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/
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
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!!!
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!!!
Thursday, September 29, 2011
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!
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!
Friday, September 23, 2011
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!
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
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!!!
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!!!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
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!
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!
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