Kelly's Holiday Shopping Hints

Around the holidays there are always toys that seem to become an item that is competitively shopped for, when I was younger I can remember the craze for ‘Tickle me Elmo’.  But before buying your little ones gifts for the holidays because they are the new ‘it’ toys, consider the following while shopping this year:

1. Use your IMAGINATION: Can the toy be played with in different environments and used for different contexts?  Try to find a toy that encourages creative play. A lot of toys today are automatic or electronic and don’t leave much to the imagination.  Get back to basics and get toys such as blocks, Leggos, Lincoln logs, a kitchen set, action figures or dolls/dress up sets, all of which are a great way to get involved in play with your child and facilitate conversation and using your imagination.

2. Does the toy encourage FINE MOTOR manipulation?  The first few years are crucial for developing important skills.  Toys such as inset puzzles/shape sorters are great for visual perception and fine motor manipulation.  Fine motor pop-up toys provide a great opportunity to learn with trial and error and require use of fine motor strength and manipulation (pushing, pulling, pinching, turning, sliding). Also try and think if the toy requires the child to use both hands together to help develop bilateral hand skills (using hands together).  Zoom ball is a great game for bilateral hand skills in addition to self-regulation, hand-eye coordination and it requires two players so it is a great way to facilitate fun interaction.  An easel is also a great playful way to use fine motor skills.  In addition, working on an easel requires your child to use their muscles! Holding a paintbrush (or their fingers) up to the paper for long periods of time is a great way to develop those key muscles (core strength, upper body)

 

3. Think SENSORY:  Does this toy require use of more than one sensory system?  Toys that light up or make noise or have a stimulating texture are great for your little one if they require a little extra for arousal, toys like these can really bring out the playful side.  I also love light up toys for calming play before nap time or bedtime (Glo-doodle, glow in the dark pillow pet).  Remember that each child with has different sensory needs and defenses, consult with your occupational therapist for sensory toys that would work best with your child!

4. Does the toy encourage MOVEMENT?  For those overactive tykes, games that require movement are great!  One of my favorites is hullabaloo.  This game not only encourages movement but also requires the child to attend to auditory directions, use visual perception and it can be played with peers/siblings to encourage social interaction.  Velcro grab and catch is a great way to improve hand-eye coordination and provide a successful opportunity for your child to catch a ball if using a glove is a little too hard.

 

5. Does the toy help promote use of COGNITION?  Toys mentioned previously such as puzzles/shape sorters/pop-up toys are great for the younger ones.  If your child is a little older, interactive board games can be great for planning, thinking, and facilitating conversation such as ‘guess who’.  One card game I love is ‘blink’ by UNO, it is a matching game that requires your child to match by either color, shape or number.

 

***I also want to recommend using Toys “R” Us Guide for Differently-Abled Kids.  You can search online for your child based on skill (language, fine motor, visual, tactile etc….), you can also narrow your search by age, gender, brand and price.  I highly recommend using this site as a guide for your shopping!!!

http://www.toysrus.com/family/index.jsp?categoryId=2257814

Each child has different needs, if you a still struggling with what to get for your child, contact your occupational therapist to get some ideas as to what would be best for the needs of YOUR child.

Let's talk about sensory processing

Lets Talk Sensory Processing- By: Kelly Martin, OTR

The term sensory processing refers to the way that our nervous system receives sensory messages and turns them into physical responses.  For example, have you ever been preparing a meal and walked away from it and all of the sudden you smell something is burning? Your sensory system processes this information and elicits a physiological response, your heart rate increases and you rush to the kitchen to quickly turn off the stove.  This is your sensory system in action.

Children with sensory processing disorder have trouble integrating the sensory information they receive with an appropriate response.  The way I have always explained SPD to parents is simple, every person processes sensory information in their own way.  For example, some people might enjoy the smell of something that others find noxious.  Personally, I do not wear wool clothing because my tactile system finds it irritating- however this is not the case with most people.

For children with SPD, their defenses can be so significant that it impacts their day-to-day interactions.  With a similar example, a tag on their shirt may irritate some children, so much so, that they are not able to focus on important tasks in school because they are hyper-focused on the tag that is bothering them.

