fbpx
Prepare for Back-to-School with Occupational Therapy

Top 5 Tips to Prepare for Back-to-School from an Occupational Therapist

Top 5 Tips to Prepare for Back-to-School from an Occupational Therapist

As the summer draws to a close, it’s time to start thinking about heading back to school. For students, this transition can bring a mix of excitement and anxiety. Setting students up for success by helping them prepare for the challenges that lie ahead can make the transition go smoothly. Some things to start working on ahead of time are establishing routines, organizing workspaces and supplies, fine motor skills, social skills, and sensory supports. All of this preparation can feel overwhelming, but the occupational therapy team at BDI Playhouse can help you in any of these areas that you find to be tricky for your child. You can schedule a free screening with an occupational therapist just to brainstorm some tips that can help you prepare for back-to-school or to discuss how occupational therapy services might benefit your family.  

1. Establish a Routine: One of the most important aspects when you prepare for back-to-school is establishing a consistent routine. Over the summer break, sleeping schedules often become more relaxed, and days tend to be less structured. However, returning to school requires a regular sleep pattern and structured daily routines. Gradually adjust bedtimes and wake-up times to align with the school schedule, allowing the body to adapt to the changes. Establishing routines for meals, homework, and extracurricular activities will also help create a sense of predictability and reduce stress. Occupational therapists can help you develop these routines and can also provide help to make it easier for your child to follow their routine without assistance with tasks or a million pesky reminders from caregivers.

2. Organize and Prepare: Getting organized is crucial for a successful school year. Help your child set up an organized workspace, whether it’s a dedicated desk or a specific area for homework. Ensure necessary school supplies, textbooks, and materials are readily accessible. Organize backpacks or bags by creating designated compartments for different items. Teach your child how to use a planner or calendar to keep track of assignments, due dates, and extracurricular activities. By promoting organization skills, you can reduce anxiety and increase productivity. Occupational therapists can help identify the best way in which to organize materials to promote independence, modify supplies to best fit your child’s needs, and provide tools to help your child keep themselves on track. 

3. Fine-Tune Motor Skills: Fine motor skills play a significant role in various school activities, such as writing, using scissors, and manipulating small objects. They are also important for your child to be able to open their backpack, snack and lunch containers, and to complete other self care tasks during the school day without help from their teacher. Engage your child in activities that enhance fine motor skills, such as coloring, drawing, puzzles, and arts and crafts projects. Encourage hand strengthening exercises through play, such as squeezing stress balls or using play-doh or putty. These activities help improve dexterity, handwriting, and overall coordination, leading to better academic performance. During therapy sessions, occupational therapists help children to develop these skills through carefully selected and graded activities that provide a just-right-challenge for improving fine motor skills. An OT can also help you to identify some ways that you can modify activities in ways that either promote increased fine motor skills or that make a difficult task more accessible for your child. 

4. Foster Social Skills: Going back to school means interacting with peers, teachers, and other staff members. Social skills are crucial for building relationships and creating a positive school experience. Encourage your child to participate in social activities during the summer to help them practice communication, turn-taking, and problem-solving skills. Arrange playdates, join summer camps, or engage in team sports. Additionally, discuss and role-play social scenarios, teaching your child appropriate responses and behaviors. By fostering social skills, you can boost your child’s confidence and help them form meaningful connections at school. Occupational therapists commonly work with children to address these struggles and have so many great ideas for some strategies that you can try at home. 

5. Manage Sensory Needs: For children with sensory processing challenges, the school environment can be overwhelming. Take time to assess and manage your child’s sensory needs before the school year begins. Consult with an occupational therapist who can provide strategies and interventions to address specific sensory issues. Create a sensory toolkit containing items such as noise-canceling headphones, fidget tools, and stress balls, which can help your child self-regulate and stay focused in the classroom. Collaborate with teachers to create a sensory-friendly learning environment that accommodates your child’s needs. Interpreting your child’s sensory needs and identifying the best ways to support them can be tricky, occupational therapists can work with you to help meet your child’s sensory needs, create activities and routines to regulate their sensory systems, and discuss ways in which you can advocate for your child as they return to the school environment. 

Preparing for back to school involves more than just buying school supplies and new clothes. Focusing on establishing routines, organizing and promoting independence, fine-tuning motor skills, fostering social skills, and supporting sensory needs will help your child be their very best as they go back to school this Fall. By implementing these five tips, you can set your child up for success, ease the transition, and create a positive and productive school experience. The back-to-school period is an opportunity for growth, learning, and building resilience, and with the right preparation, your child can thrive academically, socially, and emotionally! Our team is ready to help you during any step of the way. You can schedule a free screening to discuss any road bumps you may have and we will be happy to talk about some specific strategies to try at home as you prepare for back-to-school!  

Written by: Kourtney Schultz, MOT, OTR/L

Serial Casting

Serial Casting- Casting That’s Not for Broken Bones

Dynamic serial casting is a conservative treatment method in which skilled physical therapists apply and remove a series of lightweight casts to a patient’s leg(s) in order to improve foot alignment and increase range of motion. The goal of serial casting is to improve range of motion in order to prevent chronic skeletal issues, reduce falls, improve function and efficiency, improve the child’s walking pattern, decrease current pain or prevent future pain, and improve alignment for future orthotic use. Serial casting can help to delay or prevent the need for surgical intervention. 

