Below this entry is a copy/paste from a website on the use of weighted blankets and other weighted items. Hopefully this will shed some light for those who had never heard of them before.
Yesterday I took leave as the snow that hit made the roads slick as snot on the way home from work on Tues afternoon. I'm too old to risk my vehicle and safety of others to attempt to drive to work on the stuff these days. I was impressed that our county had the secondary highway in excellent shape for the communte this morning and maybe just maybe, they'll be able to hit the gravel road with a grader today. Not counting on it, as it is usually easier to drive on before the grader but since there is more snow in the forecast, they may try and get some of it off before the next wave.
Yesterday morning I sorted zippers. Yep, you read it right. Zippers!! I bought a box of zippers at an auction a couple of years ago and I'd never seen so many zippers in my life. Various sizes, colors, and many are still in the original package. Metal zippers, invisiable zippers, nylon zippers and all in the same box. Soooooo....I decided it was time to sort by size (length). The world is a much better place with the invention of ziplock bags. :) The gallon size was the bag of choice and held the 22" and longer zippers, 20" zippers, 18", 16", 14", 12", 6" and a few odds and ends went into the quart size. I didn't count how many zippers there are, but more than I'll ever use I'm sure. After the zipper parade was accomplished, daughter called and she and Owen came down to the house so I could do some accounting for her to prepare for taxes. YUCK! It took us about an hour and a half but we're caught up and have even got Jan 14 in the spreadsheets. Yah!! I did some sewing yesterday afternoon and completed a lap pad and a cover for the lap pad...well almost completed the cover. I decided to add straps to the cover so it can be wrapped around the waist to keep it from sliding off the lap. I received the email yesterday that said the 50lbs of white poly pellets had been shipped but not sure when they'll actually get delivered with the dirt road in such condition. I'm getting so pumped for retirement!!! Still no decision but getting ready anyway for whenever I decided to unplug from this job.
Time is up as it has taken a long time to get this far with the phone calls, visitors, etc. Have a great day and God Bless
"Children or adults with sensory processing disorders, particularly with tactile or proprioceptive dysfunction, have a need for the deep pressure input weighted blankets provide.
Children with excessively high energy levels find these blankets or weighted lap pads soothing for bedtime or throughout the day. They can bring one to school for quiet times. They can wrap them around their shoulders or whole body, or place them on their lap during desk work and reading times for the extra calming deep pressure input their bodies crave.
Weighted blankets are a simple solution to what often appears to be complex attention, calming, or sleeping difficulties."
"Specifically, weighted products are used for several reasons with children who do not properly process sensory stimuli/input. The 3 main reasons are:
to improve body awareness
to calm and improve attention and focus
to decrease sensory seeking behaviors
For many children and families, weighted blankets are "life-saving" devices. With weighted vests, blankets, neck wraps, and lap pads, a child who...
...self abuses, may stop.
...can't fall asleep without excessive help, or stay asleep, may FINALLY get the proper rest.
...can not stand or sit still long enough to learn or complete a task, will.
...is constantly touching other people and/or breaking things, may stop.
...exhibits acting out, fearful, or aggressive behaviors when certain sensory stimuli is presented, may not.
...is distracted and unorganized, may become focused.
...throws tantrums when in loud, busy, public places, may become calm.
...can not successfully transition from one activity to another without distress, may finally be able to.
Think about it; from the very first minutes we enter this new loud, bright, bustling world, we are instantly soothed by pressure as a nurse tightly swaddles us in a blanket. This is PROVEN to be comforting to a vulnerable, undeveloped nervous system. This is what we also are trying to achieve!
"As older children or adults with SPD, we may still need to be tightly wrapped to calm our over aroused nervous system down. Let me give you an example... did you know this even works well for individuals with mental illness (and probably undiagnosed SPD to boot)? Full body restraints are exactly what a person may need to calm themselves down, therefore they "act out" (consciously or unconsciously). I have literally been told by teenagers in locked wards that they purposely behave in away that gets them put into full body wraps/restraints because it "feels good" and they "finally feel in control". The deep pressure is what they need to feel "normal" and/or grounded. With the restraint/wrap, the calming effect their nervous system was needing washes over them."
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