Six Back-to-School Strategies for our Sensory Kids

Back-to-School time can be so stressful for kids, especially our sensory kids!  All of the unknowns can be so scary! While our kids might have a lot of questions like, "Who's my teacher?" "What does she look like?" "Where's my classroom? "Where do I eat my lunch?" "Do I have my own desk?" "Will I have to sit still all day?" "Is there a swing on the playground?" some of our kids aren't able to tell us that those things are causing worry. While we might not know exactly what our kids are thinking, we can help provide some predictability, which is so crucial for our children. Keep their routines consistent and their sensory needs met and you'll have a successful start to the new school year!


Consider these six strategies for a seamless Back-to-School!

1.  Visit the teacher and the new classroom on a day other than Open House. While you're there, take pictures of the teacher, his desk, the cafeteria and the playground so that you can continue to talk about those things once you get home and for the week leading up to school.  Our kids like to know what to expect, so this will help them feel better.

2.  Create a social story using pictures you've taken or ones that you draw together about different parts of the school day:  the car ride, the bus ride, the teacher, circle time, new friends, lunch time, music time, PE, who's picking him up, or any other part of the day that your child is excited or nervous about.

2.  Prepare the teacher for your child's sensory needs. While we don't want to overwhelm her, we do want to help her, help your child.  Prioritize 3 things that your child needs and what you or last year's teacher found that works. Ask her if you can send in fidgets, objects or special snacks for chewing, or a dynamic seat cushion.

3.  Limit morning chaos! Create a visual schedule for the morning routine.  Use a timer (sand timer, microwave, etc.) to keep everyone on track. Prepare as much as you can the night before so he knows what to expect the next morning:  the outfit, what he'll have fore breakfast, etc. Allow him to wear his most comfy, tag-free outfit.  Be sure to wash any new clothes to get rid of the  store smells and "crispness". Provide a breakfast that will meet his sensory needs. Does he need "alerting" foods to wake up or should he eat a chewy bagel or suck his favorite yogurt through a straw?

4.  Create a cozy corner for some "decompression" time once he comes home.  Facilitate any other sensory strategies that you know makes him feel good and organized. A safe place for your child to retreat to in the classroom may be needed, too. Help your child and his teacher identify or create a quiet retreat.

5.  Provide structure and organization surrounding homework.  Follow the same routine each day. Some kids need some outdoor time before getting started, while others need to get it done right away.   Have a "finished" bin or notebook to be sure that once they've competed it, it actually gets handed in! Use any sensory strategies that you need to:  chew gum, stand up, sit on a ball, take movement breaks, eat a crunchy snack, listen to music, etc.

6.  Promote a calm and predictable bedtime routine.  Ditch any electronics two hours before bedtime! Allow plenty of time for winding down. If bedtime is at 8:00, start at 7:00 with a warm bath with dim lighting, follow it with some deep pressure or massage. Read a book together or talk about what tomorrow may bring using a soft, slow, calm voice. Limit other household distractions by closing doors or even using a white noise machine.  Some children calm and fall asleep easier with heavier blankets such as quilts or chenille blankets or the use of weighted blankets.

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

Don't Let The Thought Of Kindergarten Scare You: Rely On Our Kindergarten Readiness Checklist!

It's that time of year when we must make a decision regarding school placement for next fall!  We have to decide, is he ready for Kindergarten or should I place him in a T-K program?  This is a big decision and it can be tough!  My advice is to first, trust your instinct.  Next, listen to your current teacher.  Ask her opinion during parent-teacher conferences.  Thirdly, run it by your pediatrician.  If you still have doubts, come to us for a free screening.

In the meantime, take a glance at our Kindergarten Readiness Checklist.  I just shared it with a preschool teacher this morning for her to use in her parent-teacher conferences.  Perhaps it will help you feel confident in your decision.  As well, do not hesitate to call one of our therapists, who are specialists in child development, with any additional questions that you may have. We're here to ensure that your child is successful in school!

We now have speech therapy!

Keeping with our tradition of hiring experienced therapists, we are excited to welcome Lori Kury to our Touchstone team!  Lori comes to Touchstone Therapy with 23 years of experience as a speech language pathologist.  She specializes in the treatment of children with speech, language, swallowing and feeding challenges. Welcome, Lori!

Today Is National Puzzle Day!

January 29th has been declared National Puzzle Day!  Have you noticed that puzzles aren't for everyone?  You know, some people will sit for hours to complete a 1000 piece puzzle, while some have trouble completing the 100 piece puzzle with their children. Perhaps the disinterest in puzzles is because it's a bit challenging.  Does that seem silly?  Well, if we consider the demands of completing a puzzle, it makes sense.  Not only does putting the pieces together require fine motor coordination, eye-hand coordination and problem-solving skills, but it also requires a great deal of visual perceptual skills, specifically:  spatial relations, visual closure and figure ground.  No kidding!  Let's take a closer look at these visual perceptual skills.

