If you answered “NO”….than you are LYING! LOL
There are days when our children or students know which buttons to push to drive us all up the wall! (Mondays and Friday’s are especially the worse!) We are all human and it’s natural to be frustrated once in a while. In Montessori training, we are drilled about the importance it is to be a good observer. It was through countless hours of observation that Maria Montessori was able to base her entire philosophy from. A good teacher is one that is able to observe the negative behaviors of a child, figure out what the problem is, and try to come up with ways on how to cater to the child’s needs.
In our class, as I mentioned in a previous post, we have a handful of kids with special needs who require special attention. We have two children in particular, who have Sensory Integration Disorder. My supervising directress does a wonderful job at catering to these children. She understands what they’re needs are, and tries to create a classroom that provides them with different opportunities to help them relax and calm their bodies. Apart from the jumping circle (see post here), we have another secret weapon…….
Wanna know what it is????? FIGITS!
What are figits? Well, take a look.
These little balls may look simple, but they are highly effective. We keep a basket of these right next to our “jumping circle”. Anytime we feel that one of our students is on the verge of acting up, or they are having difficulties controlling their bodies, we either invite them to the jumping circle or offer them a fidgit. A lot of times, children with special needs have problems controlling their bodies and need an outlet to relieve some of their pent up energy. The figits for some reason calms children down because they are focusing all of their attention on one thing and are still able to move their hands around addressing their inner desire for movement.
Teachers…read here…If you have a child who refuses to particpate during line time, or has difficulties controlling their bodies whenever the class gets together, try giving them a figit and see what happens. It may not work for everyone, but it’s worth a try. Make sure the child doesn’t use it to harm themselves or their classmates. It’s been known to happen!
Parents…read here…If you have an over active child, you might want to give the figits a try. It might give you 10 minutes of peace in the car or at home! You never know!
Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor, nor do I claim to be one. If you feel that your child requires special attention, you should consult your family’s physician to discuss different plans and treatments available for your child. I only can provide you myown personal advice based from my experiences in the classroom and with my own daughter. Use the material you read on this blog at your discretion.
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