SuperKids Pediatric Consulting Services

Occupational Therapy, Covid, and Educational Disparities

Child with a mask on sitting at a desk, video chatting with a person with a mask on during covid — Photo by Edward Jenner on Pexels.com

Greetings! This is a piece I wrote almost a year ago, however much of the information is still relevant, and with the rise in the Delta variant and Covid cases, I thought I would share it here.

I am a pediatric occupational therapist who has been working in schools and special education for over 20 years.

Occupational therapy is rewarding, fulfilling, and most of all fun!

I love what I do, I love the connections with kids and their families as well as other professionals.

I’ve worked in private schools, public schools, preschools, and early intervention.

I’m also a teletherapist and have been providing services virtually, long before Covid-19 hit.

If you don’t know much about Occupational Therapy, it can require you to be hands on.

We work on fine motor and life skills such as handwriting and shoe tying.

So when Covid-19 hit fast and hard, many questions came up such as, “How do you adapt hands-on work into distance learning?”

I think many of us have been tasked with learning how to do things remotely.

Even for those of us with experience in telehealth like me, this shift hasn’t been easy.

The pandemic affected telehealth a little differently.

The prospect of distance learning came on quickly and unexpectedly, and many schools were not prepared, and continue to struggle with constantly changing guidelines and mandates.

Distance learning has highlighted the lack of access and resources many students have.

Disparities in Access to Resources

For years I’ve witnessed what some people are either just beginning to notice or just beginning to truly realize; the disparities in education, such as funding and class size, and access, such as technology and supplies, especially among children of color and low-income children.

These disparities have been prevalent since formal education began.

Now include children with special needs and the inequities loom large for these children.

We know the schools with more diverse communities and lower-income families are hit the hardest when it comes to inequities in both educational and healthcare.

Although there are laws regulating special education in schools and we also know that children with special needs are one of our most vulnerable populations.

Now everyone has been at home.

With this global pandemic, distance learning is the new normal.

With no other option, we have placed many seemingly insurmountable tasks on parents at home.

Not only do they have to be a parent, they have to be a partner, teacher, provider, employee, and caregiver.

When you are a caregiver to a child with special needs, this includes medical needs, therapies, doctor or specialist appointments, medication management, and special education meetings.

It’s often a never ending and overwhelming list of responsibilities.

How do you keep this all going?

And effectively?

While at home?

Possibly teleworking with your own job?

And with other kids and family members at home too?

While surviving a global pandemic?

And let’s remember, many children with special needs often have health issues or are immunocompromised and can’t simply go back to school even if that school is open.

What if you have all of the above going on, and you are worried about having the basic needs of your family met?

All of these questions bring me to an inspirational man I’ve been following on Instagram who is a Native American.

He is raising funds to provide running water to his neighbor’s homes.

Running water.

In homes.

In 2020.

And now in 2021.

Imagine trying to distance learn if you live in a community where you are still trying to get running water in your home.

We know now that distance learning hasn’t been as easy as hopping onto your computer and logging in.

First off, you have to have a computer and more than one at that if you also work from home.

This of course is if you have a job that you can do from home.

This gets even more complicated if there is more than one child in your home.

Your computer must have wifi capabilities and a camera.

You need reliable high-speed internet.

And one of the most important things that is often overlooked: you need a child who can sit in front of a computer screen, or at the very least stay within camera view, often for hours at a time.

Special needs students have schoolwork and special education services on top of that.

This can be daunting and overwhelming.

Even adults struggle with endless hours of video conferences, so I has to be difficult for children.

Some children with special needs can be movers.

They like or need to move around.

Some children can’t sit up without support.

Some children may have vision or hearing impairments.

Some children may be non-verbal.

Some might not be able to follow directions easily.

The support some children need may require another person to be with them so parents can’t leave them by themselves even to go get other work done.

There.

Are.

So.

Many.

Factors.

This is to say nothing of the social opportunities and engagement with friends that special needs children can be missing out on.

Think about how you felt the first 10 weeks into quarantine with very little exposure to the outside world.

Contact with other children is just as important as academics, and for all children, it’s a huge part of how they learn.

