| p>Guided Participation is a concept that is not new, it's | | | | clapping (both hands open now) and look at me with a |
| the way we have always learned: parents supporting | | | | big smile. If I say "patty cake" you start smiling even |
| an infant as she learns to walk, a chemistry teacher | | | | bigger, and start clapping again. You think you are so |
| demonstrating how to carefully mix chemicals, a | | | | funny. You watch all the hand actions closely, and you |
| college student observing through an internship, and a | | | | pretty much have every move down now. Once we |
| teenager in driver's education learning the rules and | | | | get through the whole routine, you start it over again. |
| steps to driving. Without guided participation, we'd have | | | | - Every time I play a game or do a puzzle with one of |
| to learn everything on our own, rather than through | | | | your sisters, you want to be right in the middle of it all. |
| others' experiences; and we'd all feel lost and scared. | | | | You scoot over and get mad if you can't play, too. |
| Our world would be a mess! When I look at my 8 | | | | You notice that you aren't getting all of the attention. |
| month old son, I'm amazed by all the things he has | | | | The other day grandma was holding your younger |
| already accomplished through his ability to observe | | | | cousin, and you didn't like that at all. You squealed while |
| others. | | | | scooting all the way over to grandma's legs. You pulled |
| - You are such a blessing in my life! Daily I am amazed | | | | at her pant legs, trying to get your way back to her |
| at how much you've grown. Sometimes I look at you in | | | | arms. You are so spoiled and so loved! It's amazing to |
| bed and think, where has my little baby gone? Where | | | | me how observant of your surrounding you are. |
| have those opportunities of lying on the couch with | | | | - A new trick you picked up is waving "goodbye." You |
| you and getting cuddle time gone? I miss those times | | | | watch me closely while I show you how to wave. |
| when you'd just sleep on my chest; yet I am so | | | | Sometimes you choose to join in the waving, other |
| thankful that you have grown into the rambunctious | | | | times you just smile. It's like you are playing a game - "I |
| little boy that you are. | | | | know how to do that, but I'm getting a lot of attention; |
| - You know that you aren't alone, and that if you are | | | | so I'll just let them keep waving at me." When you do |
| uncertain or confused about something you can look | | | | wave, you wave like you are Miss America, with the |
| to me for help. The other day you were playing with a | | | | fancy back and forth wave. Very silly coming from a |
| ball - like you often do - and it rolled under the couch. | | | | baby, but so unique to you. I think it's beautiful. |
| Instead of getting upset, you rolled your way over | | | | As a neuro-typical child, my son continues to reach |
| there and started reaching under the couch. You were | | | | new milestones on a regular basis. He is able to watch |
| unable to reach the ball, so you sat up and looked right | | | | others and learn from them. The dynamic world is |
| at me. You had that look of "help me mom" on your | | | | fascinating to him; yet when he is confused or |
| face. I was happy to move the ball a little closer to you | | | | uncomfortable, he is able to look to me for support. |
| so you could successfully pull it out. | | | | This just goes to show the importance of developing a |
| - You are getting places pretty quickly with your army | | | | solid master apprentice relationship, where the child |
| crawl, but you are intrigued by integrating your legs at | | | | learns from the parent and is given support when |
| the same time. On the one hand, I'd love for you to do | | | | uncertain. If things are moving too quickly for your child, |
| a full crawl; but I don't mind you helping to keep the | | | | s/he will be unable to learn from other's experience, |
| floors clean either. When your sisters are crawling | | | | robbing him/her of the opportunity to grow. If you |
| around on the floor, you are watching them carefully. It | | | | notice that your child is missing some of the above |
| won't be long now and you'll get it! You also like to pull | | | | milestones, it may be because s/he is unable to learn in |
| yourself up to see what's on the table or couch. You | | | | fast moving, dynamic settings. RDIÒ has many |
| try hard to stand, but you haven't quite got it yet. You | | | | strategies to help children with autism or other |
| get up to your knees, and we can just see your | | | | developmental disabilities learn the same way children |
| beautiful blue eyes peering over the top of the coffee | | | | have always learned - through and with a trusted |
| table. It's so cute. | | | | guide. It's worked all over the world since the beginning |
| - You initiate play all the time now. You often start to | | | | of time; and it can work for your child, too! |
| clap so we'll play patty cake with you. You start | | | | |