Dec Break

Oh my!! It's been some time since I last posted!!  I was wonderful to meet with a few of you over parent/teacher meetings.  I really appreciate all your interest in the OT program, and working together.

As mentioned during those meetings,  I will be returning Jan 3 to re-start session!  My last treatments were on Dec 7th, and all should have received updated notes.

LOTS is planned for Jan.  Greatly starting to modify children work and learning areas. 

I also love to hear or send in a list of the toys your children receive for Christmas.  There are so many different ways to use games, toys, and other gifts to tap into different skill building. 

Have a wonderful holiday season, and look forward to working toward in 2013!!

The ABC's of OT sessions

Here is a handout to use at home to practice Letter Recognition, letter formation, and Upper vs. Lower case.
I worked with quite a few student this week on matching Big letter to little letter.  Playing a memory game, and pairing up objects with what letter they start with. 

Use this handout to continue those lesson.  Make up your own fun games, or see if your child can recall the ones we played during OT sessions.
For example, make up card with each letter.  Have your child go on a word hunt.  They have to tape a card to one object that starts with that letter.  Practice the sound that letter makes. 

The gift of OT.

The holiday's are a OT's dream in the school world.
For one, I have to say 89% of OT have some crafting hobby.  Not to mention, the history of OT actually started with crafting. 

In the 1700's, during the "Age of Enlightenment", Occupational Therapy began to emerge. It was during this period that revolutionary ideas were evolving regarding the "infirmed" and mentally ill. At that time in history, the mentally ill were treated like prisoners; locked up and considered to be a danger to society.

It was the use of crafting, that taught the mentally ill new skills.  From how to socialize, to motor planning, to direction following.

In 1793, Phillipe Pinel began what was then called "Moral Treatment and Occupation", as an approach to treating people with mental illness.  Much later on, knowing to be Occupational Therapy.

In fact, the OT education still holds a great follow in the study of emotions and mental health.

Well, 1840-1860 were the "golden years" for the application of Moral Treatment and Occupation in American hospitals. It was during this time that the benefits of arts and crafts began to be noticed. Arts and crafts thus became a highly used activity to promote both relaxation and feelings of being productive, at the same time. A whole new approach was just about to emerge!

From the 1940's through the 1960's, the "Rehabilitation Movement" was in full force. With the thousands of injured soldiers (physically and mentally) returning home from the war, there was a surge in the demand for Occupational Therapists (or, OT's as we now call ourselves). At this point, OT's were not only treating the mentally ill who were already institutionalized, but began treating physical disabilities due to the injuries sustained in battle.

Using what tools??? CRAFTING

I tell you this, so you can see the history of OT, and the benefit doing crafts can be.  This isn't just a meanless task.  It has history!!  It's changed people of all kinds life.

So this season, think of your child as being apart of history in OT.  Making a gift for a loved one.  Creating a decoration for your home.  Inspiring a piece of art work that brings you and your child together, while adding 

Here are a few of my favorite ideas!!

Merry Hands .  Foam cut outs, and add for sparkle

 

 

 

sugar cookie fun!  A great gift for teacher, or party!

 

 

Something for the tree that a Aunt, Brother, Cousin, Friend.. and so on will LOVE!

 

 

 

I will be doing some fun activities with your children this month, and I hope they feel proud of the crafting skills they have.  Each of my students, your children, are what the spirit of Christmas is all about.  Joy, Happiness, and finding the fun or magic in a holiday gift.

Sit up Straight

Maybe all those old time nuns in school didn't have it fully wrong.  Posture is key, and crucial in a child's ability to learn, write, gain motor control, prevent long term joint misalignment and so much more.

So yes, I have in my own way, become the new Ms. Grace "Nun" of sitting.

Here are a few reason's why.

1) If your feet are not on the floor,  then chances are they are kicking around, siding off to the side, and surely looking to at some point get your child to stand up. 
Believe it or not, not having a grounded foundation of just having feet on a stable surface leads to fatigue, and the body getting a sensory input that is distracting. 

2) If the feet are not stable, then I assure you that the hips, back, shoulders, arms, wrist, hands are not as well.  It is all connect.

3) Grounded feet give sensory input that is calming.  This is especially important for any of the children I've sent notes saying maybe : "Hyper stimulated with sensory input", "Low Tone in trunk", "easily distracted by basic position changes" " Stands and fidgets with tasks".

I am not asking your child has to become a perfect solider of sitting, but their are some key points that will provide an environment promoting better learning.

*First is a foot box.  Your child should not be barely touching the floor.

