April is Occupational Therapy Month

In celebration of Occupational Therapy Month, we're sharing the invaluable benefits that Child's Play Occupational Therapy brings to children's lives. Occupational therapy goes beyond just teaching basic skills - it focuses on using everyday activities, particularly play, to enhance a child's ability to succeed in various roles they play, such as being a play partner, student, teammate, and more. Child's Play Therapy is all about building skills through play - a concept that is not only effective but also incredibly fun for the children involved.

One of the most beautiful aspects of occupational therapy is its inclusivity. Children from all walks of life can benefit tremendously from OT. Children who exhibit sensory processing disorder/sensory integration issues, motor coordination issues, delays in gross and fine motor skills, visual motor delays, poor balance, clumsiness, and various other challenges can find support and growth through pediatric OT. Whether a child is on the Autism Spectrum, has learning disabilities, or is gifted with extra struggles, Child's Play Therapy is here to provide tailored interventions that promote growth and development.

The beauty of occupational therapy lies in its holistic approach. By working on a child's physical, cognitive, sensory, and emotional skills through engaging activities, occupational therapists at Child's Play Therapy help children achieve their full potential and become more independent in their daily lives. Imagine a child learning to write more fluently, play with peers more confidently, or even concentrate better in school - all through the power of play and structured therapeutic activities.

Occupational therapy is not just about skill-building; it's about empowering children to navigate their world with confidence and resilience. By addressing challenges early on and equipping children with the necessary tools to overcome them, Child's Play Therapy sets the stage for long-term success and happiness. It's about fostering a mindset of growth, self-acceptance, and determination in children, guiding them towards a bright and fulfilling future.

Curious if your child could benefit from occupational therapy? Schedule a free consultation with our Lafayette or Pleasanton office by visiting our website or calling 925-954-4546.

Free Screenings for Children at New Pleasanton Location

We're thrilled to announce that they will be offering free Occupational Therapy and Speech Therapy screenings for children at their new Pleasanton location. The screenings will take place on March 12th and March 15th from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm at 4637 Chabot Drive Suite 106.

Parents who have concerns about their child's language development, fine and gross motor skills, attention span, handwriting, or learning abilities are strongly encouraged to attend these screenings. The assessments provided during the screenings will offer valuable insights into children's development and help identify any potential areas where they may benefit from therapy services.

During the screenings, highly skilled Speech-Language Pathologists will assess speech sounds, pronunciation, language comprehension, and oral motor skills. Additionally, Occupational Therapists will evaluate fine motor skills, upper body strength, visual tracking, hand-eye coordination, and sensory processing.

Founder of Child's Play Therapy Services, Christina Gallo, emphasizes the importance of early intervention in addressing developmental challenges in children. "We're excited to offer these free screenings to help identify any areas where children may benefit from therapy services," says Gallo.

Parents interested in scheduling a screening are encouraged to sign up by calling 925-954-4546 or emailing admin@cptherapyservices.com. Due to limited slots available, early registration is highly recommended to secure a spot for your child.

Register here and don't miss this opportunity to gain valuable insights into your child's development and potential areas for support at no cost.

Child's Play Therapy Services Expands to Pleasanton, CA!

We are thrilled to announce the upcoming opening of our second location in Pleasanton, CA, at 4637 Chabot Dr #106. This expansion represents an exciting opportunity to reach help families, as we extend our child-centered therapeutic approach to serve the Pleasanton community.

Our core philosophy revolves around creating a nurturing environment grounded in joy, love, and acceptance. Our mission is to empower children to develop essential skills for meaningful relationships and a positive self-image. With this new location, we are eager to bring our specialized services closer to families in Pleasanton.

Our practice offers a comprehensive range of pediatric occupational therapy, speech therapy, and feeding therapy, all delivered through a child-led and highly individualized approach. We prioritize continuous professional development to ensure the highest quality of care and maintain a collaborative spirit to effectively support children and their families.

We firmly believe in the boundless potential of every child to develop sensory motor, language, emotional, and cognitive capacities. By fostering successful relationships and nurturing a positive self-image, we aim to unlock each child's potential and contribute to their holistic well-being.

Founder Christina Gallo, MS, OTR/L, shares her excitement about the expansion, stating, "Our mission is centered around helping children build the skills needed for successful relationships and a positive sense of self. We are thrilled to extend our services to Pleasanton and look forward to contributing to the well-being of the local community."

To schedule a consultation with us, contact our office directly at (925) 954-4546.

Navigating the Holidays: Supporting Children with Sensory Sensitivities

The holiday season is a magical time filled with twinkling lights, festive tunes, and joyous gatherings. However, for children with sensory sensitivities, the holiday cheer can become overwhelming. The abundance of lights, loud noises, varied textures, and increased family time can create a challenging environment. At Child's Play Therapy, we understand the unique needs of children with sensory issues and offer valuable tips to help them navigate the holiday season with comfort and ease.
 
1. Create a Sensory-Friendly Space:
Designate a quiet, comfortable space where your child can retreat when sensory stimuli become overwhelming. Fill this space with familiar objects, calming colors, and soft textures, providing a sanctuary for them to relax and recharge.
 
2. Manage Lighting and Sounds:
Adjust the intensity of lights and sounds in your home. Consider using soft, ambient lighting rather than bright, flashing decorations. Use noise-canceling headphones or earplugs to help minimize the impact of loud holiday music or sudden bursts of noise.
 
3. Plan Ahead for Gatherings:
Inform relatives and friends about your child's sensory sensitivities in advance. Suggest alternatives like low-key gatherings or smaller group activities to reduce overwhelming social interactions. Having a schedule or visual cues can help your child understand and prepare for upcoming events.
 
4. Dress Comfortably:
Choose clothing made from soft, non-irritating fabrics to minimize discomfort. If your child is sensitive to specific textures, let them pick out comfortable outfits for holiday events. This allows them to express their preferences and feel more in control.
 
5. Incorporate Calming Activities:
Integrate calming activities into holiday traditions. Engage in sensory-friendly crafts, such as making ornaments or sensory bins with tactile materials. These activities can provide a soothing and enjoyable experience for your child.
 
6. Respect Boundaries:
Encourage family members and friends to respect your child's boundaries. If your child needs a break or expresses discomfort, ensure that others understand and support their need for space and time alone.
 
If you have questions about supporting your child with sensory sensitivities during the holidays or are seeking additional guidance, reach out to Child's Play Therapy. Our dedicated team is here to provide the support and resources your family needs. Don't hesitate to contact our office for more information or to schedule a free Occupational Therapy (OT) scan to determine if your child could benefit from our services.
 
The holidays don’t need to be stressful. Let’s work together to create a joyful and inclusive experience for every child, ensuring that the magic of the holidays can be enjoyed by all.

Unlocking Winter Break Enrichment at Child's Play Therapy Services

As the winter break approaches, Child's Play Therapy Services is excited to open its doors to a world of enriching activities designed to make the holiday season both fun and educational for children of all ages. Let's delve into the exciting programs awaiting your child during this winter wonderland of learning and play.
 
Winter Wonderland Play Group (Ages 3-5):
Our Winter Wonderland Play Group is tailor-made for our youngest participants, aged 3 to 5. Immerse your child in activities that foster foundational sensory processing, enhance gross and fine motor skills, nurture language development, and practice crucial social skills such as turn-taking, sharing, and imaginative play. This group offers a magical experience that sets the stage for a lifetime of learning.
 
Preschool Boost (Ages 3-5):
Ideal for children needing extra support in foundational skills for success in a classroom environment, the Preschool Boost group focuses on pre-printing and printing skills, scissor skills, regulation skills, transition skills, and basic social skills essential for a successful school journey. With a limited capacity of 6 children, this group ensures personalized attention and growth.
 
Holiday Tweens Life Skills (Ages 9-12):
Tailored to address crucial life skills, our Holiday Tweens Life Skills program is designed for ages 9 to 12. From project planning and crafting/cooking to positive relationships and conflict resolution, this group fosters cooperation, self-regulation, confidence, and essential executive and organizational skills. It's a holistic approach to nurturing well-rounded tweens.
 
OT Intensives:
For a concentrated boost of therapeutic support during the break, our Occupational Therapy (OT) Intensives offer individualized sessions over a week or two. These sessions are designed to accelerate progress toward specific developmental or therapeutic goals, providing focused attention and support tailored to your child's unique needs.
 
Secure Your Spot:
With limited spaces available, we encourage parents to visit our website, explore each program in detail, and sign up in advance to secure their child's spot in these enriching winter break activities. Let's make this winter break a season of growth, learning, and fun at Child's Play Therapy Services!

Self-Regulation for Children: Strategies to Help Your Child Thrive

Self-regulation is the ability to manage and control one's own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. It is an essential skill that helps children function well in social, academic, and daily life situations. Children who struggle with self-regulation may have difficulty focusing, controlling impulses, and interacting with others. Fortunately, there are strategies parents can use to help their children develop self-regulation skills.
 
What is Self-Regulation?
 