The casting process is performed by skilled physical or occupational therapists. A soft, semi-flexible casting material is applied over stockinette that is padded to protect bony prominences (natural bony points such as the ankle bones) and wrapped in a layer of cotton wrap. The joint is carefully positioned in a neutral position to maximize alignment and gently stretch the soft tissue, with the position maintained throughout the casting process. The child wears and walks (and squats, walks up and down stairs, and stands) on the cast for several days (typically 4 days on and 3 days off), with increased movement and weight bearing allowing for increased gains throughout the casting process. This process is repeated every week for 6-12 weeks until the desired range of motion gains have been made. Notable and measurable gains can be noted in just a few casts, too! 

Conditions that can be addressed with serial casting:

*This is not an exclusive list, as serial casting can benefit a wide variety of patients. Patients who are younger typically make quicker gains throughout the serial casting process; however, patients of any age can participate (and have participated) in serial casting. 

  • Cerebral Palsy
  • Idiopathic Toe Walking
  • Club Foot
  • Charcot-Marie-Tooth
  • Traumatic Brain Injury
  • Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
  • Spasticity (abnormal muscle tone)
  • Contractures

This noninvasive process is designed to make gains while having limited impact on the child’s typical daily activities. Children can play, stand, and walk within their home, school, and community and participate in after school activities and sports (with the exception of swimming and water play). It is typically not a stand alone treatment method. Casting typically coincides with or is followed by ongoing physical or occupational therapy, and a referral for a pediatric orthotic evaluation to continue to maximize the gains made throughout the serial casting process.  

Check out BDI’s Serial Casting page or ask your child’s BDI physical therapist for more information.

Cassidy Bannon, PT, DPT

 

PROMPT

PROMPT

Find Answers & Get Started

What is PROMPT?

PROMPT is an acronym for PROMPTS for Restructuring Oral Muscular Phonetic Targets. It is a multimodal approach to treating speech sound disorders that goes beyond speech production alone, as it is understood that a child’s ability to communicate successfully results from an interaction of a social emotional ability to connect with others, a cognitive linguistic understanding of language, and a physical sensory ability to produce certain sounds.

A PROMPT trained therapist uses their hands to teach a child how to move their jaw, lips, and tongue for effective speech production. Children will learn words that are relevant and motivating to them in their everyday environments with their everyday communication partners.

How does it work?

Your PROMPT trained speech language pathologist will assess your child’s communication in various domains, including social emotional, cognitive linguistic, and physical sensory. Information from the assessment will be organized to create an effective and functional treatment program. During ongoing treatment sessions, your child will participate in motivating activities that encourage several repetitions of functional target words, while the SLP uses their hands to support your child’s motor movements as they produce words. 

Who would benefit from PROMPT? 

A child who has communication challenges due to speech production disorders from approximately 6 months of age onward.

Why pick BDI Playhouse for my child’s needs? 

We have several PROMPT trained SLPs who are excited to enhance your child’s communication using this approach! 

Find Answers & Get Started

Continue reading

Reflex Integration

Reflex Integration

What are reflexes?

Reflexes are automatic responses that occur out of someone’s control in response to an external stimulus or facilitated movement.  Reflexes are necessary automatic movements that are essential for survival as a baby and are what helps a baby develop movement. 

Each reflex is present and integrated at different parts of development.  An example is the rooting reflex, when the baby’s cheek is stroked the baby will turn their head in the direction of the stimulus and open their mouth automatically. This reflex allows the baby to find their mother’s breast and is essential for feeding.  This reflex will usually integrate around 4 months of age once the infant starts to develop volitional control and has learned how to respond IND when they smell, feel and see mother’s breast.  

Unintegrated Reflexes

Reflexes can become problematic when they are delayed or unintegrated. In the case of the rooting reflex, if it is not present at birth it can impact IND feeding response or if present after feeding can impact speech, eating, and response to facial touching.  Common things you might see in your child if this reflex is not integrated include trouble pronouncing words, difficult breaking thumb sucking, messy eatering, or has poor tolerance to kissing or touching their face. 

Unintegrated Reflex Red Flags

There are many reflexes and each has a vital role and can have a huge impact on development if delayed or not integrated at the right time.  Some of the red flags to look for include

  • difficulty or delayed gross motor skills
  • difficulty or delayed fine motor skills
  • emotional lability
  • poor tolerance to new situations
  • difficulty with learning/writing
  • poor vision
  • poor attention
  • bed wetting
  • difficulty with potty training
  • abnormal muscle tone
  • poor tolerance to certain movements.

Next Steps

If you have any of these concerns you should try physical and/or occupational therapy to perform movements that are designed to help with reflex integration.  In addition, your therapist will be able to work on the functional or emotional skills your child is having difficulty with to improve their IND and participation.

