August 2021 - BDI Playhouse Children's Therapy

Infant Massage

Written by J Keenan on August 27, 2021. Posted in bottlefeeding, breastfeeding, Infants, massage.

Benefits of Infant Massage

Massage has benefits at any age, but for babies it can be extra helpful! The best time to massage your baby is when they are awake, but alert. It doesn’t have to last long to get these benefits. You don’t need much, a comfortable room, something soft to place baby on, and some oil (here are some suggestions to pick out what works for you)!

Improved development

Massage can improve circulation, improve muscle tone, and provide increased awareness of a baby’s body parts. It’s also a great time to talk to your baby which will help their speech and language.

Improved sleep

Daily massage can help babies build tolerance to handling and different input. This can help them learn to calm and relax their bodies on their own which can help them The relaxation linked to massage can help baby fall asleep on their own.

Improved digestion

Babies occasionally experience difficulties with pooping or have increased gas. There are specific massage techniques that can help move gas bubbles and poop along.

Parent and child bonding

Massage is a great way for parents, caregivers, and grandparents to bond with their baby. Babies respond differently to different strokes. It’s a great way for parents to pick up on the babies cues. It’s also a great excuse to get some 1:1 quiet time with baby. What a great way to break up that witching hour!

Improved body awareness

Body awareness helps babies start interacting with their environment. They get input when they recieve massage. This can help improve their awareness of where their body is in their environment. If your baby has a preference for using one side more than the other it can be a great way to help them be more aware of the side they don’t use as much

If you would like to learn how to massage your baby , BDI Playhouse offers Infant Massage classes in clinic and virtually. Trained therapists will help you find the best way to ready your baby’s unique cues to get the most out of massage!

Written By: Andrea Turnell, PT, DPT

W Sitting Alternatives

Written by J Keenan on August 25, 2021. Posted in Uncategorized.

W Sitting. Why do children W sit? Simply, because it’s easy! Kids like W sitting because it creates a large base of support like a pyramid.

Why do we want to correct the W sitting?

W sitting allows kids to sit and play by using very little core muscles.
It prevents trunk rotation. Trunk rotation strengthens the muscles necessary for typical movement.
This posture discourages the use of midline hand crossing with play. Movements that cross our midline improves communication with both sides of the brain and eventually help develop a dominant hand.
If your child has a diagnosis that causes high or low tone it is important to discourage W sitting to improve their postural control and prevent muscle inbalances.

5 alternative ways to sit on the floor!

Criss Cross. Sometimes referred to criss cross applesauce. While W sitting discourages trunk rotation and midline crossing, criss cross legs do just the opposite! The legs are crossed through midline and does not restrict trunk rotation.
Side Sitting. Encourage side sitting on both the left and right side to stretch and strengthen their core muscles.
Kneeling and Tall kneeling. Children who kneel will also move in and out of tall kneeling or standing on their knees. Try putting legos on the floor next to a coffee table to encourage kneeling to tall kneeling to improve leg, hip and core strength!
Tummy Time. Tummy time is not just for infants. We should always encourage our kids and to get back to our bellies to improve our back strength and head posture.
Wiggle seats. Balance pads are great for kids to sit on for added cushion and improve trunk stability. It also helps with our sensory kids who love to move. https://www.amazon.com/s?k=child%27s+wiggle+seat&i=sporting&ref=nb_sb_noss

Sitting in a variety of positions is helpful to strengthen different muscles that support our child’s whole body. Poor posture can limit our child’s attention, dexterity, vision, digestion, participation, and so much more! So fix those legs!

If you notice your child is resistant to moving out of W sitting or has other postural deficits that you are concerned about, BDI Playhouse offers free screenings https://bdiplayhouse.com/physical-therapy/ and we can help with strategies for core strength, postural alignment and trunk stability.

Written by Dana Bukala, PTA

Successful Classroom Set-up

Written by J Keenan on August 11, 2021. Posted in Preschoolers, school, School Aged Children.

Classroom setup is more important than ever. A properly set-up room can increase focus, increase a student’s ability to sit still, and even decrease problem behaviors.