Now, if you are a student of color with special needs, these challenges become amplified.

Most large public health crises disproportionately affect communities of color and low-income families.

Study after study, statistic after statistic, has proven this.

With the country and world still firmly in the grips of coronavirus, where does this leave our students of color or low-income students with special needs?

I don’t know the answer to that and I worry it’s not in a good place.

What Next?

As an occupational therapist, even one with years of experience in telehealth, the new world of Zoom we find ourselves in hasn’t been easy.

I worry more about the students.

I worry more about their families.

I worry more about their occupational therapy and other necessary services. I worry more about access.

With all that being said, there are positive things happening.

My fellow occupational therapists and I have risen to the occasion and through out of the box thinking and flexibility have created some amazing services online.

Bitmoji classrooms and Boom cards (digital interactive activities) are great examples of making online learning fun and interactive.

Teachers are rock stars and have done spectacular things to keep their students supported and engaged.

Other providers like speech and language therapists, and physical therapists are doing the same.

Nurses, doctors, and behavioral health professionals are in overdrive and continue to be the glue that holds up our health system.

And let’s not leave out parents.

None of this works without the involvement of parents or caregivers.

Parents and caregivers are an incredible force that have kept this all going for 18 months now.

On top of everyone’s hard work, people are paying more attention to the disparities in education and I hope attention will continue to be paid to these issues.

People are finding more ways to connect, and access is improving.

We have to keep working hard and keep the issue highlighted even after the pandemic subsides.

We’ve come up with new and innovative ways to engage children from a distance.

The solutions to all of this don’t have to be complicated, and I have hope that we can come up with long term solutions.

As the saying goes, “hope is passion for what is possible.”

Until next time,

black girl in medical mask — Photo by Monstera on Pexels.com

Back To School Ideas

group of students with a teacher standing together with masks on. — Photo by Max Fischer on Pexels.com

Hi There!

School will be starting up again soon, or may have already started for some and I frequently get questions from parents about what they can do in the last days of summer to help their child get ready for the school year.

This year will most likely not be like any other.

With Covid still very much a reality, there are the usual suggestions, as well as some suggestions specific to the climate we find ourselves in.

Let’s jump in.

Make sure to enjoy the final days of summer- often we get in rush to try to get back into our routines, shop for school supplies and new clothes and perhaps review those math facts we have forgotten to review with our child all summer. A little bit of planning and prep can prevent these last few days from feeling like a chaotic mess. Planing ahead and getting things done over time will reduce your anxiety and your child’s.

2. Pay attention to your child’s mental health (and yours too). We continue to live through unprecedented times. It’s natural to feel anxious, overwhelmed, scared or nervous. Some children have been out of the classroom for a year, some have been in the classroom but in a hybrid model. If your child is going back to in person school full time, this will most likely be a big deal. Make sure you take time out to check on your child’s mental health. This should be the first priority. Learning and socializing can not occur if your child’s mental health needs are not also met.

3. Go outside. If you’ve read any of my other blog posts, you will know I am big on getting out and getting some fresh air. But I am also a huge proponent of getting outside because there is so much value in it for kids. It’s great of brain development, it’s fun and it’s one the of fastest ways to work on all kinds of skills. Need some math practice? Design a hopscotch with sidewalk chalk with addition facts.

4. Play games. Play board games, card games, brain games! Playing games sharpens your child’s critical thinking skills.

5. Do arts and crafts. Arts and crafts are fun and build many skills. They can help with fine motor skills, planning, and time management just to name a few. Your child can brush up on their reading skills, by reading directions, or their math skills by counting out pieces needed to build something. And don’t forget baking and cooking! Another great way to incorporate back to school skills and have something to eat at the same time. It’s a win win!

6. Establish a routine at least 2 weeks before school starts. Set a bedtime (and stick to it). Set an alarm (and get up when it goes off). Eat well and at appropriate times. Your child will do better if you have got them back in the routine days before school starts.

7. Talk about school or visit if needed. One way to ease back to school jitters is to talk about it! Especially if your kids are returning to in person school. Hop on your school’s website for a refresher or if you can set up a quick visit or go play on the playground. Let your child know it’s ok to be nervous.

