It’s hot outside!
Here are a few hot topics from June as we jump into July!
Dr. Sara Schwartz Gluck is planning an exciting new summer program to exhibit the work they do at the Five Towns Wellness Center in Cedarhurst, New York. The center, which treats up to 200 patients offers treatment for children, adolescents and adults that include an assessment and a plan based on an individual’s needs. For children specifically, play and cognitive behavioral therapy are combined to facilitate the treatment process. “Play is a great way to get kids to feel like they can express what’s going on,” Gluck said.
According to Olga Chaikovsky, PT, MS, parents are fully aware of the milestones their children are expected to meet but less apt to notice deficits in their child’s hand and arm function. Hand and arm function are important to a child’s development, and if it goes unnoticed, may lead to most extreme issues later on. “By enhancing arm and hand function, the interventionist not only improves the dexterity of the child’s upper extremities, but enforces and elicits gross-motor and global child development as well.”
“Mother knows best” may not be the best approach after all! A study by Cecilia Cheung, assistant professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside, has found that “controlling” parents were more disruptive to children than parents who showed “hand-off” support. “When Chinese and American parents exhibited heightened controlling parenting practices with attempts to intrude on children’s thoughts, feelings and behaviors, their children often developed academic and emotional problems. In contrast, when parents were supportive, but hands-off, children felt encouraged to make their own decisions and flourished.”
Often when faced with the unknown, we seek answers from situations similar to ours. We look to other people who have been in our proverbial shoes. We search for information to fill in blank spaces. But when faced with autism it important to remember that each person is unique and what helps one child isn’t necessarily the right intervention for another. “Ultimately, quality, evidence-based interventions will be most effective for helping their child. Thus, we need to bridge the gap by increasing efforts to make those options more accessible to families of all financial means and geographic locations.”
Fussy eaters! Is there anything in this world more frustrating than slaving over a hot meal that your children refuse to eat?! Well remember to be patient with them, Parents of the World! Dr Lee Hudson, consultant pediatrician, states that fussy eating isn’t just about being stubborn but more hypersensitivity. So how to handle a fussy eater? Make them sit at the table until the plate is empty? Let them go and miss out on nourishment? “Remaining calm is also helpful…I reward clear plates with lots of praise and also take her to the shops and encourage her to choose her food.”
That’s it for June!
Thanks for all the feedback and reader submissions! Check us out of Facebook, Instagram, and don’t forget to stop by our Website for any of your play therapy needs!