Stair Climbing Milestones Kids and stairs are often a nerve-racking combination for parents. A common question our physical therapy team is asked is “How do I help my child safely go up and down the stairs?” While this activity can be scary, it is important to practice so that your child can learn to be […]
Positive Self Talk & Songwriting Activity When the sharpest words wanna cut me down, I’m gonna send a flood, gonna drown them out I am brave I am bruised I am who I’m meant to be This is me These lyrics from The Greatest Showman are a great example of positive self-talk. Kids and adults […]
Object Functions: what are they, why are they important, and activity page Working on object functions is a great way to help children enhance both their receptive and expressive vocabulary skills. While children may be able to name or label several nouns and objects in their environment, that doesn’t necessarily mean that they understand what […]
It’s Almost the Fourth of July! For many American’s, The Fourth of July is a fun holiday to spend with friends and family at picnics, parades, and firework shows. For kids with autism or sensory sensitivities, The Fourth of July can sometimes be over-stimulating or challenging for them for a variety of reasons. Our team […]
My child has a learning disability. Should we talk about it? Should my child know? In a word, yes! Choosing the best time, place, and words will depend on your child’s age and situation, but being open and honest helps everyone! If you recently learned your child has a learning disability or challenge, take as much […]
Musical Animal Walks Summer is here and school is out! The summer heat can make it difficult to stay active, and irregular summer schedules can impact kids’ (and adults’!) sensory regulation. Pair music with animal walks for fun, structured indoor movement breaks during these long summer days. Structured movement to music can help to support […]
Taking a Beat Mindfully Responding to Challenging Behavior When children have communication deficits, often you’ll see them engage in other behaviors to get their needs met. These behaviors can be unsafe or not appropriate, and often referred to as “challenging behaviors” or “problem behaviors.” When thinking about how to respond to these challenging behaviors, we […]
The Importance of Core Strength Have you ever stopped to think about why having a strong core is so important? Have you considered that the core is more than a set of “six pack abs,” but is the foundation for all forms of movement? During physical therapy, you will often see us working on a […]
How to Practice /t/ & /d/ Sounds When looking at the developmental milestones for speech sounds, /t/ and /d/ are two of the earliest sounds to develop. The /d/ sound is mastered by 2-3 years old, while the /t/ sound is generally mastered around 3-4 years old. A great part about both sounds is that […]
Negative Reinforcement vs. Punishment The difference between negative reinforcement and punishment is often confused. When looking at reinforcement versus punishment, it’s important to understand the stimulus change and the effect on the behavior. In behavior analysis, positive and negative are used to describe the stimulus change and not the effect. In other words, positive means […]