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