Spatial Relationships:  The ability to determine how something differs from the other similar objects or forms.  It allows us to recognize that one part of a form is turned in a different direction from the others.  This is finding that right puzzle piece and figuring out how it fits in with the rest.  

Visual Closure:  The ability to imagine a completed design or a whole picture when it is incomplete. This allows us to recognize the form or shape when the whole picture is not available to us.  So, when we have the border of the puzzle finished, but there is a gaping hole in the inside.

Figure Ground:  The ability to pick out details or find something among others in a busy background.  Can you find that puzzle piece you're looking for among all others on the table?

Since it's a snow day, today is a great day to break out a puzzle! When they come in to put their gloves in the dryer, gather the kids around the table and have them work together to complete a puzzle!

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

There Must Have Been Some Magic In That Old Silk Hat!

We cannot deny the excitement of the snow that we are expecting today!  While I was at my schools today,  the kids were all sharing with me how they plan to enjoy the snow.  There are big plans for  snowmen, snow angels and lots of snowball fights!  But, how are you going to entertain them once their fingers and toes are frozen?!  After they build their Frostys, have them come in for a cup of hot chocolate and a fun game with the neighborhood kids.  Here's a game that I guarantee they'll love!

You can use any hat, or even a sock or a mitten.  I used Frosty's Magic Hat today for a game of stereognosis.  In OT terms, stereognosis is the ability to perceive common objects, through the sense of touch, only.  So, NO PEEKING, allowed!  If needed, use a scarf to blindfold the children to really work on using their fingers to feel the objects.

Take a quick trip around the house and pick up everyday, familiar objects to put in your hat.  Then, round up the kids and get the game started! Without looking in the hat, have the kids identify an object, using only their "magic fingers" and sense of touch. Or, to make it a tad easier, give them a specific object to look for.

Have Fun!

Additional tidbits:

• Add some excitement to a Christmas party with Stocking Stereognosis!
• Practice snow angels, they are great for bilateral motor coordination.
• Gather a bunch of pairs of white socks and have an indoor snowball fight!

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

Handwriting Help: 13 Signs That Your Child May Need Assistance From An OT

It's National Handwriting Day and there's a bunch of buzz today about writing.  For some children, the act of writing comes quite naturally.  However, for others, it's a dreadful event that often ends in a standoff, tears and ultimately poor self-esteem.  Many of our children are bright, have vivid imaginations and a lot to share, however, they just cannot get their thoughts down on paper.  So, how do you know when your child could use the help of an occupational therapist?

Signs your child may need assistance from an occupational therapist to improve handwriting:

• Awkward pencil grasp
• Presses either too firmly or too lightly
• Changes hands, or hasn't chosen a hand dominance by the age of 5
• Works closely to the paper or tilts head
• Has trouble sitting still in the chair
• Writing is illegible
• Difficulty forming letters or forms segmented letters
• Misspelled words
• Slow to write
• Disorganization of work on page
• Poor spacing of letters and words
• Avoids written work, has trouble completing work
• Good oral skills, but cannot put it into writing 

 OTs have a multitude of tools and strategies to make learning handwriting fun! 

Fundanoodle's Paper Promotes Success!

Fundanoodle's MagnaStix provide a multisensory approach to learning the letters.

"Story Starters" Hidden in Valentine Hearts help us get started! 

Ask an OT today how your child can be more successful with writing! 

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

Six Ways to Celebrate National Handwriting Day!

January 23rd is National Handwriting Day! We all know the importance of handwriting!  After all, 30-60% of a child's day at school is spent handwriting!  In addition, research shows that handwriting instruction benefits students' cognitive and motor development.  Other literature shows that four year olds who exhibit strong handwriting skills are more likely to succeed academically in elementary school.

Handwriting extends beyond the walls of the classroom! At home, children may write in journals, on grocery lists or even to create a birthday wish list!  And, let's not forget about Valentine's Day, which is right around the corner.  Twenty-eight signatures on those cute little cards can be quite daunting for some of our kids! Like most things in life, practice is the key!  Experts recommend 15 minutes of handwriting instruction and practice per day.  I wouldn't recommend pushing a child beyond that 15 minute limit.  As well, I always say, motivation moves mountains, so make handwriting fun!

Try these six ways to celebrate the day!  And remember, a little practice each day, goes a long way!

