Help Needed to Get SPD in DSM-5

The Sensory Processing Foundation has provided information for OT's, PT's, parents, teachers or any professional with experience in sensory processing disorder on how to comment on the APA website to include sensory processing disorder in the DSM-5. Check out the SPD Foundation webpage to read sample comments and how to reigster on the APA website.

Rock Smash Sensory Motor Activity Idea

National Inventor's Month August 2009

Did you know that August is National Inventor's Month? Why not incorporate this theme into some therapy sessions or carry over activities for at home? Here are some suggestions to help celebrate:

1. Working together with a child, determine a task that is difficult for them to achieve. See if you can create a simple invention or adaptation that will allow the child to complete the task with greater ease. Ask other children for help on solving the problem.

2. Invent a new recipe. Let the children experiment mixing and stirring different ingredients together. Then have a tasting session. Children LOVE this activity.

3. Invent a new game. Go outdoors and have the children all invent their own games. Encourage the children to invent games allowing ALL children to participate.

4. Pick a theme such as cars, robots or spaceships. Have children invent different items using materials that encourage fine motor skills such as LEGO’s, clay or interlocking blocks.

Digital Magazine from Your Therapy Source Inc July 2009

Open publication - Free publishing - More autism

Benefits of Short Bouts of Physical Activity

A recent study in the International Journal of Pediatric Obesity offers some exciting research regarding physical activity in boys. The researchers studied physical activity levels in 47 boys(ages 8-10 years old)using accelerometry for seven days. After the seven days they measured waist circumference, aerobic fitness and microvascular function. The researchers discovered that the boys performed short physical bouts of activity rather than long, sustained periods. This was consistent with previous research which indicated that children normally perform short bouts of physical activity. The frequency of short bouts of physical activity was associated with waist circumference, aerobic fitness and microvascular health. There was no correlation with blood pressure. The researchers recommend further studies to determine if overtime the results remain and if the physical activity patterns are the same for girls.

Here are some suggestions to apply this research:
1. Encourage children to participate in any amount of physical activity (short or long).

2. Research has shown that children normally move in short bursts therefore keep that in mind during sporting practices if children are losing their focus.

3. Break up sedentary time with movement breaks whenever possible. Try our Mini Movement Breaks - this is a collection of physical activity breaks for children that can be performed with no equipment indoors or outdoors. Below is a video of how to create the mini movement break notebooks or shoe boxes. Download the breaks and create these notebooks to pass out to teachers and parents. Even better, have the children help to create the notebooks or shoe boxes to include fine motor skill development practice!



References:
Stone et al. The pattern of physical activity in relation to health outcomes in boys. International Journal of Pediatric Obesity, 2009; 1 DOI: 10.1080/17477160902846179

University of Exeter (2009, May 13). Sporadic Play Activity As Beneficial To Child Health As Continuous Bouts Of Exercise, Study Suggests. ScienceDaily. Retrieved May 15, 2009, from http://www.sciencedaily.com­ /releases/2009/05/090511101652.htm

Kite Flying - Spring Outdoor Activity

Children absolutely love to fly a kite. They love the challenge and the thrill of getting the kite up and in the air. Then they progress to the challenge of keeping the kite in the air and out of the trees. Kite flying requires eye hand coordination, motor planning, body awareness and gross motor skills. Try out these activities today:

1. Make a kite out of a brown paper lunch bag. Decorate, punch 4 holes in corners where bag opens. Tie string and you are ready to fly it.
2. Not windy enough for a kite? Draw, decorate and cut out a kite. Tie ribbons to the end of it. Tape it onto the top of a long stick. When the child runs with it, the kite will fly!
3. Raining today? Print and complete our FREE kite activity, Jump Up, Up and Away, to encourage sensory motor skills.

Bilateral Coordination, Eye Foot Coordination and Motor Planning

Here is a four year old boy working on bilateral coordination, eye foot coordination and motor planning skills. He has velcro attached to his feet. We are using a velcro ball from velcro catch game. Try this is standing for older children to really challenge their balance (SUPERVISE CLOSELY).