Month: July 2016

Why Doesn’t Swaddling Alone Calm Newborns?

I attended a local function last night, and this question was on my mind as parents recounted their experiences with newborns and calming.  They thought that they were doing the swaddling wrong.  Or that their child was abnormal.  Not likely.  They just didn’t realize that for most babies, swaddling alone doesn’t do the deal. As…… Continue reading Why Doesn’t Swaddling Alone Calm Newborns?

Is My Child Ambidextrous?

I answer this question from parents about once a month, on average.  Here is the better question: Is my child developing age-appropriate grasp? The statistics are against your child being ambidextrous:  only about 1% of people are truly ambidextrous.  Being able to hit a ball equally well with either arm is valued on a team,…… Continue reading Is My Child Ambidextrous?

Why Some Newborns Look Like They Hate To Be Swaddled

Yes, I said it.  Some babies scream louder after you swaddle them, and parents assume that this means that they are horrified of being restricted.  This is usually far from the truth, but you have to know a little bit about newborn neurology to understand why this is likely not to be a case of…… Continue reading Why Some Newborns Look Like They Hate To Be Swaddled

Low Tone and Toilet Training: The 4 Types of Training Readiness

When clients ask me if I think their child is ready to potty train, my answer is usually “Tell me more about the readiness signs you believe you are seeing.”  There are numerous factors to consider when assessing toilet training readiness if a child has low muscle tone. Here are the four types of readiness…… Continue reading Low Tone and Toilet Training: The 4 Types of Training Readiness

Summer Fun Pre-Writing Activities

Here in the U.S., summer is fully underway.   Pools, camps, and vacations!  Handwriting isn’t really on anyone’s radar.  Except mine.  Without practice, kids with learning differences, motor control issues, and visual-perceptual concerns can lose a lot of the skills that they worked so hard on all year long in therapy. Here is a fun…… Continue reading Summer Fun Pre-Writing Activities

Why Writing An “M” Like a Mountain Slows Handwriting Progress

  I had this conversation with a very sharp grandma this week.  She was curious about why I did not teach her granddaughter to write an “M” this way, since it is so much easier than the standard formation.  Here is my answer: Teaching it incorrectly? No! None of the common handwriting styles (Zaner-Bloser, D’Nealian,…… Continue reading Why Writing An “M” Like a Mountain Slows Handwriting Progress

Low Tone and Toilet Training: The Importance of Dry Runs (Pun TOTALLY Intended)

In my posts about choosing a potty seat, How To Pick The Best Potty Seat For Toilet Training A Child With Low Tone  then picking clothes and learning to wipe, Low Tone and Toilet Training: Teaching Toddlers to Wipe,  planning and preparation for potty use was emphasized.  Kids who are unsteady and struggle with coordinating actions need to…… Continue reading Low Tone and Toilet Training: The Importance of Dry Runs (Pun TOTALLY Intended)

Color Wonder Paper Will Boost Creativity and Save Your Walls

    Nothing ruins the fun of scribbling like the frustration of discovering that clothes, skin and walls are also covered with “creativity”.  It is important to teach children that we color only on specific surfaces, but messes will happen on the path to full comprehension and compliance.  Crayola has just about solved this problem…… Continue reading Color Wonder Paper Will Boost Creativity and Save Your Walls

Melissa And Doug Tape Activity Book Is Reusable Fun

  I am so excited when I find a truly fun toy that builds the visual and fine motor skills that my preschool and early elementary clients need.  I am giving this book to 2 of my best friend’s grandchildren (ages 8 and 10) today.  She and her husband have them for the holiday week,…… Continue reading Melissa And Doug Tape Activity Book Is Reusable Fun

Low Tone And Toilet Training: Pull-Ups or Cloth Training Pants?

My post on clothing choice when toilet training a child with low muscle tone  Low Tone and Toilet Training: Teaching Toddlers to Wipe covered a lot, but it did not include a very important garment:  underwear.  I am putting pull-ups and their generic equivalents in the underwear category.  Many would not, as they are as absorbent…… Continue reading Low Tone And Toilet Training: Pull-Ups or Cloth Training Pants?

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