Katelyn Sings Her Favorite Songs...

Since Katelyn loves to sing, her teacher was kind enough to make us a CD of the music that they sing at preschool. On Thanksgiving, Katelyn entertained us by singing and dancing to her favorite songs: Baby Beluga and Moon, Moon, Moon. I captured this on video, as well as her singing some Christmas songs a few days later.

Katelyn Sings the 5 Little Pumpkins...

Katelyn learned this song at school, and we also have the book at home. She loves to sing this song constantly, especially right before bed. She usually does really well on her own and knows the correct words, but unfortunately this was the millionth time she had sung it, so she was being silly (and tired) by the time I took the video :)

Here is Katelyn singing the 5 Little Pumpkins:

Katelyn Sings the ABCs and Happy Birthday!

Katelyn has always had a love of singing, but she never sang the actual words to the songs. Instead, she would either hum or put her own "spin" on the lyrics. For example, she might sing to the tune of "This Old Man," but say, "Swing, swing, swing...swing, swing, swing...car, car, kitty, baby, mama, dada, kitty."

Then on Tuesday afternoon, she started singing the ABCs song all on her own! I was starting to sing, "A, B..." and she took right over and sang the entire song, even with the full ending! I couldn't believe it because just that morning I had told one of her ABA therapists that my next goal was to teach her to sing the ABCs all by herself. As always, Katelyn amazed us all! She also has been singing Happy Birthday to everything as well, almost to the point of it becoming an obsession. Her favorite thing to sing Happy Birthday to is a "triangle," (she says ga-ga-gangle) so every night before bed we sing Happy Birthday to the triangle (any triangle...she isn't picky).

Here is a video that I took of her on Wednesday night. She is singing the ABCs and then she sings Happy Birthday to the "triangle" -- it is really a couch pillow, but she calls them "triangles" because she is obsessed with the corners of the pillows. She knows the correct shape is a square, and will say it if you ask her, but she continues to call them triangles anyway since her latest obsession is finding triangles everywhere. I hope you find this video of Katelyn as entertaining as we do :) And thank you as always for following my blog!

Making Music Together...

Since Katelyn loves music and craves rhythms and movement, I have been looking for a music and movement class for her to attend. I had asked around, but no one knew of any local classes. However, after a very quick Google search, I stumbled across a listing for a Music Together class, and the best part about it is that it is right down the street from our house! Also, it is offered at 9:30 on Monday mornings, which is when she normally has her Early Intervention playgroup, but since she will be starting the Tuesday transition playgroup next week, she will no longer need the Monday playgroup. So we are free to take the Music Together class!

The next session starts in April, but we were allowed to try a free demo class this morning to see how Katelyn liked it. Needless to say, she LOVED it! The instructor played the guitar and she also played songs off of a CD. The songs were really fun and the kids really got into the movements. The children also played with a variety of instruments, including bells, tambourines, drums, and more. Most of the class consisted of all of us getting up and moving to the music, walking around in a circle, pretending to be doing certain activities like driving a car or hopping like a bunny, etc. It was really, really great! There was also opportunity for Katelyn to interact with other children, including rolling a ball back and forth, which is a social skill that Katelyn really needs right now. Katelyn even ran to the instructor and sat on her lap and gave her a hug! And she was also approaching other children and parents and saying hi. It was like a miracle! This class couldn't be any more perfect for Katelyn!

After the class was over, the instructor asked if I had any questions. I informed her that Katelyn is autistic and she said that she has had a lot of experience teaching music to autistic children. She also commented that she never would have guessed that Katelyn was autistic because she had excellent eye contact and was very outgoing. Hearing someone tell me that she couldn't believe Katelyn is autistic was the most incredible feeling. Katelyn truly is improving more and more each day, and it is almost scary how rapidly it is happening!

Since Katelyn had such a wonderful experience today, I asked if it would be possible to join the current session instead of waiting until April to start. The instructor said that normally they do not allow this, but that she would make an exception since she could see just how much Katelyn loved the class. She also said that she could tell that Katelyn is very musical. She pro-rated the current session for us since there are only three classes left, and she even came to my house and dropped off the songbook and CD! I also signed Katelyn up for the next session, which is from April to June.

I am so excited that Katelyn will be involved in an activity that she truly will enjoy and learn from. Music is her biggest strength and most cherished interest. We need to cultivate her love of music, and also provide opportunities for social development, so that she can continue to blossom. I believe that this will be an experience that will stay with her for a lifetime.