The Sense of Joy Occupational Therapy

17/08/2024

We are currently not available for new clients. Thank you!

30/04/2024

April 30th, the last "official" day of OT Month

Did you know that OTs do more than sensory strategies and fine motor skills?

One of the curses of this profession is its wide reach and confusing scope. An OT in a skilled nursing facility may look radically different than an OT in Early Intervention. You may see OTs working in a prison, in a therapeutic school, an addiction center - and it all may look radically different.

One thing that isn't different? Our passion for activity/environment analysis and assessment for barriers blocking someone's access to meaningful "occupations". I love this profession.

10/04/2024

In case you needed to hear this today, it’s ok to pause and take a little longer to enjoy that cup of coffee/tea or hot chocolate. The emails will be ok. The kids will be ok.

Regulation is a priority. You are a priority.

We all deserve nurture. ❤️

04/04/2024

Clinic is closed for all appointments today!

27/03/2024

One of the first things I tell my families and clients - “I do not have a magic wand, if it were as easy as adding a magic strategy then we wouldn’t be here right now because you are already an expert”

My role is to help YOU find what works for YOU. Sometimes it’s hard living in a country so heavily influenced by the medical model and the need to appease insurances.

Guilt and shame robs us of joy. If you find something that makes your house run easier, that makes your home happier, that makes your night run smoother - you unashamedly DO IT!!

There is a lot of marketing these days focused on selling caregivers on feeling guilty and fearful, because then they can sell you the product or idea that will “fix” it.

Maybe your family is eating the same few foods all the time, because right now you’re focused on prioritizing everybody feeling safe in their body. (Or maybe you just like those foods.)

Maybe your family is sleeping at unusual times, in unusual locations, or with all the lights on because you sleep more comfortably that way. Maybe you’re letting your kids do things they choose for themselves, because you’re prioritizing their desire for autonomy. Maybe you’re helping your kids with things that other parents would expect them to do by themselves, because you’re prioritizing their desire for connection.

There are so many “right” ways to do things. AND, you don’t have to do absolutely everything “right”, either. Both of those statements are true in different ways, at different times.

If you feel like you’re falling short of some standard, ask yourself where the standard in your mind came from. If it came from fear, maybe someone is selling that to you. Maybe there’s a way to let it go.

[Image description: A dark blue field with a purple square on top of it and white quotation marks around the edges. The quote in the quotation marks reads, “If you feel like you’re falling short of some standard, ask yourself where the standard in your mind came from. If it came from fear, maybe someone is selling that to you.” My handle is on the bottom of the image. End description.]

26/03/2024

***Sharing this Great Community Resource***

Please reach out to Kailee Salerno at kmsalerno61@gmail.com for more information!

ExerSHINEkids is an occupational therapy based bootcamp program for children aged 4-8 years old. This is a small group program (only 8 spots!) to ensure your child is getting individualized attention throughout the class and to allow me to use my occupational therapy lens to maximize your child’s participation based on their sensory needs!

Registration link: https://get.mndbdy.ly/0oVRFW41hIb

18/03/2024

Today is one of those days when you are just filled with gratitude.

I work with the best families 🌸

14/03/2024

The birds are OUT!
For me, nothing compares to the beautiful sound of chickadees calling one another.

Below is a video that you can watch to learn some common backyard birds based on the calls you hear. It’s a fantastic and engaging way to work on those auditory discrimination skills 🦜 🌳 ☀️

Learn 25 of the most common backyard bird calls in the Central and Eastern United States with tips for how to remember each one. Gear Links (As Amazon Associ...

12/03/2024

“Math is executive function on paper”

📣 📣 Louder for the people in the back!!!

These can make a HUGE difference.

Some of these seem like simple everyday instructional strategies . How could they possibly make a difference in someone's ability to do Algebra?

Do not let the simplicity fool you.

Math is executive functioning on paper.

The multi step processes, cognitive shift , working memory load and mental manipulation required for math is next level!

Ever notice when learners with executive function challenges are learning multi step mathematical concepts their writing gets really big and all over the place.

This is because they are using the mental control they had over number size and alignment to mentally multi task, while reading and writing and excusing my Dear Aunt Sally.

It is cognitive overload . And that space is too small to begin with. 😩

We can reduce the cognitive load upon working memory to free up some brain space for higher level operations .

Think of it as "one less thing".

Graph paper and columns, one less thing to think about.

Calculator, one less thing.

Enlarged , color coded signs, one less thing , they give a salient cue to the busy brain.

Concrete manipulatives are one less thing for a student who has trouble holding things in mind to hold in mind.

One less thing to hold in mind can make the space for the thing your are teaching.

Follow for more and visit us www.ot4adhd.com .

11/03/2024

What’s easier for you/your family:

Spring Forward or Fall Back?

01/03/2024

I definitely cheated by looking at the shoes.
🫣🤣

Before high stakes testing and a developmentally-inappropriate curriculum took over education, we used to play regulation games like this. Who remembers?

And who remembers cheating by looking at people's shoes? 🙋‍♂️🤣

As a kid, I loved this! As an OT, I see kids taking a minute to put their heads down, down regulate and reset before transitioning back to whatever lesson is next.

There are so many regulation benefits to the games of childhood:

Red Light- Green Light
(Tominey S. L., McClelland M. M. (2011). Red light, purple light: findings from a randomized trial using circle time games to improve behavioral self-regulation in preschool. Early Educ. Dev. 22 489–519.)

Duck Duck Goose

Musical Chairs

Follow the Leader

Elephant Stampede

Did you play them as a kid? Do you see them in schools now (Other than physical education)?

Share your experiences with us!

And for the Gen Xers, please tell me I wasn't the only one who cheated with heads down-thumbs up (we called it 7-up).

Pic from FB page: Gen X

26/02/2024

If you do not know Mona Delahooke, Ph.D. you are missing out.
She is a CHAMPION for kids and families - and a survivor of an aneurysm.

It’s a miracle she’s alive and we are so grateful that her work can continue!!

24/02/2024

When you look at this picture what do you see?

My 6 year old is a hurricane these days. She is a PRO at making a mess in 5 minutes. Scissors, construction paper, beads, tissues, etc. - the stuff that is IMPOSSIBLE to keep orderly unlike her old toddler toys that were much easier to keep in our bin shelf (I miss that stacking ring!)

I hate a mess. It makes my brain hurt…And sometimes I’m tempted to say no when she asks for more a scotch tape, say no to letting her cut up piles of construction paper, say ”beads are for bracelets not for your dollhouse”

But if I did?

-Her doll wouldn’t have a warm blanket (tissues)
-She couldn’t work on her lap top (construction paper)
-There wouldn’t be a diffuser putting yummy smells in her office (beads)

This is play.
This is praxis (especially ideational praxis!)
This is creativity.
This is learning - and the foundation for good executive function skills.
And this is MESSY!

Dont get me wrong, systems for cleaning are still in place. We have a huge bin for ALL her overwhelming small pieces that she creates. We are teaching her to clean as she goes. And it is not perfect.

But when she’s in her groove of imaginary genius?

Cleaning can wait.

22/02/2024

Working with adults on spatial awareness and body coordination requires some adaptation.

Todays example?

“Floor is Taxes!”

Laughing is GREAT for the nervous system. 🤣