Children can be impacted by SPD in countless ways.  This is referred to as their “profile” they may be over responsive to auditory input but under responsive to movement or vestibular input. These factors are indicative of a possible sensory modulation disorder.  A child may be clumsy, uncoordinated or “just not athletic”  These are all possible identifiers of a sensory based motor disorder.  Another child may have difficulty identifying the direction with which noises are made, they may have difficulty  eating certain foods secondary to their texture, these are factors that may be indicative of a sensory discrimination disorder. In short, Sensory Processing Disorder is an umbrella term that encompasses three identified subgroups (Sensory Modulation Disorder, Sensory Based Motor Disorder and Sensory Discrimination Disorder) and further into the subtypes of each subgroup. To make things more difficult and confusing, most children to not fit neatly into one subgroup or category.  (See figure below)

Here is a quick description of the subtypes of sensory processing disorder and the terms commonly used to describe the subtypes:

Subtypes of Sensory Modulation Disorder:

Sensory over-responsivity (SOR): SOR is a term that describes a persons response to sensory stimuli as more intensely, quickly and for a longer period of time.  This child is over registering sensory input.   The child's response to such input is described as “fight or flight”, they may avoid certain types of sensory input or they struggle to control their environment as a means of protecting themselves or limiting the potential for such input to occur.

Sensory under-responsivity (SUR): Children with this subtype under register sensory input. These are children that exhibit less of a response to sensory information than the situation demands, i.e. taking longer to react. These children may show a low affect, they may be lethargic, socially withdrawn, they may have poor posture or may be under responsive to pain and temperature.

Sensory seeking (SS): Children that are sensory seeking (SS) CRAVE sensory experiences and will actively seek out ways to get what they are looking for, sometimes in socially unacceptable ways (pinching, pushing, spinning, crashing to the floor) which may appear, to some, as a child that is simply “misbehaved”.  In school this may be the child that moves around non stop, bumps into people when standing in line or likes to sit in the teachers lap or very close to others when at circle time.

Subtpyes of Sensory Based Motor Disorder (SBMD)-

Dyspraxia- The term Praxis refers to plan and execute a motor task. Dyspraxia refers to a persons inability to plan, coordinate and execute both familiar and non familiar movements.  A child with dyspraxia may be described as clumsy, uncoordinated, or avoidance of movement.

Postural Disorder- Children with postural disorder may have low muscle tone, weak musculature specifically in the trunk or stabilizing muscle groups such as the shoulders, hips and abdominal or back.  These children will have poor seated posture, they may fall out of their chairs often, slump over their desks or rest their heads on the desk while working. They may have difficulty sitting on the floor at circle time or participating in playground play or during PE class.

Sensory Discrimination Disorder- (Tactile, Auditory, Visual, Gustatory, Olfactory, Proprioception, Vestibular and Interoception) 

We all know our five senses, we learn them as early a Pre-School.  They are your auditory, gustatory, olfactory, tactile and visual sense (hearing, tasting, smelling, feeling and seeing)  Three other senses that are crucial to a persons ability to effectively discriminate the world around them.  These are the vestibular and proprioceptive systems as well as interoception ( movement sense, position sense)  Children with sensory discrimination disorder have difficulty identifying differences or similarities of input.  An example would be the ability to decipher the difference between a penny and a quarter in the hand without looking at the coins or reaching into a desk and being able to pull out  a pencil amid folders, notebook and markers.

           

As an occupational therapist, it is my goal to improve my clients’ occupations, for children, this means schoolwork, play and self care. SPD can often impact these occupations greatly.  I found this chart that I this is not only cute but also helpful in explaining the 

breakdown of our sensory systems and some tips for activities or modification:

Introducing Myself and My Journey To Occupational Therapy- By: Kelly Martin, OTR

I would like to introduce Kelly Martin, our newest addition to the OT-Kids team and a wonderful therapist that I had the opportunity to train as a Level II fieldwork student. Kelly proved herself during her fieldwork placement and I was so excited when she accepted my offer of employment after she completed her academic program and successfully completed her National Exam.  Kelly will be a regular contributor to this blog and will be working with children in the home, school and clinical settings.  Here is a little blurb from Kelly on her journey into the profession of occupational therapy!

