Monday, November 29, 2010
Scented Christmas Crayons
Sunday, November 28, 2010
Therapy Balls in the Classroom
Reference: Nancy Bagatell-PhD, OTR/L, Gina Mirigliani-OTD, OTR/L, ATP, Chrissa Patterson-MPT, Yadira Reyes-MOTS, Lisa Test-OTD, OTR/L Effectiveness of Therapy Ball Chairs on Classroom Participation in Children With Autism Spectrum Disorders
AJOT November/December 2010 Volume 64 / Number 6
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Working Hard for Food
This research was interesting to me in terms of children who are picky eaters or overweight. Does proprioceptive work prior to eating influence a child's food preferences and choices? If a child is avoiding certain foods, if they have to exert more effort to get the food would they choose it? If I must exercise before I eat, will I make healthier food choices? Almost seems like reverse psychology...
Reference: Physorg.com Hard Work Improves the Taste of Food Study Shows. Retrieved from the web on 11/27/2010 at http://www.physorg.com/news/2010-11-hard-food.html
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
ADHD and Rewards
Based on my own experiences, I have found this to be accurate when working with children with ADHD. When engaged in a enjoyable task, the children are able to stay on task. If a motivating reward was available, I have also seen reduced impulsivity. Many times a motivating reward was as simple as free play with the therapy equipment and toys.
Next time a student is having impulsive behaviors, try putting a meaningful reward system in place. Here are some suggestions:
1. Money - fMRI has shown different brain activity in children with ADHD when money is a reward.
2. Physical activity time
3. Prize box (without sugary candies)
4. Important school job - i.e. messenger
What are your experiences with reward systems for students with ADHD?
Reference: Eide Neurolearning Blog. ADHD = Different Reward / Motivation Pathway? Retreived from the web on 11/22/2010 at http://eideneurolearningblog.blogspot.com/2009/06/adhd-different-reward-motivation.html
Monday, November 22, 2010
Note Taking Skills in Middle Schoolers with LD
Reference: Boyle, J. Note-Taking Skills of Middle School Students With and Without Learning Disabilities J Learn Disabil November/December 2010 vol. 43 no. 6 530-540
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Grant for Active, Healthy Lives in Kids
Friday, November 19, 2010
Reaction Time and DCD
Reference: Mak, M. Reaching and Grasping a Moving Target Is Impaired in Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder Pediatric Physical Therapy: Winter 2010 - Volume 22 - Issue 4 - p 384–391
doi: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e3181f9d885
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Perceptual Reasoning and Handwriting
Perceptual reasoning is the ability to reason and solve problems when non verbal material is presented. Just like OT's offer environmental modifications for handwriting such as pencil grips remember to consider how the material to be written is presented. Try modifying the work to assist a student's perceptual reasoning by changing the font type or size, reorganizing material or reducing visual distraction on the page to name a few.“Our research suggests that adolescents with autism may be able to learn and utilize compensatory strategies that involve reasoning skills to compensate for their motor impairments.”
Reference:
Kennedy Krieger Institute. New Study Affirms Handwriting Problems Affect Children with Autism into the Teenage Years. Retrieved from the web on 11/17/2010 from http://www.kennedykrieger.org/kki_news.jsp?pid=9212
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Speech/ Language Disorders and Motor Delays
Reference: CHRIS VISSCHER et al Motor proficiency of 6- to 9-year-old children with speech and language problems Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology
Volume 52, Issue 11, pages e254–e258, November 2010
Monday, November 15, 2010
Free Thanksgiving Printable
Here is a free Thanksgiving activity to print and create. Laminate the play mat. Using wipe off markers, draw a path for the turkey to get to the table. Make matching letter clothes pins for Happy Thanksgiving. Pinch open the clothes pin and attach to the matching letter on the play mat. Get the free printable here.
Friday, November 12, 2010
Handwriting Contest
If your students do not use Zaner-Bloser why not run a contest anyway. You could give prizes for shape, slanting, spacing and size for print and manuscript. You could have them rewrite sample sentences and answer a question as to why legible handwriting is important. Maybe the sample sentences could be facts as to why legible handwriting is important. The contest would hopefully get teachers and students excited about learning proper handwriting. Give prizes to individual students and to teachers who have the most entries from their class. The prizes could be as simple as a certificate, ribbon or classroom supplies. You could always ask parents to donate a few prizes as well. Have fun promoting handwriting!
Thursday, November 11, 2010
School Based Physical Therapy Interventions
You can view the document here or below."identify: (a) effective physical therapy procedural interventions that lead to positive outcomes for children (3-21 years) with disabilities in schools; and (b) gaps in the evidence and areas requiring further research".
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Talking Books
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Encouraging Physical Activity at Home - Project
To get started perhaps you can devise a long term physical activity goal. Each month have a child pick something to do that requires physical activity with their family. Perhaps it is taking a hike, walking the mall, free play outdoors, sledding... whatever is possible for the family and child to complete. Provide the children with a hand out regarding the importance of physical activity. Check out this APTA page - Smart Moves for Families.
For each monthly activity, have the child take a photograph, video or draw a picture of what the activity included. Each month have a sharing day at school where the kids can describe what physical activity they completed. This allows other students to share physical fitness ideas with the whole class to spark interest in others.
At the end of the year, give the children a prize who have completed 10 physical activity tasks. Make sure the prize also encourages a healthy lifestyle i.e. free pass to a roller skating rink, playground ball or jump rope.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Letters of Medical Justification
Rifton - How To Write Letters of Medical Necessity
Easystand - Offers a checklist of what to include in your letters.
LMN Builder - If you write many letters a year, this website is worth a look. It is free web tool for therapists to help write letters of medical necessity.
Many wheelchair vendors offer sample letters of medical necessity as well.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Teaching Children Daily Routines
Friday, November 5, 2010
Resistance Training in Children
Reference: Behringer, Michael, vom Heede, Andreas, Yue, Zengyuan, Mester, Joachim
Effects of Resistance Training in Children and Adolescents: A Meta-analysis
Pediatrics 2010 126: e1199-e1210
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Motor Learning Versus Neurodevelopmental Treatment
The results showed the following:
- both groups showed increased scores in GMFM-66 at 3 months
- at 6 months retention was significantly better in the motor learning group level II children
- stair climbing also showed improved retention after 6 months in the motor learning group (increased by 1.1% compared to a decreased of 0.3% in the NDT group)
- mobility improved by 13% for the motor learning coaching group and decreased by 12% with the NDT group
The researchers concluded that motor learning coaching resulted in significantly better results in gross motor function and mobility for higher level functioning children with cerebral palsy.
Reference: Simona Bar-Haim et. al. Effectiveness of motor learning coaching in children with cerebral palsy: a randomized controlled trial Clin Rehabil November 2010 vol. 24 no. 11 1009-1020
Wednesday, November 3, 2010
Media Use and Psychological Difficulties
Reference: Page, Angie S., Cooper, Ashley R., Griew, Pippa, Jago, Russell
Children's Screen Viewing is Related to Psychological Difficulties Irrespective of Physical Activity Pediatrics 2010 126: e1011-e1017