The Developing Kiddo

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The Developing Kiddo ⭐️ Physiotherapy Resident with a focus in Paediatrics
⭐️ Here to educate and empower parent

Looking for a way to get your kiddo active? Paddle boarding is such a great option! It’s fun and gets us away from scree...
25/06/2021

Looking for a way to get your kiddo active? Paddle boarding is such a great option! It’s fun and gets us away from screens, but has many more benefits too:

☀️ Great for cardiovascular health
☀️ No impact
☀️ Provides a full body workout
☀️ Strengthens the little muscles of your feet that often get neglected
☀️ Improves balance
☀️ Provides vestibular input from the moving water
☀️ ..and probably a bunch more!

Did y’all know that physios talk about p**p!? Here are some ways for your kiddo to take control of their digestion and h...
23/06/2021

Did y’all know that physios talk about p**p!?

Here are some ways for your kiddo to take control of their digestion and have healthy p**ps:

💩 Make sure they’re getting the minimum recommended exercise for their age. Check out my previous posts to see all of the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines.

💩 Teach your child diaphragmatic breathing. I usually recommend practicing at least 10 diaphragmatic (or umbrella) breaths with your kiddo when you put them to bed. Video about how to do this coming soon!

💩 Keep them well hydrated - at least 1oz/kg of body weight

💩 Teach them healthy bladder and bowel habits - some include not holding your pees and p**ps for extended periods of time,
knees above hips when p**ping,
feet supported when on the toilet,
not bearing down or pushing really hard to p**p.

💩 Make sure they’re eating high fibre foods - like fruits, veggies, oats, brown rice, and popcorn

Aim for 3-7 p**ps per week. If your kiddo struggles with urinary incontinence then aim for a p**p every day!

**ps **p

Whose kiddos love running through the sprinkler?! When I was a kid I could spend hours running back and forth through th...
20/06/2021

Whose kiddos love running through the sprinkler?! When I was a kid I could spend hours running back and forth through the sprinkler in the backyard!

There are actually so many cool benefits to sprinkler play aside from just being a super fun activity!

💦 Sensory stimulation from water hitting the skin
💦Cardiovascular exercise from running
💦Ankle stability and small inner foot muscle strengthening from running on uneven and slippery ground
💦Sensory stimulation from running barefoot in the grass
💦Vestibular stimulation from running in circles 🤪
💦Gross motor challenges, like jumping over the sprinkler
💦Dopamine release from laughing
💦Vitamin D from the sun
💦Social interaction and bonding
💦Learning to allow for turn-taking

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there!!!
20/06/2021

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads out there!!!

June 18th is Autistic Pride Day!!Bekki Semenova wrote, “Every year, on June 18th, the Autistic community celebrates Auti...
18/06/2021

June 18th is Autistic Pride Day!!

Bekki Semenova wrote, “Every year, on June 18th, the Autistic community celebrates Autism Pride Day. This is a reminder for autistic people and their families that autistic people don’t need so called medical intervention and treatment, we need a change in our environment that best fits us, and our individual needs. This is a reminder that autistic people matter and our needs are to be accommodated for, understood, and appreciated”

Bedwetting is a topic that most kids and parents are embarrassed to talk about, but know that if your child experiences ...
13/06/2021

Bedwetting is a topic that most kids and parents are embarrassed to talk about, but know that if your child experiences bedwetting, they probably have at least 1 friend who does as well. 20% of children have some problems with bedwetting at age 5, and up to 10% still do at age 7. By the late teens, the estimated rate of bedwetting is between 1% and 3% of children.

Some reasons for bedwetting:
⭐️ Deep sleeper and an immature bladder
⭐️ Hormone imbalances which cause the kidneys to continue producing urine at night
⭐️ Constipation
⭐️ Daytime Urinary Dysfunction
⭐️ Retained primitive reflexes

Often kids will grow out of bedwetting, but intervention can still be helpful. If your child has hormone imbalances or other medical reasons for their bedwetting, they may be given medication by their doctor. Constipation and daytime urinary dysfunction are multifactorial, and many factors can be addressed in physiotherapy.

In physio we can address:
💜Optimal bladder and bowel habits
💜Bladder and bowel tracking
💜Breathing mechanics
💜Basic dietary guidance
💜Stretches and exercises to gain mobility in the pelvic floor muscles

I’ll be taking a course in October called Pediatric Incontinence and Pelvic Floor Dysfunction. I can’t wait to help so many more kiddos with the information I take away from it!!