"I first heard about occupational therapy while in my undergraduate program, I thought to myself, "What a great job".  The more I looked into it the more I fell in love, however, when I found out all of the hard work that went into getting into the graduate program, I thought, I could never do that…But I decided to give it a shot, I took all of my prerequisite courses, earned my undergraduate degree with a bachelor of science in psychology and made it into the very competitive graduate program at Sacred Heart University.  When I first started classes (including: pathology, anatomy, kinesiology, neurology), I thought, “How will I ever do this”? Again, I gave it my all and made it through my classes and began fieldwork, this is when I knew it was all worth while.  For my level I fieldwork I was placed in the school systems, and right away I developed a greater love of this profession, specifically in the pediatric setting.  I chose to complete my Level II experience in a sensory clinic, and was placed with Kristi at Connec-To-Talk. Within my first week, I said to myself "I couldn’t not imagine doing anything else".  In this hard economic time, I see my friends that graduated still trying to figure out what they want to do, or working in a career that they do not enjoy.  I feel extremely lucky to have found a career that has become a passion.  I look forward to continuing my learning and sharing my knowledge through this blog to advocate for a profession that I feel so strongly about"! -Kelly Martin, OTR

Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers

Thanksgiving is a week away but I already have visions of sugarplums dancing through my head.  Maybe because I was just at the mall and not only was I surrounded by twinkling lights, Christmas carols being piped through almost every stores sound system and posters of upcoming "holiday sales", but I actually bumped into the big guy (yes I am talking about Santa) himself!  Apparently since the day after Halloween, you could have your little one's picture taken with Santa.  Poor Thanksgiving, it seems to get overlooked more and more every year.

One of my families annual Christmas traditions (there are so many) is opening our stockings!  We save them for last.  After we have teared open all of our wrapped gifts and thrown away enough bows to decorate a small town, we eagerly dig through our stockings pulling out chocolates, soaps, nail polishes crossword puzzle books, tiny little do dads that seem to disappear within minutes, a rose for all of the women in my fathers life and finally our very favorite; lottery scratch off tickets!

But this year I have a new dilemma, my 16 month old son! What in the world do you put in a toddlers stocking? Well the Occupational Therapist in me had to take over and push the mommy in me aside for a moment to develop this list.

In no particular order, with no gender consideration this is what I came up with:

Stocking Stuffers for Toddlers (under 3 years)
1. Miniature sized books
2. Bath Toys (foam letters or numbers, squeeze toys, water instruments)
3. Tooth Brush/Tooth Paste set with a new character
4. Matchbox cars
5. Little People (Fisher Price)
6. Stickers
7. Finger puppets (I have seen really cheap ones at IKEA)
8. Removable tattoos
9. Stacking cups
10. Bath Crayons
11. Window crayons
12. Tactile balls or koosh balls
13. Travel sized Potato Head toy
14. Silly Straws (the ones that twist and loop)
15. Spinning tops
16. Egg shakers
17. Maracas
18. Bubbles
19. Refrigerator magnets
20. Socks, hats or mittens

Then I began to think outside the box (It's what OT's do best!).  I began searching for what other parents have suggested and I came across some very interesting, very different and very fun ideas! Here are a few:
1. A package of post it notes for kids to rip apart, stick to things, or draw on
2. A travel package of tissues to keep kids busy for hours pulling the tissues out of the bag
3. Character Band Aides
5. A deck of playing cards (think 52 card pick up)
6. Empty boxes of pasta or macaroni and cheese for stacking and building
7. Roll of toilet paper (let them wrap you up, or better yet, wrap them up tightly)
8. Measuring cups and spoons
9. Egg timers

With all these great ideas, I think I will need to buy Michael a bigger stocking!

The Emperors New Onsie! A story about a little girl and her struggle with Sensory Processing Disorder

Check out this video! It gives a great description of Sensory Processing Disorder by the mother of a little girl who refused to wear clothing for 6 weeks secondary to SPD.http://vimeo.com/51611834

Here is the article in the Huffington Post today:  It's great to see SPD being written about more and more often.

Twenty-first century parents who want to share their stories have many different media -- paper, TV, radio, the Internet and beyond -- at their disposal. This animated video, produced by Hillary Frank of "The Longest Shortest Time," combines all of the above.

It is the story of what happened when Joyce Slaton's 15-month-old daughter, Violet, stopped wearing clothes for a month. If you want to know why, you canvisit Slaton's blog on BabyCenter or hearmore about it in her recorded interview with Frank -- but we really recommend youwatch the video.

The first time Violet (now 7) objected to a shirt her mother gave her, "hopping around hysterically and screaming" at a library story hour, Slaton was stumped. But when the little girl was ultimately diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder, everything made sense.

