Careers  |  Newsletter  |  Blog
6,310 Children Helped As Of February 2012
You are here: Home » Blog

How To Avoid Anxiety As School Ends

by Jaclyn Harris on May 22, 2013

The school year is in winding down and classes are becoming less structured on lessons and more focused on summer, end-of-the-year anxious childparties, and outdoor days. This time can be very exciting and fun, however it may also feel chaotic, unpredictable, and even sad for some children; children who are uncomfortable with change, children who have had a very successful school year and may anticipate a new school year with upsets, and children who may be switching schools for varying reasons.

The following are tips to help prepare your child for the inevitable end-of-the-school-year:

  1. Let your child know that it is OKAY that he/she feels this way, and that you understand. Normalizing and validating their feelings about the uncertain time ahead will hopefully take away any additional unpleasant emotions they are feeling, such as embarrassed or ashamed of themselves for Click here to continue reading…
PrintFriendlyShare

{ 0 comments }

Benefits of a Slant Board

by Lauren Weichman on May 22, 2013

There are many reasons to invest in a slant board for your child, including benefits in handwriting.  A slant board typically consists of aslant board flat surface positioned at an angle with clips or anchors to hold materials (such as paper and books) in place.  They come in a variety of sizes and angles, and some are even adjustable. 

Below are several benefits of slant boards for your child for use both in and out of the classroom:

  • Promotes fine and visual motor skills- The angled position of the slant board promotes better placement of the shoulder, arm and hand.  It is therefore providing a better position to work on skills such as writing and drawing.  The position of the board also brings the paper closer to the child and makes it easier to see.
  •  Promotes an efficient marker grasp- The best hand position for handwriting and holding a writing utensil is in wrist flexion. The angled position of the slant board promotes this position, which provides better support for holding a pencil appropriately.  This position may also assist in applying just the right amount of muscle force in holding a pencil.
  •  Provides an easier to reach work surface-For children who have difficulty reaching the entire paper while flat on a desk, the slant board provides an easier distance to reach from the top to the bottom of the page, while also keeping the paper stabilized.
  • Helps with posture- Typically, writing or reading on a flat surface utilizes an inefficient posture, as seen through slumped body position, elevated shoulders, and looking down consistently. The slant board brings the line of vision higher, which encourages looking down to promote an upright posture.
  • Allows visual tracking for reading- Placing a book or other reading material on a slant board may reduce eye strain. The child does not need to refocus their eyes as they scan through a page since all text remains at the same angle.

There are many slant boards on the market to choose from! It is best to choose one made of stable material and with an adjustable slant. The slant board can be used at home or at school, or anywhere that you child engages in writing, reading or drawing!

 To watch a 2 minute video on how to improve handwriting in children, click here!



Subscribe to us on YouTube

PrintFriendlyShare

{ 0 comments }

Help Your Child Learn to Develop Social Skills

by Brett Siegel on May 21, 2013

As children begin to end their school year and begin summer camps, the idea of meeting new friends can be a scary one for them.  Parents can play a key role in preparing their children for a fun and exciting summer camp experience by practicing these social skills with their children.

7 Methods To Prepare Your Child Socially For Camp:

1) Playing with other children
• Invite another child to your home to play with your child
2) Sharing and taking turns
• Talk with your child about sharing and taking turns
• Encourage your child to talk about his/her feelings when others will not sharesocial kids
• Practice taking turns with your child at home; play games that require turn-taking like games with a spinner
3) Stating opinions and desires
• Encourage your child to verbalize his/her needs
• Ask for your child’s opinions often
• After reading a story to your child, ask their opinion of the events or characters in the story
• Discuss real life situations-ask your child’s opinion about what should be done in those situations
4) Using words to solve conflicts and develop control of emotions
• Encourage talking about feelings when another child pushes, is rough, or messes up a game or project your child is working on
• Use situation pictures and ask your child how he/she would solve the situation (ex. Your family is going to the store and you can spend the dollar you have or save it for the zoo next week.  What will you do?)
• Help your child to remember to use their words when situations arise
• Play games using a loud and then a quiet voice
• Try to be close by when there is a problem situation-do not intervene unless it becomes necessary
• Have a quiet area where a child can go to be alone and regain control of their emotions (by choice)
• Have a  family meeting to review the rules of the house and all of the consequences for breaking the rules
5) Learning that it is okay to make a mistake
• When your child makes a mistake always encourage him/her to try again
• When you make a mistake let your child know about it
• Give hugs and positive praise when your child is trying hard to succeed
• Offer plenty of activities at which your child can succeed
• Be willing to listen and console your child if needed Click here to continue reading…
PrintFriendlyShare

{ 0 comments }

The Importance of One-On-One Time with Your Child

May 21, 2013

One-on-one time you spend with your child is priceless. It says to your child, “You are special.” It symbolizes your unconditional love for your child. There is nothing that can replace your undivided attention. Special time works best when several guidelines are followed. Guidelines for One-On-One Time with Your Child: Call the reserved time a [...]

PrintFriendlyShare
Read More →

Speech and Language for the Adopted Child

May 21, 2013

The number of foreign adoptions in the US continues to grow every year. Children who are adopted may be at greater risk for speech and/or language difficulties. Occasionally, this is secondary to a congenital disorder and, at times, the difficulties are secondary to the abrupt change in the child’s primary language. It is important to [...]

PrintFriendlyShare
Read More →

Cooking Greens Made Simple

May 20, 2013

Swiss chard, kale, spinach, mustard greens, collard greens, bok choy… the word “superfood” is synonymous with all dark, leafy green vegetables. The reason why is because they pack such a large nutritional punch. In general, dark leafy greens are loaded in vitamin A, folate, fiber, and also provide minerals like calcium and iron. They are [...]

PrintFriendlyShare
Read More →

Types of Shoes that Will Discourage Toe Walking

May 17, 2013

Some children may walk on their toes nearly 100% for no apparent reason. This is known as idiopathic (the reason for it is unknown) toe walking. Idiopathic toe walking may result in muscle shortening in the calf muscles. In turn, it will continue to promote toe walking. Many cases of toe walking require intervention from [...]

PrintFriendlyShare
Read More →

The Educational Benefits of Playing with Blocks

May 14, 2013

Are old fashioned blocks boring or beneficial?  With all of the technology children have access to today, sometimes blocks can seem, well, boring.  However, don’t underestimate this age-old toy.  Blocks remain one of the most important toys for children to use in order to develop critical skills for school and for life.  Through block play, [...]

PrintFriendlyShare
Read More →

8 Tips for Flying with a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder

May 14, 2013

Taking a flight with kids is hard enough! 　Flying with a child with Sensory Integration takes special planning! 　Sensory Processing Disorder/Sensory Integration (SPD) occurs when the nervous system has difficulty regulating, processing, and interpreting information from one or more of the senses.  Different children perceive and process sensory information differently. Some children find loud noises scary, while others [...]

PrintFriendlyShare
Read More →

How To Make a Weighted Animal

May 14, 2013

Here at North Shore Pediatric Therapy, we utilize weighted objects for a countless number of activities. They can be used as a self-regulation strategy, providing deep proprioceptive input to your child’s muscles and joints.  Various weighted materials, including vests, belts, blankets, wrist-weights and ankle-weights, are utilized in the clinic multiple times throughout the day. For [...]

PrintFriendlyShare
Read More →

← Previous Entries