*A writing surface where the arms are bent close to 90 at the elbows. Who wants to be writing with the hands by their ears?

*Slightly bending forward at hips is just fine, and a nice neutral relaxed posture. 

*However, think bending at hips, not fully at lower back.

*For poor wrist flexion (meaning the hand curves down vs. top of hand bending up and towards the forearm), I suggest a slant board.

*  For over or low stimulated children.  A chair with arms.  This helps so so much with focusing the child, and giving sensory boundaries.  I have one at school I use, and Ms. Baily will use in class.  Trust me, this small change is a miracle worker!  I use it even with my 3yr old sometimes.





Here are a few examples of work area changes. If you want me to email photo's of your child's work stations I do at school then just send me your email to meaghan.grace@gmail.com

Theraband around the legs of a classroom chair for the student to kick into to get proprioceptive input while sitting. This allows the student to fidget and receive sensory input, which can help with the student's ability to focus, concentrate and most importantly, remain seated. This also works well for fidgety children who can't sit still at the dinner table long enough to get through a meal with their family.

Slant foot board and hip support.

Use of Slant board to bring wrist to netural

                                                                

DYI Slant Board.  Binder, and clip.  Use a non-skid material underneath to keep binder from moving!

Before!

                                                                                                    

                                                                  After with a foot box support. 

 

Foot Box, and nonskid material.  I used under the worksheet as well to prevent the students paper from shifting as he works.  This becomes a huge issue for children with poor attention span, starting and terminating task.  Even children with poor motor plan or spatial awareness. As once the work shifts, paper rotates, and so on.. it results in a pause in task and hence increased difficulty finishing the task.

Over thanksgiving break play around with your children play environment while they color, do a craft of cutting and gluing, eating, and so on.

Happy Thanksgiving!! I truly value your wonderful child, and have seen them working so hard and doing so so well!!

Parent/Teacher night

I will be available to meet with the parents of children receiving OT at SFA during the parent/teachers night.

Just let me or your child's teacher know if you like a schedule an OT meeting as well.

my email again is Meaghan.grace@gmail.com.


So looking forward to seeing you, and talking about your child's progress!

Good Morning SFA

Today I worked on making the students a morning routine list.

One of the struggles for many students is the rush of getting up, in the car, into line, up to class.. and so on and so on.

Children with declined attention span, limited ability to sequence task, and difficulty following multi step direction will struggle when you then add on top the rushing of things.  They get overwhelmed, anxious, and cognitively go blank on what to do.

Who wouldn't?  I do myself!  Many times in the car I will think "Did I turn off the stove?"  "Did I remember to put the dog inside?"  "Did I sign all the school forms"... and so on.

So I made up a handout for children needing a little extra cuing to follow.  This will help them form the habit of routine.  Allowing them to cognitively understand sequencing a task, limit the frustration they get when feeling lost, and form mental processes of direction following/list making/ADL task.

Here is the basic AM checklist. Feel free to print it out, and review with your child at home.  Have them talk to you about their morning routine.  Maybe role play?  Say "Okay, I'm the student, what should I do first teacher."

I encourage you to use words like "First", "Then", "Next", "Also", "Last".  Transition words that cue the forming of sequencing. 

1)_____ Put away Lunchbox on shelf

2)_____Then,  Unpack Book bag

3)_____ Hang up coat and book bag

4)_____ Morning Announcements/Prayer

 

5)_____  Worksheet

Milestone marker

I found this very basic and easy to follow milestone marker (I also included other because I'm a list maker and lover).  I tend to give this to parents when first identifying if there is any reason to feel a need for therapy services.  It is not the Commandments of Development!!!  Just a helpful tool when introducing the idea of services to a parent for the first time, and something I can reflect on when showing parents where there child is on the milestone markers.  Do not get alarmed if there are maybe a few things your child has not mastered or even started.  Just be aware these are areas development you can work on, and will be growing.

Here is the Chart:

 



A 2nd one I like for Motor Skills:

 

This has also been a check off list I give parents wondering if a child a Kindergarten Ready.