1.  Surprise a family member with a special note!  Tape it to the cereal box, or use a dry erase marker to write one on a mirror. Window markers and crayons are fun, too! For something different, write on aluminum foil with a Sharpie!

2.  Practice your autograph using a variety of writing tools- gel crayons, chalk, charcoal crayons, pastels, markers.

3.  Sculpt a masterpiece with Playdoh or clay and then write a few descriptions about it.

4.  Write a book- have fun being both the author and the illustrator.

5.  Send a note to a cousin, grandparent or a pen-pal.   Embellish it with stickers or a Wikki Stix border.

6.  Save a tree- practice spelling words or letters in media such as:  cornmeal, flour, insta-snow, shaving cream or a baggie of hair gel.  Use a skewer or push pin to write in Playdoh.

Share how you're celebrating National Handwriting Day!

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

Miss Danielle Earned A Straight "A" With Ping Pong Ball Matching!

We host and educate students from all over the country.  One assignment that our students have is to create an activity that can be used with a child that he or she is working with.  There are really only two requirements:  1) It has to cost $10.00 or less to make, and 2) it has to sustain and outlast our "testers"!

Danielle, our OT student, who "graduated" today, made us this Ping-Pong Ball Matching activity!
She provided several laminated pattern cards and a dozen painted ping-pong balls in a recycled egg carton!  The kids have to maneuver and shuffle the balls around to match the pattern, hole by hole and row by row! This challenges many skills including:  visual perceptual, visual motor, ocular motor and fine motor!

Now, that deserves an A, don't you think?!

Other ping-pong ball activities might include:

• Paint the balls different colors and have them simply match by color (using a pattern card)
• Build Snowmen or wreaths
• Write a sight word on each ball and have your child scoop out the ball from a bowl with an ice cream scooper
• Strengthen oral motor skills by blowing the ball with a straw across the room
• Place the balls in a bin full of water and have the children fish for them with nets
• Bounce them from the table into a target such as a bowl or a cup

Kids love balls, even if they're not bouncing them, so I found that kids find Miss. Danielle's activity to be super fun (and challenging)!  Share how you've created fun-filled learning with ping-pong balls!

A Simple Mixture Leads to Serious Learning!

A simple mixture of flour and baby powder provided serious experiential learning. The children loved the texture of the bin and repeatedly said, “silky smooth”.  They had various descriptors for the powder scent, which was quite entertaining! Some acknowledged it smelled like a baby, while others were sure it “smelled” like smoke!

The bin offered a variety of complexity.  Some children enjoyed digging deep or simply sifting the mix between their fingers. Others were motivated to find the hidden objects. Small wooden cubes with two different letters on opposite sides were hidden within the mix. The children identified the letters, made the letter sound and came up with words that started with the letter.  For those children working on writing skills, we then drew the letter that was on the block in the silky smooth mixture.

For added fun and tool use, have them sprinkle with a flour sifter, stir with a whisk, or shake the mixture through a strainer. While the bin looked quite simple, the children found it to be interesting and remained engaged for quite some time!

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

Tips to Avoid Fight or Flight on Halloween Night!

Costumes such as these are likely to be a nightmare for our kids with sensory sensitivities.  While Halloween is loads of fun for many children, it can be quite daunting for our children with sensitivities to touch, sound and sight.  This can lead to behaviors where they may literally fight or flight.

Choosing a costume is the first battle. Most of our sensory kids are not going to tolerate make-up, the itchy fabrics or the hats and masks involved.  Consider using clothing they already have and think about accessories they can hold to complete the outfit.  Soft sweatpants come in all kinds of colors, add a tail and some ears to red pants and a sweatshirt to make Clifford. If the outfit needs a hat, try attaching it to a belt loop or use it to hold the treats.

Your child may be tolerate his costume, but add sights and sounds and it may be just too much.  Avoid the houses that look like they belong to the Adams family. The eerie music and sounds along with children screaming can easily set our children into overload. Blinking strobe lights certainly add a scary feel, and may be too over-stimulating for our sensory kids,too.

Many candy givers expect a "Trick or Treat" from your child.  If your child has difficulty with expressive language or has apraxia, practice the steps including ringing the door bell and saying "Trick or Treat".  If he suffers from "stage fright", consider accessorizing with a sign.  For instance, a railroad conductor could hold a sign that reads "Trick or Treat".   For our children who are non-verbal, use a BIG Mack switch with a pre-recorded message that she can hit at each door.

