Tricks To Handle All Your Treats

Now that Halloween is over, what is one to do with all that candy??? Check out some of these articles below for some tips. Ideas range from giving it away, using the candy fairy, or making it into new treats!

What do you do with all your Halloween candy?

http://www.coolmompicks.com/2011/11/what_to_do_with_extra_halloween_candy.php

http://www.lilsugar.com/What-Do-Leftover-Halloween-Candy-20158274

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/article/178834/288/What-to-do-with-leftover-Halloween-candy

http://www.green-talk.com/2011/10/31/how-to-get-rid-of-halloween-candy-buyback-candy-fairy-math/

Halloween... Trick or Treating!

Tonight a lot of creatures will visit your door. Be open minded. The child who is grabbing more than one piece of candy might have poor fine motor skills. The child who takes forever to pick out one piece of candy might have motor planning issues. The child who does not say trick or treat or thank you might be shy or non-verbal. The child who looks disappointed when he sees your bowl might have an allergy. The child who isn't wearing a costume at all might have SPD or autism. Be nice. Be patient. Its everyone's Halloween.

Halloweeeeen!!!

Holidays are a great time to encourage new ways of working on therapeutic activities in a fun manner! Here are some of our Halloween themed suggestions.....

Carving pumpkins offers a variety of fun ways to work on therapy goals. For those sensory kids, it's a great messy play experience to help dig out the insides with their hands or finger paint the outsides. For kids who are working on shape formation, they can help by drawing faces on the pumpkins with markers. If they don't turn out how they want them to, they can always wipe them off and start over again! For older kids who need to work on strength, have them help with some of the simple carving with safe tools and adult supervision.

To work on fine motor skills, have your children color fun Halloween themed pictures, finger paint, cut out new shapes, and fold paper to make spider legs. You can also work on fine motor by using pipe cleaners to wrap around suckers to make spiders or bugs.

For sensory kids who need calming activities, wrap them with Ace bandages and make them into mummies for a calming input. You can also have them work on heavy work by having them help by carrying or rolling pumpkins from one location to another.

For the sensory kids who need to work on interacting with more textures, you can present them with a variety of bowls of foods and have them guess what they might be - with their eyes open or closed. Peeled grapes could be eyeballs, spaghetti noodles could be worms, jello or wet sponges could be brains, plastic fork tines could be vampire teeth, and corn can be teeth.

To work on speech sounds focus on your target sounds. For example, if your child is working on the "k" sound, talk about things that are spooKy, pumpKins, icKy, blacK Cats, etc.

Have fun!!!

New Blog to Read

http://www.momenough.com/
This is a blog recommended by one our occupational therapists here at Children's Therapy Center. It is written by a mother and daughter team sharing thoughts and ideas of their own, as well as guest bloggers, to help mothers (and fathers!) maneuver parenting.
There is a blog post - Does your child struggle to get going in the morning, slow down at night or stay focus any time of the day? - that is particularly related to some of the sensory concerns related to many of the children we see here at Children's Therapy Center that could be of use for ideas at home!
Let us know what you think!

Fun with Handwriting

Pediatric Occupational Therapists are often called upon to help children improve their handwriting. Children who need this extra handwriting help are sometimes reluctant to write, and even dislike writing. In these instances, a therapist must come up with fun and creative ways for the child to practice writing.

Here are a few fun games that can get a child to practice handwriting. The child can play these games with a therapist or parent – they might even enjoy it!

Word by Word

Materials

Paper, pencil and one playing die

Instructions

For this activity, the therapist and the child write a story together! First, choose a title for the story. It could be “Hunting for Dinosaurs,” “The Magic Spell”, or anything else that the therapist or child can think of. The therapist goes first, and rolls the die. Whatever number she rolls, that’s how many words of the story she has to write. For example, if she rolled a 4 she could write, “Yesterday I saw a”. Then the child rolls the die, and writes the number of words that they rolled. The therapist and child keep rolling and writing, alternating turns, until the story ends. Another way to conclude would be to set a number of rolls. “We’re almost done. We each get three more turns and then we’ll be done”.

Monster Cafe

Materials

Paper and pencil. Crayons or markers optional.

