Try Playing on a Vertical Surfaceby Melissa Engelhardt, SOTKids Place West Student Occupational Therapist Most writing, drawing, coloring, and playing occurs on a tabletop or floor, both horizontal surfaces. While these surfaces are convenient because toys stay in place, they also encourage poor posture. Playing on horizontal surfaces can lead to poor posture from slouching,…
Understanding Visual Processing Visual processing involves making sense of what you see. This is vital for school skills such as reading, writing and math. They also impact life skills like reading signs and maps, finding objects in a busy space, and taking part in hobbies and crafts. When visual processing has not developed properly, the…
Holiday Gift Guide by Kids Place Occupational Therapists Looking for that perfect holiday gift for your little one? Overwhelmed by all the options out there? Here are a few choices from our team of occupational therapists and how each will support development and growth. For under 2 years of age: Shape sorters and ring stackers…
Pediatric Orthotics – Why the Heel? by Kids Place Central Pediatric Physical Therapists As pediatric physical therapists, we often recommend a child be evaluated and fit for a pair of ankle-foot orthotics or AFOs. AFOs are plastic devices created by a certified orthoptist, custom made to control certain parts of an extremity, guide specific movements,…
The Halloween Conundrum – What to do with Extra Halloween Candy By the Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapists Many parents struggle with what to do with all the leftover candy their kids have from trick-or-treating. Candy can be used in many fun activities that do not involve actually eating it, but rather promote the development…
Enjoy Halloween Candy with a Challenge By the Kids Place Pediatric Speech Therapists What’s a parent to do when your child has a three-pound bag of candy after trick-or-treating? While some families allow candy consumption in moderation, here are some other ideas for limiting your child’s candy intake: Agree in advance on a set number…
Encouraging Early Developing Social Language Skills Kids Place Pediatric Speech Language Pathologist “Pragmatic language” refers to how we interact with others in a socially appropriate manner. It not only includes what we say but also nonverbal cues, such as the tone of voice we use, facial expressions and body language. Social language skills begin developing…
Pool Play for Active Movement By Bobbi Michels, PT, DPT Kids Place West Pediatric Physical Therapist Active movement in water, also known as aquatic therapy, is used to reduce pain, improve joint range of motion, provide cardiovascular conditioning, improve strength, and assist balance skills. As an added benefit, water provides support for low impact exercises…
Tips for Successful Potty Training by Bailey Boss, Occupational Therapy Student Potty training is a major milestone for kids and parents alike. Just like other daily skills, children with and without disabilities need to practice to learn how to properly engage in toileting. Independence in toileting requires that the child be able to get on…
Taekwondo’s Positive Impact on Child Development by Jessica Raykovich, SPT Student Physical Therapist Taekwondo is a form of martial arts that has been around for hundreds of years. It stands for Tae=foot/leg, Kwon=fist/fight, and Do=way or discipline. It incorporates various forms of kicking, punching, and blocking all while teaching discipline and respect. So should it…