11/06/2021

One of my clients is the coolest 4 year old boy and likes to watch videos before bed. Obviously I had to check them out, and they’re fascinating!

If your kiddo is interested in the human body, pull one of these out before bed. They’re relaxing, educational, and freakin’ cool.

💜💙♥️
10/06/2021

💜💙♥️

⭐️ Symmetry in pulling to stand ⭐️ Kids often begin pulling to stand around 9 months. At this point they will likely be ...
10/06/2021

⭐️ Symmetry in pulling to stand ⭐️

Kids often begin pulling to stand around 9 months. At this point they will likely be pushing through both feet and relying heavily on their arms. As they become more proficient, they’ll start pulling up through what we call a half-kneeling position. The kiddo in this photo is pulling up through a left half-kneel.

If your child is pulling to stand through half-kneel, take note of what leg they’re stepping forward with for a period of time (until they’ve done it at least 10 times). If they are bringing the same leg forward every time, they likely have a muscular imbalance from left to right. An easy way to start working on improving symmetry is by helping them move through half-kneeling on the other side:

💜put your kiddo on their knees in front of a surface and encourage them to pull-to-stand
💜block the knee that usually comes forward
💜help them bring their opposite foot forward
💜if they are much weaker on this side, you may need to give a bit of support around their torso to help them stand up

As always, if you are concerned about any asymmetries you see in your young child’s movements, reach out or come see me at Bruce County Chiro!

“Atypical response” to direct gaze is one of the most commonly known traits of individuals with autism. A study in 2017 ...
08/06/2021

“Atypical response” to direct gaze is one of the most commonly known traits of individuals with autism. A study in 2017 showed that these atypical responses to eye contact are unconscious and involuntary. Another study, in 2015, showed that the effect of eye contact on memory for nonsocial information is different in children with autism.

One study explored the experiences of people with a self-declared ASD diagnosis with respect to eye contact. One person said, “I can see that people are using it to communicate something to me, but I can't tell what they're saying.” The results of this study suggest that individuals with a self-declared ASD diagnosis experience adverse reactions to eye contact, such as sensory overload and feelings of being invaded, in addition to difficulties receiving and sending nonverbal communication.

Next time someone is avoiding eye contact with you, make sure to not assume you know why!

I deliver my Telehealth Physiotherapy sessions via the same secure system that all of my notes are taken in. These sessi...
05/06/2021

I deliver my Telehealth Physiotherapy sessions via the same secure system that all of my notes are taken in. These sessions meet all required confidentiality and privacy requirements.

Some of the reasons I think Telehealth is a great option:
💜For kiddos, it allows for treatment to take place in a familiar environment
💜For parents who have more than one child, they don’t need to figure out childcare. Siblings are welcome to join at appointments but sometimes they can be distracting to the child doing exercises!
💜Services can be provided to those in more remote locations, or who would otherwise not have access to therapy
💜If roads are bad (and we all know Bruce County winters), you can switch your appointment to a virtual one last minute
💜You can still get treatment if you’re experiencing systems that would not allow for you to come into the clinic
💜We get to see each other’s faces!!!

How to get ready for a virtual:
💙Set up where there is plenty of floor space
💙Have some of your child’s favourite toys or games nearby
💙Expect to be moving your laptop many times during the session. Sometimes we need to get crafty with our camera angles to capture kiddos on the move.

Do you have any questions about virtual physiotherapy?!

⭐️ Climbing ⭐️ Climbing is a great way for kiddos to build strength, flexibility, and balance. It also provides a way fo...
05/06/2021

⭐️ Climbing ⭐️

Climbing is a great way for kiddos to build strength, flexibility, and balance. It also provides a way for them to gain confidence in their environment.

Kids are typically climbing everything around the house at about 18 months. Now they really get to explore the environment, so you’ll have to keep an eye on them at all times… Something I realized very quickly working in the toddler room at a daycare!

Proficient climbing requires core strength, arm and leg strength and coordination, stability around the shoulders and hips, grip strength, body awareness, curiosity, courage, and the list goes on..

Drop your climbing questions below!