Self-regulation is the ability to manage one's own emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in a way that promotes positive outcomes. It involves a range of skills, including:
 
Emotional regulation: The ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions.
Behavioral regulation: The ability to control one's actions and behaviors in response to different situations.
Cognitive regulation: The ability to focus attention, plan, and problem-solve.
Why is Self-Regulation Important for Children?
 
Self-regulation is an essential skill for children to develop, as it helps them:
 
Succeed academically: Children who have good self-regulation skills are better able to focus and concentrate in school, which can improve their academic performance.
Develop social skills: Children who can regulate their emotions and behaviors are more likely to form positive relationships with others and be successful in social situations.
Manage stress: Children who can regulate their emotions and behaviors are better able to cope with stress and anxiety.
Build resilience: Children who can regulate their emotions and behaviors are better able to bounce back from challenges and setbacks.
Strategies for Helping Children Develop Self-Regulation Skills
 
Here are some strategies parents can use to help their children develop self-regulation skills:
 
Practice Mindfulness: Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. Parents can help their children practice mindfulness by encouraging them to focus on their breathing or other sensory experiences, such as the sights and sounds around them.
 
Provide Opportunities for Physical Activity: Physical activity can help children regulate their emotions and behaviors by providing an outlet for excess energy and helping them relax. Parents can encourage their children to engage in physical activities they enjoy, such as sports, dancing, or yoga.
 
Teach Coping Strategies: Coping strategies can help children manage their emotions and behaviors in response to stressors. Parents can help their children identify coping strategies that work for them, such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, or taking a break.
 
Establish Routines: Routines can help children feel more in control of their environment and provide a sense of predictability. Parents can establish consistent routines for activities such as bedtime, homework, and meals.
 
Set Clear Expectations: Children need clear expectations and boundaries to help them regulate their behavior. Parents can establish clear rules and consequences for behavior, and communicate them clearly to their children.
 
Use Positive Reinforcement: Positive reinforcement can encourage children to repeat positive behaviors. Parents can praise their children for demonstrating good self-regulation skills, such as managing their emotions or behaviors in challenging situations.
 
Self-regulation is an essential skill for children to develop, and parents can play a critical role in helping their children develop these skills. By practicing mindfulness, providing opportunities for physical activity, teaching coping strategies, establishing routines, setting clear expectations, and using positive reinforcement, parents can help their children thrive and succeed.

Embracing Neurodiversity in Children: Nurturing Individuality

Every child is unique, possessing their own set of strengths, challenges, and developmental trajectories. Some children, however, fall under the neurodiverse spectrum, which encompasses a wide range of neurological differences such as autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and more. As society progresses, it becomes increasingly important to understand, appreciate, and embrace neurodiversity, creating an inclusive and supportive environment for all children. In this blog, we will explore the concept of neurodiversity in children and highlight the importance of Child's Play Therapy Services PC in promoting their well-being and overall development.
 
Understanding Neurodiversity:
 
Neurodiversity challenges the conventional notion of "normality" by recognizing that neurological differences are natural variations of the human brain. Each child's neurodiverse condition presents unique characteristics, strengths, and challenges, shaping their perception, behavior, and interactions with the world. It is crucial to approach neurodiversity with empathy, respect, and acceptance, fostering an environment that encourages the flourishing of all children.
 
Child's Play Therapy Services PC stands as a guiding light in advocating for neurodiverse children, acknowledging their needs and empowering them to reach their full potential. Through a wide range of therapeutic interventions, Child's Play Therapy Services PC offers tailored support that recognizes the individuality of each child, creating a safe and nurturing space for growth and development.
 
Creating Individualized Therapy Plans:
Child's Play Therapy Services PC recognizes that there is no one-size-fits-all approach to therapy. Their skilled therapists work closely with each child and their families to develop individualized therapy plans that address specific strengths, challenges, and goals. By tailoring interventions to the unique needs of neurodiverse children, therapists can promote progress in areas such as communication, social skills, sensory integration, and emotional regulation.
 
Promoting Sensory Integration:
Many neurodiverse children experience sensory processing differences, where they may be either over- or under-sensitive to sensory stimuli. Child's Play Therapy Services PC  utilizes sensory integration techniques to help children develop strategies for processing and responding to sensory information effectively. This approach can enhance their ability to engage with the world, improve attention and focus, and reduce anxiety or sensory overload.
 
Encouraging Social Skills Development:
Building social skills is essential for the well-being and future success of neurodiverse children. Child's Play Therapy Services PC social skills development through play therapy, group activities, and structured interventions. By creating opportunities for children to engage in meaningful interactions and practice social communication, they can develop self-confidence, empathy, and the ability to establish positive relationships.
 
Strengthening Emotional Regulation:
Children on the neurodiverse spectrum often struggle with emotional regulation. Child's Play Therapy Services PC equips children with strategies and techniques to identify and manage their emotions effectively. Therapists provide a supportive environment where children can explore their feelings, learn coping mechanisms, and develop resilience, enabling them to navigate emotional challenges with confidence.
 
Collaborating with Families and Schools:
Child's Play Therapy Services PC recognizes the importance of collaboration between therapists, families, and educators. By fostering open communication and providing resources, strategies, and guidance, they empower parents and schools to support neurodiverse children in their everyday lives. This collaboration ensures that the child receives consistent support and reinforcement across various environments, promoting holistic development.
 
Neurodiverse children possess immense potential, and by embracing their uniqueness, we can create a world that celebrates diversity and inclusion. Child's Play Therapy Services PC plays a vital role in nurturing the growth and development of neurodiverse children. Through their individualized therapy plans,
 
focus on sensory integration, social skills development, emotional regulation, and collaborative approach, they empower children to thrive and lead fulfilling lives. By championing neurodiversity, we lay the foundation for a more inclusive society, where every child's unique abilities and talents are cherished and celebrated.

Recap! Gestalt Language Parent Ed

We want to express our gratitude to everyone who joined us for our recent parent educational night in partnership with SEED Lafayette, where we delved into the fascinating world of Gestalt Language Processing (GLP) - Explaining Echolalia.

We're honored that the guest presenter was our very own Jordyn Strombak, M.A., CCC-SLP. Jordan shared a wealth of valuable information, real-life examples, and practical strategies for working with children who experience Gestalt language processing challenges. We're thrilled to announce that we're making Jordyn's full presentation and slide deck available for all to view and learn from.

​Check it out today and discover new ways to support your child's language development journey! Click Here

Occupational Therapy for Children: Helping Kids Develop Essential Skills & Reach Their Potential

Occupational therapy (OT) is a vital component of healthcare for children, as it can help them to develop important skills, overcome challenges, and reach their full potential. In honor of Occupational Therapy Month, let's take a closer look at why OT is so important for kids.
 
First, it's important to understand what OT is and what it entails. Occupational therapy is a type of therapy that focuses on helping individuals of all ages perform daily tasks and activities. For children, these tasks may include things like dressing, eating, and playing with toys. Occupational therapists work with children to develop the skills and abilities they need to participate in these activities independently and successfully.
 
There are many reasons why children may benefit from occupational therapy. Some children have physical disabilities that make it difficult for them to perform certain tasks, while others may have developmental delays or sensory issues that impact their ability to learn and grow. Occupational therapists are trained to evaluate each child's individual needs and create customized treatment plans that address their unique challenges.
 
One of the most important aspects of occupational therapy for children is that it can help them to develop the skills they need to succeed in school and beyond. For example, occupational therapists can work with children to improve their fine motor skills, which are essential for writing, drawing, and using scissors. They can also help children develop the cognitive skills they need to process information, solve problems, and think critically.
 
In addition to improving physical and cognitive skills, occupational therapy can also help children to develop important social and emotional skills. For example, children who struggle with anxiety or behavioral issues may benefit from occupational therapy that focuses on mindfulness and relaxation techniques. Occupational therapists can also help children develop social skills like communication, cooperation, and empathy.
 
Ultimately, occupational therapy can help children to become more independent, confident, and successful in all aspects of their lives. If you have a child who is struggling with physical or developmental challenges, or if you simply want to help your child reach their full potential, consider working with an occupational therapist. With the right guidance and support, your child can develop the skills they need to thrive.
 
Need more support? Schedule an appointment with our office today!

The Impact of the Pandemic on Child

Lockdowns lasted so long, especially here in San Francisco. It’s been years without normal school routines or regular family outings. 

And as everyone digs out from the pandemic experience, parents are beginning to wonder how to get development and education back on track — ASAP. 

If you’re concerned as a parent about the long-term impact, that’s justified. Although research is just beginning, we’re already seeing evidence of the impact of these pandemic years on child development. A recent study by McKinsey and Company found that children in K-5 were an average of 5 months behind in academics.

We’re seeing a big push to “catch kids up“ on their education. But as a parent, you need to think beyond just academics.

The truth is, catching kids up means backing up even further to include essential developmental skills that need to be addressed alongside academics.

Development builds on itself. So it’s wrong to assume kids can move forward academically if foundational developmental skills aren’t fully established. 

Early development is based on interactions, experiences, and play. Lockdowns during the pandemic meant two things. First, families didn’t have the same access to activities and experiences. Second, all the juggling of work, school, and family life meant parents had less one-on-one time for interactions and play. 

As developmental specialists, we know kids missed the practice and experiences that are key for development across the board. We need to make sure we’re adjusting expectations to account for this. 

