This summer Jman joined a local "special needs" bowling league for the summer. The kids meet every Saturday in June and July at one of the local bowling alleys and can bowl two games. Some kids have autism (or some version thereof) and others have other "special needs." Jman has bowled with kids born with spina bifida and wearing leg braces, plus a young man with Down Syndrome, and another young man with autism, for example. Shoes are included but not required (like I said, it's "special needs friendly.") The bowlers also each received a cool red T-shirt they can wear if they want.
The first week (June 5), I wasn't too sure how Jman would handle things. I took him to "preview" the alley a couple evenings before, just so it wouldn't be ALL new to him. I knew Saturday morning would be overwhelming enough with registration and crowds and expectations. Anyway, that first Saturday was kind of tough on Jman, but with a LOT of support, he DID manage to stay and bowl one whole game (except for the second ball of frame one). He ended up not wearing the bowling shoes that first game, and I didn't even offer him the T-shirt until after we left. However, when we did make it back out to the truck I offered him the shirt and he IMMEDIATELY put it on over the shirt he was wearing. That was how I knew that he himself considered the morning a success and wanted to come back again, despite the fact that while we were there, he was overwhelmed, "sad," and was more than ready to leave after one game.
So, we went back the next Saturday, and he was all for it that week! He happily wore his bowling T-shirt, and actually gave the ball good forward motion the second week! (Another "new" thing the first week was that he didn't have a "ramp" to send the ball down--there simply weren't enough to go around, and more physically challenged and/or little bitty kids and/or wheelchairs had dibs, of course!). He also happily wore his bowling shoes week 2. Jman so enjoyed himself during week 2 that I even went so far as to try to get a picture or two, and he was actually happy to smile for photos! WOW! So all these photos of a happy Jman are week 2 photos (except the last one, which was week 3). Enjoy! :)
When one of the dads of a kid on his lane pulled out his iPod touch and started showing Jman silly apps on it about frame 7, I didn't know whether to be grateful that he was reaching out and trying to connect with Jman or whether to scream "NOOOOO! No SCREENS!!!!!" But, I restrained myself, and Jman enjoyed some screen time between his turns. I thought for sure Jman would want to stay for game two if it meant more silly iPod time, but he didn't. He still was ready to leave after one game, as indicated by his removing his bowling shoes and putting his own shoes back on. Worked for me, and we headed towards home with a much more relaxed Jman than after week one.
Last Saturday was week three. The dad with the iPod wasn't there (nice guy, but I must admit I was kind of relieved! I didn't want the iPod expectation the whole time we were there!). Instead Jman had two new people to bowl with. He dealt with that change up just fine, but wasn't interested in switching to a different lane. The folks in charge were cool with that, and Jman stuck to his lane 14. The only real challenge was that this week there was no one bowling on lane 15 on, so Jman kept having fun "making laps." At least he was leaving because it was "fun" instead of like the first week when he was "escaping" because he was overwhelmed and frustrated. Still, it got old! Otherwise, it was a GREAT morning. Jman not only had fun, but stayed for BOTH games! AND he started both games with a STRIKE! He also got a pair of spares in both games, and personal best scores, breaking 100 both games! Not bad, considering we weren't sure this was going to work out AT ALL when we signed up! Over the course of the three weeks, Jman went from 86 (of which 85 points were his) to 79 (but a much happier 79) to 109 (wow!) to 116 (super wow!!!).
Today when we were out and about, passing through the general neighborhood of the bowling alley, Jman piped up from his seat, "Bowling." Sorry, buddy, not today, but we will bowl again next week! (And this is Jman with his new babysitter/buddy, who will be taking over bowling when I'm laid up in another couple weeks for most of July! He's terrific!)
This summer Jman joined a local "special needs" bowling league for the summer. The kids meet every Saturday in June and July at one of the local bowling alleys and can bowl two games. Some kids have autism (or some version thereof) and others have other "special needs." Jman has bowled with kids born with spina bifida and wearing leg braces, plus a young man with Down Syndrome, and another young man with autism, for example. Shoes are included but not required (like I said, it's "special needs friendly.") The bowlers also each received a cool red T-shirt they can wear if they want.
The first week (June 5), I wasn't too sure how Jman would handle things. I took him to "preview" the alley a couple evenings before, just so it wouldn't be ALL new to him. I knew Saturday morning would be overwhelming enough with registration and crowds and expectations. Anyway, that first Saturday was kind of tough on Jman, but with a LOT of support, he DID manage to stay and bowl one whole game (except for the second ball of frame one). He ended up not wearing the bowling shoes that first game, and I didn't even offer him the T-shirt until after we left. However, when we did make it back out to the truck I offered him the shirt and he IMMEDIATELY put it on over the shirt he was wearing. That was how I knew that he himself considered the morning a success and wanted to come back again, despite the fact that while we were there, he was overwhelmed, "sad," and was more than ready to leave after one game.
So, we went back the next Saturday, and he was all for it that week! He happily wore his bowling T-shirt, and actually gave the ball good forward motion the second week! (Another "new" thing the first week was that he didn't have a "ramp" to send the ball down--there simply weren't enough to go around, and more physically challenged and/or little bitty kids and/or wheelchairs had dibs, of course!). He also happily wore his bowling shoes week 2. Jman so enjoyed himself during week 2 that I even went so far as to try to get a picture or two, and he was actually happy to smile for photos! WOW! So all these photos of a happy Jman are week 2 photos (except the last one, which was week 3). Enjoy! :) 
When one of the dads of a kid on his lane pulled out his iPod touch and started showing Jman silly apps on it about frame 7, I didn't know whether to be grateful that he was reaching out and trying to connect with Jman or whether to scream "NOOOOO! No SCREENS!!!!!" But, I restrained myself, and Jman enjoyed some screen time between his turns. I thought for sure Jman would want to stay for game two if it meant more silly iPod time, but he didn't. He still was ready to leave after one game, as indicated by his removing his bowling shoes and putting his own shoes back on. Worked for me, and we headed towards home with a much more relaxed Jman than after week one. 
Last Saturday was week three. The dad with the iPod wasn't there (nice guy, but I must admit I was kind of relieved! I didn't want the iPod expectation the whole time we were there!). Instead Jman had two new people to bowl with. He dealt with that change up just fine, but wasn't interested in switching to a different lane. The folks in charge were cool with that, and Jman stuck to his lane 14. The only real challenge was that this week there was no one bowling on lane 15 on, so Jman kept having fun "making laps." At least he was leaving because it was "fun" instead of like the first week when he was "escaping" because he was overwhelmed and frustrated. Still, it got old! Otherwise, it was a GREAT morning. Jman not only had fun, but stayed for BOTH games! AND he started both games with a STRIKE! He also got a pair of spares in both games, and personal best scores, breaking 100 both games! Not bad, considering we weren't sure this was going to work out AT ALL when we signed up! Over the course of the three weeks, Jman went from 86 (of which 85 points were his) to 79 (but a much happier 79) to 109 (wow!) to 116 (super wow!!!).
Today when we were out and about, passing through the general neighborhood of the bowling alley, Jman piped up from his seat, "Bowling." Sorry, buddy, not today, but we will bowl again next week! (And this is Jman with his new babysitter/buddy, who will be taking over bowling when I'm laid up in another couple weeks for most of July! He's terrific!)
Jman really looks into bowling! How awesome!!!! :-)
ReplyDelete