“Children, teens and adults with [Sensory Processing Disorder] experience either over-sensitivity (hypersensitivity) or under-sensitivity (hyposensitivity) to an impairing or overwhelming degree,” journalist Beth Arky recently explained in an article for The Child Mind Institute. “Certain people's brains can't do what most people take for granted: process all the information coming in through seven -- not the traditional five -- senses to provide a clear picture of what's happening both internally and externally.”

Slaton was both relieved to get this diagnosis -- she was finally able to help Violet, bringing her to occupational therapy -- and plagued by remorse for ever telling Violet to wear clothes that made her uncomfortable.

"You don't know how guilty I feel of all the times I forced things on her, and now I know that it hurt her," Slaton says in the video.

Radio producer and blogger Frank originally interviewed Slaton about the experience for a parenting podcast. Then, when she was offered resources from the Knight Foundation to make a video, she knew the episode had to be Slaton's story. She added powerful visuals by illustrator Jen Corace and animator Joe Posner. (Read more about the creative process behind the video here.) The final product has been seen nearly 4,000 times on Vimeo.

Violet’s reaction to the video is a moving addendum to the story. Over email, Slaton told HuffPost:

[Violet] put her head on my shoulder and I asked her what she thought, did she feel sorry for that little girl?

"No," she said. "I felt sorry for you, that you had to deal with that." I said back, "Oh, honey, that's a long time ago now. And Daddy and I were happy that we figured out how we could help you." She was silent then, and I asked her, "Would you like it if other kids who have sensory problems could see that video? And maybe it would help them...?"

"Yes," she answered. "And maybe I could explain to them, I know it hurts. But when you get older you will figure out how to make it not hurt."

"The Emperor's New Onesie" was made at a time when many parents are working to understand SPD. A study cited by the SPD Foundation puts a "cautious estimate" of the number of kindergarten-age children affected by SPD at around five percent. And Arky references a "red flags" list from the SPD Foundation that cites "Irritable when being dressed; uncomfortable in clothes" as a warning sign for infants and toddlers.

Slaton says she's heard from parents of other children with SPD since sharing her story. "Many people have thanked me for giving this interview, because it made them feel a teeny bit less alone when they heard it," she told HuffPost. "That was what I hoped for, why I did it, so when I hear that reaction, it is thrilling."

October photo contest- Best pumpkin carving

IT'S COOOOOOMING!!!!! OT-Kids, LLC. October contest is just around the corner. Get those cameras ready because we are having a good old fashioned photo contest!!! Pumpkin carving is a fantastic activity for old and young alike. Invite your little ones to help scoop out all of the seeds which will improve their upper body strength and bilateral coordination while feeding their proprioceptive and

 tactile systems with some fantastic heavy work. Older kids can use tools to help carve the pumpkin and refine those fine motor skills. Don't throw all those slimy/gooey insides away!!! Spread the pumpkins insides on the table or in a large container and let them go to town. Touching and exploring the pumpkins insides is a wonderful tactile experience for children of all ages. Make it even more fun by having your little ones try to pick out all of the seeds with their fingers or a pair of tweezers. They will love trying to grab those slimy slippery little seeds. Bake up the seeds with a dash of salt for a yummy snack. When you are done with all of this SENSATIONAL halloween fun take a picture of the finished product because OT-Kids, LLC. will be giving a prize for the best pumpkin carving!!!! You must "LIKE" our Facebook page to submit photos.  We would also love pictures of your little ones getting messy while carving or playing with their pumpkins!!!! Entries accepted until midnight October 31st. Winner will be announced during the first week of November.

Only photos submitted to our Facebook page will be considered.  Photo's sent to this blog will not be entered into the contest.

Summer comes to an end but the outdoor sensory fun continues

The temperatures are dropping, leaves are changing, aromas of pumpkin latte and apple cider fills the air.

Yep, that's right, autumn in New England is officially around the corner.  But just because there is frost on your windshield when you scramble to the car in the morning does not mean it is time for the kiddos to bring their fun indoors.  In fact, this is one of the best times for your kids to be outside exploring nature and all that living in Connecticut has to offer.  Autumn is filled with fantastic sensory experiences to keep the lil ones occupied and out of your kitchen for hours on end.

Here are some ideas for keeping your small fries outdoors and maximizing the sensory experiences they get each and everyday:

1. Empty out your sand and water tables and fill with leaves and acorns.  Create a scavenger hunt by hiding their favorite toys and having them hunt through the leaves with their hands to find them.  Use a blindfold for older children to make this even more exciting.