1. Less is best

The first step to a successful classroom is embracing “less is best”. A crowded classroom can cause over stimulation. This can cause challenges with attention or following directions. When too many visuals are placed on the walls of a classroom, students can become easily distracted. Start by simplifying the classroom. Use uniform colors. Place limited posters on the wall. If educational posters are a must, it is important to keep those areas defined by placing similar visuals together towards the back of the room.

2. Dynamic seating

Noticing students having challenges with sitting still? Alternative seating options provide an opportunity to increase self-regulation, attention, and productivity within the classroom. Offering flexible seating choices, allows teachers to enhance their learning environment while providing control and comfort for students. Here are a few dynamic seating options:

wiggle seats
stools
wobble chairs
cube chairs
floor rockers
bouncy bands
bean bag chair

Besides utilizing dynamic seating options, it is important to make sure their current desk and chair fit. Make sure both feet can touch the ground. The desk height needs to allow their arms and hands to rest on top.

3. Organization

Another tip is maximizing organization. Organization is key within a classroom learning environment. Messy desks or a cluttered space causes difficulty focusing or turning work in on time. Desks should hold limited supplies and should be cleaned out regularly. Color coded folders for certain assignments or subjects can be utilized as a visual to increase task engagement, participation, and attention. Organizing the room in a way where students know where items are, by utilizing labels is a great way to assist with independence in the classroom.

4. Lighting

The next step to consider is utilizing natural lighting. Natural lighting has benefits for attention and task engagement. Bright fluorescent lights can cause distractibility, discomfort, and decreased regulation. If natural lighting is not an option, utilize a cozy shade or fluorescent light filters during classroom set up is a great way to enhance regulation within the learning environment.

5. Visual boundaries

Finally, the last recommendation is using visual boundaries within the classroom. Doing so can provide order and success within the learning environment. They are helpful for students who have difficulty with spatial awareness, eloping, or other difficult behaviors. Utilizing painters tape on the floor to set the boundaries for a play area or a reading space is a great way to help with task engagement and to decrease roaming around the room during center time.

If you notice a student or child who still has challenges with attention, self-regulation, or organization within the classroom even after implementing these strategies, BDI Playhouse offers free screenings and can help improve executive functioning skills, task engagement, and participation.

Written By: Kiersten Robertson, MOT, OTR/L

My Kid Keeps Hitting

Written by J Keenan on August 11, 2021. Posted in Preschoolers, School Aged Children, toddlers.

Does your child keep hitting others when he wants what they are playing with? Grab toys away from other children? Kick over other’s toys? These are all considered undesirable behaviors and can be frustrating to watch your child do at home, in their community, or at school. Here are some strategies to help your child with undesired behaviors.

Step 1- Hands are not for hitting

Remind your child what their hands are for. Hands are for waving, washing, clapping, counting, drawing, doodling, holding, hugging and eating. Hands are not for hitting. Hitting hurts!

Step 2- Use these words

Teach your child the words to use when wanting something from someone else. Can I please have a turn? Could I see that toy? Let your child know they have to wait for the answer. This may be the hardest part. If a child will not share a toy provide suggestions for another toy to play with.

Step 3- Hitting hurts

If a child does hit, have the injured child tell that child,” I don’t like that, that hurts!”

Step 4- Don’t force apologies

Do not make your child apologize for undesired behaviors. Making a child apologize has no meaning behind it if they are just saying it because you told them too. Some children may use this to their advantage and think, “It’s OK to hit if I apologize afterwards.” Remind your child that it hurts others and our hands are not for hitting. We must use our words to ask for what we want.

If hitting persists or your child is unable to utilize the strategies, call to schedule a free screening with one of our pediatric therapists. Sometimes, hitting occurs when a child does not have an ample vocabulary or language to make requests or negotiate. It can also occur when a child excites easily or seeks input. Our trained therapists will be able to give additional recommendations unique to your child’s needs!

Written by: Jessica Frederick, COTA/L

Month: August 2021