Otherwise, parents, teachers, and students will all grow frustrated when academics continue to be a challenge. Especially for kids who already struggle and feel farther behind peers developmentally during the pandemic. 

So today we’re going to share with you some basics of how the pandemic impacted the cognitive, speech, physical, and social-emotional development of kids. 

The good news is — kids are wired to learn! By understanding their development, you’ll be better prepared to guide your child through this time of readjustment. 

Cognitive Skills That Support Thinking and Learning

From birth through the teenage years, the brain is busy building connections. These connections happen as a result of experiences, interactions, and practice. As connections grow, so does the ability for more complex thinking, language, and problem-solving. 

We’re already seeing that children born during the pandemic show delays in verbal and non-verbal cognitive skills. This is attributed to the emotional and situational environment during the early years. Babies just didn’t get the typical variety in experiences for interactions. 

And the impact on cognitive skills is seen in older kids too. They have had fewer play opportunities, fewer social interactions, increased stress, disrupted routines, and educational losses due to the pandemic.

This translated to potential difficulty with: 

• Paying attention in class

• Not noticing visual details on school work

• Listening and understanding verbal directions 

• Organizing their school notebooks

• Speech and language skills

As kids return to school, time needs to be spent introducing or re-introducing routine, organization, following directions and building up attention. Keeping in mind, a variety of fun, engaging activities promote brain development and key connections. 

Language Acquisition and Development

Decreased social interactions and mask wear impacted language and communication development in young children. 

Speech and language development is important during the early years. This includes understanding words, making sounds (articulation), and expanding the number of words a child is able to use when communicating. 

Kids develop essential language skills through interactions with others. The more the better. A consequence of lockdowns is that babies and children missed language-rich experiences with teachers, extended family, and peers. 

Additionally, mask wear impacted language development because covering the mouth made it more difficult to hear, read lips, or read facial expressions. While these cues are important for all children, the impact of mask-wear was especially challenging for children with hearing loss, articulation challenges, and auditory processing challenges.

Parents, educators, and healthcare professionals need to be more diligent in screening for speech delays and providing activities that encourage speech development. When in doubt, seek out a speech and language therapist for an in-depth evaluation. 

Developing the Strength and Coordination for Learning

It’s easy to forget about the importance of coordination and strength for learning and schoolwork. 

Here’s what you need to consider. During the pandemic, kids spent more time in front of screens and less time in full-body play. However play — whether that’s outside, inside, or during PE — is an essential part of development for babies and school-age children. 

What does PE and playing outside have to do with learning? Motor skill development impacts a variety of other skills your child needs to learn:

• Muscle strength: Stronger muscles provide the foundation of support for fine motor skills such as writing and cutting. 

• Exercise:  Play on playground equipment and activities like yoga can all help your child develop their large muscle groups.

• Visual skills: Play outdoors and with balls helps children develop visual motor skills including visual tracking and depth perception. 

• Coordination: The development of coordination through skills such as running, skipping, and jumping helps children learn to coordinate the two sides for using two hands when writing and cutting.  

• Posture: Requires the development of core muscles and muscles in the back, hips, and legs. These muscles are all enhanced by a variety of physical play activities and games.

Kids missed the time on the playground to build hand strength by swinging from the monkey bars. And preschool schoolwork was done on a computer instead of holding a crayon. 

So now you can’t hand your child a pencil and expect them to write. And you can’t send them to school and expect them to sit at a desk all day. So if your child is struggling with school work, consider how you might incorporate more physical play into their day whether that’s a park or coming up with activities at home. 

Social & Emotional Essentials

Out of all the skills, the pandemic especially impacted the social and emotional skill development of children. 

In one study looking at parent concerns during the pandemic, parents reported they saw increased tantrums, anxiety, clinginess, boredom, and under-stimulation in their children. With the return to more group activities, therapists and teachers are now seeing the same social and emotional challenges as kids. 

Which makes sense. 

Social and emotional skills are honed during interactions with others. While parents play a key role in this, peer play is essential for giving kids practice in terms of interacting with others, responding to disappointment, and the give-and-take of relationships.

During the pandemic, children mostly interacted with direct family members. Even attentive parents were faced with extra stress, responsibilities, and scheduling demands. Playdates were suspended and children talked through computer screens.  This led to more difficulty using relationships to co-regulate. 

Additionally, our brain, through a process called neuroception, takes in cues from the environment to determine if we are safe or if we are in danger.  If the brain determines the cues indicate danger, old survival circuits in the brain are activated to ensure quite simply that we survive through fight, flight, freeze, and even feigning death. Have you felt in survival mode for a better part of the last two years? 

Since March of 202o our brains have been flooded with cues of danger, which has led to chronic activation of our oldest survival systems. This explains the pervasive self regulation challenges we are seeing in adults and children alike. For some this feels like mobilization where our system is activated into fight and flight responses.  This can lead to inattentiveness, irritability, rigidity, difficulty with transitions, and meltdowns. For others, this can lead to shut down responses. This can look like decreased energy, and motivation, disconnection from one's body, a feeling of being slowed down or a feeling of numbness.   

As kids return to normal activities, teaching self-regulation and social skills should be a priority. Especially since self-regulation has been identified as a key component of educational success.  

Parents can help children with this by providing guided activities to practice self-regulation. Additionally, for those where the old survival circuits seem to be chronically activated, there is a profoundly impactful therapeutic program available, The Safe and Sound Protocol, created by Stephen Porges, MD. This program works directly on supporting emotional regulation, grounding the body for safety, while also decreasing auditory sensitivity. Results from two clinical trials in children with Autism have demonstrated statistically significant improvements in emotional control, behavioral organization, hearing sensitivity and listening. 

You can also start resuming playdates and guide your child through steps of self-regulation or what it means to be a good friend.  Social interactions can serve the purpose of providing opportunities for co-regulation, and restoring a sense of safety, community and belonging. 

These are not skills that happen overnight but take practice for kids to learn. Especially kids who already struggle emotionally or socially. 

Making Up for Lost Experiences

We can’t expect kids to just go on as if nothing happened. We’ve got to help them catch up on these foundational skills but without adding unneeded stress or expectations. 

While it’s impossible to make up for what’s been missed, the great thing about kids is how much potential they have for learning and growth.

 We just need to be aware that they might need extra time to practice to regain skills that might have been put on hold.

And if you’re concerned about your child’s development, get them seen and evaluated earlier rather than later.

Our team of occupational and speech therapists is committed to providing a variety of services to help your child.

We are also providers of the Safe and Sound Protocol. 

​Christina Gallo, MS, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Infant Mental Health Specialist

Practical Tips For Conquering the Challenge of Online Learning

As school gets into gear, the reality of a school year online is really starting to hit. As a parent, you are facing the impossible job of balancing work, home, and education. Not to mention, you might be feeling a little underprepared for this new role based on the simple fact, you most likely don’t have any sort of background in education. 

And if your child has learning differences or disability, you count on educational professionals to provide their expert guidance to build skills on a daily basis. Your child might not easily “catch-up” like other kids

Quite honestly, many kids with learning challenges or attention problems can’t simply be set up with a computer and expected to navigate learning independently. There’s more to school than just the lessons from the teachers. 

School provides valuable childhood experiences for social interaction, movement, emotional regulation, and daily routine. 

But there are many things you CAN do to infuse these missing elements to your child’s at home learning experience.  And, if nothing else, this year gives you the unique opportunity to customize elements of your child’s learning experience, taking in account your child specific needs and interests. 

And you’re not alone. Don’t forget you still have teachers and staff from school. Count on them to provide guidance for the curriculum.

Your job is to fill in some of the other pieces: emotional regulation, structure, environment, movement, and social opportunities to give your child a great online school experience. 

So here are some ideas to get you started. Gather some hints, and adapt for your child. 
Use Your Regulation StrategiesThe traditional school day provides a lot of opportunities to practice self-regulation: taking turns, waiting in line, and dealing with frustration. Recognize your child’s need for the practice of self-regulation and look for ways you can provide support. 

Some Quick Pointers:

• Validate and give names to emotions. Consider using the Zones of Regulation framework
  
  

• Track what works: figure out what helps your child either calm down, get focused, or feel more alert
  
  

• Note when your child is showing signs of overwhelm or frustration and intervene to redirect the situation. The goal is not to avoid but to learn to use regulation strategies.
  
  

• Practice self-regulation by creating situations where your child needs to wait, take turns, or follow directions. 
  
  

Use regulation strategies for yourself to maintain your own calm. You are taking on a big challenge. You are prone to have some big emotions along the way. 

It’s important to remember that by acknowledging your own feelings and experience, you are better able to support your child. So, find ways to take care of yourself. Whether that is going for a walk, doing some yoga, or carving out some alone time.  


Create an Environment for LearningNot everyone has the space in their home for a dedicated learning zone. And that’s ok. 

But find ways to set up a space for learning whether it's the kitchen table or a desk. Maybe it’s as simple as bringing certain supplies such as a pencil box or computer in a consistent place at the start of learning time.

