Around this time of year, I get a lot of parents who ask “what kind of gift is best for my child?” Being a occupational therapist with a passion for children, I always try to give a gift that is both educational and engaging. Here are my top four picks for gifts, based on age group:…
Cue the music: It’s the most wonderful time of the year! But for some families with special needs children, the holidays can bring anxiety and uncertainty, especially when confronted with large family gatherings either at home or away from home in new environments. Questions arise, like: How am I going to keep her busy for…
Recently, I shared how you can turn almost any game you have at home into a language game, often without your child even realizing what you’re doing! The example I provided used the game “Pop the Pig” and I thought it would be helpful to actually show you via video what this looks like. Click the video…
Why isn’t my child talking? Although you may think this question is only for a speech therapist, occupational therapy may provide some answers, as well. I frequently notice a child start to babble and talk more as I work with them in the gym and on the swings. Why does this happen? Occupational therapists help children find their optimal…
Often, parents ask me about the best games to develop language. I have my favorites, of course, but the truth is most any game can be turned into a language game – the best part about using games you already have at home is that your child may not even realize what you’ve done! “Pop the Pig” is one of my…
New situations can cause anxiety for some children, causing them to behave inappropriately. Many parents have asked me for help because their child wouldn’t stay buckled in the car, would behave appropriately in a store, or struggled at a birthday party. One of the first things I suggest in these cases is a social story. A social story…
Why isn’t my child talking? I get asked this question a lot as a speech therapist. Sometimes the answer is easy and sometimes the answer is complex. Some children have language delays which impede their ability to talk, but other children have the ability to communicate but don’t or won’t do so. Sometimes the actions…
When children come to see me for speech therapy, it’s pretty common for me to ask, “What did you do today?” Although the responses vary, this summer (when school was out) many of them responded, “watched TV” or “played video games”. It’s no secret that electronic devices have become immensely popular over the last decade and…
We celebrated Superheroes Week at Kid’s Creek earlier this month! Watch this video for some great highlights from Kids’ Creek Superhero Week 2016!
I used to be a little jealous of physical and occupational therapists. If you can’t get a patient to move her arm, you can move it for her. If you can’t get a patient to hold a pencil correctly, you can move her fingers into the correct grasp. Even if a patient is unable (or unwilling) to cooperate, you…