Fairy Tales with a Lesson

Happy National Tell a Fairy Tale Day!  Stories have an unique ability of helping children understand situations and learn life concepts.  As an adult, we are able to pick up on the distinct lessons being delivered.  I remember re-reading some of my old time favorites with my oldest daughter as an adult for the first time and seeing it through different eyes.  On a day that celebrates these stories I wanted to bring you a brief list of some with their life lesson purpose to assist you in choosing the one that may be best suited for your little one!

Hansel and Gretel: This story is a great one to teach the dangers of talking to strangers and more so entering someone's home that is unknown and not approved by their parents.  This one can get a little frightening for some little ones (you know, given the whole oven thing) so be sure you will be able to help your child hear the message without a sleepless night of nightmares!

The Pied Piper: A fabulous story that introduces greed, selfishness and keeping your word.  There are various versions of this one, some including well known and loved characters such as Mickey Mouse.

The City Mouse and the Country Mouse:  This happens to be one of my favorites.  It helps a child appreciate the things that they have and understand why we don't covet others things.  This is also a great way to prepare your child for going home after a trip and help them remember all the things that they love at home!

The Gingerbread Man: This is a cute story that helps children learn the dangers of strangers without the scariness of other stories.  It also introduces the concept of teasing in a light hearted way that can help you breach the conversation with your child.

Chicken Little: We use words like "size of the problem" in the therapy world to teach this concept. This is such a good story to help your little one understand how their reaction should match the severity of the problem.

Have fun reading!

Splash in the Puddles and Swing from the Bars

One of the first homework items that I give families that I begin working with is simple: go outside and play.  Most parents laugh at me when I say this, however, I am being very serious.  Why? Because when we increase children's gross motor skills and strength we will increase their fine motor skills, posture and ability to pay attention for longer periods of time.

So what are some of the best outdoor activities that you can be doing with your child and why? Here are a list of some of my favorites!

1. Monkey Bars: Monkey bars work on increasing upper body strength.
2. Jumping Activities: Hop scotch, jumping rope, etc. Jumping provides good proprioceptive input into the child's body, helping with body awareness as well as increased attention.
3. Bike Riding: Riding a bike will help improve your child's core strength, balance and strength.
4. Swinging: When on a swing a child is gaining vestibular input, which is good for body awareness as well as can aide with sensory integration.
5. Swimming: Great coordination can be gained from swimming with decreased need of balance due to the weightlessness of the water.  Water also provides another element of sensory input.

So grab your water bottle, put on some sunscreen, get outside, have fun and enjoy!

Old School Games with a New Outlook

Do you remember the games that we played as kids that didn't involve a video screen or a controller?  I am talking about ones like Hop Scotch, Where is Thumbkin? and Red Light, Green Light.  I remember playing them first with my mother and then with my friends.  What I didn't realize was that I was doing a lot more than playing a game.

Some of these old school favorites are a great way to work on different developmental skills.  As an OT I have re-evaluated all of these games that I enjoyed and looked at how we can use them in therapy and at home to  help our kiddos with some fun learning strategies.

Here are some oldies but goodies with the skills that you can work on while playing with your child!  And most importantly....Have Fun!!

Where is Thumbkin?
This is one of my favorite ways to assist kiddos with finger isolation.  In addition to promoting singular finger movements of each hand it works on finger identification as well as joint isolation and range of motion in the fingers.

Hopscotch
This is one that is loaded proprioceptive input for our friends that need that input to be able to attend to seated tasks, such as homework or meal times.  It also works on bilateral coordination, balance and visual motor skills.  Not to mention learning numbers and sequencing!

Red Light, Green Light
I really enjoy this one for my friends who have a difficult time attending to auditory information!  Reaction time and attention are also some skills that will be developed while using this game.

Mother May I
The basics of the game will work through motor planning skills to be able to perform the task being directed by the "mother".  Sequencing, attention and multi-step directions are essential skills for the game and allow your child to be silly while working on these skills.

Patty Cake
Patty cake is a great one for bilateral coordination and motor planning.  What little girl does not like to play patty cake?  Try having them make up a new song to the game!

Simon Says
Memory and following directions are the keys to this game.  These skills are very valuable for within academic settings and provide a fun way for a child to pay attention to rules and sequential steps.

Making a Special Valentine

Looking for some fun projects that you can do with your little ones for Valentines Day? Check out this fun, easy and inexpensive project that you can do at home with your kiddo.  Below the video you will find the skills you will be working on while having fun and making memories!

Tissue Paper Flowers

Materials: Tissue Paper
                 Pipe Cleaners
                 Pen
                 Scissors
                 Large and Small Circle Stencil

Check out the video with the step by step instructions completed by Ms. Kat from Amazing Kidz Therapy.

