Category Archives: Home Therapy

Parent Partnerships and Collaboration, carryover of sensory integration strategies to home settings, how to do activities at home with little equipment.

How Do Paediatric Occupational Therapists Partner With Parents?

Usually, when people think about paediatric Occupational Therapy, the first thing that comes to mind is dropping your child off to see an OT who will do 1:1 treatment with them. Sometimes parents aren’t present which means that they may not fully understand what the OT is working on with their child, and more importantly, don’t know how to support their child in their daily lives.

How do OT’s help parents support their kids?

At ot4kids, we have always valued working closely with parents in these ways:

Parents or caregivers are present throughout our sessions
We have regular parent-ONLY coaching sessions (similar to a teacher-parent conference but not rushed and more often) to review how things are going at home, identify areas of continued concern, understand rationale behind certain ‘behaviours’ and why certain sensory tools are effective and how to use them.
Some parents do only parent consultations where they learn about sensory processing and motor skills, learn simple strategies to do with their child, and review in their OT consultations
Sometimes even grandparents and nannies have joined coaching and / or treatment sessions which has been so fantastic

What do parents think of 1:1 coaching sessions with their OT?

Parents often find these consultation meetings to be the most helpful to them in understanding their child’s needs, and parenting their kids in a way that supports them developmentally and emotionally versus using traditional parenting techniques.

How do parent coaching sessions / consultations help us (OT’s) help you?

As an OT, I find the parent consultations really effective as:

1) parents know their child best so their input and feedback are great clues into figuring out effective ways to help their child

2) it’s important to know how the child fares in their daily lives as we want them to develop skills beyond the clinic and into their ‘real’ environments for the best impact

The aim of parent consultations / coaching

Our aim is to help reduce the overwhelm that parents can feel, and to help you find simple and effective ways in helping nurture your kids.

My message to parents is that you know your child best, follow your gut instinct, and know that we can help you to be confident in helping your child to be coordinated, calm, and connected.

Sign up here to learn more about parent coaching / consultation sessions. http://www.ot4kids.co.uk/occupational-therapy/parent-group-coaching-sessions

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How is Teletherapy and Working Closely with Parents Helping Kids?

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Can you believe we have been doing Teletherapy and parent consultations for three months now?

Oftentimes, people think that OT has to be done 1:1 with an OT to help their child (and don’t get me wrong, direct treatment is really important and helpful). Thanks to COVID-19, it has been absolutely amazing to see both parents and kids thriving. Kids are calmer and building relationships, developing their motor skills, and problem-solving during play. Parents are understanding their child’s ‘signs’ and needs, and as a result, figuring out what to do coming up with great strategies to support their kids.

It has been a highlight building relationships, joining forces with parents, and having an impact in the kids’ natural environments.

How do Occupational Therapists do Teletherapy?

Teletherapy sessions have taken a combination of two forms:

Directly working with the child via the parent
Indirectly by meeting only the parent and reviewing videos of child between sessions

What lessons have we learned (i.e. benefits gained) from teletherapy during COVID-19?

Less is more

Kids have made great progress with what they have at home.

Parents have been nicely surprised how much we are able to do with what they have at home, and as a result, they are more able to incorporate sensory strategies or motor activities into their days. In many ways, I have found that children have made even more progress during their intensive blocks as we are so much more focused on certain areas and we use what they have.

Empowering parents

For me, I have loved building relationships with the parents, and tag teaming with them to support their families and kids. I feel that this has also been key to the progress we have made in sessions, and the support the parents feel that they are receiving. Parents are empowered knowing that they can help their kids using their own hands and ideas.

Learn by doing

I learn by doing things myself.

These parent consultations and virtual sessions have enabled parents to ‘do’ with their kids themselves, and become confident in their own abilities to support their child. Being mum to my 8-year old, I know how important this is.

New future plans? YES!

So far, many families want to continue in this way to some capacity, and I’m fore-seeing positive changes going forwards in how we provide OT via supporting parents, whether it be directly, indirectly, through trainings and coaching, or a combination.

Get in touch to discuss how tele-therapy can help your child.

