Monday, May 3, 2010

Skating makes her smile!

As the skills on the ice become more complex, I am amazed to watch my daughter try what Coach shows her. Would I be as brave? I don't know. I've never been on ice skates. I'd like to try. My girl adores being on the ice on skates. Being able to skate can turn a bad day into a good one for her. Skating calms her, centers her, excites her. I'd like to find the thing that does for me what skating does for my daughter.

Motor planning is challenging for her, and sometimes I can see the wheels turning in her head as she thinks through all the steps involved in a new movement or skill.

Yes, her posture needs some work. And Coach has been trying to get her to hold her arms up for a year. Recently, she told Coach that holding up her arms is easier. We theorize that she needed time to develop some abdominal strength in order to hold her arms out more easily.

She has begun to experiment with her body using some of the new skills. Coach taught her to slalom a couple of weeks ago, and I see my girl leaning this way and that on the ice, using that new skill for fun.


Look at my girl *smile*

Motor planning in action

Same move, with a tweak...
Coach suggested she bend her knees until the turn, and then stand up straight and cross her arms. I think I can see the wheels turning in my girl's head as she thinks through the different steps:
My girl does not like this exercise, and wants to "be done".
Yet, she is resilient and perserveres. :)

Today's session ended abruptly with a fall after my girl caught a toe pick on the ice. She landed hard on her knee. On the drive home, she asked for a wheelchair. She is fine, tonight, no wheelchair necessary.



1 comment:

Niffercoo said...

Look at her GO, Penny! Oh my gosh, she has gotten so good!! I love the big smile, too! And if that last exercise is anything on the ice as it is on roller skates, it's a killer! I can remember doing that one at the roller rink when I was a kid! OUCH! Hope she heals up quickly, and glad no wheelchair was required! ;)

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