Try to find ways to limit distractions such as using headphones or making dividers so your child isn’t distracted by other things going on. Provide your child with fidgets that he can use to help  him sustain attention, such as gum, a koosh ball, a stress ball, a rubber band.

Did you know that 75% of the brain is water!  Give your child a water bottle at the start of the day.  Kids need water to think. 

And keep in mind, your child needs variety. So think of how you might use your space flexibly to allow for position changes and different views throughout the school day. Maybe your child watches their computer-based lessons at the table and then sits on a bean bag to do their reading. 

Visual SchedulesVisual schedules can be a powerful tool to keep everyone on track. They keep focus on the current tasks and show what’s coming next. Consider whether your child more easily understands words or images. Then, use pictures or words to show what needs to be done for the day.

You can get as fancy as a chart purchased from online,  pre-printed clip art or as informal as self-drawn pictures on a whiteboard.  Then, let your child mark off items as they go through the day.


It’s also helpful to add a visual timer where your child can see how long they are expected to play or work on their own. For younger children, timers with a visual element can help them understand how long something is supposed to last. 

For instance, Amazon carries visual timers that look like a kitchen timer but the red indicates how much time is left. The Learning Resource Time tracker offers a timer that goes from green to yellow, to red as time counts down.  Even simple sand drop timers can show how much time is left for an activity. 

Develop a Healthy Routine 
Set up a realistic schedule that everyone can keep. Children do well with predictability but it’s also important to leave some room for flexibility based on emotional needs and the realities of daily life. 

Start off  the week by spending some time planning.Then you have an overall grasp of what’s going on. From there you will know which tasks NEED to get done and where you can be flexible. 

One of the most powerful elements of a healthy schedule is a consistent sleep and wake up time. Set specific times for going to bed, waking up, and starting schoolwork. It might feel hard at the beginning but you will thank yourself later when this foundational schedule makes everything else run more smoothly. 

A healthy diet is also important as nutritious food can make a big difference in mood and energy. It's easy to fall into unhealthy eating patterns of snacking or convenience food when everyone is home so much of the time.  High carbohydrate meals will lead to an insulin crash, and fatigue.  Food dyes are associated with hyperactivity.  Try to stick to simple whole foods. 

Think of creative ways to include your child in meal planning and meal prep. This will help you get the task completed and encourage some important skills. Cooking is not only an important life skill but also helps with regulation, following directions, math, and science. 

Movement Breaks Throughout the DayLittle bodies were made to move, not sit all the time. And when you think about it, movement is actually a big part of a typical school day. Teachers provide movement breaks between lessons, children go to recess, walk to different rooms for lunch or PE, or even walk across the room to get a book. 

Movement increases blood flow to the brain, helps improve attention, and decreases stress. So, if you child learns better when they aren’t expected to sit still all the time, this school year provide a great way to allow more movement. 

You might find it helpful to structure by planning in movement breaks about every 45 minutes. These could be getting up to clean, adding a stretch, or giving time for a planned movement-based activity. Maybe keep a tally sheet of how many laps your kiddo can do around the house!

Think about how you can add a movement component to whatever you are learning about. If you’re learning about plants, take five minutes and pretend you are a plant growing. If you’re learning about numbers, make a list of movements (jump, flap arms, spin, clap) and roll a dice to find out how many you will do. 

And not everything needs to be a big event. You can even lead your child in a quick stretch or brief dance party. Everyone will feel more focused and ready to do the next task after moving around a little bit. 
Find Supports Outside the Home
Seek out safe programming that will support your online schooling with your child. This is a marathon, not a sprint. Find things that will lift you up as a parent and will be meaningful for your child. It’s going to be especially important to find safe ways for social interaction or different scenery. 

Connect with other parents who are doing the same thing to get support and suggestions. You might even find some great outdoor locations to spend time together.  

And don’t forget about the support being offered at Child’s Play Therapy Services for families in the Bay Area. We grasp the importance of providing safe ways to get children the experiences and skill practice they continue to crave. 

We are committed to finding ways to support parents in the areas that might be missing with online schooling. From emotional regulation, educational therapy, outdoor groups, and ongoing therapy, we’re here during your journey in online schooling. 

Foster a Positive Attitude and Have Some Fun!Online school might not have been your plan for this year, but it can still be a positive experience. Celebrate your child’s wins along the way (and your own). Find your child’s favorite ways to learn and use it a lot! 

And most of all, give yourself room to be authentic – honoring the hard parts and cherishing the good. If nothing else, this year is sure to be memorable. 

We’d love to stay in touch and continue to provide you with supports during this year. 

Sign up for our email list where we will continue to provide parenting tips and ideas focused on supporting parents of children with disabilities and learning differences. 


Christina Gallo, MS OTR/L
Child’s Play Therapy Services 

Tuesday Tool Box- Zones of Regulation!

It’s #TuesdayToolbox where we talk about one trick to keep in your toolbox to support your child!

Today’s Toolbox Trick is the Zones of Regulation. 

“The Zones” is a conceptual framework that helps students to gain skills in the area of self-regulation and self-control. 

The lessons and activities are designed to help the students recognize when they are in the different zones as well as learn how to use strategies to change or stay in the zone they are in. 

The Zones categorizes states of alertness and emotions into four colored zones (Blue, Green, Yellow, and Red) and prepares students to use strategies or tools to help them move between zones. 

It is a very effective, widely-used framework (both teachers and therapists use it!) that supports your child.

The best way to start?

Model it for your child.

When you’re in traffic and feeling frustrated, let them know you’re in the Yellow Zone. After you yell at your kids, apologize to them and say you were in the Red Zone, which is why you went to your room to cool off so you could get back to Green. When you’re tired, tell them you’re feeling Blue Zone.

Kids learn so much just by observing. So model it for them, and they will begin to conceptualize it! 

And stay tuned for a Zones of Regulation announcement coming in the next few days!

Wondering how to help your child with dyslexia learn? Think Educational Therapy!

If your child has dyslexia or other learning disability, educational therapy could be the answer you’ve been seeking and didn’t even know existed. You might be asking, “What’s educational therapy anyway?” 

Think for a moment about the experience of being a child who struggles in school. Everyone else seems to just understand the material being taught. But for some reason, it’s just not that simple for you. Silly songs that seem funny to the other kids in the class, make no sense to you. 

You would probably start really disliking school, hide the fact that you don’t get it, or even just avoid those challenging school assignments altogether. 

How much of a difference would it make if someone just taught like your brain worked? 

Showed you how to make sense of what everyone is learning so that you could learn too.  

How much more enjoyable would school be?

This is the experience of children with dyslexia. The power to learn how to learn is the reason educational therapy is such a valuable tool for children who learn and think differently. 
Never Heard of Educational Therapy? You’re Not Alone, Here’s the Basics. 
Educational therapy focuses on teaching skills for thinking and learning. Making it a powerful resource for children whose brains just work differently for one reason or another. 

Learning is actually a complex combination of small skills:

• Organizing information
  

• Understanding how to follow a sequence of steps to get to an answer
  

• Seeing how the sounds of letters work together to form a word
  

• Hearing instructions or information 
  

• Knowing what to do with that information
  

The list goes on!

Here’s the thing: Schools don’t always have the same specialized knowledge in learning styles or the array of alternate ways to teach. They simply don’t have the same tools, time, or individualized services that can be provided by an educational therapist. 

And, educational therapy is more than traditional tutoring. Rather than just focusing on learning specific content, educational therapy focuses on teaching the process behind learning so that the skills can be used across school topics and grades.

And ed therapy not just for children with identified learning disabilities. Many children just learn differently and benefit from educational therapy. 

For instance, children with:

• Sensory differences
  

• Difficulty with handwriting or taking notes
  

• Auditory processing difficulties that make it difficult to apply verbal instructions
  

• Autism
  

• Difficulty organizing items or ideas
  

The framework of educational therapy is especially valuable for children with dyslexia. So keep reading to better understand the tools of educational therapy through the lens of dyslexia. 
How does dyslexia impact learning ability? 
Dyslexia is a learning disability related to how information is processed in the brain. These are smart kids who just have brains that process information differently. Dyslexia impacts a variety of skills related to reading, writing, spelling, and math.

At its most basic level, dyslexia makes it more difficult to process written words and numbers. When reading to themselves, those with dyslexia can have difficulty reading fluently and comprehending what is read. Basically, it’s hard to know what you are reading when it takes so much effort to figure out each word. 

Dyslexia can also impact other areas such as  memory and the ability to deal with stress. Plus, challenges with learning can also lead to anxiety and frustration around reading and schoolwork.

Much of the difficulty with learning is related to trouble with matching letters to sounds and being able to decode words. Decoding words is an early reading skill where unfamiliar words are sounded out. Children decode unknown words by recognizing the relationship between letters and sounds. 

Even before students learn to decode words, they need the skill of phonological awareness.  This is a big word to describe a basic recognition of sounds, patterns, and syllables. Think of all the preschool songs where you clap out syllables, rhyme, or make up silly words by changing the sound of the word. 

But the good news is... children with dyslexia are smart and can learn, especially when given strategies that match the way their brain processes information. In fact, studies using brain scans have shown improvements in the brain areas related to dyslexia when using targeted teaching strategies1. 