Skills:  Visual Motor for cutting
            Fine motor precision for tracing
            Finger strengthening and fine motor coordination for twisting the pipe cleaner

Spoon Full of Love

Learning to use utensils can be a very exciting and funny time for a child's development.  How many of us have those pictures that our mom's snapped of us with spaghetti on our heads or sauce all over our face?  And let's be honest, we have all done it to our own kids, right?

For some families, learning to use utensils can be a challenging time.  Children can become disappointed and then disinterested. Parents can become frustrated, making it difficult to assist in the learning process.

Here are some pointers to help both you and your child with success!

Dress the Part
I remember very clearly with my first child being so concerned about her spilling on her clothes.  I mean, not only was it going to be a laundry nightmare but she was going to ruin her new outfit!  I then realized that the problem was ME!  That's right, I had placed a barrier in her way of being successful because I would take over to avoid these spills (yep, even us OT's can be really bad about allowing our children to be independent all the time!).

Here are some things that I learned to avoid this problem:
1. Change before dinner when at home into something that already has stains or is difficult to stain (ie a black shirt)
2. I am a big fan of bibs, but I know they don't always cut it.  Use your old t-shirts to place over your child while eating...covers the whole body!
3. Bring a shirt to put over them or change them into at a restaurant.  This way the look nice entering and exiting and can still make a mess eating!

Set Up for Success
There are some food consistencies or substances that are easier for children to use their utensils for.  For example, soup is much more difficult than yogurt.

Here are some ways to set them up for success:
1. Start with thicker consistencies like yogurt, pudding and mashed potatoes.  These will stick to the spoon and spill with less frequency allowing more to actually make it to the mouth!
2. Be sure pieces are cut into bites that are smaller enough to allow for safety but large enough for them to be able to stab with a fork.  Just like Goldie Locks, you want it to be Just Right!
3. Give them a certain amount of time to try using utensils before going back to finger feeding.  For example, "Lets try our fork for 5 minutes and then we can stop if your having trouble." Or "Once you eat all your potatoes with your fork you can use your fingers for your peas."

Challenge 
Learning any new skills can be challenging.  We as parents want to be the gate keeper of pushing them to challenge them and meltdown mode.  Keep an eye on how they are handling the challenge.  Encourage them to continue with praise and support when they begin to display the first signs of disappointment or frustration.  We want to push them to allow for growth but do not want to pass that point where they will be discouraged and resistant to trying again.

Happy eating!!

Teaching Emotions Through Children's Books

We all have those beloved stories that we read, and re-read and re-read again when we were children.  Besides being funny or heart warming, I am sure if you reflect back on these stories there was a character that you were attached to as well.  Whether it was because you could relate to the character or there was something endearing about them, you did not forget the story thread of that book.

Teaching children emotions can be a very tricky matter. Using stories to assist our children in learning emotions and being able to identify them and respond appropriately is a great interactive and non-threatening way for our children to learn.  Either while reading the book or following it, talk about what's happening, how are people feeling and what they could have done differently.

As a mom of 3, I know that story time is a cherished time of the day; where your children are captivated by the story being read and are more receptive to answering questions as long as they are relative to the book.  Here are some of my favorites that will help teach your child different emotions.  I hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

Empathy and Understanding Uniqueness in Individuals

Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andreae

This wonderful story depicts the way in which people feel when they feel ridiculed.  Not to worry, there is a happy ending with others understanding and appreciating differences in everyone's strengths.

The Sneetches by Dr. Seuss

Leave it to Dr. Seuss to give us a story in which we learn if being different and elite is really what matters most to us or if it leads us to do foolish things.

Quick as a Cricket by Audrey Wood

Through this quick read, children can learn to embrace all the different characteristics that make them unique.  Use this to discuss how each person may have more of some characteristics making them one of a kind and special.  Also a fun way to see if there are other animals they feel they may relate to!

Friendship

Forget Me Not: Friendship Blossoms by Michael Broad

This heart warming tale helps illustrate the value and pure characteristics found in friendship.  Also a good book about accepting others that are different than ourselves.

Forgiveness

Love You Forever by Robert Munsch

This story is told through the eyes of a child and their mother to understand unconditional love and forgiveness.  This story allows for easy transference of scenarios between siblings and friends.

These are just a handful that I have used time and time again, both in the clinic and at home.  Happy reading!!

Weight Lifting for Our Mouths!

This may sound completely absurd, however, our mouths are made of tons of muscles!  And sometimes some of us need additional help to strengthen those muscles.  