2. Forget the table and just rake those leaves into enormous piles and let the little ones go to town!!! I have such great memories of doing this when I was young. The giggles and cheers of joy will make all the extra work worth while for Dad.  Add a little more fun by playing tug of war with the leaf pile in the middle.

3. Pumpkin bowling!  Yes you read that correctly, pumpkin bowling!  Save those empty soda bottles or milk cartons and create a bowling ally in your own back yard.  Use a smaller pumpkin as they tend to have thicker shells and go to town.  Create even more fun by playing upside down bowling, dizzy bowling or blindfolded bowling.

4. Leaf rubbings- If you think back real hard I am sure you can remember leaving the kindergarten classroom, following your teacher outside into what one could only describe as an endless abyss of foliage and sent loose to gather leaves of varying colors, shapes and sizes.  This seemed like the most exciting activity ever, simply because it meant getting out of the classroom for a minute or ten.  Take the crayons, have the little ones peel the labels off (a little fine motor fun) and get to rubbing!!!

5.  Bobbing for apples!!!  Oh, they are going to love this one!!! Fill that cooler with water and tie those little hands behind their backs.  Ready, set, GOOOOOOO!!!!! Who doesn't love sticking their heads into water and pulling out a yummy, crunchy snack.

6.  Don't forget the swing set! So the pools are covered, the beach is pretty empty (except for those last minute sun worshippers that just refuse to give up) but the parks and playgrounds are still bursting at the seams.

August App of the Month- Drawing and Guessing for Kids

In a Nutshell- OK how many of you are glued to your iPhone, iPad and iPod while laying in bed at night, anxiously awaiting that drawing, recently sent by your friend on Draw Something.  You lay there and watch the pastel colors move across your screen and after a few minutes you are presented with a somewhat difficult to discern picture of Madonna, Big Bird or, my favorite to date, Tim Tebow.  Well all of this fun and excitement is now available to our children, and can be a fantastic and exciting way to get the little ones drawing, creating and putting their imaginations to work!

Cost: $1.99

Praise: I love the theory of this app.  Children are able to view drawings from other children and take their guesses as to what they are, however unlike many other apps, there is no registration and no user names required, and therefore a users identity is completely private.  Drawings are viewed by moderators before being sent which insures the safety of what our children will be viewing.  There are some minor flaws that I have encountered such as drawings not coming through in a timely manner, however this has only happened on a few occasions to date and seems to be taken care of in most recent weeks.

The Bottom Line: A great App. with some minor kinks that are still being worked out.  It is a great opportunity for children to use their creativity in a private and safe manner to send their masterpieces to other players without sharing their identity, and furthermore allows them to challenge their perceptual systems as they guess the drawings of their peers!!!  I LIKE IT!!!!

September 19, 2012 is National School Backpack Awareness Day!

The American Occupational Therapy Association has given the third, Wednesday of September the title of "National School Backpack Awareness Day".  It is a day that we as OT practitioners raise awareness about the injuries, pain and other problems that are associated with the wearing of heavy backpacks.  Now a days children often lug heavy text books to and from school each day, on top of that, the added weight of lunch boxes, pencil boxes and technology such as cellphones, iPads and handheld video game systems can add extra weight and added stress on the back and shoulders.
Below is some of the information that AOTA and clinicians across the country will be sharing with teachers, administrators, parents, medical professionals and child caregivers during the month of September.

Backpack Strategies for 

Parents and Students 

aching backs and shoulders? Tingling arms? Weakened muscles? Stooped posture? Does your child 

have these symptoms after wearing a heavy school backpack? Carrying too much weight in a pack or 

wearing it the wrong way can lead to pain and strain. Parents can take steps to help children load and 

wear backpacks the correct way to avoid health problems. 

Loading a Pack 

• A child’s backpack should weigh no more than about 10% of his or her 

body weight. This means a student weighing 100 pounds shouldn’t 

wear a loaded school backpack heavier than about 10 pounds. 

• Load heaviest items closest to the child’s back (the back of the pack). 

• Arrange books and materials so they won’t slide around in the 

backpack. 

• Check what your child carries to school and brings home. Make sure 

the items are necessary for the day’s activities. 

• If the backpack is too heavy or tightly packed, your child can hand 

carry a book or other item outside the pack. 