Try these tips to avoid a scary sight on Halloween night:

• Never force a child to dress up or participate in Trick or Treating
• Practice at Grandma's house
• Set out early before it gets too dark and to avoid the crowds
• Choose quiet neighborhood streets
• Go to familiar houses
• Read your child's signs and be prepared to come home early
• Identify a safe spot if you're at a party or if he gets separated from you on the street- consider an identification tag of some sort
• Make sure your child is visible, whether it's through the use of glow sticks or a flashlight
• Allow your child to pass out the candy at your house, rather than go Trick-or-Treating
• If you're hosting or at a Halloween party, have your child lead the Bobbing for Apples or Pumpkin Painting Contest, rather than participating. Or, allow her to be on the judges' panel and hand out the prize for the best costume!

Enjoy the festivities this week and share any tips that you have to make Trick-or-Treating fun for all!

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

Sensory Bins: Fall Favorites!

As I sit down to write this, the autumn leaves are falling down and floating past my window!  Happy Fall!  This first sensory bin is "A Pantry Potluck of Fall Colors"!  This sensory bin has a variety of sizes and textures that I pulled right from my pantry!  From corn to quinoa, lima beans to black beans, you can make it with what you have right at home!  I hunted for various sizes and colors to make it interesting, both for our sense of sight and touch! Throughout the mixture, I hid similarly colored leaves and then added some bright spiky balls for greater intensity. The kids loved scooping and pouring with the little bowls. Be sure to have a broom nearby, we've had beans all over the clinic!

Who doesn't love a trip to the pumpkin patch? Personally, I like to find the nice, plump, round pumpkins.  The children showed preference with the pumpkins in our patch, too.  Within this sensory bin, we've hidden pumpkins of various sizes, shapes and colors.  Some are big and brightly colored, while others are small and shiny. While some children searched for all of the big ones, some preferred the ones that looked like jewels. We have used this bin both as a sorting activity, as well as to work on counting.  There are over 30 pumpkins hidden in our pumpkin patch!

As you begin to carve your pumpkins, be sure to provide your children with opportunities to touch and smell the ooey-gooey mixture inside!  We'll be sure to share our spider web sensory bin that we have planned for next week! Do you have any spectacular sensory bins to share?

Michelle

A Sensory Bin Like No Other!

When I show up to the Speech Garden Sensory Preschool with my water marbles, the kids squeal with delight.  This is truly a favorite sensory bin.  (The kids call them water marbles, but they are those water beads that are intended for plants.) Some children are not fond of the wet feel right away, but the brilliant colors end up drawing them in!  I love using the science tongs with the water marbles as they open and close just like scissors and provide another means for practicing the motions for cutting.  While some children enjoy filling bowls or pouring a cup of water marbles onto their hands, others find it fun to “feed” the fish and frog (bath tub grippers) by placing the marbles into the little “divots”.   Sensory bins are a great way to promote language as the kids describe what they see, feel and smell.  We talk about the colors of the marbles, how some are bigger than others and the kids get excited when the find anomalies. They also work together sharing the space around the bin, as well as the tools and supplies within the bin.  Not only do we see bursts of language, but improved arousal levels as they explore this favorite tactile bin!

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

A fine motor favorite that goes for miles!

I can’t take credit for this activity as I got the idea while visiting Forest Hill Playschool.  The teacher in the class used Cheerios to place on the skewers, which is an excellent activity for working on pincer skills, as well as eye-hand coordination.  I always worry about allergies and wanted to be able to use it with a number of children, so I substituted the cereal pieces for plastic rings.  To make it more difficult, we added paperclips. The paperclips worked nicely, because my wooden sticks weren’t exactly skewers, but were more like tall, skinny Popsicle sticks.  Therefore, the children had to turn the paperclips just so, to get them to fit the end of the stick. The funniest thing was how long the children attended to this activity.  Once they finished a stick with one color of clay on the bottom, they wanted to try another one with a different colored ball of clay at the bottom. 

Michelle Yoder, OTR/L

Marshmallows aren't just for S'Mores! Create a sensory bin right from your pantry!

Marshmallows, flour, coconut shreds and plastic non-frozen ice cubes provided several different “feels”.  At first, the marshmallows were dry and spongy.  After some poking and squeezing, they got sort of sticky.  They loved poking their fingers through the ends of the marshmallows! 

Exploration of the marshmallows provided nice hand strength, too, as they kids squished them into balls.  Sifting the flour between their fingers was calming, and promoted quiet time. 

The children enjoyed searching for the colored cubes among the marshmallows as they sort of felt the same, being somewhat squishy and the same shape. Some of the children enjoyed sorting the cubes by color, while others were challenged to build structures from the model.  

The coconut shreds sort of got lost in the mix, but did provide a nice olfactory component, as they provided a pleasant smell.  Some of the children said it smelled like “sun lotion”.  I took the bin home after school and my seven year old had just as much fun!