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Sensory Chalk Walk Obstacle Courses

Lockdown has finally given us the impetus to create some Chalk Walk Obstacle Courses for our neighbourhood. (See video examples below.) I’ve always wanted to make these, and now that we have started, my son loves making them too.

People often think these chalk walks are difficult to make, however they’re so fun and you can involve your kids in making them too. We have now made a bunch of these during the past couple of months, including for younger and older children.

We have done very simple ones by going down our street drawing designated areas for ‘dancing,’ being ‘goofy,’ doing ‘silly walks,’ and drawing Hop Scotch grids which even the older people on our street have loved doing.

How chalk obstacle courses develop sensory processing and motor skills:

FUN while social distancing!
gross motor skills
body and spatial awareness
balance and coordination
motor planning skills to create, plan and execute
fine and visual motor control
organisational skills
emotional regulation

TOP TIP: Check the weather before you draw out your chalk course. We learned the hard way as it sadly rained the day after we made ours a couple of times.

How to create and arrange a chalk walk obstacle course, keeping your child in mind:

Start with a more intense, heavy work component such as jumping or doing press-ups
Next, do a balance and / or challenge task such as walking along a wavy line or jumping and turning
Have a high energy component (running on the spot for a minute, running for the home stretch)
a mindful calming section (e.g. blow out the candles, sniff the flowers, sing a song, or unscramble letters to words, or say affirmations).

Although do just have fun, follow your child’s lead and get them involved in creating these.

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Chalk Walk Obstacle Course Examples:

Here are several examples that my son and I have done for our neighbourhood. Do share your ideas. We’d love to see them.

Sensory Swings Pre-Made Part 3/3

**Disclaimer: The following are just ideas and must be used at your own discretion for safety. Please be sure to use appropriate soft padding, measure for size in your space, and most importantly, provide supervision for your child’s safety.

I’d love to have more DIY skills or even a little workshop to build toys and equipment. But alas, I often resort to Amazon!

I’ll share some swings, trapezes and other equipment I’ve purchased from Amazon or local shops that kids really like.

Firstly, I’ve bought carabiner hooks and rope from a local outdoors climbing shop. Make sure the carabiners will hold the amount of weight for your child to safely swing. When looking for rope, consider whether your child will do better with static rope which has no give and will be less unpredictable, or dynamic rope which has some stretch and bounce to it.

If your child responds to spinning input, a rotary spinner can be found on Amazon. This is what I use at ot4kids’ clinic:

I have also used aerial yoga ‘daisy chains‘ to help adjust the swings either higher or lower if kids need their feet to be close to the ground.

Here are some ideas of swings and trapezes from Amazon:

Please note I have included affiliate links below so do receive a little £, however all proceeds go to charity.

For hanging and climbing:

Twizzler – this is a fun one that also spins

Trapeze with gymnastic rings for hanging by arms and also hanging upside down.

Crow nest swing seat – add pillows and blankets here for nice calming deep pressure input. It appears very similar to the IKEA Ekorre Swing.

Hammock swing – There are many different varieties and although I often suggest to parents to go to the fabric shop and feel the material and how stretchy it is (if your child likes bounce, a stretchy one may be great, if they need a calming space, a less stretchy lycra one may be more suitable). I have both a lycra hammock and a Yogapeutics hammock which has no-give for different situations.

Flexible Swing Seat – Try this one from different positions such as laying on tummy or sitting forwards or even sideways

Tire swing – for sitting or standing

Nest Platform Swing – This swing looks like it could be used from different positions similar to a platform swing, albeit, not the same. Perhaps a more economical option if you struggle with DIY like myself.

Installing Sensory Integration Swings – Part 1/ 3

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**Please note all ideas shared in this blog post are to be done at your own risk or discretion. It’s recommended to have an engineer or contractor assess your ceiling structure to determine whether it is safe and sturdy.

During OT sessions, parents often want ideas they can replicate at home, especially activities their kids really enjoy. Swinging often falls in this category.

Part of classical sensory integration therapy includes using suspended equipment and therapeutic swings. Although there are lots of other effective and fun ways for children to get movement input without swings, swings are an option for the home.

