Not all children are born with all of their senses integrated properly. They are clumsy and not coordinated. They have a poor sense of where their body is located in space related to other people or objects. It is almost impossible for them to stand in line without bumping into other unintentionally. This was my son, Alex. As a baby, he screamed when put into the baby swing. The movement overwhelmed him and his brain did not know how to handle it. When he walked through a doorway, it was not uncommon for him to bounce off both sides of the door frame. He could fall over a sunspot on the floor. His balance was off and in later years, he had an awful time learning to ride a bike. A physical therapist evaluated Alex and it was determined that he had sensory integration problems. We could not afford formal therapy so we involved Alex with his younger brother in as many activities as we could. About the same time, we found that Alex and his brother were both legally blind in one eye. They got their glasses and went off to daycare and preschool at ages 4 and 2 1/2 years. Although he was encouraged to swing, Alex did not like it and preferred to play in the sandbox. Playing with sand was pleasing tactually. Then, there was the magic summer when he was about 4 1/2 years old. He spent nearly all of his outside time swinging. As he got older, Alex and his brother played soccer. Alex tripped over his own feet and ran out of his shoes. He was the last one down the field and passed by the other kids running back the other way. Alex never cried or complained but I couldn't help but think that he wanted to. When Alex was about 10, both boys were enrolled in karate. Sensei was magnificent in his patience with all the kids particularly Alex. My son saw a couple of other kids had balance problems too. No one ridiculed him. He was encouraged. Karate activities strengthened his muscles and helped to increase his balance. Alex learned the katas each of which is comprised of a series of moves and turns requiring a great amount of bilateral coordination and balance. Several katas required leaping into the air, turning and landing in the opposite direction he started out from. He became more coordinated, less awkward and more integrated. Alex mastered all 21 katas. He went into karate with low self-esteem and a very awkward body. Karate isn't for everyone but it turned out that Alex enjoyed it. He set goals for himself and met them and those set by Sensei. At 16 or 17 years of age, the "clumsy oaf" as his father used to call him when he was little, earned his black belt. To Alex (and to me) that black belt wasn't just in karate. It was a black belt in character, goal setting, self-discipline, respect for himself and others, and self-confidence. Hard words pays off. Many of the skills learned in karate made Alex the self-motivated, confident college graduate he is today. |
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