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Greetings!
Spring is almost here! Pretty soon, the kids will be on Spring Break and we'll be outside playing again. With that in mind, we took a poll on our Facebook page about your favorite places to take your child for a day of fun in Memphis. The results of the poll and an article about these fun places are included in this newsletter.
Since the kids will be playing outside, we've also included an article about how to make the most of your next visit to the playground. You can also find out more about the Bright Steps session and upcoming events in Memphis. You'll also meet Hannah Taylor, physical therapist, and the newest member of the Brightsong team.
2013 is off to a great start and we're very excited and looking forward to all the wonderful things to come this year!
Happy Spring!
The Brightsong Team |
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 Favorite Places for Families Around MemphisWith Spring coming, we took an informal poll on our Facebook page asking, "Where's your favorite place to take your child for a day of fun in Memphis?" The Memphis Zoo was the big winner! And really, what's not to like about the zoo? All the animals and fun exhibits make visiting the zoo a fun experience for everyone. There's even a baby giraffe to visit! On Tuesday afternoons, the zoo is free (except during the month of March). The second favorite place to visit was the Children's Museum of Memphis (CMOM). The big news with CMOM is that they are opening a really cool splash park in May 2013. The new splash park will include over 7,000 square feet of sprinklers and water fun for the kids to enjoy! Memphis has a lot of great places for family fun. In addition to the Memphis Zoo and CMOM, other great options include the Memphis Botanic Gardens, the Fire Museum of Memphis, Shelby Farms, etc. Did we miss one? Visit our Facebook page to let us know about your favorite place in Memphis for family fun! |
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Bright Steps Session
On February 16, Brightsong and DSAM collaborated to provide the New Parent Brunch and Bright Steps program. After enjoying a wonderful brunch provided by Bailey's Executive Catering, parents and siblings participated in the Bright Steps program. Children with Down syndrome and their families learned about protecting their child's joints and different positions for play. Hannah Taylor (physical therapist) and Amy Foster (developmental specialist) led this hands-on session. We all had a great time!
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Making the Most of Your Visit to the Playground  Spring is just around the corner and taking a trip to the playground can be a lot of fun. Playing on the playground is also full of wonderful opportunities for language development and motor skills!
- Take advantage of the swings and slides! After your baby outgrows the baby swing or johnny-jump-up, strong movement (vestibular) input is hard for her to get at home.
- Talk about the actions your child is doing (swinging, jumping, etc). Use action verbs to model words for your child. (continue reading)
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| Meet Hannah Taylor, DPT
Hannah Taylor earned her Doctorate of Physical Therapy from the University of Tennessee at Memphis in 2009. Since then, she has worked in a variety of therapy settings including outpatient rehab clinics and home health. She has extensive experience evaluating and treating children with motor coordination difficulties and working with a team of pediatric professionals. Hannah joined the Brightsong team in December 2012. |
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Making My Mark!
A Handwriting Workshop for Parents and Teachers
Learning how to write is an important skill everyone must learn, but it can be a challenge for some children.
Join us on Saturday, April 27 at Panera Bread in Cordova from 9:30 - 11:30 for a handwriting workshop presented by Rebecca Thomas, MOT. Cost $20.
Each participant will receive a FREE digital copy of 45 Minutes a Day to Better Handwriting - a handwriting program developed by Rebecca Thomas, MOT and Brightsong, LLC. Space is limited. Please call Brightsong at 309-3077 to register. |
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Upcoming Events in Memphis
March 6 - Spread the Word to End the Word. Best Buddies and DSAM will be at the Old Navy at Wolfchase between 12:00 - 8:00 pm. The Chili's at Wolfchase will donate 10% of their proceeds to Best Buddies when you mention Spread the Word to End the Word or Best Buddies.
March 21 - World Down Syndrome Awareness Day March 23 - Rebecca Thomas, MOT is presenting The Family Table: Encouraging Positive Interactions with Food for the Autism Society of the Mid-South March 23 - World Down Syndrome Day "Who I Am" Event from 4:00 - 7:00 at Christian Brothers University. Events will include viewing of the IDSC video "Who I Am" and the "Just Like You - Down Syndrome" film with Memphis native, Rachel Mast. This event is FREE! To RSVP, contact idsc.information@gmail.com or DSAM.
March 28 - Rebecca Thomas, MOT will lead a Q & A session at ASMS Parent Support Group Meeting about feeding skills for children with autism
April 19 - Friends of Best Buddies Luncheon at 11:30 am at the Memphis National Golf Club. Best Buddies is looking for table captains to commit to filling a table of 10. The lunch is free, but donations will be encouraged at the end of the presentation. This is an invite only event. For more information, contact Melissa Todd at (901) 619-7592.
April 19 - Memphis Bridges the Gap - A Marketplace of Resources for Families at Christ United Methodist Church 6 - 9 pm.
April 27 - Making My Mark! Handwriting Workshop provided by Brightsong. 9:30 - 11:30 at Panera Bread in Cordova. Refreshments will be provided. Cost is $20. Each participant will receive a free, digital copy of 45 Minutes a Day to Better Handwriting. A program created by Rebecca Thomas, MOT and Brightsong, LLC.
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Join Our Team!
Brightsong is growing and we are looking for a part-time occupational therapist (OT) and a part-time speech-language pathologist (SLP) to provide services to children from birth to age 18. Please visit our website for more information. www.brightsong.net |
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