January 4, 2016

What's Wrong with the W Sit

The W position when sitting is a position that children may move in and out of when playing; however, when the W position is used frequently, children are limited their ability to strengthen their core and using rotation to cross midline. Also, children who frequently use the W position when sitting may develop orthopedic problems in the future. Read More

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December 28, 2015

Tactile Exploration with Food

Some children are overly sensitive to touch, movement, visual input, or auditory input. This may cause behaviors such as withdrawing when touched and avoiding certain textures of food or clothing. Read More

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occupational therapist

occupational therapy evaluation

picky eater

sensory

sensory sensitivities

December 21, 2015

When to be Concerned about Your Child's or Teen's Mood

Children and teenagers are often moody or irritable, but how do parents know when these behaviors occur more often than average. Reports indicate that 9% of adolescents ages 12 to 17 experience a major depressive episode with girls more likely to be affected than boys. Read More

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December 14, 2015

When to Worry about Picky Eaters

Having a child who is a picky eater is a common occurrence for parents. About 20% of children between the ages of 2 and 6 have, what is considered, a narrow diet. While picky eating can be common, it can still cause mealtimes to become a battleground. A new study from Duke University published in the journal, Pediatrics, found that children who had a diet that was severely restricted enough to make mealtime difficult at home were twice as likely to have depressive symptoms and seven times more likely to have social anxiety than their non-picky counterparts. While these cases were rare in comparison to the 20% of picky eaters (3%). Read More

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mealtime difficulties

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stressful dinner time

stressful mealtime

December 7, 2015

Red Flags in Child Development

Children grow and develop at their own individual pace. The range of when skills develop is actually quite wide and variable. Some kids develop motor skills quicker than verbal skills and vice versa. It is helpful to know potential warning signs of developmental delay because early assessment and intervention has been shown to be beneficial toward optimal developmental outcomes. If you have developmental questions or concerns, it is always appropriate to talk with your child’s pediatrician or schedule a developmental intake at a clinic like Rosenberg Center to talk further and collaboratively develop an assessment and/or treatment plan if appropriate. Below are some signs of possible developmental delay. Read More

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psychology

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November 30, 2015

Recognizing Dyslexia

Many children are diagnosed with dyslexia, dysgraphia and dyscalculia; however they are unable to receive services through their school district through an Individual Education Plan (IEP) because parents are told that these terms are not recognized by the state or school. Read More

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dyscalculia

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educational assessment

educational psychologist

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November 23, 2015

Parenting Challenging Children

Every parent knows that raising children can be challenging as well as rewarding. New studies show that more than half (56%) of working parents with children under the age of 18 find that having to balance the responsibilities of their job and the responsibilities of raising children difficult. This difficulty can often lead parents to feelings of bitterness regarding raising their children. This bitterness can be difficult to admit, especially if parents feel as if other parents are having an enjoyable experience raising children. Read More

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November 16, 2015

Apps for Autism

Finding apps for Autism Spectrum Disorders can be overwhelming. There are so many different options and recommendations. It is difficult for both families and professionals to decide which to choose and how to invest your time and money. Apps can be great tools for teaching as all children are naturally interested in using electronic devices. Read More

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autism spectrum disorder

November 9, 2015

My kid won't wear his coat! Season changes can be hard.

Winter is right around the corner and many parents of children with sensory sensitives are beginning their seasonal struggle to dress their child for the cold weather. Many children with sensory difficulties experience sensory defensiveness, especially tactile defensiveness. This means kids feel more things than the average child. They can be quite over sensitive to touch. These individuals often do not like light or unexpected touch, yet may crave deep touch pressure and heavy muscle work (proprioception). Because of their sensitivity to light touch, clothing can be a problem. In children with sensory issues a preference for certain kinds of clothing can be particularly strong. The child may avoid wearing socks or underwear. They may wear the same shirt or outfit over and over until it is way past too small or is worn thin from washing. Seasonal clothing transitions from short pants to long pants and vice versa may be problematic. In cold months, keeping hats, mittens, coats and scarfs on the child may be a challenge. So what’s a parent to do? Read More

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Fall Sensory Ideas

Fall Sensory Ideas Some kids need sensory input to help them get used to touching and feeling things that are a little uncomfortable. These kids are sensory defensive. This is training their sensory systems to modulate these feelings so they can function better in more environments. Some kids need sensory input because they are sensory seeking. They need extra input to help calm and regulate their bodies. Read More

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occupational therapist