Instructions

Have the child create a menu for a special or unique restaurant. For example, if the child likes monsters, they could create a menu for a Monster Cafe, that includes the appetizers, main courses, desserts and beverages that monsters would like to eat. Example items from one boy’s menu include “slime guts with chocolate, mud and rocks meatloaf, and dirty sneaker ice cream.” Creative children with vivid imaginations would enjoy this activity, since they can create any menu item they choose.

Other menu ideas include a menu for an ice cream parlor for clowns, a diner for kids, or a fast-food place for aliens! This activity can get creative children inventing and practicing handwriting in a fun, motivating context.

Let’s Argue

Materials

pencil, paper, and a judge

Instructions

This fun handwriting game gives the opportunity for child and therapist to have a written debate. First, pick a topic. This could be any two-sided issue, such as:

-         Which animal makes a better pet: a cat or a dog?

-         Yes or no: should kids be allowed to eat whatever they want?

-         Who is the cooler superhero: Batman or Spiderman?

-         Yes or no: should kids get to go to bed whenever they want?

-         Which sport is more fun, soccer or football?

The options for topics are endless! Whether the therapist or child chooses the topic, a fun written debate can take place. The child chooses which side of the argument they will take, and the therapist takes the other. Then each person writes 5 (or more, or less) statements/reasons to support their side. At the end, both lists are read to a judge (who doesn’t know who wrote which one) and the judge decides who wins.

            Kids can have a lot of fun “debating” with their therapist. When the debate is written, handwriting can become very motivating! Have fun.

Have fun writing!

Riding the Bus

Riding the bus can be unexpectedly overwhelming experience for your child, which could affect their day at school and/or their evening once they get home. Being on a bus offers a variety of sensory experiences that may compound into too much for one sensory-sensitive body to handle.

First, it's important to consider the new environment (even if your child has been on the bus in the past). There will be new children, possibly a new driver, people sitting in different seats than they are accustomed to, or a new bus in general. If possible, try to help your child find a buddy to sit with on the bus so that they have a familiar person to look to each time they ride. It can also be helpful to have the child have the option to consistently sit in the same seat. If you child is extremely sensitive to these routines, it may be helpful to work with the bus driver to make sure that seat will always be available. Otherwise, it would also be an opportunity to discuss with your child that the seat availability may change from day to day.

The sights, sounds, and/or a combination of these things can easily be overwhelming for a child. Visually, a lot children moving around throughout the bus in combination with the fast moving scenery passing by can be overwhelming, but may also make your child feel unwell. Bright sunshine in their eyes can also be overwhelming. Seating your child in the front of the bus to reduce the input of so much stimuli can be helpful, as well as considering wearing a hat or sunglasses. As many of you know, the volume level on a bus can be extremely loud! The bus drivers can help as much as possible to keep the volume level of your child's peers to a dull roar but other techniques may also be useful. You could try incorporating headphones (calming music would be the best), ear plugs, or even a thick stocking cap in the winter to block out some sound. Having the windows open on the bus also increases the volume level to include the noises from outside and also the sound of the wind. Remember, this doesn't bother all people, but it can be extremely bothersome to a sensitive child. Depending on the child, it could be better for them to sit in the back of the bus or in the front of the bus, depending on the above factors.

Some general ideas of activities or items to use on the bus to help keep your child in a calm state could include having a fidget available for your child. This could be a simple keychain attached to his or her backpack, a small piece of silly putty, a rubber band to fidget with around the wrist, or something similar. Headphones can be a great way of drowning out sounds and also gives the opportunity to incorporate music that can be calming for their bodies. Chewing gum (the thicker, the better) is a great calming tool. Having a great peer to interact with on the ride helps the time go faster and can also distract the child from some of the stimuli around him or her.

Once they get off the bus, they still may be feeling overwhelmed and could likely benefit from a "sensory break". This could include some quiet time by themselves, heavy work, complete the brushing program, swinging, listen to calming music, etc. These activities can also be helpful before getting onto the bus, as well!

Questions, other ideas, comments, concerns we can address??? Let us know!!!

The importance of routine

Routines are so important in children's lives to help establish expectations, develop better behavior and a sense of personal control.

According to the Center on the Social and Emotional Foundations for Early Learning,
Studies have documented that schedules and routines influence children's emotional, cognitive, and social development. Predictable and consistent schedules in preschool classrooms help children feel secure and comfortable. Also, schedules and routines help children understand the expectations of the environment and reduce the frequency of behavior problems, such as tantrums and acts of aggression.