8. Let your kids be kids. Sometimes as parents we can get caught up in feeling the pressure to build skills, sharpen minds, or have our child be top of the class. Remember, the first “job” of your child is to actually be a child. Let them enjoy the last days of summer. Find a balance. Allow them to have a say in what they do. This will make for an enjoyable end of summer for everyone!

I hope you have found these ideas and suggestions helpful. I wish you and your children a happy, healthy and safe return to school!

Until next time!

What Exactly IS Occupational Therapy?

A girl looking out the window/ — Photo by Cristian Rojas on Pexels.com

Hi there-

In my 20 years of being an Occupational Therapist, I still frequently get the question “What is occupational therapy?”

Although I’d hope by now, it’d be more common, occupational therapy is often lumped in with physical therapy or sometimes just therapy.

I’m here today to give you a brief overview of what occupational therapy is, and what occupational therapists do.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA),

“Occupational therapy is the only profession that helps people across the lifespan to do the things they want and need to do through the therapeutic use of daily activities (occupations). Occupational therapy practitioners enable people of all ages to live life to its fullest by helping them promote health, and prevent—or live better with—injury, illness, or disability.”

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Explained

I think they sum it up pretty well.

I am a pediatric occupational therapist, so the focus of this blog will be on pediatric occupational therapy.

If you’re asking yourself what are the “daily occupations of children?”, here are just a few.

Going to school. A child’s “job” from 3-21 years is school. Occupational therapists work in schools (public, private and virtual) to support a child’s learning. This can include handwriting, class participation, and following classroom routines.

Playing. Yep, a child’s “job” is to play. Playing with friends and family provides so many important developmental skills for any child’s life.

Activities of daily living. Just as it sounds activities of daily living- or ADL’s for short, involve things like eating/feeding, getting dressed, and doing chores. For older children ADL’s can be things like homework, driving, running errands, and getting a job.

Social interactions. Playing with friends and family along with negotiating social situations and being part of the family are pieces of a child’s ADL’s. (This includes mental and behavioral health).

Developing. Even babies ages 0-3 are seen by occupational therapists, it’s called early intervention. With this age group, OT’s work on feeding, developing play skills, and exploring their world.

Self regulation and Sensory Processing. Occupational therapists work with kids on the important developmental skill of regulating themselves in order to participate in everyday activities. Sensory processing-which is how a person filers sensory information- is included in this.

Who Do Occupational Therapists Work With?

Occupational therapists work with a wide range of children, teens and adults.

I like to say OT’s work with everyone!

There is usually one or more of the areas listed above that a child is struggling with, at home or school, and that’s when the OT gets called in.

There can be overlap between occupational therapy and other professions such as physical therapy and speech and language.

Although some like these professions to be separate, I find great benefits to working together instead of separately.

We may be working on the same issue but addressing it from a different lens which is frequently beneficial.

I love being an occupational therapist and helping children grow and develop.

I love the holistic approach occupational therapists use to treat the whole child.

It is such a rewarding field that I am happy to be a part of!

Until next time,

Quick Tips for Handwriting

a little girl thinking and writing on a piece of paper. — Photo by Marta Wave on Pexels.com

I love handwriting. Occupational therapists can do many things, and helping with handwriting is one of them.

OT’s can often address handwriting difficulties that pop up or start students on their handwriting journey.

Handwriting questions are probably the most frequent questions I receive, so today I am going to give you my top 10 handwriting tips!

Here goes!

Top 10 Handwriting Tips

Children need to be formally taught handwriting skills. In the hurried pace of trying to squeeze many things into a school day, formalized handwriting instruction often gets pushed down the list. Children need to be TAUGHT handwriting, it’s not a learn as you go skill.

2. When you are formally teaching children to write, it should be in a developmental way meaning start with the easiest letters first. Horizontal and vertical lines are the easiest to draw, start with those letters first.

Capital letters are also easier than lowercase (less twists and turns) so start with capital letters first.

3. There are many different ways to work on handwriting that don’t require actual writing practice. Some ideas are, finger painting, coloring, mazes, dot to dot, drawing, arts and crafts. All of these activities work on handwriting and/or building the skills needed for handwriting.