❤️

Babies and toddlers benefit in so many ways from being barefoot! Some benefits include:👣 Optimized sensory input 👣 Heigh...
05/06/2021

Babies and toddlers benefit in so many ways from being barefoot! Some benefits include:

👣 Optimized sensory input
👣 Heightened body awareness
👣 Improved balance, especially on uneven or unstable surfaces
👣 Optimized development of bony structures and soft tissues
👣 Improved agility

For times when your kiddos have to wear shoes, check out my footwear post to find out what to look for!

Some exceptions to this include low tone, atypical foot development, certain skin conditions, foot pain….There are many circumstances where kids would benefit more from having shoes on. If you’re ever unsure, you can see a paediatric physiotherapist, podiatrist, or orthotist for advice!

barefoottoddler

I’ve been seeing a lot of avulsion fractures at the clinic lately (a common theme seems to be too many kids on the tramp...
05/06/2021

I’ve been seeing a lot of avulsion fractures at the clinic lately (a common theme seems to be too many kids on the trampoline!).

An avulsion fracture is a type of fracture where a small fragment of bone breaks off as a result of physical trauma. We don’t hear of this much with adults because we will typically get ligament sprains and tendon ruptures before our bones chip off. Kids don’t have fully strengthened bones yet, so their bones give way before these soft tissues do.

For more severe avulsion fractures, surgery and casting might be indicated. After this, physiotherapy will work to regain range of motion, strength, proper movement patterns, and proprioception. Proprioception is the ability of our body to perceive its own position in space and this is affected when tissues are damaged.

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Obesity rates are shockingly high, and children with mobility limitations or intellectual or learning disabilities are a...
31/05/2021

Obesity rates are shockingly high, and children with mobility limitations or intellectual or learning disabilities are at greater risk for obesity.

“Physiotherapy is an ideally placed profession to provide the physical activity component of multidisciplinary weight management services.”

“Obese children, like adults, often present with a number of musculoskeletal signs and symptoms that may limit their time spent in physical activity.”

“Being obese is detrimental to gross motor skill performance, for example in upper and lower limb coordination, balance, running speed and agility, and strength. These differences become more pronounced as children get older, suggesting the need for early focus on motor skill development to encourage overweight and obese children to be physically active.”

- Chartered society of physiotherapy


I used to loove a good game of tug-of-war (also Red Rover - anybody else?)Tug-of-war:⭐️ Works the muscles of the chest, ...
30/05/2021

I used to loove a good game of tug-of-war (also Red Rover - anybody else?)

Tug-of-war:
⭐️ Works the muscles of the chest, shoulders, forearms, legs, and core
⭐️ Promotes teamwork
⭐️ Makes everyone feel pretty badass


Make a goal that you and your child want to achieve and don’t stop working towards it. You’ll never know what amazing th...
29/05/2021

Make a goal that you and your child want to achieve and don’t stop working towards it. You’ll never know what amazing things your kiddo can achieve unless you try!


K-tape is a colourful, painless tape that can be worn for several days, even while showering. It can be used for so many...
28/05/2021

K-tape is a colourful, painless tape that can be worn for several days, even while showering. It can be used for so many things, not just injured adults!

For kids, we might use it for some of the following reasons:
🌈 Improve muscle function
🌈 Improve sensory awareness
🌈Support tendons and ligaments
🌈 Improve lymphatic flow
🌈 Improve postural alignment
…and more!

There are precautions and contraindications, so if you’re not sure if you should be using it, always consult a professional.

I’m challenging you to all get your kiddos out playing in the dirt this week! There are so many benefits to getting dirt...
26/05/2021

I’m challenging you to all get your kiddos out playing in the dirt this week!

There are so many benefits to getting dirty:
👣Healthier immune systems
👣Improved gut health
👣Development of tactile skills with sensory play
👣A break from screens
👣Use of imagination for play
👣And so many more!


❤️

26/05/2021

Have you tried skipping recently? Can you still do it as an adult? It actually takes quite a bit of coordination!

To teach kiddos how to skip, I break it down into “step” then “hop”. As that becomes easy I cue them to speed it up until they create a rhythm 🤸‍♀️

Did you know that there’s an accessible playground and an accessible splash pad right in Southampton?!The playground inc...
24/05/2021

Did you know that there’s an accessible playground and an accessible splash pad right in Southampton?!

The playground includes an adapted swing, ground that is safe and appropriate for those who have mobility restrictions, a ramp right up to the top of the playground structure, and many height-accessible play options.