For kids with special needs, a daily routine allows them to know what to expect and how to prepare for it.  If a child doesn't know what to expect they are in a constant state of worry or heightened anxiety for what's to come next. And if "what's next" is something they feel they can't handle, negative behaviors tend to come forward including meltdowns, and tantrums.

Depending on the child routines for morning, meal times and bedtime are important to establish many aspects of healthy living, good habits and good behavior.  Visual picture schedules work great for day to day activities. Large calendars with pictures of doctor appointments, 1st day of school, soccer practice or dentist visits are a way for children to get prepared for what's to come.

If you have any experience or insight on the importance of routines, please share!

Facebook!!

Don't forget to check out our Facebook page for additional ideas, tips, articles, and happenings at CTC!
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Childrens-Therapy-Center/159943524060224

The Brushing Program

The Wilbarger Brushing Program has been around for over a decade. More and more people have heard about this sensory treatment and seen its results firsthand. We prescribe this home/school program either as a tool for calming, or most commonly, to decrease tactile (touch) defensiveness (extreme hypersensitivity). As therapists, we teach families and other caregivers the protocol by demonstration, use of handouts, and close monitoring. This is to ensure optimal outcomes by making sure technique is correct and that high frequence of every one and a half - two hours it is performed for a minimum of two weeks. The families that see the benefits are the ones that follow through with this high frequency thus creating further motivation to continue the program. Unfortunately the benefits are not seen when the follow-through is not consistent. Families that are not able to achieve this high frequency do not see results are not commited to continue with the program. Depending on when your therapist went to training, you might see some variation in the actual "speed" of the brushing, but one thing they should be telling you is that the deep pressure you use to the specified areas is most important. We want to get those deep receptors in the skin, not the light touch receptors that trigger a negative "fright, flight, or fight" response. We use a surgical soft plastic brush and cover the surface area of the skin of the arms, hands, legs, feet, and back. Then we follow up with some proprioception (input to the muscles and joints). The whole thing is like a massage. If your child has oral sensory defensiveness, we may try an oral brushing protocol, along with the body. The whole protocol should only take a few minutes to complete. The positive outcomes we see are many. Included may be the following: less irritable, improved focus and attention, improved tolerance to complete hygiene tasks and wearing a variety of clothing, less rigid behaviors, improved calming, better sleep and improved eating, just to name a few. Ask your therapist if the program could help you and your child.

Interactive Metronome

Interactive Metronome (IM) is an assessment and treatment tool used to help children with their neurological processes of motor planning, sequencing, and processing. The program provides a structured, goal-oriented process that challenges kids to synchronize a range of hand and foot exerices through a computer program. There is a reference tone provided via headphones and children attempt to match that tone with repetitive actions, including clapping their hands, tapping their feet, and a combinaton of the two. Feedback regarding their performance is provided via auditory and visual cues through the headphones and computer screen. The program is designed to be used for children at the development age of 6 years old and above.
Through this intervention approach, children have been noted to improve:

• motor skills
• attention and concentration
• cognitive speed
• executive functions
• language processing
• memory
• motor control and coordination
• phonological awareness
• reading and math fluency
• self-control of aggression/impulsivity
• sensory processing
• stuttering

If you child is demonstrating difficulties in the above areas and would be interested in learning more about Interactive Metronome, speak to your child's therapist!

http://www.interactivemetronome.com/

 

Sensory Sand Play!

Sand play is a great sensory play experience for your kids!
It's a great textured play activity for your kid's hands, feet, lets, and arms. Sand play also allows for great peer play opportunties to work together to build sand castles or dig and fill buckets. Play with both wet and dry sand for an expanded sensory experience.
To clean up after playing, use a hose, water guns, spray bottles, water balloons, or sprinklers for a sensory water play experience!
Let us know how it goes!

Activities for Kids!

This website lists a number of websites for different organizations, events, and locations that offer opportunities for children with special needs. Check it out and let us know what you think! If you know of similar websites or organizations we should know about, please share!

http://webpages.charter.net/rientsfamily/index.html

The Listening Program Stimulus Package!

The Listening program is a home program designed to help with auditory sensitivity, auditory processing, attention, behavior and many areas that impact home, school and work.  It's a 10-20 week program that includes listening to psychoacoustically modified classical music for 30 minutes per day. To learn more check out the website AdvancedBrain.com

Regular Price: $475  Currently on sale: $295 which includes headphones.
Ask your therpist about it! Sale lasts through June!