Strong lips and facial muscles are important for speech production, eating, facial expressions and maintain saliva within our mouths. So how do we go about making these muscles stronger?  Check out some fun activities that you can do at home with your kiddo.  They will never know they are exercising!

Blowing Bubbles

Bubbles can be a fun way to use proper air control and lip formation to produce the bubbles with sustaining the muscle control.   Start with forming one bubble and work up to how many can you make before the wand has no more fluid.  If your kiddo has a hard time with the feel of the liquid, take your bubbles to the bath tub where it can be washed off immediately.

Pom pom or Feather Races With a Straw

Using a straw, blow a pom pom or cotton ball across the table.  Can they keep a feather up in the air by blowing through the straw? This helps with strengthening all the muscles around the mouth as well as the lips.

Drinking Through a Straw

Using a straw to drink fluids assist with strengthening both the lips and the muscles around the mouth.  The more fun the straw, the more fun it makes for drinking!

Best Way to Strong Hands is Through a Child's Stomach?

Something that you may not know is that body strength begins from the center of the body and works its way out.  What does that mean? It means that strong tummy muscles help to support strong arms and hands.
 
Many people hear that a child has a poor core strength and believe that they can have the child do some sit-ups and fix the problem.  Well, that is not really how it works.  Making activities fun to develop abdominal and lower back muscles are what it is all about.  Here are some fun activities you can do at home with your kiddo
 

Superman

Have your little one lay on the floor on their tummy.  Can they lift their chest off the ground and with their arms out to fly?  How about lifting their legs up at the same time?  Try to hold for 30 seconds.  As they advance can they have a stuffed animal friend sit on their back for a ride without falling off?  How about holding a ball between their feet?

 

Crab Walking

While seated on the floor have your little one reach back with both their arms and lift their rear.  Using their arms and legs have them walk across the floor.  How far can they make it before dropping their bottom?  Can they race siblings?

 

Bridging

While laying on their back have your little one tent their knees.  While keeping their shoulders on the floor have them lift their bottoms off the ground.  How long can they hold it?  Can they lift it high enough to have their toys walk or drive under their bridge?

Walk Like a Dog

On hands and knees have your little one walk like a dog while keeping their back straight.  Can a stuffed animal friend go for a ride without falling off?  Now can they reach out with their right arm and left leg and hold that position?  What about reaching with the left arm and right leg?

 

Little Fingers Big Fun: Hand Strengthening Activities

We often hear people refer to the term "Fine Motor Skills". But what does that really mean??

Fine motor refers to the use of the small muscles that are located within the fingers and hands.  Fine motor skills are required to perform activities such as handwriting, eating, playing and manipulating smaller objects, self-care skills and skills required for success within academic settings.  When there is a lack of strength within these tiny muscles the ability to perform required tasks for prolonged periods of time become very difficult and frustrating for children.

Play is the number one way to engage a child and help them develop skills that they need or are having difficulty with.  Try some of these fun activities with your little one!

 

Play with Tongs or Tweezers

Tongs and tweezers use the three fingers required to grasp a pencil properly.  When used with the thumb, index and middle fingers, your child will be working on strengthening the muscles within those fingers as well as wrist extension when picking up items.  Here are some fun ways/ideas in which you can incorporate them:

·         Pom-poms and cotton balls can be an easy thing to start picking up.  You can work on sorting them into different colors, counting or placing on paper to make a picture.

·         Tongs and tweezers can be used when playing games to pick up and place the pieces.

·         Children love to help in the kitchen!  This is a great place to use tongs!

·         Make cleaning up toys fun with using tongs to pick items up.

·         Tweezers can be used to pick up coins and place into a piggy bank.

Clothespins

Clothespins are a great way to work those tiny muscles within the fingers with some resistance.  Using the thumb, index and middle finger or simply the thumb or index finger, have your child open the clothespins and place on an object. You can hang objects on a line like pictures or simple clothes.  Use colored clothespins to make patterns on a piece of paper.  Clothespins can also be used to pick up items.  Have your child pick up a cotton ball with a clothespin and dab into paint.  Maintaining the cotton ball in the clothespin have them create a work of art!

 

Playdoh

Playdoh provides your little one with some minimal resistance while crafting their next creation.  Roll into balls with their fingers, use shape cutters to push into the playdoh, cut with playdoh scissors, the possibilities are endless!

You can also make your own fun dough at home!  Many different crafty websites can provide you with some fun and easy recipes!

Sponges

What child does not like to play with water? Sponges are an item that force your little one to use their fingers and only their fingers to perform the task.  Have them get the sponges full of water and have them try and squeeze it all out.  Can they fill up a glass with water?  What about a bucket?