Preschooler Focus: Physical Activity and Screen Time
This newsletter is written specifically for families of young children to help answer some of their questions about the importance of physical activity. Tips for reducing sedentary behaviour in preschoolers are included, as well as other resources. Click here to view the January 2012 newsletter written by McMaster's Child Health & Exercise Medicine Program.

Measure of Processes of Care (MPOC)
The MPOC is a valid and reliable self-report measure of parents' perceptions of the extent to which the health services they receive are family-centred.  Thanks to the generosity of colleagues from around the world, the MPOC-20 is now available in Arabic, Chinese (Traditional), Danish, French, Hebrew, Japanese, Latvian, Portuguese and Spanish. Free download. Click here to read more about the MPOC and here to read about the MPOC version for service providers.
 

The Canadian Network of Child and Youth Rehab (CN-CYR) is offering a live webinar on February 28, 2012 at 11 am (EST).  The presenters are investigators in the Parenting Matters! Study and include Dr. L Lach, McGill University,Dr. P Rosenbaum, CanChild, and Dr. Dafna Kohen, Statistics Canada.  They will share what they have learned to date about parent health and well-being, and will speculate about the potential utility of the findings to help parents.  Click here to read more and to register for the webinar. 

Watch for a new 'Parenting Matters!' section on the CanChild website with many useful resources for families (click here to see a sneak preview!)

Partnering for Change: An innovative school-based occupational therapy service delivery model for children with developmental coordination disorder

This paper, recently published in the Canadian Journal of Occupation Therapy (CJOT), describes Partnering for Change (P4C),an innovative school health service delivery model for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). The model emphasizes the partnership of the occupational therapist with educators and parents to change the life and daily environment of a child. The P4C partnership focuses on capacity building through collaboration and coaching in context. Authors: CA Missiuna, NA Pollock, DE Levac, WN Campbell, SD Sahagian Whalen, SM Bennett, CA Hecimovich, R Gaines, J Cairney, DJ Russell. Abstract. 

"Support for everyone": Experiences of occupational therapists delivering a new model of school-based service

The Partnering for Change (P4C) study team explored the experiences of occupational therapists implementing P4C and elicited their perspectives about how this model differs from the direct service approach for children with motor coordination difficulties. The resulting themes reflect therapists' perceptions of their personal and professional growth, key aspects of the model, challenges, and impact. Published in CJOT. Authors: WN Campbell, CA Missiuna, LM Rivard, NA Pollock. Abstract.

Initial development of the Health Promoting Activities Scale to measure the leisure participation of mothers of children with disabilities
The Health Promoting Activities Scale (HPAS) was designed to measure the frequency with which mothers participate in self-selected leisure activities that promote health and well-being. Initial evaluation of the HPAS indicates that this brief tool is psychometrically sound, user friendly, and clinically relevant. Further development is suggested by the authors. This article was published in the American Journal of Occupational Therapy. Authors: H Bourke-Taylor, M Law, L Howie, JF Pallant. Abstract. 

Making links across the lifespan in neurology
 This editorial by Jan Willem Gorter, published in the Canadian Journal of Neurological Sciences, introduces an article entitled "Growing up with cerebral palsy: Contemporary challenges of healthcare transition". He presents the ABC's for improvement in transitional care for youth with cerebral palsy and their families, for consideration. He also describes the AACPDM 'Life Span Care' committee that aims to provide leadership in lifespan care issues for individuals with cerebral palsy and other childhood-onset disabilities. Click here to view editorial. Plan to attend the AACPDM Annual meeting in Toronto in September 2012....the theme will be 'Creating Connections'!