Welcome to the Brownsburg OT and PT blog!
We are excited to have a way to share activites and ideas we are doing in the classroom and suggestions for your children at home! We will post blogs about special activities in our classrooms plus activities and tips for home. Look around, use our ideas, and visit often!
- For most children, Halloween is typical part of their childhood. For others, Halloween and associated parties can be very distressful, overstimulating event. We've put together some tips to help make this a more enjoyable experience for you and your friendly!
- Be mindful of the costume you choose for your child. Find a texture that does not cause any tactile sensitivity. Make sure the costume doesn't block their visual field or make it difficult to walk.
- Practice wearing the costume before hand.
- Consider using a wagon or stroller to take out any walking obsticles.
- If they are on a special diet, ask a few neighbors/friends to have non-edibles or 'approved' goodies for when trick or treating/parties.
- If your child has a noise sensativity, consider using ear plugs or consider a costume that covers their ears.
- Assist with retrieving treat if fine motor skills are an issue
- Use a social story to practice with before going out so they know what to expect. Social Story website ideas: http://www.positivelyautism.com/free/unit_halloween.html
- Make a plan for "chilling out" if your child becomes overwhelmed
- Take LOTS of pictures of them enjoying it. They can be used the following year to help ease any distress!
It's time to get outside and enjoy some of our local parks!
A Blessed Thanksgiving...
Thanksgiving is a time to share with family and reflect on our many blessings. However, it can also be a stressful time for some children. Check out the documents below, provided to us by the Indiana Resource Center for Autism (IRCA). Happy Thanksgiving!!
- Bike Safety
The single most important rule of bike riding is...WEARING A HELMET!! Wearing a helmet can reduce the risk of head injury by as much as 85% per Safe Kids Wordwide (safekids.org). It is important that your childs helmet and bicycle both fit correctly for safe riding and enjoyment.
Tips for a correct fitting helmet
1. The helmet should sit on top of your childs head in a level position, secured by the buckle so that it does not move
around in any direction.
2. The rim of the helmet should be one to two finger widths above their eyebrows.
3. Make sure the straps of the helmet form a "V" under your childs ears when it is buckled.
4. When their helmet is on and buckled, have your child open their mouth up wide and see if they feel the helmet "hug" their head...if not, tighten the straps so that the buckle is flat against their skin.
So their helmet fits...How do you know if their bike fits?
Have your child get on their bike. Have them stand up straddling the top bar of their bike so that both of their feet are flat on the ground. There should be 1 to 3 inches of space between your child and the top bar.
Other suggested safety tips include:
1. Make sure their seat, handlebars, and wheels fit tightly
2. Check and oil their chain regularly
3. Check their brakes to make sure they are working well and not sticking
4. Check their tires to make sure they are inflated enough when you put a little pressure on the tire.
Check out kidshealth.org and safekids.org for more helpful tips regarding bike safety.
Backpack Basics!
Does your child complain of aching back or shoulders, tingling arms or hands, weakened
muscles or a stooped posture? Carrying too much weight in a backpack or
wearing a pack incorrectly can cause long-term back problems unless you take
steps to ensure that your child is wearing his or her backpack correctly.
Selecting a Backpack:
* Choose a pack that's the correct size.
* Select a pack with well-padded shoulder straps. The neck and shoulders are rich in blood vessels and nerves and, when constricted, can cause pain and tingling in the upper extremities.
*Consider a pack with reflective trim to increase visibility when it is dark outside.
Loading a Backpack:
*Never allow a child to carry more than 15% of his or her body weight.
*Load heaviest items closest to the child's back.
*Pack items neatly and organized to keep books and materials from sliding around in the pack, shifting the weight.
*If the backpack is too heavy, consider using one on wheels.
Wearing a Backpack:
* Always wear BOTH shoulder straps to distribute the weight evenly. Wearing a pack slung over one shoulder can
cause a person to lean to one side and curve the spine.
*Adjust the shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly to the child's back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles between the shoulders.
*The bottom of the backpack should rest in the curve of the lower back. It should never rest more than four inches below the child's waistline.
**Adapted from "Tips for Living" from the American Occupational Therapy Association, Inc.**
Does your child struggle with... academic skills (math &/or reading), ADD/ADHD, attention to task, un-organization, balance, motor skills, sense of rhythm and timing, inability to focus visually with their eyes...you may be interested in checking out the Minds-In-Motion website www.mimlearning.com to learn more about their summer programs that may benefit your child. They offer a free Parent Information Session monthly that provides a tour and a chance to meet with their staff and learn first hand about the power of the Minds-In-Motion program. Minds-In-Motion offers a
unique approach to learning through stimulating a person's visual processing,
auditory processing, as well as their motor skills.
Minds-In-Motion
879 West Carmel Drive
Carmel Tech Center
Carmel, IN 46032
(317)571-8752
email: [email protected]
unique approach to learning through stimulating a person's visual processing,
auditory processing, as well as their motor skills.
Minds-In-Motion
879 West Carmel Drive
Carmel Tech Center
Carmel, IN 46032
(317)571-8752
email: [email protected]