Cooking with Kids: Age Appropriate Kitchen Skills

Edited by: Stephanie Boron, M.S., CCC-SLP

Information by: Kathy Lord, OTR/L, MS Holistic Nutrition

Did you know that March is National Nutrition Month?  Our resident Holistic Nutritionist (and OT) Kathy Lord has put together some helpful guidelines for age appropriate kitchen skills for kids of different ages. Use these tips as inspiration to get your kiddo involved in the kitchen! As always, be sure to consider your child’s individual differences and talk with your therapy team to determine what skills may or may not be appropriate for your child. Check our Facebook page for recipes for each age group. Read on for kitchen skills for each age group!

Symbolic Play Development: Themes

By: Stephanie Boron, M.S., CCC-SLP

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning. But for children play is serious learning. Play is really the work of childhood.”

-Mr. Rogers

 

For children, development of play goes hand in hand with development across many other areas, including language, motor skills, and social-emotional skills. Symbolic play (i.e., pretend play — use of objects, actions, or ideas to symbolize/represent another object, action, or idea) is an important step, allowing children to become more abstract thinkers, more robust problem solvers, and more flexible and collaborative play partners.

This post is the first in a series that will be devoted to explaining the development of symbolic play. Read on to learn more about the development of symbolic play themes, as well as some ideas for play within each developmental range.

3 Fun Ways to Play with a Jump Rope

Information By: Stephanie Barkan, PT, DPT

Edited By: Stephanie Boron, M.S., CCC-SLP

Jump roping is a great activity to build strength, coordination, and timing. You can play by yourself or in a group with 2 people turning the rope and 1 jumping. While traditional jump roping is fun, there are so many other exciting ways you can use a jump rope! Read on for 3 fun jump rope ideas.

The Importance of Home Practice

By: Amanda Bird, M.A., CCC-SLP
With the constant to-do lists, meetings, errands, and appointments, it may seem nearly impossible to fit in some home practice of your child’s therapy goals. We understand! However, the benefits may make you reconsider putting it on the back burner. Read on to find out some of the reasons and recommendations for practicing these skills outside of the session:

Questions to Ask When You’re Looking for a Summer Camp

Info By: Micki Sommerman

Edited By: Stephanie Boron, M.S., CCC-SLP

The groundhog saw his shadow, but that hasn’t stopped us here at the clinic from dreaming of summer! Many of our families are starting to ask about summer camps for their kiddos. Stay tuned for Beth Osten and Associates summer camps for 2017. In the mean time, here are some questions to ask when you’re looking for a summer camp.

Tips for Improving Transitions

By: Amanda Bird, M.A., CCC-SLP

Let’s face it: transitions can be HARD. Do you find it to be difficult for your child to transition between activities? From the breakfast table to the car for school? From playtime to bedtime? From his or her favorite game to dinner? Here are some tips to help ease transitions and promote a smoother and more successful morning, afternoon, and night.

Does My Child Need Physical Therapy?

Information By: Stephanie Barkan, PT, DPT

Edited By: Stephanie Boron, M.S., CCC-SLP

As a pediatric physical therapist, I work with children of all ages to help correct movement dysfunction and promote the development of age-appropriate gross motor skills. Often times, parents may have a concern regarding their child’s motor development and whether what they are seeing is typical. While regular visits with your child’s pediatrician will help to monitor if any major developmental milestones are not on target, there are many observations you can make as a caregiver regarding your child’s gross motor skills. This will look different across all ages. It is also important to remember that each child grows and develops differently, and that a timeline is relative due to each child’s unique characteristics. While physical therapy is often recommended for a child with a medical diagnosis or following a surgery, there are many other reasons why your child may benefit from treatment. If you do notice any of the following, it is best to discuss your findings with your pediatrician and a pediatric physical therapist. Read on for some tips on what to look for:

10 Tips to Avoid a Meal Time Power Struggle

Edited by: Stephanie Boron, M.S., CCC-SLP

Information by: Kathy Lord, OTR/L, MS Holistic Nutrition

Meal time can be fraught with frustration for both parents and kids, often leading to a power struggle. We got some helpful tips from OT and holistic nutritionist Kathy Lord to help families avoid the struggle and enjoy the meal. Read on for her top 10 tips!

Does my Child Stutter?: Developmental vs. Disorder

Edited by Amanda Bird, M.A., CCC-SLP; Information source: Michelle Jones, M.A., CCC-SLP

Do you find that it can be difficult for your child to get their words out? Does it seem like sometimes they get “stuck” with their speech? Is this considered typical for your child’s age? We spoke with one of BOA’s highly skilled Speech-Language Pathologists regarding the area of stuttering (also termed “dysfluency”) to get some insight and answer some questions that commonly get asked about this topic. Read on to get the scoop:

Questions to Ask When You’re Looking for a Preschool

Info By: Micki Sommerman

Edited By: Stephanie Boron, M.S., CCC-SLP

Yes – it’s January, but something funny is happening — swim suits are showing up in stores and enrollment packets for next fall’s preschool session are being distributed. It’s hard to believe, but now is the time to start to think about if your kiddo will be attending preschool next year, and if so, where.

Here are some considerations and questions to ask as you visit preschools in your area.