• Listen to stories without interrupting
• Recognize rhyming sounds
• Pay attention for short periods of time to adult-directed tasks
• Understand actions have both causes and effects
• Show understanding of general time of day 
• Cut with scissors
• Trace basic shapes
• Begin to share with others
• Start to follow rules
• Be able to recognize authority
• Manage bathroom needs 
• Button shirts, pants, coats, and zip up zippers
• Begin to control oneself
• Separate from parents without being upset
• Speak understandably
• Talk in complete sentences of five to six words
• Look at pictures and then tell stories
• Identify rhyming words
• Identify the beginning sound of some words
• Identify some Alphabet Letter 
• Recognize some common sight words like "stop"
• Sort similar objects by color, size, and shape
• Recognize groups of one, two, three, four, and five objects
• Count to ten 
• Bounce a ball

I could keep going on with list and different styles of charts.  If you want more information on a certain age, or skill set.  IE. Social skills, Language, Learning.. and so on.  Then Just email me or let Ms. Baily know and I will add it in your child's folder. 

Beat the Odds

 This is a message from my wonderful workout Buddy on a new group is he attempting to form for children of Baltimore, located in the Overlea/Fullerton/Hamilton community

  Do you know any kids with social or behavioral issues? 

Silly question, isn't it?

                                               Let's join together to help them Beat the Odds.

Beat the Odds: Social & Emotional Skill Building Delivered in a Framework of Drumming

Sustainable & Evidence-Based      Beat the Odds integrates activities from contemporary drum circles and group counseling to teach skills such as focusing and listening, team building, leadership, expressing feelings, managing anger/stress, empathy, and gratitude.  It is inclusive, culturally relevant, and does not bear the stigma of therapy.    UCLA researchers have shown that Beat the Odds can significantly improve a spectrum of behavior problems in children, such as inattention, withdrawn/depression, post-traumatic stress, anxiety, attention deficit/hyperactivity, oppositional defiance, and sluggish cognitive tempo.       While this program has been designed for use with elementary age children, it can be easily adapted to any population, including older children, families, and older adults.  We would incorporate drum circles into the schedule.  The program can serve up to 30 children at a time.

Check out this links to learn more
http://vimeo.com/19102710
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fY5t3GdHsFo

Patrick was trained in this program last weekend in LA, California. He is planning on starting the program here at Universal Fitness at The Overlea Event Center in January or February if he can get the equipment in time.

He was checking to see if anyone has any connections with people who may be willing to sponsor the program.

This is the equipment he need to be able to help 30 kids at a time.
About $4,200.00

If you know someone or are someone that can help, it would be a blessing to the kids.

I will also be forwarding information to any of those interested in the classes, and using this method in behavior mgmt, coping skills, and sensory integration during OT treatments.

Win with Love,
Win with Rhythm,
Win with Drums,


Patrick (and Myself)

Tic Tac Toe

A free and simple game to play is tic tac toe.

BUT instead of X's and O's, use A's and B's, or T and W.  This will help work on a number of things.  Letter recognition, letter formation, hand writing, social skills associated with word playing

THEN, change it up again Lowercase and Uppercase A vs a, T vs t.

Lastly, you can up it a level of difficulty.  Spelling words.  Stating the rule as "You win if you spell Cat and I win if I spell Mat.  Just a tip it helps to have one letter in common.  Sometimes I just make the middle box the common letter. 

Game Night

I maybe a bit biased, as I do love board games, but I feel having a family game night is more important then homework.  You can keep that fact from your child that may not love doing homework.

Honestly, a board game can produce many development shaping milestones.  Social skills, following directions, fine motor, attentions span, memory recall, shift attention, counting, time management.  Depending on the game it may also be money management, learning colors, and so on.

A simple Rubik's Cube or a puzzle requires the child to exercise his problem solving skills. Something doctors also recommend for children with short term memory problems. The child is required to take turns, thus practicing patience and proper social behavior. In situations where the group needs to decide who goes first, they learn about the decision making process.

 Even if you ignore all of the potential lessons that board games can teach your children, there is no greater importance in playing board games with your kids than spending time together as a family. Your children will learn that you place a value on spending time with them - time in which you can engage in conversation and friendly competition- time in which you are actively engaged with each other. So turn off the television and pull out that board game.

 Here are a few of my top choices:
 1) Guess Who (also a great speech tool as children have to process questions and answers verbally)
2) Hoot Owl Hoot (I'm hoping to have this one after Christmas to share with the children in OT!!)
3) Connect Four
4) Trouble
5) Hi-Ho-Cherry-O
6) Rush Hour - (looks boring, but honestly a big hit, and GREAT of pattern and problem solving)

REMEMBER: The rules are flexible.  It is a GAME.  The first focus should be starting on one skill, and forget if the rest is done perfect. 
Maybe the goal is for your child to sit for five minutes of the game.  Then make that all the game is about- and be flexible with the rest.
...You will grow from there.

