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.