4. Grip is important (but don’t go overboard). A proper grip helps a child to control the pencil, prevent fatigue, and in later years will help with speed and legibility. That being said, we all don’t have the exact same perfect grip so a little variance is ok.

5. The early years (K-2nd grade) are the easiest years to make change. Old habits die hard, and if the child is in a higher grade, the habits they have formed in the younger years are going to be hard to change (but not impossible). If you have a child who is still struggling in older grades consider ideas and strategies to support their current handwriting habits (example: adapted paper).

6. Slow down! I often get questions about 3 or young 4 year olds and handwriting. Simply put, most children of this age are not ready for writing letters. As parents, we can want our children to have a head start in school, but many children aren’t ready for writing at 3 (although some may be). The best way at this age to give your child a head start is to build a good fine motor foundation. See #3 for ideas!

7. Cursive is critical! I know many will say cursive has largely died out and is not important, but I guarantee you, it absolutely is important. There are many benefits to cursive including building connections in the brain. Also your child needs to know how to sign their name (think job application, contacts, check signing), AND your child needs to know how to read cursive. Many a historical document are written in cursive (Declaration of Independence anyone?).

8. Function over form. In my opinion, there is a time when a child has been writing (3rd grade and older) when function becomes more important than form. In the early years, we focus a lot on form (letter formation, sizing, do the letters touch the line etc.) this is because it makes overall handwriting easier. But there is a shift when the focus should be more on function than form, especially because the older a child gets, the harder it is to change handwriting habits, so there comes a time when we need to make sure the child can write for functional everyday tasks (think worksheets, forms etc) and focus less on their form.

9. Struggling writer?

a. Keep in mind some children need to learn handwriting separate from other skills. Although pairing literacy and handwriting skills sounds like a good idea, it can be overwhelming for some children and might need to be taught separately.

b. The same goes for the “language” of handwriting. Simple consistent language is best. This also can apply to the lines on the paper. Fewer lines usually equals less confusion on where to start and end your letters.

c. Focus on one thing at a time. Sometimes trying to focus on size, formation and baseline orientation all at once is too much. Pick one thing to focus on and go forward from there.

10. Don’t forget about keyboarding. Begin teaching keyboarding skills early (2nd grade). Let’s face it, by that time, many children already have keyboarding experience through tablets, computers, and phones. Learning good keyboarding skills early can be very helpful if you have a struggling writer who may need to switch to keyboarding early on. Keyboarding should also be formally taught with time dedicated each day to keyboarding. (I remember having to take a 45 minute typing class everyday in high school for a semester, and back then it was on a typewriter!)

Handwriting is big part of a child’s “job” as a student and it should be treated as such.

It can be fun and exciting to learn, and the excitement is palatable the first time a child writes his/her own name.

Most important tips, keep it fun, and keep it simple!

Until next time!

a kid writing numbers on a blackboard — Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels.com

Checking In

woman sitting at a table writing in a notebook — Photo by Marcus Aurelius on Pexels.com

We are a little over a year in to this global pandemic.

How are you?

How is your family?

It hasn’t been easy for anyone, everyone has had to chart new territory, find a new normal and learn a new way of juggling everything.

Anyone who says it was easy would be lying.

It was hard, it was scary, and it was agonizing.

I don’t know about you, but I feel like even though we still have a ways to go, we’ve made it to this point, and I am grateful.

I’d like to talk about the things I have learned/ discovered as an occupational therapist over the last year and some ideas for moving forward.

Here goes.

Things I Have Learned

woman sitting on the floor holding up a picture of a light blub — Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

1.Kids are survivors. They made it through just as we did.

2. EVERYONE is “behind”. I keep seeing news stories talking about the “year lost” when it comes to education and learning. Hello? We are ALL behind, and I don’t even think kids are “behind”. I think they adjusted and survived, just like the rest of us. Teaching and learning wasn’t ideal for anyone so we are moving forward from similar places.

3. Number 2 being said, the light shining on educational disparities is much brighter due to this pandemic. I have seen the disparities first hand since I became an occupational therapist almost 20 years ago, and with the glaring spotlight on the disparities now, I am hopeful real change will come about.

