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Starfish Updates
Blog: Check out our most recent blog postings!
Giving Back: This month a portion of our proceeds are going to the Muscular Dystrophy Association as well as our continued donation to Children's Hospital Oakland.
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Just For Fun
Summer is a great time to go camping as a family, or to pretend you are going camping! You can set up your camp site in your back yard or your living room if heading out into the wild outdoors isn't your thing. One of the fun things about camping though is cooking over the campfire. Family Fun had some great campfire cooking recipes that you can prepare with your family whether you are camping for real or just for pretend!
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Out and About
Looking to get out and about in the Bay Area without breaking your wallet? Pier 39 offers local advantage coupons for people who are local. In addition Bay Area on the Cheap has discount options for throughout the Bay Area. And check out Kiddie Koncierge for options for kids as well.
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Greetings!
Welcome back! Hope you are enjoying summer so far. Read on to get information about The Alert Program and Handwriting Without Tears provided by our Occupational Therapist and as always ideas for some summer fun.
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The Alert
Program For Self Regulation "How Does Your Engine Run"
The Alert Program "How Does Your Engine Run" is a fun and
friendly way to teach children to seek out self soothing strategies when dis-regulated. "Self-regulation is the
ability to attain, maintain, or change how alert one feels appropriately for a
task or situation" (Williams & Shellenberger, 1996, pg 1-5).
In
order for children to learn basic functional tasks such as tying their shoes,
writing their name, following directions, etc. they need to be in an optimum
state of regulation first. If a child is overly active, unable to sit still,
extremely distractible, it is unlikely that they are going to be able to sit
down and complete handwriting or another fine motor activity. This increase in
activity, fidgetiness and distractibility is referred to as having a "high
engine". The same thing can be said when
a child is tired, sick and in a state of lower arousal or referred to as having
a "low engine".
The
optimal state of regulation is referred to as having a "just right engine". Adults
need to be in this state as well in order to complete work, chores around the
house or even sit down and have a conversation with someone. As adults we
resort to biting our nails, drinking coffee, smoking, exercise, stretching, tapping
our feet, rocking in our chairs, showers, clicking pens, tapping fingers,
listening to music, etc. in order to regulate our selves when our arousal is to
high or low. Children have more
difficulty in being able to independently identify soothing techniques for
themselves, or they may seek out unsafe or unwanted soothing strategies such
as: chewing/sucking on non-food items, banging their head, using an increased
amount of force with items, etc.
The
Alert Program begins with using the vocabulary throughout the day so that the
child is able to understand and see visually what a "high", "low", and "just
right" engine look like. Over-exaggerating how you feel can help them
understand the concept better. So by stating mommy/daddy has a low engine right
now and dragging your feet as you walk, with your head hanging down can
demonstrate having a low engine. Becoming overly excited over something,
jumping up and down and speaking in a louder voice can demonstrate having a
high engine. As the child begins to learn visually what these states look like,
he/she can begin to utilize the vocabulary themselves in different situations.
How
do you know what tools help your child find that regulated state? Every child
is different in terms of what is going to increase or decrease their arousal. One
child may become highly aroused by swinging while another may find it calming.
Sitting down with something weighted on the lap can help some children organize
and focus themselves, where as it can put some children in too low of an
arousal to focus. It's a case of trail and error to figure out what tools fit
your child's needs the best.
The
Alert Program can be adapted/modified per child's need or age. It has been used
with toddlers, all the way to adults. The program is personalized for the child
and uses fun vocabulary and visuals to make learning The Alert Program more
exciting for children. It was originally developed for children with learning
and attention difficulties and has been successfully used with children with
sensory difficulties as well. This is a program that can help you better learn
your child's sensory needs, as well encourage them to be more independent in
regulating themselves. You can find out more about The Alert Program by visiting these websites.
www.alertprogram.com
www.aota.org
www.out-of-sync-child.com
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Handwriting
Without Tears
 Today's standards in school for handwriting are much higher
than they use to be. Children are starting to learn this skill earlier in age.
What if your child is just not ready to hold a pencil yet, or is finding it
more difficult to learn their letters and is falling behind the rest of the
class? Learning letters and practicing handwriting doesn't have to be with just
a pencil and paper.
Handwriting Without Tears uses a variety of fun and creative
tactile methods to encourage letter/handwriting practice. The child that may
not be ready for pencil and paper may be more motivated to form letters in
textures such as shaving cream, sand, paint, and play-dough. This "hands-on"
approach makes the program easy and fun to learn your letters.
Handwriting Without Tears is also known for its simple
vocabulary for letter formation and its use of song throughout the program to
assist with handwriting techniques. There is a teaching pattern to follow with
this program, although child motivators are more important. The program is
easily adaptable to meet both the interests and needs of the child. Handwriting
Without Tears follows the developmental pattern that children go through. It
begins with easier letters that use mostly horizontal and vertical lines, such
as: E, F, L, H, etc. Then it moves onto letters with curved lines
included, leaving diagonal line formation for last. Children can be more
successful with this pattern of introduced letters, whereas it can become
frustrating or challenging to begin with making the letter "A" when they're not
ready for diagonal lines just yet.
Handwriting Without Tears does not stop at printing and is
not only used with younger children. There is a cursive program as well and the
program is easily adaptable to older children as well. It can be taught easily
one on one, although more and more schools are adopting the program into their
classrooms as well. The HWT's website allows parents to look up certified
Handwriting Without Tears specialists within their local area. It also provides
parents with some samples of letter formation worksheets, so that they can see
the ease of the program.
A certified HWT's specialist should begin the program with
child and parent first so that correct vocabulary and techniques are taught.
The program is easily carried over by the parent after. HWT's allows both child
and parent together to get creative in how they make their letters and doesn't
put boundaries on where they can make their letters (steam from a shower, sand
at the beach, running their finger over the back of a seat when riding in the
car). Who would of thought writing could be so fun?
Resources:
www.hwtears.com |
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Thank you for reading. Your support is always appreciated! Please contact us if you have any questions about the above information.
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Sincerely,
Stacy Menz
Starfish Therapies
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