• If the backpack is too heavy on a regular basis, consider using a book bag on wheels if your child’s 

school allows it. 

Wearing a Pack 

• Distribute weight evenly by using both straps. Wearing a pack slung over 

one shoulder can cause a child to lean to one side, curving the spine and 

causing pain or discomfort. 

• Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. Shoulders and necks have 

many blood vessels and nerves that can cause pain and tingling in the 

neck, arms, and hands when too much pressure is applied. 

• Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly on the child’s back. 

A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and 

strain muscles. 

• Wear the waist belt if the backpack has one. This helps distribute the pack’s 

weight more evenly. 

• The bottom of the pack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should  

never rest more than four inches below the child’s waistline. 

• School backpacks come in different sizes for different ages. Choose the right size pack for your child 

as well as one with enough room for necessary school items. 

Need More Information? 

For more facts on backpack safety, see “Backpack Facts: What’s All the Flap About?” 

If you would like to consult an occupational therapy practitioner about an ergonomic evaluation 

regarding backpacks, computer use, or other learning-related issues, talk to your child’s teacher about 

whether a referral to occupational therapy is appropriate. Your physician, other health professionals, 

and your school district’s director of special education may also be able to recommend an occupational 

therapy practitioner.

I am one Tough Mudder!!!

On Saturday, I tackled an event that boasts itself as probably "The toughest event on the planet"!!! Tough Mudder New England, hosted at Mount Snow in Vermont was the most mentally stimulating, physically exhausting and positive morale boosting experience I have ever encountered.  This event consists of 10 miles of mountainous terrain,military style obstacles designed by the British Special Forces and enough mud, electricity, fire and ice to make a sane person loose their wits. Tough Mudder has raised over 3 million dollars to date and all proceeds from the event are given to The Wounded Warrior Project.

Well with all that being said, I AM OFFICIALLY ONE TOUGH MUDDER!!! I crossed the finish line in almost exactly 6 hours, with a team of 12 friends, most importantly my husband and my sister that supported me and motivated me throughout the entire grueling experience.  Without their support and the support of complete strangers along the way cheering me on and offering assistance when needed, I would have thrown in the towel ten times.

I didn't successfully complete all of the obstacles but I crossed the finish line with my head held high and a feeling of accomplishment that I have not experienced before!!! So for any followers out there that are looking to challenge their physical being as well as their mental psyche, sign up for a Tough Mudder event, and experience a thrill like none other!!!



http://toughmudder.com/

Interview with the one and only Temple Grandin on 60 minutes last night

Hope you got a chance to catch this segment last night.  If not, here you go!!! Another chance to see Temple offer her insights into the world of Autism. An amazing woman!!!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504803_162-20123944-10391709/temple-grandin-understanding-autism/?tag=contentMain;contentBody

60 minutes segment 7/15/12 Apps for Autism

This is a segment from 60 minutes last night.  If you didn't get a chance to watch it live, here you go!!! Also an exciting interview with Temple!!!

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-18560_162-57460553/apps-for-autism-communicating-on-the-ipad/?tag=contentMain;cbsCarousel

Moving Smart: RESPECT THE MESS!

Moving Smart: RESPECT THE MESS!: Much has been written about the benefits of Messy Play. It is great sensory stimulation for young minds discovering a hands-on world, and it...

Summer Sensory Fun

This is a post that I wrote last year, but I want to reiterate how important it is for children to get outside and play so I am reposting with the hopes that it will get some of the couch potatoes up and at em!!!!

Some of the fondest memories that I have of childhood include getting off the school bus, running into the house, throwing my backpack on the floor, giving mom and dad a quick hello and then running right back out the door to PLAY!!!  Play what, you may ask???  Well you name it, we played it... The kids in my neighborhood were NEVER at a loss for games to play... kickball, hide and seek, bike rides, rolling down the front yard hills, swimming in the pool, making mud pies, jumping in piles of leaves, wiffle ball, I could go on and on...

Recently on my way home from work I could not help but ask myself, "Where are all the children"?  It was 5:30 in the evening on a Friday, the sun was still high, the weather was perfect for a good ol game of kick the can, but my neighborhood was silent.  Where were the kids?  Well unfortunatlely I think it is fair to assume that they were inside playing Wii, XBox or Playstation, some may have even been working on their  homework. What has become of all those great, social, active, outdoor games that consumed my childhood? Why don't todays children know what freeze tag is? Why aren't the neighborhood kids playing outside?      

