Before the Toolkit: A Real-Life Playground Test with Jimmy
Before the Toolkit:
A Real-Life Playground Test with Jimmy
There’s been this idea sitting in the back of my brain since the first nice day of spring:
Take Jimmy to the playground.
That’s it. That’s the whole thought. But if you’re raising a neurodiverse kid, you already know it’s never just the playground. It’s planning, predicting, prepping, panicking… and then going anyway.
At 6 a.m. yesterday morning, I decided it was time.
Mental Load: Heavy. Coffee: Strong. Let’s Go.
Taking Jimmy out in public always comes with a long internal checklist:
- What if it’s too crowded?
- What if he doesn’t want to leave?
- What if he hugs someone who doesn’t want a hug? Or doesn’t hug someone who expects one?
- What if he bolts? What if he flops?
- What if the splash pad isn’t on, and he tries to encourage (read: guide-shove) others into the water like last year?
Add in the physical load—his medical stroller, drinks, Buddy (his doll), Friend (his Minion), snacks, backup pull-ups—and that’s before we even leave the driveway.
But the truth is, I wanted to do this before I created another set of visual cards or tools. I needed to see what was really happening—not what I was assuming would.
🚶♂️We Did It. And It Was… Pretty Great?
We made it.
We stayed just over an hour.
And honestly? It went smoother than I expected.
Jimmy ran for the water immediately (barefoot, naturally). He didn’t climb anything this time, but he ran, played, splashed, and explored—with Super Grover, Buddy, and Friend cheering him on.
There were other parents there. One sat on a bench, coffee in hand, scrolling his phone while his three kids played. I didn’t feel jealous exactly—but I did notice the difference. I wasn’t sitting. I was scanning. Constantly.
Still, it was a win. We even left the park with zero resistance. Which is how I know we’re in a simulation.
That said—there were a few very real aha moments.
⚠️The Swing Incident (and Other Clues I Can’t Ignore)
Jimmy doesn’t always recognize danger. And yesterday, he walked right into the path of moving swings. Thankfully, the kids on them were older and quick to stop—but if they hadn’t been? It could’ve ended badly. I was right there. But he’s strong. And fast. And determined.
So yeah, we need a visual or cue for:
- Danger
- Wait your turn
- Let someone else go
- Not your car (don’t ask)
Speaking of which…
☕Bonus Round: The Drive-Thru Moment
When we got home, I opened the car door to help him out—and instead, he climbed into the driver’s seat, grabbed an empty McDonald’s bag and old coffee cup from the cup holder, and acted out a full drive-thru moment. He reached out like he was receiving an order, held up the bag, and wouldn’t get out until his pretend meal was done.
It wasn’t prompted. It was all him.
That’s pretend play.
That’s development.
That’s a win I didn’t even know I needed.
The pretend drive-thru moment that made my whole day
🛠️What Comes Next
Now that I’ve seen where the challenges are—and where the magic is—I’m working on a new visual toolkit for outings like this. Something real. Something useful. Something made from lived experience, not just good intentions.
It’ll include:
- A “DANGER – STOP” visual
- Waiting cues
- Turn-taking cards
- A “Leaving Soon” warning
- And maybe one for the McDonald’s drive-thru too (because why not?)
Stay tuned—it’s coming soon, and it’ll be free right here and on Little Wins with Jimmy.
One Final Thought
To the parent who thinks outings are too hard to bother with… I get it.
To the parent who had to ask a stranger to grab a forgotten sippy cup because they couldn’t leave the car again… I am you.
To the parent who sees the difference between your parenting and everyone else’s…
Different doesn’t mean wrong. It just means your toolkit might need more pieces.
One little win at a time, we build it together. 💛
Want the visuals we wish we’d had at the park?
I’m putting together a free printable toolkit based on this outing.