Hippotherapy or Therapeutic Riding???

Hippotherapy is completed by a professional therapist (occupational therapist, physical therapist, or speech therapist), as well as a professional horse handler. Hippotherapy uses the horse and its movement as a tool to work on the child's balance, muscle tone, posture, coordination, attention, strength, endurance, body organization, and works to improve sensory processing. In hippotherapy, the child works with a therapist at all times and the treatment typically occurs year round until the child meets discharge criteria.
Therapeutic riding is completed by a professional horseback riding instructor with volunteers. A therapist may be involved as a consultatnt. There is occasional hands on assistance. Therapeutic riding works to provide social, education, and sport opportunities for children with disabilities while also improving the child's strength and endurance. Therapeutic riding is often taught in groups. The focus during the groups is to emphasize proper riding positioning and rein skills.

For more information on locations here in Minnesota:

http://majestichillsranch.com/

http://www.wecanride.org/locations.php

http://www.mnhorsecouncil.org/disabled-riding.php

Social Skills Groups

Boost! Learning Enrichment Programs will once again be offering social skills groups and camps throughout the summer. Boost! was found to support families and children with unique learning needs. The social skills groups summer session begins June 13 and goes through August 22nd. Social skills groups will be formed for children from preschool age through middle and high school. The groups meet one evening a week for 60 minutes over a 10 week summer session.Camps meet for four days and have a variety of kid friendly themes.
For more information, check out their website!
http://boostlearningenrichment.com/blog/

MN Company Helps Families Pay Medical Expenses

Check out this article on a MN company that is helping to cover medical expenses......

http://minnesota.cbslocal.com/2011/04/11/mn-company-helps-families-pay-for-medical-expenses/

Speech and Language Development

Language is the foundation of nearly all aspects of children’s learning and it is key to children’s social relationships with both adults and peers. Yet, especially in the early years, children vary greatly in how much they understand and how well they make themselves understood.
Have you wondered if your child’s language is what it should be for his or her age? How can you tell and where can you get help if you think there is a problem? A speech and language pathologist offers practical guidelines and suggestions - just clink on the link to this Podcast to learn more!

http://www.goodenoughmoms.com/node/238

Another Blog for Parents!

http://www.sizzlebop.com/

Who is this site for?
This is the place to come to if you are the parent of a highly distractible child or the spouse of a highly distractible mate. This is also the place to come if YOU are the highly distractible person.  This site celebrates the energy and the non-linear path of the distractible mind.   We don't believe these folks are defective. We believe they are blessed and even fortunate to have a gift of such energy and creativity. And we love them dearly. But we also know that there are unique challenges.
Check it out and let us know what you think and if you have any interesting stories or ideas to share! 

Bubble Volcanos

A large jug + water + liquid dish detergent + 3/4" clear tubing = a great activity for "calming" our child's engine.

This is one of many resistive blowing activities that is like "heavy work" for our bodies, but for our mouths. This controlled breathing in and pushing out to displace water with our air is "work" and the outcome is more organized children who can focus better on functional tasks following such an activity. Take advantage of this organization and focus by doing a more challenging task afterwards.

Other ideas like this are:
sucking thickened foods through a straw (smoothies, yogurt, applesauce)
blow toys
blow air through a straw pushing cotton balls and racing them with a friend
blowing bubbles in the tub
blowing bubbles with a bubble wand

Facebook!

Check out our Facebook page for Children's Therapy Center!
We have posted a couple of articles about Autism-friendly/kid-friendly movie screenings and a story about a child living with ADHD.
Please share any other articles, information, activities that you know about!

Screenings make films autism-friendly

By KRISTIN TILLOTSON, Star Tribune

Last update: March 25, 2011 - 11:15 PM

Once-a-month "sensory friendly" movie screenings for kids on the autism spectrum give families a welcome alternative.