So this is where educational therapy can really make a difference. By teaching correctly, children with dyslexia get a chance to learn in the way their brain works best.

Let’s take a look at what that involves.

How does educational therapy help dyslexia?  
Samantha Martinez, Educational Therapist at Child’s Play Therapy Services in East Bay, CA describes some of the methods she uses when working with children with dyslexia. She focuses on using Linda Mood-Bell’s program Seeing Stars to work on skills related to hearing and seeing sounds in words. 

Multi-Sensory Learning
Using the different senses to learn, children get to see, touch, smell, hear, and move to learn about a concept. 

According to Martinez, “Multi-sensory learning helps to bring the words to life to help children with dyslexia learn in a different way. These methods focus less on the printed text and more on finding other methods to learn the patterns and parts of words.”

Things like: 

• Tapping out the syllables of a word
  

• Adding color to help decode words
  

• Using manipulatives to learn math
  

• Doing experiments and focusing on problem-solving
  

• Taking a picture in your mind of a word
  

• Using textures such as felt or clay to learn letters
  

It’s a way of learning that focuses on physical movement and other forms of visual processing to help your child with dyslexia learn. 

Mindfulness
This skill is focusing on the present by using breathing strategies and calming the mind and body. 

According to Martinez, “I start each session working on mindfulness. It’s important to start with mindfulness to prepare your child for learning and because it’s an easier skill to learn when you’re not stressed.”

This is a powerful tool for children with dyslexia because it can get them recentered and able to work through the tough spots. Because having a learning disability can be frustrating, children with learning disabilities are more likely to deal with anxiety both in childhood and throughout their life. 

Use of Games
Children love learning through games. Makes sense, right? It’s just more fun! But there is a very practical element to using games when working with children with dyslexia. It gives great opportunities to practice sequencing and processing information visually. It also gets the brain warmed up for processing visual information faster and more automatically. 

Educational Therapy Celebrates the Unique Way Each Child Learns
In the end, each child with dyslexia learns in their own way. Educational therapy offers the opportunity to trial different ways of learning – finding what works best for your child. And then provides practice to give your child the confidence to use these tools in the classroom, across subjects and for years to come. 

And, this isn’t only true for children with dyslexia. The tools for learning provided by educational therapy can help children with many different types of learning and organization challenges.

Wondering if educational therapy might be right for your child? 

Call to schedule a free 15-minute consult with Samantha Martinez at Child’s Play Therapy Services in the Bay Area, CA. 


References:


Huber, E., Donnelly, P.M., Rokem, A. et al. Rapid and widespread white matter plasticity during an intensive reading intervention. Nat Commun 9, 2260 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-018-04627-5
 
What is Educational Therapy? 

What is Dyslexia?

Understanding and Helping Your Child Adapt in the Time of COVID. By Christina Gallo, MS, OTR/L

Take a minute to imagine you’re a kid during this strange time. 

From the perspective of a child, you might think: 

I suddenly stopped going to school and all my activities changed. My parents started helping me with school and I got to stay home and do lots of fun activities. But, I’m still a little confused...

• Everyone is talking about people getting sick. Saying things like,  “It’s hard to know who has it and who doesn’t”. My mom seems kind of worried about this. How do we know where “it” is? What if I get sick? Or my mom gets sick?

• And I am a little confused on how to act. If I get too close to people, my mom quickly reminds me to “give more space.” That just doesn’t make sense.

• And everyone is wearing masks over their faces. I don’t like that. It makes it so much harder to know who people are.  And get this: mom wants me to wear one! I don’t think so, it’s itchy and uncomfortable… I’m not doing that. 

Understanding Fear and Security During Change

Parenting has always been challenging but it seems a little extra complex now. How do you help your children navigate these changes? This uncertainty. This fear. It’s a big undertaking. 

But, amazing parents take this encouragement: There are many ways to build safety and security – even in times of change. 

Children thrive when they feel safe and secure. When they know boundaries and expectations. This provides a foundation for exploration and creativity.  Many parents have done an outstanding job of supporting their children this year by following flexible routines, creating space for emotion, and finding fun things to do at home. Children will have memories of spending days in pajamas, building forts, and spending more time as a family.  

But the truth is, COVID has introduced a new situation of uncertainty. Routines changed suddenly and drastically. And even with the ending of shelter in place restrictions, things are still different. 

Social distancing and mask-wearing represent changes to accepted social norms to allow people to function safely in a world where Coronavirus still exists. It can feel like a big task to explain social distancing and COVID with your children – without causing fear. 

So keep reading to learn some tips and how to help your child adjust to current change. And, how the staff at Child’s Play Therapy Services will provide support. 

Tools for Responsive Parenting Following Shelter in Place 

Change doesn’t need to be bad or scary. You just need to take steps to help your children process and adjust. Certainly, school in the fall will look different. Taking small steps now will ultimately help prepare children and reduce overwhelm from altered routines.

Children with Difficulty Seeing People Wearing Face Masks

Some children might have a difficult time seeing people wearing masks for a number of reasons:

• Makes it harder recognize faces 

• Reading facial expressions and emotions is more difficult

• Feels unfamiliar

To work on seeing people wearing masks, try putting a mask on in front of your child so they see you wearing one. And even try to make it a fun game. 

Before going out, Talk about how people will be wearing face masks. And explain doing this helps everyone stay healthy. You might also want to discuss that different people make different decisions in case your child sees someone not wearing a mask.

You can also start to show your child pictures or videos of people wearing masks so they can start to see it as a normal thing. Here are some pictures of the staff at Child’s Play Therapy in face masks. Show your child and help them prepare for their next therapy session 

We’re wearing face masks during all our clinic sessions for safety, but it also provides a good chance to practice seeing a familiar person with a mask on. Plus, when staff interacts with children in the clinic, we have the time and training to talk children through the experience.
​
​Children Who Won’t Wear Face Masks

Many children refuse to wear face masks because they’re uncomfortable.  Adults can use reason to overcome discomfort. However, children are quick to refuse something that feels uncomfortable, especially children with underlying sensory challenges.

To work on wearing face mask:

• Try on a mask for a short time at home and make it a fun game. 

• Adjust the fittings and materials to make it as comfortable as possible. 

• Get a mask with a theme they love.

The world is going to be full of people wearing masks now so we feel this is an important functional skill to start incorporating. The more we practice, the more we get used to it.

We aren’t requiring children younger than age 11 to wear face masks in the clinic. But, we will be available to troubleshoot with families regarding any issues surrounding face masks. Whether that is helping your child adjust to wearing a face mask, communication issues that result from mask wear, or finding adaptive options for shielding the face. 

Hand washing for Children

Hand washing has always been an important daily living skill – but it's even more important now. Many kids, especially those with sensory or developmental differences, have difficulty with hand washing. 

To work on this at home: 

• Add it into your daily routine so your children know when it is expected.

• Model good behavior and talk about why it is important. 

• Modify the environment so it is easy to reach the sink and hand washing supplies. 

• Make it a fun game with a silly song or reward chart. 

• Provide visual models when needed. For instance, Baby Bum provides this helpful video about handwashing. 

Pediatric occupational therapy is a great way to work on the skill of hand washing and applying it to a variety of settings. Each therapy session starts with hand washing so there will be plenty of chances to practice. 

Social Distancing

Children love to play and hug and poke and giggle. It is a normal part of childhood. Now, personal boundaries aren’t just about manners but also part of keeping everyone healthy. The amount of distance required around people presents a big change that is hard for children to understand.  

Pediatric occupational therapy can help  kids on an emotional level so they understand these changes and have a chance to practice in a safe context. We will give opportunities to practice social skills with social distancing guidelines in mind. 

Processing Safety and Change

You can work on this at home. Research has shown that talking with parents plays an important part in reducing fear in uncertain situations1. 

You can talk about:

• How your home is safe.

• How you will continue to take care of your child if they get sick.

• How everyone is working together to keep people healthy.

• Asking about how your child is feeling and what they understand about what is going on. 

A part of pediatric occupational therapy is  talking through safety and security. It is fitting to talk about and practice change in a therapy session. Research has shown that using narratives to talk about upsetting events soon after the incident can help improve coping in children. Sometimes children talk more when moving or participating in sensory play. And overall, helping children process trauma and feel safe helps grow skills and support emotional well-being. 

Children Are Ultimately Adaptable and Will Form Positive Memories

Children are amazingly resilient. They adjust to change all the time. Sometimes adults benefit from learning about adjusting to change from the young ones!

Children will likely remember this time – because it’s been a pretty memorable event. With parents not going  to work, school's closing, and everyone needing to wear masks. But, amidst all the worry and unknowns, it can also be a time of fun memories and recognition of your family bonding through the changes.

By providing a stable base for your children, you support their ability to process change. Strive to help them build a story around what has happened, as forming a cohesive narrative provides a valuable tool for helping your children make sense of and process traumatic events.

The staff at Child’s Play Therapy Services is ready to help your child adjust to change and continue towards their goals. Call for an appointment today!



