You may have heard your occupational therapist state “We worked on bilateral coordination activities…” and wonder what does bilateral coordination mean and why is it so important? Bilateral coordination – also known as bilateral integration – is the ability to use both sides of the body at the same time. It is important because so…
Summer is synonymous with warm weather fun and family trips. Any new adventure or highly motivating activity is a great reinforcement for speech, language and motor development. What are some ways families can promote development in toddlers during this sunny season? Here are a few developmental principles to keep in mind as families engage in…
We use to think that as long as a child broke the thumb sucking habit by the time permanent teeth where erupting, there wouldn’t be lingering negative effects. Now we are learning this may not be the case. A joint research project with US and Chile found ” children who sucked their fingers, or used…
In the glossary of terms of the American Academy of Orofacial Pain, bruxism is defined as a “total Para functional daily or nightly activity that includes grinding, gnashing or clenching of the teeth” . If your child grinds their teeth, don’t be too concerned. Bruxism is not necessarily a sign of stress in your child.…
Many families are searching for ADHD treatments for their children that are not medication dependent. Interactive Metronome is a good alternative treatment for many individuals with ADHD. Interactive Metronome, often referred to as IM, is an assessment and treatment tool used in therapy to improve the neurological processes of motor planning, sequencing and processing. Improvement…
Do you have a child who is struggling to eat? Are you concerned that your young child is not getting adequate nutrition or may be falling behind with physical growth? It is a fact that good nutrition is critically important for overall development and it is wise to take note of your child’s eating patterns.http://medical.gerber.com/nutrition-health-topics/infant-early-childhood-nutrition/articles/early-childhood-nutrition-toddlers-to-preschoolers…
Pediatric speech therapists and occupational therapists are masters at identifying great toys and games. When recently asked about the top ten toys to encourage learning that could be used at home, I went to my therapists, who are the experts on fun and learning! I quickly found we couldn’t be limited to ten! Keep in…
Having a son with autism has shaped my perception of human behavior and also convinced me that we have a miraculous brain. Watching how Sam has processed information throughout his thirty years with autism has been quite an education for me personally. Sam has always been a very happy, fun loving guy, by nature. The…
Parents might wonder if some of the emotional stress they sometimes observe in their toddler is due to an underlying developmental or sensory issue that could be remediated with occupational therapy. The goal of pediatric occupational therapy is to help a child develop the skills they need to accomplish the activities that are typical for…
If you have a child with a developmental delay or disorder, you may want to learn more about pediatric occupational therapy. Occupational therapists look at the whole child and determine how he or she interacts and functions within all the different environments that make up that child’s world. So if your child is delayed with…