Find Answers & Get Started

Continue reading

Posture Intervention

Posture Intervention

Questions about BDI Posture?

[receiver]

708-478-1820

[calendar]

Schedule a Free Screening

Why does posture matter?

Sit up straight! Posture is much more complicated than just sitting up straight. In order to function our best, we need the best possible posture to support that function. Posture is how the body is aligned in everything we do. Good posture is essential for sitting, standing, moving, and even sleeping. Poor posture causes poor movement patterns which leads to short and long term functional deficits. 

What are posture red flags?

Assess posture in static and dynamic positions. Take note of your child’s posture when they are sitting/standing and playing. Look for these red flags. 

  • Slouching
  • Leaning 
  • Asymmetry 
  • Flat or excessive curvature of back
  • Protruding abdomen
  • Forward head
  • Rounded shoulders
  • Head tilt
  • Shoulder elevation  or more forward on one side
  • Inability to stand or sit still 

Who is at risk for postural deficits?

Everyone but especially children! Posture is a life long journey, always needing improvement and is essential for good health. Certainly more screen time is not helping our postural alignment and it’s often unavoidable. Unfortunately poor posture during screen time is especially detrimental to children who have not fully developed. Children have weaker muscles and tissue connections as well as soft bones that are more prone to the effects of gravity. A diagnosis of  Good postural alignment will help decrease the risk of future pain and injury. 

How does posture affect children with special needs?

Children with special needs are at most risk for postural deficits due to possible weakness, tightness and movement challenges. Poor posture can cause breathing, visual and digestion deficits. Joint mobility issues are often compounded by postural misalignment. Posture is not easy to correct on the strongest of kids,  a lot of energy goes into maintaining good posture. Helping to support the child in good alignment will allow them more energy to reach their full potential. Proper postural alignment is essential to ensure the best possible outcome for kids with special needs. 

Who can help? 

Our physical therapists are trained to evaluate posture in all positions for the best possible functional outcome. They will assess your child’s spinal position in static and dynamic activities to help correct positional dysfunctions to improve their motor patterns. Modifications may be needed to improve alignment and PT’s have the expertise to suggest might what work best for your child.  Physical Therapists give personalized exercises, stretches and tips to improve postural endurance and alignment. 

If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s posture, schedule a free screening with one of our physical therapists to help determine a cause and help correct postural misalignments.

Find Answers & Get Started


Continue reading

Aqua Therapy

Pediatric Aqua Therapy

  • aqua 1

  • Aqua 2

  • aqua 3

  • aqua 4

  • aqua 5

  • aqua 6

  • aqua 7

  • aqua 8

  • aqua 9

  • aqua 10

  • aqua 11

  • aqua 12

  • aqua 13

Aqua Therapy Questions?

Give us a call anytime at (708)478-1820 or schedule a free screening or consultation below.

Schedule a screening

What is Aqua Therapy?

Aqua Therapy is a fun way to develop your child’s motor skills! The unique properties of water enhance therapeutic activities. The use of water in therapy can:

  • Provide a reduced gravity environment to help children explore and practice movements
  • Develop skills they are not yet able to perform on land
  • Provide resistance to active movement through all planes of motion
  • Facilitate gains in strength for all major muscle groups.
  • Increase tactile, vestibular, and proprioceptive input that enhances body awareness and motor learning

Benefits of Aqua Therapy?

  • Increase in mobility and range of motion
  • Balance and coordination
  • Increase in trunk stability and postural alignment
  • Perceptual and spatial awareness
  • Muscular strength and endurance
  • Joint mobility
  • Muscle flexibility
  • Head & trunk control
  • Blood supply to muscles
  • Attention span & sensory motor integration
  • Respiratory rate
  • Circulation
  • Symmetry, strength and endurance
  • Decrease in pain
  • Decrease in muscle spasms
  • Decrease in abnormal tone and rigid muscles
  • Decrease in joint compression
  • Stress and tension release
  • The psychological benefits include improved self esteem, confidence, and motivation!

Your Aqua Therapists

BDI Playhouse Children’s Therapy’s aqua therapists are licensed physical and occupational therapists with experience in aquatic pediatric therapy. They have attended aquatic therapy courses, and have received certificates in Water Safety and CPR. They utilize aquatic and landbased techniques, including myofascial release, neuro-developmental treatment, sensory motor integration and functional motor skills in their treatment sessions with children who have orthopedic, neurologic and/or sensory motor challenges.

Aqua Therapy Locations and Materials

What do I need to bring to my child’s Aqua Therapy session?

  • Towels
  • Lock for locker (optional)
  • Bottle of water
  • Water diapers or rubber pants (for incontinence)
  • Non-skid slippers or water shoes

Locations:

Getting Started With Aquatic Therapy

Find answers here

Still not sure? Schedule a free consultation here

Download or print this page

Great Feedback from Great Families

Our son received physical therapy both in the office and in the pool for his torticollis. While we were incredibly happy to have our son ‘graduate,’ we were also so sad to say goodbye to our amazing physical therapist. She was dedicated, thorough, and caring; we are so grateful for this positive experience!”

Continue reading