4. Occupational therapy is a key and critical service in times like these. I often think people forget the power of occupational therapists. There is so much we can do!

5. Mental health MUST be a priority for kids and adults a like. This was a really hard year. We all acknowledge it, but we MUST do something about it. Just because kids are resilient, doesn’t mean they don’t need help. There is no way anyone came out of the last year unaffected by this global pandemic. We really need to pay attention, step up, and make sure there’s help.

A Path Forward

an empty road heading into the mountains — Photo by Sebastian Palomino on Pexels.com

Ideas and Suggestions for Moving Forward

Here are some ideas and suggestions about how to move forward.

1.Prioritize working with our kids on where they are, not on trying to “catch them up”.

2. Utilize occupational therapist to address a variety of needs, we are here to help.

3. Address the mental health of students (and over the long term).

4. Don’t just acknowledge and talk about educational disparities, take action and do something about it. Fund schools, build a better technology infrastructure, rethink programs that are not working, pay teachers higher wages.

5. Be kind. We’ve all done the best we can. This is a once in a lifetime global pandemic that no one knew/knows how to navigate.

Lastly, keep wearing your mask, social distance and wash your hands.

Until next time,

Seating Options for Remote Learning

a black woman sitting on a chair looking at her phone — Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

Greetings!

I was trying to think of a fancy or catchy title for today’s post, but as you will see I didn’t think of one!

Since remote learning began, I’ve had several parents, teachers and students ask me about various seating options for remote learning.

Let’s face it, being stuck behind a computer all day is taxing.

More so for kids who are programmed to be moving, running, jumping, and climbing, not sitting.

I know a dynamic teacher who pre-Covid, had a fabulous classroom full of “flexible seating”.

It was an occupational therapist’s dream come true.

There were options for every student, and it was an occupational therapist dream come true.

While Covid has hindered that in classrooms, flexible seating is an option for home.

Here are my top 10 favorite seating options.

Standing-why do we think kids should always be seated to do work? What’s wrong with standing up and working? An adjustable desk can be great for switching between standing and sitting.

Standing Desk Converter Electric Height Adjustable Computer Desk 47.2 inches Home Office Writing Computer Workstation PC Simple Sit-stand Large Working Area Modern Student Girl Kids Study Desk ,Brown - Walmart.com - Walmart.com

2. Laying down-again, why do we think kids should always be seated? Laying on the floor propped up on your elbows can be a great way to work.

Close up of Diverse Kids Stock Footage Video (100% Royalty-free) 1028669642 | Shutterstock

3. Ball chair-One of my favorites, ball chairs can provide a little bit of movement while still staying seated.

Amazon.com: Gaiam Classic Balance Ball Chair – Exercise Stability Yoga Ball Premium Ergonomic Chair for Home and Office Desk with Air Pump, Exercise Guide and Satisfaction Guarantee, Charcoal: Sports & Outdoors

4. Rocking chair-as we all know from our days as infants, rocking chairs can be soothing and help focus and attention. They make child size rocking chairs which are perfect for students.

5. Sit and move cushions-just as they sound, sit and move cushions provide a little movement when you are sitting, not as much as a ball chair which might be too much for some kids.

Amazon.com: Gymnic Movin' Sit Jr. Inflatable Seat Cushion, Blue, 10 L X 10 W in - 8909: Industrial & Scientific

6. A stool-A stool is good for those kids who need more movement than a sit and move cushion, but less than a ball chair.

7. Kids desk chair-these are great for providing a little bit of movement by swiveling side to side or rolling.

8. Bean bag chair-these are great if you are snuggling up with a good book or aren’t doing any paperwork but just listening.

9. Swing/cocoon/pod chair- if you want to go all out, these can be a great way to provide a little movement (and fun!).

10. A regular good old fashioned chair- remember, flexible seating will not work for every student. Sometimes what’s tried and true is best.

Amazon.com: Lifetime 80472 Kids Stacking Chair (4 Pack), Glacier Blue: Garden & Outdoor

To answer the question, “where can I buy these?”, there are a variety of places that will have flexible seating options for purchase, Amazon, Target and Walmart will have some options.