Resources:

1. Winter, M. A., Davies, P. T., & Cummings, E. M. (2010). Children's Security in the Context of Family Instability and Maternal Communications. Merrill-Palmer quarterly (Wayne State University. Press), 56(2), 131–142. https://muse.jhu.edu/article/384698

1. Fomby, P., & Mollborn, S. (2017). Ecological Instability and Children's Classroom Behavior in Kindergarten. Demography, 54(5), 1627–1651. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13524-017-0602-2

2. Hayes, A. M., Yasinski, C., Grasso, D., Ready, C. B., Alpert, E., McCauley, T., Webb, C., & Deblinger, E. (2017). Constructive and Unproductive Processing of Traumatic Experiences in Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Youth. Behavior therapy, 48(2), 166–181. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.beth.2016.06.004

Staying Regulated amidst an uncertain world. Tools for regulation. Post by Irene Lestari, MS, OTR/L

Amidst the COVID-19 outbreak, our lives have been altered in many different ways. Disruptions of daily life and routines can cause our body undue stress. Stressful experiences or the presence of sustained stresses, such as during these unprecedented times, can wreak havoc on the nervous system. Amid school and extracurricular activities closure, children are deprived of their needs for sensory input.  Rather, they are stuck at home, with less than optimal sensory stimulation they were used to prior to this pandemic. Children react to stress differently than adults. They tend to somatocize their stress within their body and give meaning to emotions and feelings through their bodily sensations. It makes sense then to utilize their body and senses as vessels to alleviate any accumulating stress or discord in their body.  As such, their bodies and senses can be utilized to mitigate the effect of stress which subsequently fine-tune and regulate the nervous system. Engaging in sensory experiences can also activate and strengthen the vagal nerve by calming the autonomic nervous system through stimulation of the parasympathetic (calming) nervous system.
To glean upon the intricate interplay between sensory input and our capacity to regulate stress, it is useful to have some understanding of what sensory processing is and how our senses function. Sensory processing is the ability to take in sensory information, process that information, and then produce an output response to function efficiently and effectively in the environment. Efficient sensory processing allows the central nervous system to regulate such things as attention and activity level by enabling one to attend to salient stimuli, filter out irrelevant stimuli, and modify the amount of stimulation one is exposed to. Stress can have a direct impact on sensory processing capacity. During stressful situations, your child’s ability to process sensory input can be different from when they are in a calm/restful state. Deep tactile input, deep pressures as well as proprioceptive input are especially pivotal to restore balance to the nervous system. Deep breaths, humming, and singing is known to stimulate the vagus system, which can improve arousal state.
We all know the five basic senses: sight, smell, hearing, touch, and taste. These five systems are important to everyday well-being in everyone, two other senses that are less talked about, but are just as important. These are the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. The tactile or touch (skin) sensory system has many vital functions, including providing us with the ability to know what an object is without looking (tactile discrimination) and identifying temperature and pain.  Deep tactile input is calming and organizing for the body. It releases dopamine, which combats the effect of adrenaline and cortisol that is released when the child is in a high stress/fight or flight state.  Movement or the vestibular system consists of parts of the inner ear and related central nervous system structures that perceive and interpret changes in head position. It automatically coordinates movements of one's eyes, head, and body. Activities that provide vestibular input are activities that changes the position of the head in relationship to gravity. The vestibular system is the first sensory system to develop and is therefore the foundation for all other sensory systems. For children that are over-reactive to vestibular input, linear vestibular activation is the first type of movement provided as it is the least intense type of movement. It is important to follow all vestibular input with heavy work as this can help reduce any dysregulation that may occur as a result of vestibular input. The proprioceptive system provides information related to the muscular and skeletal systems and, therefore, the position of one's body. Proprioceptive input, or "heavy work" activities, are activities that challenge a child to move against resistance. These include pushing, pulling, climbing, carrying, log rolling, etc. Proprioceptive input provides organizing stimuli to the nervous system which can help with motor planning and body awareness, improve attention, and increase muscle tone. This calming and organizing input can also combat an aroused state. The regulating effects of 15 minutes of proprioceptive input can lasts 2- 4 hours depending on the child and the intensity of the input. Vision consists of both the motor function of the eye as well as perception of visual information. It is also a protective sense which offers information about what is happening around us. The auditory system consists of hearing, speech, and language, the child's response to sound, and their ability to perceive the spoken word and follow directions. 
Included in this blog are some simple sensory tools you can try to help regulate and decrease stress to the child’s nervous system. It is crucial to engage in multiple sensory systems' activities every 3 hours to notice their positive effects on the child's nervous system. Finding the most appropriate sensory experience at the right amount is the key. Examples of selected daily activities are included at the end of this blog.
 
Sensory regulation tools
Tactile/Touch

• Wilbarger Brushing Protocol

• Give deep pressure massage, back rub using comfort touch

• Have the child snuggle in a sleeping bag, bean bag chair, padded floor seat

• Give firm pressure and skin to skin contact

• Weighted blankets may decrease anxiety and arousal levels

• Sleeping under a heavy quilt

• Spandex fabric wrapped snugly around shoulders

• Foot or hand rollers

• Tactile adventures bin – corn meal, oatmeal water, sand, lentils, popping corn kernels, themed based bins

• With consistent pressure, roll and press a therapy ball up and down over the child’s body

• Wrap the child with a blanket and roll and a therapy ball up and down over the child’s body

• Forts/hide outs -- pillows, scarves, blankets, boxes and a flash light

• Treasure hunt – hide small objects in play dough or tactile bin to find with fingers

• Bath time – bubbles bath, soap crayons and back scrub brushes

• Foam soap or shaving cream – draw and blow

• Provide back rubs, bear hugs and massage with a towel in a predictable manner

• Employ vibration – use vibrating pillow, battery vibrating wiggle pen, toy massager

Proprioceptive

• Self-imposed body hugs or firm hugging by loved one.

• Tug-of-war

• Heavy, sustained resistance exercises

• Joint compression and slow stretches

• Crawling through a Lycra tunnel

• Digging in the garden and pushing a wheelbarrow

• Safely push or pull heavy objects, such as large pillows

• Crawl through pillow forts tunnels or boxes on all fours

• Crashing into mats/bean bags

• Animal walks

• Yoga

• Catching/throwing – heavy weighted ball, bean bags, weighted animals, sandbags, cushions and pillow

• Swimming/extra bath time – swim weight can be added

• Wheel barrow walking

• Squishing between pillows, mat, bean bags chairs

• Heavy exercises – push up, sit-ups, hand sands, tug of war

• Pushing against a wall or another person, pushing or pulling one one’s own hands

• Belly breathing

• Use body pillow, weighted blankets, heavy quilts, compression vests or weighted vest to offer calming input

• In your home provide, offer hide out places, like bean bag chairs, small tents, pillow corners

• Wearing a weighted vest, compression vest, weighted bell, ankle or wrist weights

 Auditory:

• iLs Dreampad: The iLs Dreampad delivers gentle calming music and vibrations to provide gentle auditory and vestibular input to improve sleep patterns. It helps with both falling asleep and staying asleep, as well as reducing auditory defensiveness and sensory-seeking behaviors. It plays for 4 hours and then shuts off automatically. It should be used every day. It can be ordered directly through the website. You can order just the pillow system and use your own iPod to which you download the music, or you can order their mp3 system. All of the pillows are the same music system, the difference is only the pillow support itself. http://integratedlistening.com/products/dreampad/

• Quickshifts: Quickshifts, from the Therapeutic Listening app, can used as a tool to help restore a child to a calm regulated state when dysregulated.  Regulation 1,2 and 3 are especially useful to help change arousal state. Download Therapeutic Listening app at https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/therapeutic-listening/id836090895?mt=8

• Soft, slow and rhythmic music

• Classical, New age and Soft Jazz Music

• Repetitive sounds (ocean waves)

• Indoor fountains, and bubbling sounds

• Relaxation and meditation CD’s

• Humming and singing quietly

 Vestibular:

• If your child responds well to movement, engage him/her with slow and linear swinging on a hammock swing

• Rocking on a glider chair

• Perform slow swinging – back and forth – in a blanket

• Engage in slow rocking or swaying – rocking chair

• Slow dancing

• Recess games – hopscotch, ball catch, soccer, hockey, tag

• Climbing – on playground climbers, ladders, designated furniture

• Riding toys – trikes, bikes, scooters, roller blades, pedal less bikes

• Roughhousing/ Wrestling – swinging while someone pushes on legs

• Bouncing lightly and rhythmically on therapy ball

• Walking and strolling

Smell

• Lavender scent

Sight/Vision

• Natural or dim lightings

• Movement of fish swimming in an aquarium

• Lava lamps or bubble lamps

• Lack of clutter and simplified furnishings

Oral Motor

• Chewing gum

• Blow bubbles in water/bubble solution using a straw (make bubble mountains)

• Play straw games (for example, use a straw to blow poms poms/ cotton balls across the table)

• Blow out candles

• Vibrating toothbrush

• Chew toys

• Encourage to play with lots of oral motor play with whistles, harmonicas, kazoo

• Whistle or hum a song

• Blow up balloons

• Adding rhythm to activity through chanting, singing or rapping in time with child’s movement

