After a strenuous week, this morning Kiefer chose to do some more creative work and spent time making a very neat, carefully presented piece of artwork. He took real pride in how it looked when it was finished and displayed.
He also pulled out his alphabet flashcards, which he absolutely loves. Using them has made a noticeable difference to his reading, and today felt like another breakthrough moment – he’s recognising more words, and his confidence with reading is really growing. It’s been wonderful to see him engaging so positively, almost as if something has clicked for him this week.
A big step with gaming and control
Another major breakthrough has been with gaming. Kiefer has been using the PS3 to get used to the controllers, and it has taken some time (years in fact) for him to learn how to control what’s happening on the screen.
Recently though – and especially today – he’s really started to get the hang of it, spending more timetrying different games.
The penny has really dropped for him!
He’s now able to play quite a few different games: F1 Race Stars, Minecraft, a Scramble-type game, a Trials bike and jump game, Mickey Mouse Castle Of Illusion, and a Toybox-style little car game.
He is particularly drawn to racing games, and you can really see how much his hand-eye coordination has developed as he steers, jumps, and reacts to what’s happening in the game.
This feels like a genuine breakthrough in control, timing, and understanding how his actions with the controller change things on screen.
Why gaming isn’t a “negative”
On the surface it might sound like “he’s just been gaming,” but for Kiefer this is about much more than screen time.
Learning to manage the controller, track movement, and respond to what he sees all demand concentration, motor planning, and coordination – skills that support other areas of his development too.
With the weather being so wet and outdoor opportunities limited, this has been an ideal chance for him to explore these skills indoors in a fun, motivating way. He doesn’t game a lot, but when he does, it’s clearly helping him build confidence and control in a way that really suits him.
I am so proud of his progress altogether, this week – and today in particular – it has felt like a series of quiet but important breakthroughs for Kiefer: in reading, in creativity, and in how he controls and understands games. He’s turning activities he enjoys into real learning opportunities, and it’s a joy to watch his skills, confidence, and independence grow.
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