Well I don't have all the answers; however, I can offer some advise to all the children, parents, teachers, babysitters, grandparents, aunts and uncles that have watched the children in their lives fall into the video game slump...This summer is a great time to get outdoors, play some "old school games" and have some fun in the sun with the children in your life!!!!

As an occupational therapist I am constantly thinking about or creating "sensory rich" ideas for parents to use with their children.  Well summertime takes most of the thought out of creating these activities.  Just get outside and do what comes naturally.  Below list of sensory rich activities that take little creativity, little set up, almost no purchasing of materials and best of all, they bring back that age old saying "God made dirt and dirt don't hurt"   Just go outside and do what you did 30, 40 even 50 years ago with the children in your neighborhood.  What we didn't realize back then was that we were all being "little OT's" and filling our days with sensory rich games and activities that didn't seem anything like work but instead were all just part of being a kid.  

Here is a list of games and activities that I remember playing when I was a kid, little did I know that as an OT I would be recommending these activities to my clients as a way to enrich their therapy programs!!!! 

1. Run through a sprinkler
2. Play catch with water balloons
3. Build a sandcastle
4. Draw with sidewalk chalk
5. Play Hopscotch
6. Ride a bike
7. Jump on an outdoor trampoline
8. Play Tag (freeze tag, tv tag or just plain old tag)
9. Family Kickball game
10. Hide-n-seek
11. Relay races
12. Swim in a pool
13. Play leap frog
14. Make mud pies
15. Open a lemon aide stand
16. Kick the can
17. Slip and Slide
18. Play with water guns 
19. Play in the mud (that's right, GET DIRTY!!!!)
20. Rollerblading
21. Tug-of-war
22. Camp out in your own backyard
23. Wash a car
24. Wiffle Ball
25. Go to the beach
26. Swings, slides, monkey bars
27. Rolling down a hill
28. Blow bubbles
29. Soccer
30. Take a hike

July App of the month- Bugs and Buttons

In a Nutshell- Much like an App that I reviewed back in 2011 (Dexteria) Bugs and Buttons is a fantastic App for all children, specifically those with fine motor delay, poor finger dexterity, isolation and coordination.  Bugs and Buttons is a beautifully designed App with eye catching detail, engaging music and fun, child friendly activities such as apple picking, catching bugs in nets, playing tic-tac-toe  with dragonflies and catching falling buttons.  The huge array of activities (17 in all)  allows for hours of fun and ensures that children will not get bored as they move from activity to activity.

Ages & Stages- While the graphics and music are eye appealing to users of all ages, in my opinion, Bugs and Buttons is most appropriate for toddlers and young children 2.5-5 years of age.

Cost- $2.99

Praise- 
1. Appealing graphics and music
2. Plenty of variation in the activities will keep children engaged for longer time spans
3. Simple instructions easy to understand

Needs Improvement- 
1. I do think that $2.99 is a bit costly for this App.

Survey Says- Check it out!!!

June App of the month- Letter School

I don't even know where to begin...

In A Nutshell: I have been using letter school with clients for about three months now, and I simply can't get enough!!!

Clients as young as 2 and as old and as old as 14 now come into sessions and request to do handwriting. I know how strange that must sound, and it is not necessarily true, but they do ask for letter school and as a savy therapist that takes advantage of every opportunity to squeeze a little writing into my sessions, I happily agree with a "Sure let's do writing with Letter School"  I have yet to be met with a negative response.

So what is it that has children enchanted with writing letters one by one? It's child friendly graphics, fun sounds and pictures, positive reinforcement for proper formation, and the chance to hold mom or dad's (or Kristi's) iPad for a little while!!!

Letter School has it all!!!  The app is diverse and easily differentiated for various clients, beginning with the ability to track progress for three users at a time.  All three of the most commonly used handwriting curriculums are available (Handwriting Without Tears, D'Nealian, and Zaner Bloser) and children progress through the program by successfully completing three levels of practice with each individual letter or number.

Cost: $2.99

Praise:
1. Versatile for various clients using all three of the common handwriting curriculums
2. Easily track progress
3. Rewarding feedback for success keeps kids interest
4. Affordable at only $2.99
5. Great child friendly graphics
6. Simple to use and personalize

The Bottom Line: Don't waste another minute, check out Letter School TODAY!!!