You can also search any of the chairs above and find many different purchasing options.

Oh! And before I forget, all of these options are great for adults too!

Until next time!

Spring Activities!

a baby chick in the green grass — Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Happy Spring!

I don’t know about you but I am sure glad to see Spring!

Although we have a long way to go, I feel like we made it, and I love that Spring is a time for renewal!

It also allows us to emerge from our homes and get outside!

I am frequently asked by both parents and teachers for activities to help develop skills.

I believe skills can be developed in a variety of ways and learning doesn’t only occur behind a desk.

Spring is the perfect time to shake things up and work on skill development in fun and playful ways.

And let’s remember, kids “occupation” is to play so it’s a win win!

Here are few fun activities for the Spring!

Go outside! (If you’ve read any of my other blog posts, you know I highly value the outdoors!) – there is so much to see and do outside! Don’t make an agenda, just see where the experience takes you!
Nature crafts-go on a nature scavenger hunt looking for things you can use to create a picture or other art project. A little bit of grass, a few rocks or shells, or even some dirt can make for wonderful creations! (shhhh-your child will be working on their fine motor skills without even knowing it!).
Outdoor obstacle course– use things in nature or your own outdoor equipment, and create an obstacle course. Jump over sticks or rocks, roll down a grassy hill, jump up and see if you can catch a cloud! (shhhh-your child will be working on their spatial awareness, gross motor and coordination skills without even knowing it!).
“Recess” games-four square, hopscotch, tag, hula hoops, jacks or marbles. (shhhh-your child will be working on eye hand coordination, fine and gross motor and visual spatial skills without even known it!)
Ball games– play catch, try to hit a target, play hot potato, kick a ball. Vary the size of the ball starting with large ball and then switching to a smaller ball. (shhh-your child will be working on gross motor and visual motor skills without even knowing it!).
Sky writing– lay on your back and practice writing/drawing with your index finger in the sky. You can write letters, words, or draw a picture! (shhh-your child will be working on fine and visual motor skills without even knowing it!).

boy with arms behind head eyes closed laying in the grass — Photo by Andrea Piacquadio on Pexels.com

Wishing you a fun filled Spring!

Until next time!

child and parent balancing on a log both wearing rainboots — Photo by Alexandr Podvalny on Pexels.com

The Value of Lunch AND Recess

child's dump truck filled with sand — Photo by Markus Spiske on Pexels.com

Hello!

A few weeks back, I wrote about the value of a snow day.

Today I’d like to talk about the value of lunch AND recess.

These two things are important if your child is at school or at home.

We all seem to acknowledge the importance of both, but frequently both are limited to 40-45 minutes, about 20 minutes for each.

Not only that, but lunch and recess are sometimes viewed as “catch up” time, or even as a consequence for poor behavior.

Teachers and parents are under enormous pressure to make sure kids accomplish so much in any given day.

Lunch and recess can seem like the logical choice to use as time to “catch up”, or as a “reward” for good behavior, but I am here to encourage all of us to take some things into consideration when deciding to use this time for other things, and to provide some other options.

Photo by Tima Miroshnichenko on Pexels.com

Let’s dive in!

Things to Consider

Here are things to take into consideration.

Kids not only need a break in their day, they deserve one.

Kids need some down time. Lunch of course provides nutrition, and recess can provide a “reset” for their brains.
There are countless studies on the importance of exercise and time outside.

That’s what recess is!
Using recess as a “reward” for good behavior is not a good idea and here’s why.

Often kids who act out or have poor behavior need the movement recess provides.

Having a child work through recess or sit to catch up on work (or as punishment) deprives them of the ability to reset their brains and bodies.
I believe lunch and recess are part of teaching kids about “self care”.

As adults, we often use these buzz words, but I think it’s important for kids to begin “self care” at an early age.

Allowing time for lunch and recess without work is how we can teach kids “self care” and balance.
Children who are hungry or have been sitting all morning are not at their optimal learning levels, so it doesn’t really make sense to have them work through lunch or miss recess.