• Drinking from sports water bottle

• Blow pen activity

• Tug of war with a rubber tubing

• Humming

General Sensory Tips/Tricks
 
Visual schedule as organization
·       Have a visual schedule. Visual schedules are an effective way to help children manage challenges with focus, task execution and transitions. A visual schedule would be helpful for the child to outline daily events and also to break down daily routines such as the morning and bedtime routines. A visual schedule can be an important component in regulation so the child can know what is expected and when, it brings a sense of order and predictability into the home. A good companion to a visual schedule is a tool to track time.
·       Provides a daily schedule to organize the child’s day. Start with one part of the day and make a list of 3-5 tasks that the child is required to do.
·       Adding pictures to be more specific about the task can improve accuracy and follow through.
·       Different tools for executive function tasks can be found here: http://efpractice.com/shop
 
 Other strategies for the home
·       Try to schedule calming activities in between more demanding activities to maintain the nervous system at a calm state.
·       Prepare auditory and visual materials ahead of time to assist in transitions. Timers, clocks with alarms, watches with a timer and concrete transitional objects may be helpful during transitions.
·       Modeling self-care and attunement to your own needs for sensory activities.
·       Keep a “sensory backpack” to use during “sensory emergency”. Fill the backpack with items such as massagers, different essential oils, headphones and regulating music, a soft weighted toy animal with different textures, a book with different textures, play dough, pipe cleaners, chewy toys, and pop beads.
·       Have an area in a house designated for a calming, quiet sensory oasis. Have it be a darker corner in the house filled with tactile activities (such as water beads, kinetic sand, theraputty, and weighted blanket).
·       Provide daily access to dry sensory play materials (make a bin filled with different tactile items).
 
In cooperating sensory tools into self-care routine
Eating:

• Drinking through a straw

• Drink pudding/yogurt through a straw

• Eat crunchy and chewy snacks

Tooth brushing:

• Use Vibrating tooth brush

Sleep:

• Massage and/or joint compression prior to bed (you can use powder or lotion)

• Back rubs, bear hugs, and a rub down with predictable movement

• Making a small space for the child to squeeze into – some children like to sleep between the mattress and the box spring, or children may like their bed pushed against the wall so that they can push their body against the wall

• Have a predictable routine before bed

• Use the Dreampad (https://integratedlistening.com/products/dreampad/)

Washing:

• Wrap the child with towel after bath or shower

• Instead of walking, do wheel barrow walks

• A heavy face cloth and use pressure strokes on the body

• Use pressure and downward strokes with washcloth and towel

 Driving in the car
·       Listen to calm music (ex: light classical music, piano covers of Disney songs)
·       Play with a fidget
·       Eat crunchy snacks
·       Sit with weighted blanket and/or weighted toy
·       Carry a Sensory backpack during trips: massager, a soft toy animal with different textures, balloon, scratchy stickers, lavender, lemon and minty smell, silly putty or play dough, headphone and music, fidget stuffs: rubber coiled key chains, pipe cleaners, wiki sticks, chewy toys, stretchy band, coil shoe string, plastic pop bead, and koosh ball)
Example of daily sensory activities
 
Monday

• Body work (encourage long/deep breaths):

-Squeezing between pillows
- Animal walks

• Tactile activities

  • Make homemade play doh

  • Wilbarger Protocol brushing

  • Treasure hunt- hide small objects in playdough or tactile bin to find with fingers

• Oral motor:

- Blowing bubble mountain

• Auditory support:

  • Regulation 2

 

Tuesday

• Body work:

  •  Crawl through tunnels or boxes on all fours (place something with texture under the tunnels so the child is getting some tactile input)

  • Jump and crash into crash pads

  • Roughhouse– play wrestling and she needs to let out a big “argh” when the child falls or pushes

  • Calm vestibular – slow, rhythmic, linear swinging or rocking and bouncing on a ball

• Oral motor:

  • Blow bubbles in the bathtub with different wands and toys that you can use for bubbles.

• Tactile:

  • Brush body

  • Foot Massages

  • Tactile bin for the child to play with

  • Pretend bathing with different wash cloths (rub wash cloth on the child’s body)

  • Play with tactile bag – bits of fabric and small toys into a cloth bag. Children love the surprise factor of reaching in a bag and choosing items.

  • Messy play with shaving cream

• Auditory support:

  • Regulation 1

Wednesday

• Body work:

  • Massage or give parents massage

  • Magic carpet rides (the child sit on a blanket and gets a ride from the parent through pulling of the blanket)

  • Pushing something heavy (a big box filled with stuffs) around the house

  • Body socks while walking on crash pads and pillows

  • Silly animal walks

•  Oral motor:

  • Straw games

  • Suck and blow cotton balls/ping pong balls using a straw

  • Suck foam pieces with a straw

• Tactile:

  • Brush body

  • Back massage/squeeze

  • Fill balloon or gloves filled with things like corn, rice and flour.

• Auditory Support

  • Regulation 2

Thursday

• Body work:

  • Wheel barrow walk over various floor surface

  •  Crawl under piles of textured and weighted pillows/items

  • Catch /throw heavy weight ball, bean bags, weighted animals, sand bags, and cushions/pillows

• Oral motor:

  • Mosaic art project

  • Blow party blowers

• Tactile:

  •  Brush body

  • Draw in sand or salt

  • Massage

• Auditory support:

  • Regulation 1

Friday

• Body work:

-Massage or give parents massage
-  A magic carpet ride
- Push something heavy
- Play in the water or swimming or extended bath

• Oral motor:

  • Rubber tubing activity

  • Vibrating tooth brush

  • Blow pen activities

  • Mouth painting with sour food

• Tactile:

  • Brush body

  • Tactile treasure hunt (hide treasures in a bin or rice /flour/oats/beans for the child to find.)

• Auditory support:

  •  regulation 2

 

Saturday

• Body work:

  • Hop on balls and crash into pillows

  • Ball massage

  • Washing machine activity (place the child in a big pillow case or duvet cover, place different items in there like cloths or balls, then shake and drag the child around the house. Keep shaking/dragging until the child is “clean”)

  • Push against the wall/another person or hands together

  • Crawl through a Lycra tunnel while pushing a ball

  • Hang on adult hands/trapeze

• Oral motor:

  • Make bubble mountains with straw and bubble solution

• Tactile:

  • Brushing

• Auditory support:

  • regulation 1

 

Sunday
Outdoor play!

 
 
References
Moore, K.M (2008). The Sensory Connection. Self-regulation workbook. Learning to use sensory activities to manage stress, anxiety and emotional crisis. Franconia, NH: The Sensory Connection Program.
 
Yack, E., Aquilla, P., Sutton, S (2015). Building bridges through sensory integration (3rd edition). Arlington, TX: Sensory world.

Creating Meaning in Everyday Life, By Larissa Geleris, MS, OTR/L

Everything is different now. The way we work, the way we interact, the way we school our children, the way we deliver and receive health care services…it’s all changing. And these changes are not easy. So much on the internet is telling us, it’s a blessing! Slow down and enjoy! But what about our responsibilities? We can’t just drop those because the world told us we can’t go outside. We still need to pay our mortgages, we still need to buy groceries, our children still need to learn, and some children still have therapy goals. I’ve talked to many parents right now who are trying not to panic, but are worried about progress. You’ve been working so hard for so many years, spent so much time and money, and now it all comes to a screeching halt. 
But did it? Yes, clinics and schools are closed. Therapy services are delivered through video instead of hands-on treatment. But really, what are our therapy goals? Sure, some children have postural goals, some children have handwriting goals, some children have social-emotional goals, some children have sensory integration goals. However, when we zoom out and look at all those goals, they have one major thing in common. It’s “allow my child to participate in their roles in a way that is joyful and engaging.”
And what is a child’s role? It’s the role of a son or daughter, the role of a brother or sister, the role of a student, the role of a friend. So maybe, this time gives us a chance to support our child’s roles in a way that we didn’t have before. 
    Talk to your child’s OT to make sure you understand the underlying foundational skills that your child struggles with, so you can allow your child to participate in your family life in a way that supports their goals and gives them a purposeful role. Keep those telehealth appointments, and use that time to really feel empowered. 
Does that sound overwhelming? It might, but it should also feel freeing. Take a deep breath and know you can do this. Set yourself up for success. Be well fed and hydrated yourself, and expect that things will be different. But with no extra-curricular activities to get to, does it really matter if something takes a little longer? I’m going to say no. 

Use Everyday Activities
We can use everyday activities to support their goals. When the main goal for therapy is participation in life, then why wouldn’t we use everyday activities? We can use these activities to target underlying skill deficits. But we need to be mindful about how hard some of these tasks can be! If you know what’s hard for your child, you can help support your child in doing them.  
If your child has trouble with visual scanning, guide them to look across the entire room when cleaning her toys. If your child has postural instability, get on the floor with them and help them shift their weight while he’s Swiffering. If your child has sequencing challenges, break down a cooking task to two or three steps at a time. If your child struggles with fine motor skills, let her peel her own banana or orange.
This is where a conversation with your OT comes in. We can help guide you in how to help your child so that they can participate. Use telehealth sessions to learn how to support your child. 
Let’s break down a few common household activities that can’t be put on hold just because everything else in the world stopped. Speaking as a parent, the hardest part about this is recognizing that things will be a little different. It will take longer. It will make a bigger mess. It will not be the way we usually do it. But take a deep breath in, and a long exhale out. Realize that the end goal of each activity is not to complete the activity perfectly. The goal is to allow your child to participate in the family in a way that is meaningful to them. 

