Child Integration Centre

06/05/2023

Fun brain break or aerobic exercise session with squats, jumps, prone extension and trunk flexion work. Easier levels are available for younger kids.

24/04/2023

“Studies suggest that exercise has a greater impact on ADHD symptoms than does food - a more commonly prompted treatment strategy”

Aim for an hour a day, in one go, or 4 x 15 min bursts, but studies have shown that even 3 x 30 mins aerobic exercise a week can improve executive functioning over a 12 week period.

ADHD is genetic, but it is also environmental — to a degree. You can’t change your DNA. But you CAN change your eating, fitness, and sleep habits — all of which may have real, positive effects on ADHD symptoms. Here’s how.

24/04/2023

Screen time toys -
- a ball or textured inflatable cushion to sit and bounce / wiggle on, activate core muscles
- Theraband for chair legs to stretch legs against, provides proprioceptive input
- weighted and textured lap cushion to stimulate touch and proprioceptive senses
- Lycra body sock to provide resistive input to the body as you stretch inside it
- stretchy, textured fidget toys to provide touch input

Why? Screens stimulate visual and auditory senses, without stimulating the other body senses (touch, vestibular, proprioceptive), resulting in a feeling of being out of sync, which is the reason for couch climbing & upside -down hanging during TV time and hyperactivity / frustration after screen time. Give your child an opportunity for at least 10 mins of intense movement input (eg trampoline, burpees, wrestling, swinging… after screen time too, to help balance their systems.

27/03/2023

27/03/2023

“These findings suggest that previously identified benefits of exercise on language abilities in adults also extend to school-aged children. “

Purpose Previous studies show that there is increased brain activity after exercise, leading to improved word recall in adults. The aim of this study was to examine whether different types of exercise (i.e., aerobic vs. anaerobic) may also lead to improved performance during vocabulary learning in c...

07/06/2020

Fun! A spy obstacle course! https://frugalfun4boys.com/indoor-spy-obstacle-course/

07/06/2020

Bad behaviour is often your child asking to be seen. Schedule it in and set the timer for just 15 mins of “special time” with them.

It's a game-changer.

02/06/2020

I forgot where I saw this but imagine? What about dyslexia? Imagine dyslexia was a good thing at schools and not “we can’t help you bc we don’t have the funding”? Having dyslexia in a not dyslexic world is hard but dyslexic kids allowed to learn the way that works for them then it would be a good thing.

27/05/2020

Returning to school during the COVID-19 pandemic (Developed by Carryn Hennessy, Social Worker, 2020).
Please feel free to share.
This can be downloaded at https://wp.me/par8Po-5a

26/05/2020

Love this for midline crossing and visual tracking 🚗

23/05/2020

10+ ideas with a paper cup 💡

23/05/2020

This is a support series for school-based teachers and therapists. Join us as we hold a conversation to share best practice ideas, help each other with pain points, and celebrate promise through this COVID19 times. It is a platform for sharing and reflecting. Its intension is to find a shared grit b...

23/05/2020

This free printable “imagination action journey” from Your Therapy Source works well as a morning warm-up or brain break, and brings in play and self-regulation. Do the swimming in a tummy-lying position on the floor, and the cycling on your back with legs in air, or sitting on a chair.

https://www.yourtherapysource.com/files/Imagine_Free_Sample_Triathlon.pdf

22/05/2020

Because us parents need gold stars too 🌟

I printed out a behavior chart for myself. 😂😂😂😂. I need to buy me some stickers for my chart.


Credit to Affinity Consulting Ontario.

17/05/2020

“Anger is a secondary emotion which means there is some other emotion at play.” This was so true, and still is, for me. I had huge explosive outbursts as a child, and it was always covering up others emotions like shame, fear or anxiety. This is so good for parents to know. Anger is much more than the behaviour and figuring out what the child actually needs may help keep the outbursts at bay. Anger indicates that something is wrong.

17/05/2020