Frequently doing that creates a difficult afternoon. For everyone.

I know and understand how jam packed our kids days are now, but we as the adults need to remember to take a step back and let kids be kids, and let them rest, relax, play, and eat.

Sometimes that might mean prioritizing lunch and recess over something else that might seem more important and that’s ok.

The important stuff will get done (it always does).

Oh and lastly, remember, it’s important as an adult to get your lunch and recess everyday too!

Until next time,

a Black child with curly hair eating an orange. — Photo by Ketut Subiyanto on Pexels.com

How to Make Telehealth Work

a child in front of a computer learning remotely — Photo by Julia M Cameron on Pexels.com

Hello!

Today I’d like to talk about telehealth and how to make it work.

Many of us were jolted into the world of telehealth here in the U.S. in March 2019 due to Covid 19.

All of a sudden we needed to know how to log on, unmute, and screen share.

I have to admit, I was a little more fortunate than others, as I’ve been working in telehealth for 7 years, but even for me, it was a bit of a learning curve.

As an occupational therapist, much of my job can be hands on.

It’s hard to be hands on through a computer screen.

Good thing occupational therapists are known for thinking outside of the box, and telehealth ideas and resources have exploded over recent months.

In this post I’d like to share some of what I’ve learned delivering services via the computer.

I hope this can be helpful for therapists, teachers and families alike.

General Thoughts on Telehealth

There is always something new to learn.

Many platforms like Zoom and Google Meet are constantly changing and updating.

New resources are popping up every day.
It takes time to adjust to a hands off approach required when we are not in the same room as our students.

This is an adjustment on our end as well as theirs.
Communication is key.

As therapist’s we have to be able to communicate and give verbal directions in a way that our clients can understand.

This sounds easier than it is at times.
PAY ATTENTION TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN YOUR BACKGROUND.

Remember cameras capture everything.

We are all squeezed in tight in our homes, there’s bound to be other things going on, try to remember that and minimize background disruptions.

There’s been many an “oops” moment with cameras catching everything, it happens.

You may also need to remind your students of this too.
Every session will not go smoothly.

I think there’s a lot of pressure on everyone to get this telehealth thing right.

Nothing goes right 100% of the time.

That includes telehealth. We need to go easy on each other.
Skip the fancy stuff.

There’s a lot of add-ons for telehealth, you don’t necessarily need them to have a successful session, and in fact at times all the bells and whistles can be a distraction.

Kids are really only looking for engagement with you, so make sure you are providing that.
Sometimes a less structured session can provide the most function and learning.

Remember every second does not have to be planned out, there is learning in discovery.
If you don’t know how to do something ask your student!

Seriously, I’ve found my students are better at knowing how to do things or troubleshooting problems than I am!

And it’s a great confidence builder for them.

Specific Telehealth Ideas and Activities

Here are a few of my favorite things to do!

Youtube– YouTube is my best friend.

Watching a visual demonstration of just about anything can really help, and since there isn’t hands on treatment over Zoom, videos can be your hands.

You can find just about anything on Youtube.

You can pause, rewind, fast forward or mute the sound and just watch.

Youtube is a favorite of mine, but also of my students.
Voice to text– if both you and your student have a strong connection, you can have your student voice to text information (think typing a story).

They can control voice to text on their end, or you can do it for them because the Google docs microphone is strong enough to pick up what’s being said through the computer.
Exploring– occupational therapy is all about function right?

Learning various features on your computer is a functional activity.

Learning what our computers can do for us is a critical skill for any age because let’s face it, we all need to know how to use and navigate the computer and the web.

There is great value in playing around to see what happens. (Of course be careful of inappropriate content if you are on the web).
The whiteboard– both Zoom and Google Meet have whiteboards.

Use them.

You can draw, use stamps, write, etc.

Learning how to use and control the mouse to access the whiteboard is a great fine and visual motor coordination activity!
A document camera– you can connect your ipad or iphone to your Zoom session!

If you need to show your students something, but need them to still see your face, you can do both!
Paper and pencil– remember those?

You can do SO much with just a paper and pencil.

Drawing, writing, coloring, origami, the possibilities are endless.
Games – there are many many online games that can be used to work on skills.

