Kids Therapy Services

04/02/2023

World Autism Awareness Day 2023... so grateful for the shift from awareness, to acceptance, to affirmation ❤️

10/27/2022

A brilliant visual showing all the ways and all the things that OTs consider when choosing or analyzing an activity for a child! Love it!

HAPPY WORLD OT DAY! 🌏

On this day, I wanted to re-share this image that I created to depict how OTs see our role when working with children. We have all our senses engaged to work out a just-right challenge to help a child to achieve their goals.

According to Rebeiro & Polgar (1998), the "just-right challenge" ...
---> is an optimal fit between the demands of the person, occupation and the environment
---> causes clients to be motivated to continue or repeat their experience
---> contributes to greater life satisfaction

Occupational therapists are always looking to help meet the child where they are at.... working from what they can do, extending them just that bit to meet a stepping stone towards their goals OR modifying the activity, environment or goal itself.

This enables a child to feel some success and encourages them to keep working towards their goal.

When we have the balance right, we can help children to perform their “occupations”, helping with function and giving activities meaning and purpose.

Read the original: https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog/lets-talk-series-just-right-challenge

10/14/2022

Community...people who truly understand your path...can sometimes be hard to come by.

Our Bolton Early On Centre has brought back the Let's Get Together group for families raising children with diverse needs.

It's a wonderful group, a place to learn, talk, and find community. Check the flyer for details.

10/11/2022

This little cutie is learning to process vestibular input, working on building core strength and trying to attain and maintain prone extension. But lying on his tummy was too big of a sensory and motor task...so scaffolding, trust, and relationship to the rescue!

I got in first, slowly showing him how I got 'into position'. Giggling, he climbed right on my back and my little koala bear was able to experience it in a way he couldn't on his own. A few minutes later, he was on his tummy trying it on his own!

A great session and so grateful his mom sent me this awesome pic (sorry you can't see just how big he's smiling under that sticker!)

10/03/2022

October is Occupational Therapy Month!

Having worked for 25 years in the most awesome profession, I am so grateful to have found this path for myself. It has been a journey of ups and downs, highs and lows, even north and south!

Cheers to the next 25 years of bringing my best to help others with self care, productivity, and (my fave) leisure!

09/27/2022

I am excited to hear that Let's Get Together is back on, in person!

Let's Get Together (LGT) is BACK! This is a bi-monthly support group for those sharing in the journey of raising a child with diverse abilities aged 0 – 8. LGT is parent-driven, providing families with resources, networks, and information to prepare them for the joys and challenges of raising a child with diverse abilities.

Connect with others, gain perspectives and share, while considering the many unanswered questions parenting a child with diverse abilities brings. Group activities will focus on building capacities of families in a safe, confidential, respectful way. Children will enjoy play and social activities. Parents can share knowledge, and resources. Professional collaborations and guest speakers will take place.

This program includes all members of attending families. Siblings and extended family members are welcome. Want to know more about registering for this one of a kind program? Email Tracey at tstewart@cp-cc.org

09/16/2022

I just couldn't resist posting these because they made me laugh out loud! We've all been there once or twice, whether it's on a plane, helping a friend move, or fitting towels into the linen closet...these hit home!

While I don't usually use shape sorters as a 'goal based activity', figuring out space and size is helpful as we grow. You can also do this with tunnels, moving yourselves between furniture in a race, or with arts and crafts. Have fun with it, laugh when things or people 'don't fit', and keep it lighthearted when trying a new spot to match a shape or size.

A happy, laughing, relaxed kiddo is ready to learn, ready to try again, ready to be playful and engaged.

A stressed brain is not learning, no matter how many repetitions you attempt. Stress releases cortisol, sends the body's systems into fight,flight, or freeze, and curbs functions that the body considers non-essential.

So, be silly, fun, playful, engaging, and relaxed...because then, learning will happen.

09/15/2022

Caught this today on FB...excellent graphic !

09/04/2022

Walking through this week, I came across this awesome product! For years, I have recommended boards like this, but have usually resorted to science fair boards that are so big that storing them was often a deterrent to consistent use.

Here are some reasons I love this one...

>This divider was a lovely soft grey, so light is absorbed and not bouncing around the work space.

>Pockets and straps on the inside to hold visual schedules, reminders, hall passes, or other important things.

>It folds flat, and fits in a regular desk. Its not too tall that a student can't stand up and see over it.

>Was a reasonable price ($16.00 CAD).

>Students can wear headphones or ear buds to decrease auditory input as needed.

During work time, some students need lots of visual stimuli, and some need less...giving any student in the class a chance to try a strategy out, see if it works for them, and then use as needed, gives them opportunity to build self-regulation skills. For me, all these things added together to make a great product.

Great job !!

08/15/2022

A fun session this morning, during a memory game... trying out different movement opportunities for desk based learning such as Bouncy Bands on desk legs, and Pantomove Lupo chairs for sitting in.

Our memory game gave us lots to giggle and talk about...how people look similar and different, which ones we thought we looked like, where they might be from in the world, why we might want to visit there!

Building conversation skills on statements instead of a barage of questions is critical when helping kids further develop this skill... next time you have a conversation with your kiddo, try it! Make statements instead of asking questions (Oh how I love those purple flowers! vs What colour is that flower?), be silly about it, keep that back and forth going!

As for movement, I love the options of a Pantomove Lupo chair. Rotation, side to side as well as forward and back movement, all in one chair make this my go-to for kids that need to move in a classroom setting. It can be tricky as a full day chair for kids with low tone or decreased core strength, but an option to consider if it meets movement needs.

Bouncy bands can be put on desk or chair legs and provide the kiddo a chance to bounce their legs while sitting (just like you might if that zoom meeting is going on too long!).

Time to start to think about how to incorporate movement as our kids head back into school. Have a great week!


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06/22/2022

Thanks Wasaga Beach PP for making the beach accessible to everyone!

06/10/2022

This is how you do it!! Well done IDCI!! This is how you get your student body to support athletes of all abilities as they head out to represent your school at the Special Olympics meet.

This video just hit my heart in all the right places - peers supporting peers. A moment in all their lives they will remember for a lifetime!

(fair warning - cue tears...)

Thank you to our amazing athletes.