The following are some ideas of how to install a swing for your child at home:

1) CEILING

Here is a great resource explaining different ceiling hooks. This is where an engineer or contractor will help.

http://www.yogapeutics.com/hammock-installation.html?utm_content=buffer5dcf9&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Nice step by step directions from the DIY Network:

http://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/how-to-install-a-therapeutic-swing/index.html

This blog post is written by a parent describing the process:

http://meandwee.blogspot.co.uk/2011/08/swings.html?m=1

2) DOORWAY

This is a good alternative if you can’t access a ceiling for swings, especially if you happen to have a double doorway. 🙂 Prior to my current clinic space, I used the Rainy Indoor Playground Support Bar, however now am fortunate to have a larger area.

See how these two parents have used their doorway for swings:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-build-a-simple-indoor-s-74056

http://lovingamiracle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/how-do-you-make-platform-swing.html?m=1

I can personally recommend the Rainy Indoor Playground Support Bar. It’s so easy to install and if you move or rent homes, the holes from the screws can very easily be patched up. For those in the UK, it can be purchased from Sensory Direct here:

http://www.sensorydirect.com/playaway-support-bar-560.html

Many parents have also installed a pull-up bar in their doorway from which they’ve attached a swing or trapeze.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pztf9b0hYdw

http://hoytfamilyhappenings.blogspot.ca/2013/08/810-sensory-swing.html?m=1

For those in the US, there’s an Indoor Gym which I haven’t tried but looks interesting.

https://gorilla-gym.com/product/gorilla-gym-children/

3) LOFT BED

I’d love to do this when my son is ready to sleep in a loft bed.

http://www.caffeinatedautismmom.com/2011/01/sensory-friendly-bedroom-makeover.html?m=1

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/117234396524248047/

4) A STRONG TREE!

My neighbors are so lucky to have a great tree from which they’ve hung a cool IKEA swing for their kids. If you do too, consider attaching swings there.

Here’s a tree swing kit on Amazon.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B00512PLMO/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1420061173&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40&dpPl=1&dpID=5138BX1gjRL&ref=plSrch

For all of the above ideas, be sure to put down an old mattress, crash pad or gym mat under and around the swing for safety.

Happy Swinging! 🙂

Munira

Integrated Listening Systems therapy at ot4kids

I use Integrated Listening Systems (iLS) Therapy to improve children’s sensory processing, motor skills development, auditory processing, attention and regulation.

I have found that iLS and Occupational Therapy together make a good pair and help children progress faster. It is also effective as part of a home program for many children.

iLS is unique in providing bone conduction in the headphones. This is highly beneficial as it offers additional vestibular (movement) input to the child working on a neurophysiological level.

WHAT IS iLS?

iLS is built upon the techniques and theories developed by Alfred Tomatis, M.D., and has been refined by Dr. Ron Minson over many years. It is based upon the theory of neuroplasticity, strengthening and creating neuronal maps that support sensory processing, movement, attention and learning. iLS is a sound-based multi-sensory program that combines movement, visual and auditory input.

HOW DOES iLS WORK?

Classical music has been digitally manipulated to specific frequencies and vibrations that stimulate various parts of the brain to improve the neurological foundation for sensory integration.

Music is delivered via a portable iPod through specially designed headphones with bone conduction (a small transducer). The bone conduction unit is inside the top of the headphones and provides specific vestibular and auditory stimulation.

In my practice, after I assess a child I determine whether iLS will benefit their program. We then create an individualized listening program along with sensory, movement, visual and auditory exercises based on the child’s goals. Generally, the program is administered approximately 3-5 times a week for 30-60 minutes. For the first 15-20 minutes, the child participates in their home program exercises and for the remainder of the program, they either relax or complete fun projects. I either use iLS during the child’s treatment sessions or offer units for rental for intensive home programs.

iLS HELPS:

Sensory processing, body and spatial awareness, motor skills coordination

Motor Planning, sequencing

Attention and following directions

Auditory Processing, sound sensitivity

Visual Motor Skills

Self-esteem

Sensory regulation, calming, sleep

iLS can be used for children who have various diagnoses including:

Sensory Processing Disorder

Autism, Asperger’s syndrome

Dyspraxia