You can play I Spy, do virtual puzzles, typing games, mazes and hidden pictures.

You can make these work by screen sharing, giving remote access to your mouse, or using the pencil tool.

I suggest you have a few options up and ready to go before your session so you’re not having to surf the web while your student waits.
Exercise – Did I mention YouTube?

Well there are lots and lots and lots of sensory regulation and exercise videos on there (and other places on the web) that are perfect for kids.

Any kind of movement is great given the fact we are all trapped in front of our computer screens.
Meditation – we can all use a little relaxation right?

There are many meditation videos for kids.

I sometimes use these at the beginning of my sessions to get kids ready to sit in front of a screen.
Offline activities – remember just because you are in front of a screen doesn’t mean everything you do during your sessions has to involve a screen.

Yes, you need the video screen to see your student, but you can pick “off line” activities.

Think craft activities, scissors, glue, coloring, origami, activity worksheets, mazes or dot to dots (if your student has a printer).

Think about all the things you do in person that you can still do on Zoom.

There are so many new ideas coming out everyday. A simple web search will give you endless choices.

Again, your sessions don’t have to be fancy to be fun!

Lastly, I know many people like to point out the drawbacks of telehealth, and there are some, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a viable or valuable treatment method.

Part of occupational therapy is to work on independence, and telehealth inadvertently promotes that.

There are many positives to telehealth, but it is a change from what many of us are used to.

It’s important to explore and have fun and see all of the wonderful things telehealth can do.

Until next time,

The Value of a Snow Day

gingerbread cookies in the snow — Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

As I sit writing this, there’s a large storm moving through the U.S.

It started in the Midwest and is headed to the East Coast.

Everyone’s talking about it in my area.

Everyone is also talking about the fact that now that we know and have done (or are doing) virtual learning, snow days are a thing of the past.

There’s no need to have a day off from school anymore, just log on and keep learning.

There are 2 sides to this, the first being our students have already missed so much this year due to Covid, the learning must continue.

The second being, our kids have already missed so much, online learning is hard, and kids are anxious, so a snow day might be a good idea.

I’m here to advocate for the latter.

The Value of a Snow Day

I want to talk about the value of a snow day.

I am unclear when learning became all about sitting behind a desk (or in front of a screen), but it did.

I am also unclear about when the definition of learning narrowed to only mean sitting at a desk with a teacher at the front of the room giving out information.

There has been a shift from less time for lunch and recess, to more time for “learning”.

The same is now beginning to apply to snow days.

We don’t need them anymore because everyone can connect at home.

But I’m here to tell you.

We still need snow days.

Not only that, but there is great value in having them as part of a child’s school experience.

Let me take a step back and explain.

Why Snow Days and Important

As an occupational therapist (and a parent), I am frequently asked by other parents what they can do at home to help their child progress.

My first suggestion is almost always “go outside”.

Much is learned away from a desk.

Study after study prove the benefits of play and being outdoors, yet we somehow find ways to thwart that.

A snow day is the perfect opportunity to put desk learning on hold and do some outdoor/ snow day learning.

Kids learn best by doing and what’s more fun than going out in the snow?

There are so many things we can’t see that help kids develop, and movement is one of them.

When a snow day is given, there is an opportunity to break from the norm and have some fun and explore!

Build a snowman, have a snowball fight, flop down and make a snow angel.

There are too many skills to list that getting outside during a snow day can address.

a snowman holding a red shovel — Photo by Jill Wellington on Pexels.com

Now I know some will say “even with a snow day, my child will spend all day on a screen.”

This may be true, but there are some good things about screens and self directed learning.

A snow day gives children the opportunity to explore on their own, or maybe even put down the screen and play a board game, a card game, read a book, or bake with mom and dad.

Again, there are too many skills to list that are addressed by all of these activities.

So while our kids may not be learning about decimals on a snow day, I guarantee you they are learning.

And what they are learning on a snow day can have just as much value as being in a classroom virtual or otherwise.

Until next time,

PS-I realize everyone doesn’t live in a climate where snow days happen, but my main point is still there.

There is value in getting outside and having a little fun!