Bodily Support
Their diet needs to be adapted to be comfortable and enticing, eliminating whatever may be toxic to their systems such as additives, preservatives, gluten, casein, perhaps soy, and others suggest supplements such as fish oil with Omega 3 fatty acids, vitamin B6, enzymes, etc.
Doreen states that the natural inclination of these children is to “graze” on smaller, more frequent meals of healthful food and juices (p138).
They need a safe and sound sensory “diet” with avenues open to efficiently integrate what they are receiving so that their sensory motor/sensory integration system can provide a strong foundation for the development of effective learning and social skills (“Sensory Secrets” 2001, Catherine C. Schneider O.T.R.). Sensory integration therapy provided by occupational therapists uses exercises designed to strengthen and integrate brain pathways for sensations entering from outside the body (hearing, vision, touch, taste and smell) and inside the body (vestibular and proprioception). To assist their sensory integration, I swing the children in a sheet while singing “Row Your Boat” with them, at the beginning of each speech therapy session, as suggested by Stanley Greenspan (The Child with Special Needs, 1998).
Our bodies “evolved using the Earth’s electrical energy to maintain the electrical stability of the body for the neural functioning of self-regulating and self-healing systems (Clinton Ober et al, Earthing 2010). The modern lifestyle prevents contact with the Earth most of the time (our children in rubber soled shoes from morning to night), creating electrical instability that results in body system dysfunctions believed to contribute to health and emotional problems in our children (and ourselves). This is compounded by exposure to the electro-magnetic fields in our homes, and from appliances, games, phones, etc. Research now shows that grounding, by being bare foot on the earth, significantly influences the electrical activity of the brain and muscles leading to more orderly and efficient activity. At 16 years of age, Weston still refuses to wear shoes, suggesting we may benefit the new children by giving them frequent opportunities to be barefoot on the earth.
They may benefit from things such as infant massage, watsu (water massage), various kinds of energy healing (sound, color, aromatherapy, crystals, flower essences, essential oils, etc.), acupressure (EFT), yoga and meditation for children, children’s gymnastics accompanied by songs with a spiritual message (e.g. Little Gym International). Suzy Miller provides a free monthly energetic balance and integration session for kids via her website www.suzymiller.com . When appropriate, therapies such as craniosacral work have been found to be beneficial.