Pawprint - January 2016
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Did You Know?
Clinic Directory

Did you know we have a clinic directory on our website? If you are looking for a clinic in your area, be sure to check out our Clinic Directory to see if there's one in your area.

If you have a clinic and would like to be added to our listing, please email your clinic name, address, phone number and website to [email protected] and we'll be happy to get you added!

 
Therapist's Corner
Deanna Macioce
Reenergizing the Experienced Therapist
Deanna Macioce, MS, OTR/L

January is the month of resolutions. Many people flock to the gym, start to eat healthier or read more. Whatever it is, the beginning of a new year or season is a great time to reassess ourselves, even within our professional lives. Whenever we are doing something on an ongoing basis for a long time, it becomes habit and is often done without much thought. And although being a therapist in pediatrics is always very dynamic, we often get stuck in a rut. So, with the beginning of a new year, now is an excellent time to "respark" and re-energize ourselves and treatment activities.
  1. Get Organized - It is a great time to clean off the desk, clean out the trunk of the car, and sift through all those piles of activities sheets and materials. As pediatric therapists, we are known for having our "bags of goodies" that help us make therapy sessions fun. Clean them out, rediscover the items at the bottom, and refocus the use and need for them. The same thing goes for the toy/activity closet. It is amazing when we find an old favorite and rediscover how to add it into our treatment sessions. Remember that something old and overused to us is often something new and exciting to a child.
     
  2. Learn Something New - Almost all therapists are required to do some continuing education either by their state or national board. This year, set out to learn something new. This becomes more difficult for experienced therapists, but challenge yourself to explore all the on-site and online courses offered. With the use of technology, it is sometimes easier to find more appropriate and cheaper options that fit your level of knowledge. So, this year put the time in to research something new.
     
  3. Read More - Finding spare time to almost do anything extra gets more and more difficult for many therapists. The demands of life and kids, increased workloads and additional obligations sometimes take us away from reading and learning new things. As new therapists, we were often found looking up new diagnoses, researching ideas, and often having conversations about our caseloads, but as we become more experienced, it is no longer a priority. So, this year, find a new blog or Facebook group of interest to join. Sometimes the shorter reads or discussions are just enough to jump-start our brains and keep on learning!
     
  4. Plan - With all the cleaning organizing, and reading of new things, you will be able to plan treatment sessions with ease. As experienced therapists, we can easily "wing it" knowing what activities will help address what goals. So, challenge yourself to plan and organize one new treatment activity or one child's sessions per week.
     
  5. Connect - Make sure you are using your "therapeutic use of self," especially with those children you have had on your caseload for years. In the area of pediatrics, it is not uncommon to treat children from 7 years old to 12 years old. That is 5 years of therapeutic sessions.  And although there is often a bond, connection and comfort level with both the family and child, always take a step back to make sure the "use of self" is correct. In addition, assess if whether or not a therapist change may be in order.
Now is a great time to rediscover what you love about being a therapist and find the fun in the day-to-day schedules. Happy purging, happy treating!

New Product

Heavy Duty C-Stand


Southpaw's Heavy Duty C-Stand is designed to allow for a larger working load. The frame has a padded base that provides a stable, strong support and allows for ample room for swinging. The Heavy Duty C-Stand has a built-in rotational device and height adjustment strap.

 
Activities with Alex
Top 5 Sensory Accommodations for an IEP to Achieve an Optimal Learning State
Alexander Lopiccolo,  COTA/L, CPT, NC
  

1. Movement Breaks - ideally 8-12 minutes long every 1-2 hours
    for an optimal alert state.
  • Heavy work - Carry/Push heavy crates of books from A to B
  • Move - Brain Dance or Brain Gym Exercises with the whole class
  • Impact - Rhythmic Full Body Movement Dancing with Music
 2. Oral-Motor Input - Try TheraBand™ Professional Resistance Tubing for
     drinking/chewing/blowing, Whistle Kit, Chewy Tubes to decrease chewing non-edible objects,
     Camelbak water bottle for pencil chewers, 2-3 pieces of gum, and chewy snacks such as beef
     jerky/Hi-Chew.

3. Posture - Improve attention and postural stability while getting movement input by sitting on a
    Togo spring t-stool at the tabletop or a HowdaHUG for circle time to get rocking motion input for
    calming.

4. Auditory - Allow the child to wear noise-cancelling or -dampening headphones with calming music
    such as Music for the Mozart Effect or grounding music such as Sacred Earth Drums to decrease
    auditory distraction and improve attention to task.

5. Relaxing - A Weighted Yoke or Weighted Seek & Find both provide deep pressure that may help
    calm a hyperactive child's central nervous system during academic learning for improved focus.
Southpaw Products
Fiber Optic Tunnel

Fiber Optic Tunnel

This Fiber Optic Tunnel allows clients a visual and tactile experience. Light source sold separately.

Details
Weighted Animal Buddies

Weighted Animal Buddies

 Our friendly Weighted Animal Buddies offer your clients and children pressure touch and proprioceptive input while they mold to their body.
Details
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EMBRACING THE WORLD OF SENSORY THERAPIES