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