SCH Pediatric Therapy

08/04/2025

Around age 5, you may notice your child starting to "talk back." They are beginning to feel more independent and testing the boundaries. Limit the attention you give to the negative words and make a point of noticing the good behavior. Can he/she pay attention for 5-10 minutes? How about answering questions after reading a story to them?

07/28/2025

As your child's first teacher, you can help his or her learning and brain development.
Children this age play next to each other, but do not know how to share and solve problems. Show your child how to deal with conflicts by helping her share, take turns, and use words when possible.
If you have questions about your child's development, contact your medical provider or the Rehab Department at Sabetha Community Hospital.

07/23/2025

Backpack Smart: Protecting Your Child's Back!
Choosing the right backpack and making sure it's not too heavy are crucial for your child's health and development! Here are some key tips for families:

When Buying a Backpack--Look for a backpack that offers support and comfort
📍Padded back: This helps prevent the backpack's contents from poking your child's back and provides cushioning.

📍Wide, padded shoulder straps: These distribute weight more evenly across the shoulders, reducing pressure.

📍Lightweight material: The backpack itself shouldn't add unnecessary weight.

📍Multiple compartments: These help distribute the load more effectively and keep items organized.

📍Hip and chest belts: These belts help transfer some of the weight to the hips and torso, taking pressure off the shoulders and promoting better posture.

Tips for Wearing a Backpack--Teach your child good backpack habits:

🎒Wear both straps: Always use both shoulder straps to distribute the weight evenly. Slinging a backpack over one shoulder can cause muscle strain and postural problems.

🎒Remove and put carefully: Encourage your child to bend at the knees when lifting or setting down their backpack to avoid back strain.

🎒Wear it over the strongest mid-back muscles: The bottom of the backpack should rest no more than 4 inches below the waist.

🎒Lighten the load: Your child's backpack should weigh no more than 10-15% of their body weight. Encourage them to only carry what's necessary for the day.

Watch for These Signs of a Too-Heavy Backpack:
If you notice any of the following, your child's backpack might be too heavy or ill-fitting:

👀Posture changes: Your child leans forward or to the side when wearing the backpack.

👀Struggling to put on or take off: They have difficulty getting the backpack on or off.

👀Pain: Your child complains of back, neck, or shoulder pain.

👀Red marks: You notice red marks on their shoulders from the straps.

👀Tingling or numbness: They experience tingling or numbness in their arms or hands.

If you have any concerns about your child's backpack or their back health, please don't hesitate to reach out! The Sabetha Community Hospital Pediatric Therapy Team is here to support the proper growth and development of your child.

07/21/2025

Observing how your child plays, learns, speaks, behaves, and moves provides valuable insights into their development. Establish a few simple rules for your child to follow, such as using gentle hands during playtime. If they break a rule, demonstrate the appropriate behavior instead. Additionally, discuss your child's emotions with them and provide the vocabulary they need to express how they're feeling.

07/14/2025

As your child's first teacher, you can help his or her learning and brain development.
Children this age play next to each other, but do not know how to share and solve problems. Show your child how to deal with conflicts by helping her share, take turns, and use words when possible.

07/10/2025

When the human body comes into direct contact with a source of electricity, the current passes through it, producing what's called an electric shock. Depending on the voltage of the current and the length of contact, this shock can cause anything from minor discomfort to serious injury (even death). Take a look at ways you can prevent electric shock in your home.

Young children, particularly toddlers, experience electric shock most often when they bite into electrical cords or poke metal objects such as forks or knives into unprotected outlets or appliances.

07/07/2025

Reading regularly with young children stimulates optimal patterns of brain development and strengthens parent-child relationships, which build language, literacy, and social-emotional skills that last a lifetime.

When you are reading, point out colors, shapes, or characters to engage your child in the story. 🟦🟢🛑🩷🔶🟪

07/03/2025

Keep your 4th of July Celebration Safe!

06/30/2025

Milestone Monday--12 months
Teaching your baby "wanted behaviors" is important. Show them the right actions to take and use positive words, along with hugs or kisses, when they succeed.
As your baby develops communication skills, build on their attempts to express themselves. For instance, if they say "truck," respond with, "Yes, that's a big blue truck."

06/27/2025

Tummy time is essential for development. It provides the opportunity to build skills and strength.

Tummy time helps develop a baby's muscles--strength, control, and stability. It builds the path for developmental milestones such as rolling, supporting their head, and crawling.

Tummy time helps your baby to look around, familiarizing them with their surroundings. It’s good for their vestibular and tactile senses--balance, spatial orientation, and posture control.

Tummy Time allows babies to experience various textures--squishy, firm, rough, soft and more.

06/23/2025

Today, in our Milestone Monday post, we are focusing on 9-month-old babies.
Establishing routines supports relational health by fostering self-confidence, trust, communication, and social skills. Consistent routines provide comfort and a sense of safety for your baby. As children learn these routines, they become more independent. They begin to understand when it is time to play, eat, or sleep, and they come to expect a loved one to return at certain times.
Consider building everyday routines such as bedtime, mealtimes, regular playtime, and the process of getting dressed in the morning.
☎️ If you have any concerns about your baby's development, please reach out to your primary care provider or contact our Pediatric Therapy Department at SCH.

06/20/2025

Children achieve developmental milestones at different ages. Speech therapy can be beneficial when a child faces challenges with communication, including speech and language development, as well as issues with feeding and swallowing. If you have concerns about your child's speech and language skills, consult their healthcare provider. Our Pediatric Speech Therapist, Jill Bachtold, offers evaluations and creates personalized treatment plans to address all speech therapy needs.