SENSORY-FRIENDLY FILMS

What: Special monthly screenings of new-release kids' films, featuring lower sound and more light in order to accommodate the needs of children with autism.
When: 10 a.m. Saturdays, monthly. The next screening is "Hop" on April 2.
Where: AMC Theatres in Roseville (850 Rosedale Center) and Eden Prairie (8521 Flying Cloud Drive).
More info: www.autism-society.org/sensoryfilms

Imagine sneaking up on your 8-year-old sleeping child, scissors in hand, because it's the only way you can cut his hair without him howling and squirming away. Or cringing every time you hear a loud, sudden noise when he's in tow at a store or park, knowing it could spark a total meltdown.
These are realities that parents of autistic kids face every day. Whether they are high or low functioning, children with autism may see, hear and feel very differently from the rest of us, often at unbearably intensified levels.
That can make something like going to a big-screen movie in a public theater -- especially in 3-D -- a real challenge, unless it's one of AMC Theatres' "sensory friendly" (SF) screenings. One Saturday morning a month, the chain's multiplexes in Eden Prairie and Roseville keep overhead lights on and lower the sound of a new Hollywood family-film release.
Families are also allowed to bring their own snacks due to special diets. And because it's not always possible to get autistic children to rein in their reactions, they aren't discouraged from getting up to dance, shout, sing or just move around to release tension.
A recent SF showing of a non-3-D version of "Mars Needs Moms" at Rosedale Center was sparsely attended, but Will Daily didn't mind. Sitting in the back row, he made sporadic joyful sounds in between popcorn munches, and no one shushed him or shot disapproving glares at the mother and aunt flanking him.
Daily, 19, of Roseville, has cognitive impairment and a seizure disorder as well as autism.
"Sometimes he's not even paying attention to the movie," said his mom, Theresa Daily, who has attended nearly every SF screening with Will since they began two years ago. "But he just loves the experience of being here so much. He gets excited and makes noise, and that's OK."
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) not only have different sensations during a movie, but could have great difficulty processing what they feel, said Pat Pulice, director of Fraser Autism Services, the largest and oldest provider in the state. While some might find the onscreen action overwhelming, others can't get enough.
"On one end you have the sensation avoider, who is fearful of the loud noise, and on the other a craver who loves it and gets so excited, he screeches," she said.
Daily knows all about that.
"Once last year, one little boy was just running all over and somebody got a little mad," she said. "His mom was devastated and started crying in the theater."
The sensory-friendly screenings are not always completely smooth sailing, because children on different parts of the autism spectrum have different reactions and behaviors. But a happy experience is more likely, say parents.
"These films are such a boon," said Luann Quayle, also of Roseville, whose daughter, 10, and son, 7, both have autism. "It's just a much quieter, less overwhelming atmosphere. With a screen that big, and children's films being digitally animated, it can get too intense, which is why a lot of people sit farther back. And having the lights up takes away that fear factor of not being able to see what's going on around you."
AMC started the sensory-friendly program with the Autism Society in August 2008, after a family belonging to a society chapter in Maryland requested a special screening for their autistic child. Now more than 130 theaters in 62 U.S. cities participate, and the program recently expanded to Canada.
One drawback to the screenings at Roseville is that there is no obvious indication to other moviegoers that the screening is special, so other families come in without realizing the lights will be up, the sound down, and children may be running around and making noise.
But these screenings can still appeal to some families who don't have an autistic child, as long as they're fine with potential distractions. At least one father with young children at the "Mars Needs Moms" showing was there simply because they didn't want to deal with the intensity of 3-D.
"We don't do well with it," he said.
Sherrie Kenny, executive director of the Autism Society of Minnesota (AuSM), thinks more families would attend the SF screenings if they were broadly advertised, beyond on autism websites.
"Also, for families like these, the trend is to get the DVD and set your own home up with low lights and the right foods," she said. "We agree with this approach, but really like the idea of having the child experience an event in the community. It not only builds on their awareness of surroundings, but helps society in general see ASD with a child attached to it."
Not to mention, kids with autism, like all kids, want to see that just-out movie they saw in a TV promo right now, and won't stop bugging Mom and Dad until they do.

The next scheduled sensory-friendly film at AMC's Rosedale and Eden Prairie theaters is "Hop" on April 2, which also happens to be World Autism Awareness Day.

Something to think about...

Welcome to Holland
By Emily Perl Kingsley

I am often asked to describe the experience of raising a child with a disability - to try to help people who have not shared that unique experience to understand it, to imagine how it would feel. It's like this...

When you're going to have a baby, it's like planning a fabulous vacation trip- to Italy. You buy a bunch of guide books and make your wonderful plans. The Coliseum. The Michelangelo David. The gondolas in Venice. You may learn some handy phrases in Italian. It's all very exciting.