• Cooking (I definitely recommend trying lunch first, that is usually less stressful than trying to have “help” with dinner!)

  • Executive functioning

  • Sequencing

  • Attention

  • Bilateral coordination

  • Tactile discrimination

• Laundry

  • Sorting

  • Executive functioning

  • Heavy work (pushing laundry bin, transferring wet laundry to dryer)

  • Postural stability (pushing laundry bin, transferring wet laundry to dryer)

• Fixing the bed (Your bed is likely bigger, so it provides more opportunity to work on these skills)

  • Heavy work (pulling comforters and pillows)

  • Postural stability (pulling comforters and pillows)

  • Weight shifting

  • Visual scanning

  • Sequencing

• Washing windows and mirrors

  • Postural stability

  • Weight shifting

  • Scapular and upper extremity strengthening

  • Wrist extension

  • Crossing midline

  • Visual scanning

• Swiffering the floor

  • Visual scanning

  • Balance

  • Weight shifting

  • Postural stability

  • Heavy work

• Washing dishes

  • Bilateral coordination

  • Crossing midline

  • Tactile processing

  • Postural stability

  • Weight shifting

Now is the time to really think about your child within the context of the family. It’s time to slow down, and participate in daily life with them. It’s time to observe them without being dictated by busy schedules. Allow them to participate, and be mindful about how they participate. Know their struggles, but identify their strengths. Recognize and verbalize their value within your family dynamic. And let’s use this time to support their goal:  the bigger, overarching goal of creating meaning in everyday life, so that when this is all over, they can go out into the world and flourish. 

Home resources from Dalya!

We are working on compiling  a place for resources to help support you and your families through these unprecedented times which we will attempt to update periodically.  However, these are merely just suggestions. We in no way want this to overwhelm. At a time like this the most important thing is to practice self-care, hugs, connect with your kids, play, go outside,  and remember to breathe!

1. Examples of Daily Schedules

2. Sensory Strategies

3. Gross motor/ Play Ideas

4. Calming/ Stress Relief for the Caregiver

5. Academic or Other Resources

A. Examples of Daily Schedules:
1. OT Specific Activities:
https://creativehealthllc.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/COVID-Calendar-OT-Activities.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0BGngvdLXuTvWsfUYagbZejLpIZB89BpCItUgQHCJC339CherCc6eoBI 
2. https://mommyhood101.com/daily-schedule-for-kids

B. Sensory Strategies
    1. https://www.spdstar.org/node/1485

C. Gross Motor/Play Ideas:
1. Movement break for Kids https://family.gonoodle.com/
2. Cosmic Kids Yoga https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga
3. 87 Energy Busting Games and Activities for Kids (Because Cabin Fever is No Joke) https://whatmomslove.com/kids/active-indoor-games-activities-for-kids-to-burn-energy/

1. Indoor Activity Ideas: https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/indoor-activities-for-kids/?fbclid=IwAR3QXyw0quYi4JQ5kV5Txf8IOIuJq3qbfod7DlkegV36R4hhHlVQg-RS4x8

2. https://www.whatdowedoallday.com/indoor-activities-for-kids/

D. Calming/ Stress Relief for the Caregiver:
    1. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prepare/managing-stress-anxiety.html
    2. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/18/parenting/parents-need-stress-relief-too.html

E. Academic or Other Resources:

1. Virtual Zoo Tours

• San Diego Zoo offers Live Cams and Videos of Your favorite animals https://kids.sandiegozoo.org/videos

1. Smithsonian National Zoo Live webcams (Lion, Panda, & elephant) https://nationalzoo.si.edu/webcams

   1. Houston Zoo Webcam ( Giraffe, Gorilla, elephant, leaf cutter ants, Rhino, Chimps) https://www.houstonzoo.org/explore/webcams/

   2. Maryland Zoo ( Penguins, Giraffe, Flamingo, Goat)

           https://www.marylandzoo.org/animals/live-cams-feeds/

• Memphis Zoo Live animal cam (Panda, Hippo, elephant) https://www.memphiszoo.org/animal-cams

  • Maryland Zoo ( Penguins, Giraffe, Flamingo, Goat)

           https://www.marylandzoo.org/animals/live-cams-feeds/

• Live cams  Monterey Aquarium. https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/live-cams

1. Virtual Museum Tours

   • National Museum of Natural History (Dinosaurs, Plants, Early life, Ancient seas, Mammals, Ice Age, Genome) https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour/past-exhibits

   • (African Bush Elephant & rotunda; African voices, Bone Hall, Butterfly Pavilion, Fossils, Human Origins, Ancient Egypt) https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour/current-exhibits

   • (Antlers, Wet Specimens, Whale Bones) https://naturalhistory.si.edu/visit/virtual-tour/museum-support-center-and-research-stations

   • Boston Children’s Museum https://www.bostonchildrensmuseum.org/museum-virtual-tour

   • National Museum of Wildlife Art https://www.wildlifeart.org/visit/virtual-tour/

   • National Museum United States Air Force http://www.nmusafvirtualtour.com/

1. Educational APPS:

• https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/educational-apps-for-kids/?fbclid=IwAR3h7qoR8T0qR5QrHtqIPkSJf3IJKdThtoadjQKwi3loXb93iaetOnpxRqA

1. Celebrities Reading Story Books 

   • https://www.storylineonline.net/ (Videos featuring celebrated actors reading children’s books) 

1. COVID-19 Resources for KIDS

   • How to Explain COVID-19 to a child with Anxiety. https://www.additudemag.com/explain-coronavirus-covid-19-anxiety-adhd-child/

   • Social story on COVID-19 https://theautismeducator.ie/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/The-Corona-Virus-Free-Printable-Updated-2-The-Autism-Educator-.pdf

   • Coronavirus (COVID-19): What to Talk About with Your Child https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/caring-autism/202003/coronavirus-covid-19-what-talk-about-your-child

   • Covid-19 Social Distancing with Kids: What to do and Where to Go https://www.510families.com/covid-19-social-distancing-with-kids-what-to-do-where-to-go/?fbclid=IwAR0vL_dysWcj9oYWuWNrEIDAMzfm143LoYYFOYts-WK6Ao_fyxOGpxmFjVA

   • NPR Just for Kids: https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2020/02/28/809580453/just-for-kids-a-comic-exploring-the-new-coronavirus

Credit:
1. Brij, Maliya OTD, OT

Raising an Extraordinary Person!

From Sarah Guy, COTA!!

Here are two great little routines that I found from Raising an Extraordinary Person. Roxy who is 8) and I had so much fun doing them today! For some kids 45 seconds might be a bit long for some of the activities so you can adjust accordingly. It’s a good idea to do movement activities such as these at least twice a day, once in the morning and once in the afternoon.

https://hes-extraordinary.com/morning-workout-for-kids 

Here is another good one.

https://hes-extraordinary.com/improve-emotional-regulation-just-7-minutes-per-day

For kids who are sensory seekers (kids who are on the move all the time) intuitively we typically try to calm them down. However, it’s important to remember that these kids need more activity, not less, to satisfy their sensory needs. Activities should include a lot of vestibular and proprioceptive input. 

Here are some ideas:
*Note: it is a good idea to include ways to engage their brain while doing these activities below and provide lots of changes to head position and stops and starts. Simply jumping on a trampoline may actually wind them up rather than regulate them. So for example, you could have your kiddo jump on the trampoline while counting by 2s until 30, then crash onto couch cushions or a mattress on the floor, then bear walk to grab a stuffed animal, and then back to the trampoline for more jumping (this time counting by 5s). 

Vestibular input for fast, intense, arrhythmic swinging, jumping, bouncing, or rolling such as:

Swinging on a swing from a single point
Log rolling
Forward rolls
Trampoline jumps
Bouncing on a therapy ball
Upside down bowling (with head down and rolling ball between legs to target)
Sliding down the slide head first
Scooter rides
Yoga moves that get the head upside down.

Proprioceptive input of pushing, pulling, climbing etc. 

Get and give blanket rides pulling each other around the room on a blanket
Carry books, groceries, or the like
Climb up the slide
Tug of war
Wall pushes
Yoga
Push ups
Sit ups
Jumping Jacks
Crawl or run over couch cushions on the the ground
Jump and crash onto the couch cushions
Jumping on a trampoline
Mopping the floor
Washing windows
Scrubbing...well anything!
Dusting
The chores idea is limitless!

After doing some of the above then you can give your kiddo some calming deep pressure input such as:

A massage
Rolling a therapy ball over them
Squish them between couch cushions
Pillow fight
Brushing with joint compressions

For kiddos that are more on the over-responsive type or anxious about movement activities it is best to start with deep pressure input such as mentioned above. Also it is important to keep vestibular activity slower, linear (back and forth), rhythmic, and predictable such as swinging on a swing from 2 points or rocking on a rocking chair. After that some proprioceptive activity is a good idea.