achievements so far:

1. His imagination in play seems to be really improving. Today he rearranged the sofa set to make it look like a playground and obstacle course and he kept saying he was going down the “slide” on the tilted sofa seat;
2. He’s also more welcoming with trying new foods (this week he tried nasi goreng ayam) and today we were surprised to see him creating his own dish. So it was bread with M&Ms but at least it’s something new and something he cooked up himself!;
3. He’s starting to ease into socialising with new people. For the last 2 late afternoons, he’s been playing with our neighbour’s boys (one of them is in another reception class in ISB so I guess Raiyan was quite familiar with him). They play chase and race each other and today, they asked him if he wanted to come over their place. They also ride their bicycles together around the block. My heart especially melts about this one. On the first day, Raiyan actually came home crying hysterically “my friend! my friend!” because he wanted to continue to play with them even though it was already late... aaww... that especially breaks my heart because it shows that he wants and likes to have friends but i's difficult for him to initiate and even sustain the "friendship".. sob sob..
4. He clearly speaks what he wants (when he knows how to say it), so he will say “I want to play computer please” instead of just crying out “computer!”;
5. He knows the prepositions “on”, “under”, “beside” very well;
6. He knows how to combine some verbs and nouns for example “kicking ball”, “drinking cup”
7. He knows how to point to things with his index finger (whereas before he really didn’t grasp the concept of pointing. If I said, “point to mama’s handbag” he will just pick up the handbag instead. Also, if he was to point to something, before he would do it with his thumb as opposed to his index finger)
8. He’s beginning to learn the concept of taking turns so if I’m playing with him and Alisha, he would understand when I say “Alisha’s turn” and he would wait quietly.
   
9. He will respond “Hello (your name)” if you say “Hello Raiyan” (just don’t say “hi” then you’ll get his usual blank looks!);
10. He can answer these social questions easily:
    a) What’s your name? Raiyan
    b) How old are you? Four
    c) How are you today? Fine, Thank you
    d) Where do you go to school? ISB
    e) Who is your teacher? Mr Holmes
    

Things that we still mainly have to work on:

1. He still has his tantrums here and there but I have to say it’s definitely not as frequent as it used to be. On average, I think he’d have one every 2 days. But unfortunately when he’s in his bad mood, then he’d start being difficult again, like he wouldn’t have his dinner or he could get slightly rough with Alisha;
   
2. He still has his tendencies to gaze into mid-air when he’s bored or seriously thinking about something (other than what he’s supposed to be thinking) when he’s having his therapy;
   
3. He’s still finds it difficult to do pretend play and even still watches TV (when he is allowed to, which is at most 2 hours a day) very passively;
   
4. He still get quickly attached to something after 2 -3 times having it so we continually have to hide things once we notice it’s becoming the “item of the week”;
   
5. His eye contact is improving but still far from good; and
   
6. Overall, continue to work with his language skills.

Syukur Alhamdulillah for another fruitful week! These ABA stuff is TRULY amazing!