After months of eager anticipation, the day finally arrives. You pack your bags and off you go. Several hours later, the plane lands. The stewardess comes in and says, "Welcome to Holland."

"Holland?!?" you say. "What do you mean Holland?? I signed up for Italy! I'm supposed to be in Italy. All my life I've dreamed of going to Italy." But there's been a change in the flight plan. They've landed you in Holland and there you must stay.

The important thing is that they haven't taken you to a horrible, disgusting, filthy place, full of pestilence, famine and disease. It's just a different place. So you must go out and buy new guide books. And you must learn a whole new language. And you will meet a whole new group of people you would never have met. It's just a different place. It's slower-paced than Italy, less flashy than Italy. But after you've been there for a while and you catch your breath, you look around...and you begin to notice that Holland has windmills...and Holland has tulips. Holland even has Rembrandts.

But everyone you know is busy coming and going from Italy...and they're all bragging about what a wonderful time they had there. And for the rest of your, you will say, "Yes, that's where I was supposed to go. That's what I had planned."

And the pain of that will never, ever, ever, ever go away...because the loss of that dream is a very very significant loss. But...if you spend your life mourning the fact that you didn't get to Italy, you may never be free to enjoy the very special, the very loving things...about Holland.

Facebook

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You can find us by searching for Children's Therapy Center. When there, you'll find great pictures of our staff, links to our blog, our website, and updates about what is going on at CTC!

Weighted Blankets

Weighted blankets are a great tool for helping your child to calm, improve body awareness, improve ability to stay seated at school, and improve attention. They can be used in a variety of environments and in a variety of ways. Try using them before long car rides, before bed, before heading to a stimulating environment, or just throughout the day when playing games, reading, or watching TV.

Weighted blankets can be ordered through a number of venues. One of our therapist's parents makes them and personalizes them for each child. The blankes are handmade, pre-washed, and pre-shrunk. All parts are washable! There are a variety of sizes available to order and you can help in choosing a fabric that your child would like. If you have questions or are interested in purchasing a blanket, ask your therapist or comment below!

Books To Check Out!

We have a variety of books available for check-out here at CTC! They range in topics from better understanding your child's sensory needs, help with sleep, information on the How Does Your Engine Run? program, special diets, and sensory ideas for home.

If you are interested in any of these books, please ask your therapist!

Books Available for Check-Out:
Annie's Plan: Taking Charge of Schoolwork and Homework
Building Bridges Through Sensory Integration
Ceiling Support Manual - Information for Installing Swings
Children With Autism
Craniosacral Therapy - What It Is, What It Does
Engine Program - "How Does yo0ur Engine Run?"
Raising Your Spirited Child
Sleep Better! A Guide to Improving Sleep for Children with Special Needs
Special Diets - Special Kids 1
Special Diets - Special Kids 2
Take 5 - Activities for Home
The Incredible 5 Point Scale
The Late Talker
The Out of Sync Child
The Out of Sync Child Has Fun
Thinking in Pictures

Please comment below on any of the above books or include any other book names or authors you have found interesting or helpful!

Let's Get Messy!

Messy play is a fun and an easy way to expose your child to different textures!  Some children love to dive right in and get messy while others are more resistant and want nothing to do with it.  If your child is hesitant and scared, here are some fun, easy ways to get them involved!

You can start with using anything messy!
Shaving cream, paint, finger paints, sauces (ketchup, mustard, bbq sauce, chocolate syrup ect.), pudding, yogurt, apple sauce, glue, cooked noodles, cooked rice, oatmeal or dough! Usually you can just look in your fridge and find something that will work!

Art projects with paint are always a good way to get your child interested! A fall tree, a big white snow man, a turkey covered with colorful feathers or a big butterfly!

Glurch is a fun flubbery texture that kids love to play with!  Mix glue and liquid starch along with a food coloring or paint to add a fun color! Mix together with your hands to form a ball until it's not sticky! If it is too wet, add more glue. If it's too sticky, add more starch.

Once your child is comfortable getting their hands messy, start to add more textures. Get sand from the play ground and mix it with shaving cream! Rice pellets add a bumpy feeling to any smooth texture!

Encourage your child to be more exploratory! Keep upping the challenge but keep it do-able!

We'd love to hear any other suggestions you may have! Don't be shy!!!

Puzzled About Autism???