I can’t wait to see the splash pad up and running! 🤞🏻


Paediatric Physio is here to help kiddos grow with confidence 💜💙
22/05/2021

Paediatric Physio is here to help kiddos grow with confidence 💜💙

"Infants and children have remarkable brain plasticity and aptitude for learning; taking advantage of this window of opp...
21/05/2021

"Infants and children have remarkable brain plasticity and aptitude for learning; taking advantage of this window of opportunity with evidence-based intervention for those with early brain injury maximizes functional outcomes and minimizes complications."

"Young children with cerebral palsy or an interim clinical diagnosis of high risk for the disease should be immediately referred for disease-specific and age-specific interventions, according to new international clinical guidelines."

The recommendations apply primarily to children ages 0 to 2 years who are at high risk or have a diagnosis of cerebral palsy.

This article discussing why early intervention (ages 0-2) for children with cerebral palsy is so important. Intervention should begin at time of diagnosis, and impairments should be monitored and treated appropriately.

Read more at https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamapediatrics/article-abstract/2780012


Standing frames are beneficial for individuals who rely on wheelchairs for mobility. A standing program using external s...
20/05/2021

Standing frames are beneficial for individuals who rely on wheelchairs for mobility. A standing program using external support such as a standing frame is a critical component of daily routines for many children with disabilities.

Prolonged standing provides:
💜Pressure relief
💜Prevention of skin breakdown
💜Weight bearing for bone (specifically hip) development
💜Stretch to tight muscles and prevention of contractions
💜Improved positioning for breathing
💜Improved digestion and bowel function
💜Increased metabolic rate
💜Ability to have face-to-face interaction with peers

Who got outside for some adventure today?! Exploring can be beneficial for so many reasons, both physical and emotional!...
18/05/2021

Who got outside for some adventure today?! Exploring can be beneficial for so many reasons, both physical and emotional!⁠

Just by walking up a log, this kiddo is working on: ⁠
⭐ Balance⁠
⭐ Coordination⁠
⭐ Depth Perception⁠
⭐ Core strength⁠
⭐ Foot Strength⁠
⭐ Confidence⁠


15/05/2021

Looking for a new vestibular activity that also challenges sitting balance and is equally adorable and hilarious?! Plop your babe on a roomba and you’re good to go!

Try it out and tag so I can share the laughs 💕

Growing pains often wake kids up in the night and cause aching or burning sensation in their things, calves, shins, knee...
14/05/2021

Growing pains often wake kids up in the night and cause aching or burning sensation in their things, calves, shins, knees, and sometimes arms. They’re common for school-aged kids, especially during periods of fast growth. During a growth spurt, bones can grow as much as 1mm per day, but muscles, tendons, and ligaments only grow up to 0.8mm per day. This discrepancy in growth rate can lead to pain because the soft tissue is being pulled! Kids will often experience growing pains overnight, or after a day of strenuous activity.

What can help?
💙Gentle massage
💙A warm bath or hot water bottle
💙Daily gentle stretching
💙Reassurance - anxiety about pain can heighten a pain experience
💙Avoid activities that make their pain worse

If pain persists and/or you want support with easing symptoms, you can seek help from a paediatric physiotherapist. They will assess joint range of motion, muscle length, muscle strength, posture, and function to identify any underlying biomechanical contributors.

Seek help from a healthcare practitioner if your child experiences any of the following:
💔Pain in the joint itself
💔Fever
💔Morning pain
💔Fatigue
💔Reduced appetite
💔Swelling or redness

Have you ever seen a child wearing “braces” and wondered what the braces are actually for? Or has your child seen a peer...
12/05/2021

Have you ever seen a child wearing “braces” and wondered what the braces are actually for? Or has your child seen a peer wearing them and asked you why?

Those pictured here are called Ankle-Foot Orthoses, or AFOs. AFOs are individualized for each child who wears them, but some of their main functions include:
⭐️ maintaining the foot in a neutral position
⭐️ providing a stable base to stand on
⭐️ preventing muscle contractures in the calf
⭐️ correcting and/or preventing deformity of the foot and ankle
⭐️ improving energy efficiency in walking
⭐️ enabling the heel to strike the ground when walking
⭐️ improving knee stability

AFOs can be helpful for kiddos with various conditions, including:
⭐️ Cerebral Palsy
⭐️ Spinal Cord Injuries
⭐️ Muscular Dystrophies
⭐️ Charcot Marie Tooth
⭐️ Spina Bifida
⭐️ and many more

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