M-Care Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation - Ergothérapie et réadaptation

06/04/2024

Come join us this weekend as we support the CHEO BBQ! ☀️ We have a fun filled day planned!
We cant wait to see you all! ☀️😎

We are so excited to have our friends from M-Care Occupational Therapy & Rehabilitation - Ergothérapie et réadaptation

They plan on bringing a whole lotta fun, smiles and excitement to CHEOBBQ again this year!

Come join us on Saturday June 8th Shefford Park, gates open at 8:30am, lots of fun for the whole family!

04/11/2024

The word routine can be heard by some as boring, repetitive, or lack of spontaneity.

The reality is children thrive with a routine (and adults too!). A routine allows a child to know what to expect, how to react, what skills to use and this in turn helps a child develop a sense of calm, wellbeing and security.

We see routines as a sequence of activities that can be interchangeable and that allows for creativity and freedom. For example, a weekend routine could mean wake up, play, have breakfast, play, have lunch, nap, play, snack, play, followed by bath and sleep. It can also mean that each Friday, there is a special family night, or on weekends there are family visits. That sequence helps a child recognize what is expected, what is to follow and which skills to use from their repertoire. A routine is not fixed in time, is not meant to be restricting and is not meant to have fixed times for each activity.

If you find your child is struggling to follow your daily activities and plans, and find that no two days are the same - think about what you can:
- anchor in to have as an entity - for example, can bedtime or playtime always be preceded by a known activity?
- systemize to give your child a sense of knowledge of what to expect - for example, share the plan of the week or day with your child and keep the anchors in for the sequence to expect.

Are you struggling with your child's daily routine? Does your child have difficulty transitioning between activities? Does your child avoid certain tasks and activities in their day? We can help!

Reach out to one of our OTs for personalized support!

04/08/2024

Sensory processing involves the ability to process sensory stimuli from the environment and be able to practice self-regulation.

Some people can feel overwhelmed from a high level of sensory stimulation such as too much noise, specific flavours and textures, or too much tactile input while others may seek out sensory stimulation through their behaviour and movements.

We put together a list of examples of what sensory seeking behaviours may look like.

Do you or your child have sensory regulation sensitivies? Reach out for a personalized assessment!

04/08/2024

Are you struggling to reach your goals?
Having a hard time getting started on an important or novel task?

Before feeling guilty, ask yourself:
- Do I have what I need to get started?
- Do I know how to start? Where to start?
- Do I have enough time to start?
- Is the task so big that it needs to be broken down?
- Do I need additional respurces to get going?

Often times, we feel stuck and unable to start because a piece of the puzzle is missing. Take a step back, reflect on the steps, resources and skills needed to get going, make a plan and try again!

04/06/2024

04/06/2024

Having a grateful heart, mind and spirit helps improve mental health, physical health and overall wellbeing.

Practice these 5 ways with us to instill a sense of calm and serentiy heading into the weekend.

Tell us, which one will you try? Go for all 5 and share your outcome in the comments.

04/05/2024

Children learn through modelling, through expression and trial.

When they are exposed to new learning, they thrive when it is related to previous acquisitions and when the new information is detailed, descriptive and sensory evoking.

This allows a child to integrate a new learning, to notice details and specifics, while also enhancing their communication skills, comprehension and executive function skills.

Practice being more forthcoming in your dialogue with your child, practice highlighting details and describing what you see, smell, feel... these details will help their growth.

03/26/2024

Intention and perception can be on polar ends.

An intended message or instruction can be perceived much differently by the recipient as the intake is done based on acquired knowledge, perception and understanding. When working with others, teaching others and leading, it can be difficult to gauge the other person's level of understanding and knowledge.

We don't know what we don't know....and we don't know what others know.

Watch on to learn some tips to help you when you are asking others to engage in an activity or a new task.

If you are asking for a new task to be completed ask yourself:
- Are my instructions sufficiently clear that they would allow any other person to know how to start and how to complete the task?
- Does the other person have the knowledge and skill to complete the task?
- Do I know what the other person knows or doesn't know to help them know how and where to start?

03/20/2024

Defining a goal gives it meaning.

Structuring your goal gives it direction.

Improve your productivity and executive function skills with these 5 goal attainment strategies.

Are you looking for individualized support? Reach out to our team of occupational therapists!

03/19/2024

Parenting does not come with a rule book.

Some days it can be challenging to be a constant presence and source of comfort.

It is important to strive to have a solid connection to carry you through tougher days and to help your child know they have someone they can always fall on.

As kids get older, it can be harder to build and keep a connection. Remember that older kids also need your attention, maybe even more than younger kids. Take the time to know who they are becoming, invest in their interests and be present in learning about their challenges.

03/19/2024

Retained primitive reflexes may be behind some of your child’s difficulty.

Learn more about the reasons, risk factors and signs your child may have retained primitive reflexes.

Consult our team for an individualized assessment!

Follow our page to never miss a post!

03/18/2024

Feeling on edge, tired or simply “off” doesn’t have to lead to a ruined day.

Our bodies and minds go through many motions in a day and it is important to be connected with ourselves and identify how to make the best of each of these waves.

Sometimes, all we need is a change of pace, a change of activity, other times, we need to take a step back, identify our anchors and re-balance, and others, we just need a real break - a time to check-out, and practice mindfulness.

Follow some of our tips!

Look for individualized or group strategies?
Reach out to our team for support!

Follow our page to never miss a post!

03/14/2024

Many factors influence a child’s behaviour and response to different situations including their emotional regulation, sensory processing, attention and more.

We put together a list of body language observations that can help gain a better understanding of what your child’s body language is saying and what you might be able to do to help them self-regulate.

03/13/2024

Make a bird feeder with us this spring break!

03/12/2024

It’s Brain Awareness Week!

Remember to take care of your brain health by implementing occupational balance strategies while remaining active and rested.

Looking for more tips? Follow our page!

03/11/2024

The hardest step is always the first one.

It can be challenging to get going particularly when tasks are big, onerous and complex.

The more you can define steps, timelines and details, the easier it will be to get started and to achieve your goal.

03/11/2024

Kids benefit from quiet and unstructured days.

Children benefit from being “bored” and from spending time creating, inventing and leading their play.

There are so many distractions and stimulation in our day and our children’s environment, which makes it easy to forget that it is okay to play quietly, to be with our thoughts and within our environment.

Children who say “I am bored” may need an inspiration or an idea to get started.

See some of our ideas to help your child be directed into an activity, let them pursue it and watch their growth.

03/06/2024

There are many motor skills that are behind the skill of handwriting.

If your child has difficulty with letter formation, with writing fluidity or with writing tolerance, there may be other factors influencing their performance.

Reach out to sign up for our upcoming handwriting class and if you are looking for individualized support.