You aren't the only one! The Autism Society of Minnesota is offering a course entitled Puzzled About Autism Spectrum Disorders on various dates. The two courses available are Autism/PDD in 2011 and Asperger in 2011. Some of the topics covered include the definition of Autism/PDD or Asperger Syndrome, feelings experienced by parents, neurological findings, therapies, strategies for communication, addressing challenging behaviors, understanding sensory needs, and more......

It is suggested to register well in advance due to limited class size. The cost is $75 ($50 for AUSM members).

For more course information:
http://www.ausm.org/
2380 Wycliff St Ste 102
St. Paul MN 55114
651-642-1230
info@ausm.org

Is Your Child a Picky Eater?

We offer 12 week groups using the SOS approach to feeding which works on helping kids play with and try new foods. The group is run by 2 occupational therapists and incorporates sensory play activities to help the kids prep their bodies to explore new foods. Foods are presented in a playful manner and are described by their properties such as texture, color, shape, etc. The kids work on moving up the food hierarchy. The hierarchy has 29 steps that address the areas including tolerating the food, interacting with the food, smelling the food, touching the food, tasting the food, and finally eating the food.

Some of the children’s goals include learning how to have positive experiences with foods, learn mealtime routines, decrease resistance to touching tasting and swallowing foods, increase range of foods they will try, and increase the volume of food ingested.

Goals for the parents include: to tell their child’s story, learn the cues to eating and the steps involved in eating, understand the use of positive and negative reinforcement and positive and negative punishment, understand the ways children learn how to and how not to eat, recognize how they/others have contributed to the problem, create a feeding program for use in their home, and listen to other parents and provide support.

If you’re interested, have comments from your own experiences, or have any questions please comment below or call CTC for further information!

It's not too late!

Tenacity Fitness and Endurance is now offering an adaptive hip hop/creative dance class for kids with developmental disabilities (ages 4-12). 

Adaptive dance fitness for children with developmental disabilities taught by instructors skilled with working with children with developmental delays. Open to children ages 4-12 years. Parent or caregiver needs to attend with child. Fun with music dancing and friends!

6 week session begins:

Wednesdays: Feb 16

and/or Saturdays Feb 19

Cost: $48

Where: Tenacity Fitness and Endurance

     1019 Helmo Avenue North

Oakdale, MN

Phone: 651-323-7445

*Limited to 12 children, reserve your spot as classes fill quickly!

Adapted Sports Opportunities in Eagan

Eagan Parks and Recreation department offers a great opportunity for kids with special needs, ages 6-13 years old, to learn skills and particpate in sports like; Basketball in the winter, Softball in the spring, Bolwing in the summer, Soccer in the fall and Floor Hockey in the late fall early winter. 

Check it out :>  To get further information and application forms please check this link http://www.ci.eagan.mn.us/live/page.asp?menu=1726

Happy Valentines Day

The holidays are a great time to use themes to address fine motor skills and messy play. Crafts or art projects involving cutting, coloring, gluing, finger painting and folding are perfect to create interest for working on fine motor and sensory play. You can grade the level of difficulty by making it more or less challenging based on their abilities. You want to make it just the right amount of challenge that makes it fun without frustration. Here are just a few suggestions: create thick boundaries to color within, use spring loaded scissors for beginner cutting, short or broken crayons for improved grasp, cutting either thin or thick paper (increased strength), or use slanted surfaces to promote development of grasp through wrist extension either with paper taped to the wall or on an easel. Adding tweezers or tongue use to a game with small pieces is a great pre-scissors activity. Aim for fine motor activities once a day or several times a week if your child is not in school.

Brrrr! It's too cold to play outside. Heavy work ideas for the indoors!

Are your kids are going stir crazy indoors?  With such frigid temperatures outside it hard to get your child to burn off all that extra energy.  If your child enjoys crashing, jumping, and banging around, here are some good heavy work ideas for in home play!

Jumping on trampoline
Playing catch with a heavy ball
Tug of war with bed sheets
Animal walk relays
Play wrestling
Crashing into pillows or cushions
Sock Tunnels
Push a laundry basket full of toys around "track"

Get creative, and make it fun! Try an obstacle course with a puzzle so there is a clear expectation of when the activity will end!

Please comment below with ideas that have worked for you!

Welcome!

CTC has started a blog for parents and caregivers of children with special needs!  This site can be used as a forum to ask questions, get information and connect with other families for support.