Building Memory and Focus

When your child starts kindergarten, she will have to listen and follow directions, skills she is learning in preschool. But she will also have to concentrate enough to follow through on academic work. Here are some fun activities you can do at home to promote concentration:

• Show your child a bright, lively picture in a favorite book. Have her look at it for a minute. Then take it away. Ask her to tell you everything she can remember about the picture.


• Play board games with your child and other family and friends. These games are great ways to teach following directions. They also naturally encourage children to pay attention. Many children follow the action closely to make sure the other players are not getting too far ahead!


• Encourage your child to memorize simple, familiar rhymes and songs. Start with easier ones, such as “Jack and Jill.” Later, move on to those with verses, such as “Old MacDonald.” A Mother Goose book from the library can help with this.

These free, basic, and quick task are a great start to building skills of attention.  Start small, and work up to longer more complex memory games.

Remember, you're not trying to overwhelm your child.  Asking to much to fast may leave them feeling anxious, and take the fun out of learning.

Just enjoy the game and the rest will fall into place!

Handwriting Grips

Many of you may have read a note with me mentioning what level of handwriting grip your child has.  This may have left you a little puzzled as to what I visual meant.

Well, here is a image of the different grips.

 

Functional Grasp Patterns

Tripod grasp with open web space: The pencil is held with the tip of the thumb and index finger and rests against the side of the third finger. The thumb and index finger form a circle.

Quadrupod grasp with open web space: The pencil is held with the tip of the thumb, index finger, and third finger and rests against the side of the fourth finger. The thumb and index finger form a circle.

Adaptive tripod or D’Nealian grasp : The pencil is held between the index and third fingers with the tips of the thumb and index finger on the pencil. The pencil rests against the side of the third finger near its end.


Immature Grasp Patterns

Fisted grasp: The pencil is held in a fisted hand with the point of the pencil on the fifth finger side on the hand. This is typical of very young children.
Pronated grasp: The pencil is held diagonally within the hand with the tips of the thumb and index finger on the pencil. This is typical of children ages 2 to 3.
Inefficient Grasp Patterns

Five finger grasp: The pencil is held with the tips of all five fingers. The movement when writing is primarily on the fifth finger side of the hand.

Thumb tuck grasp: The pencil is held in a tripod or quadrupod grasp but with the thumb tucked under the index finger.

Thumb wrap grasp: The pencil is held in a tripod or quadrupod grasp but with the thumb wrapped over the index finger.

Tripod grasp with closed web space: The pencil is held with the tip of the thumb and index finger and rests against the side of the third finger. The thumb is rotated toward the pencil, closing the web space.

Finger wrap or interdigital brace grasp: The index and third fingers wrap around the pencil. The thumb web space is completely closed.

Flexed wrist or hooked wrist: The pencil can be held in a variety of grasps with the wrist flexed or bent. This is more typically seen with left-hand writers but is also present in some right-hand writers

 

 

 

*** I will post activity to work on at home to work toward functional grips if I've identified in notes that your child has an immature grip***

To the Parents

I've been wanted to make up a site that will provide parents a source and insight into what is going on in the OT classroom.  Many have asked me for things they can do at home with their child to connect the OT session at school, to the learning that continues at home.

As A result I hope to post weekly activities, or interesting articles on child development that may help connect that gap. 

Let me introduce myself a bit more.

I soon learned early in life that I wanted put my stamp in health care by becoming an Occupational Therapist. It became a magical desire to know I could help someone gain their quality of life back after an illness, injury, development delays, cognitive change, or surgery.

My patients battles have inspired me to challenge my knowledge to better serve them. I graduated with a Master in OT,& Minor in Psych from  Misericordia University in 2004. I later returned to Boston U for my PhD 2008.

My desire to live a healthy & full life have been greatly enhanced by entering into a wonderful marriage & the joys of motherhood. They have given me the "bones" to know the importance of balanced wellness.

I currently work in the hospital setting seeing a variety of patients from ortho, to CVA's, to Cancer diagnosis 3-4 times a week.  I also amhttp://about.me/meaghan.grace Crt in Lymphedema and Gerson Therapy.  Both of which I practice 2-3 a week in a wellness center.

In between this I volunteer at SFA 2-3 times a week to provide school based OT, and interpretative school time sessions.

Yes, it can be said that I do love my career dearly.  I feel overly blessed to be able to work with many wonderful people.  All with the DEAR DEAR support of my husband and two girls.

I look forward to working together, and watching your AMAZING children grow confidence in themselves and learning ability.