Learning through play

Benjamin is eight years old and lives in Warrington with dad, Alan, mum, Rachel, and his older brother. Benjamin has cerebral palsy.

Alan tells us “Benjamin doesn’t understand tomorrow or yesterday, he lives in the moment, which is why he is so happy all the time and he loves to run around. He can kick a football harder than anyone I know.”

Alan says that Benjamin’s condition came as a result of a traumatic birth. “After he was born he was put into an oxygen chamber and was fitting for the next six hours. Then we were transferred to Liverpool Women’s Hospital where they reduced his core temperature to give him hypothermia which stops the brain cells dying.

Benjamin’s start to life has left a substantial impact, which affects everything from his movement, to speech and vision.

“Unfortunately, because of Ben’s condition my partner Rach had to give up work and I had to change my job so I could look after him when he gets home from school. I used to be a chef in a care home for disabled people and Rach was a carer for disabled people, then we had our own little star.”

How Family Fund helped

“We have had support from Family Fund ever since Ben was born.

“The first time we got sensory toys from Learning Space, which was brilliant. Every year since we have had family break grants. We went to Devon, Cornwall, we even went to Monkey World one year which was great.”

“On holiday you are not a family with a disabled child, you are a family. It’s totally different. You haven’t got the regimented routines, we are free.”

“This year we decided to get him a Nintendo Switch. He can use it with one hand and we play two games of FIFA together every night. We are both Wolverhampton Wanderer’s fans!

“It has really helped his fine motor skills. He has to use different buttons which get his fingers moving, which is amazing. It’s just a Switch but for him it means he’s learning through play.”