A PT's Perspective: Stacy of Starfish Therapies

October is almost over (whoa...how did that happen?!?) and I've got one more PT stopping by to share her perspective in honor of PT Month. Please welcome Stacy Menz of Starfish Therapies!

Stacy is the founder of Starfish Therapies and is a board certified pediatric clinical specialist. She stumbled into this field of PT when she realized she would get to play with kids all day long! In reality, she loves making a difference in the lives of kids and their families. Stacy is actively involved in her professional organizations and is on the editorial board of Impact, the publication of the Private Practice Section of the APTA, and serves on the education committee of the Pediatric Special Interest Group for the California Physical Therapy Association. Stacy and her colleagues are also actively involved in research and have an article published in Pediatric Physical Therapy.

 

My life as a physical therapist in five words:

Fulfilling, chaotic, creative, playful, energetic.

Four qualities every pediatric PT should have:

I’m not sure how to put this succinctly into one word but a pediatric therapist needs to be able to relate to kids. It seems so obvious, yet so important! They should also be creative, playful and be willing to sing!

Three resources I can’t live without:

1. My therapy ball
2. Our Universal Exercise Unit
3. Toys with multiple pieces to them

Two words (or more!) of advice for parents to develop a working relationship with their child’s PT:

I feel that the best working relationships develop when there is a team approach. The parents are willing to communicate their needs as well as listen to what the therapist has to say and vice versa.

A word of advice for the parents of a child who recently started receiving PT:

I think patience is often important. Therapists are developing a rapport with your child and they are going to be pushing them to do things that are challenging so while it can and will be fun there may be times that their child may get upset since they are being asked to do things that are hard.

One dream for the field of physical therapy:

My dream is that more clinicians get involved in research with case reports so we can continue to promote evidence based practice at the clinic level.

What I do to rest and relax (or in OT terms, how I maintain occupational balance):

I love to read, swim, and hang out with my dog!

Stacy, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and share your perspective with my readers! Readers, be sure to keep up with Stacy on her blog, Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest. Stacy, along with all of her colleagues at Starfish Therapies, has so much great information to share! I personally love this DIY weighted lap bag. Hop on over and visit-I promise you will not be disappointed!

A PT's Perspective: Kendra Ped PT

It's week four of PT Month and the celebration continues! Please join me in welcoming Kendra Gagnon!

Kendra is a pediatric physical therapist and Clinical Assistant Professor in the Physical Therapy Department at the University of Kansas Medical Center. She has worked in NICU, school-based, and early intervention settings. She is the mother of 3 young boys who are a constant reminder that child development is really messy, completely individual, and absolutely amazing. Kendra believes the role of the physical therapist is to help children and families participate more fully in daily life, and she is passionate about using social media to amplify positive health care messages. She blogs about her experiences as a pediatric PT, educator, social media junkie, and mother at KendraPedPT.com.

  

My life as a physical therapist in five words:

Rewarding, busy, flexible, creative, FUN

Four qualities every pediatric PT should have:

Patience
Empathy
Flexibility
Sense of humor

Three resources I can’t live without:

1. Twitter – I have found an amazing network of health care professionals on Twitter. I have so many great follows that keep me up-to-date on the latest pediatric health research and trends. I learn something new on Twitter every single day.
2. My iPad – I use my iPad to access my calendar, exchange iMessages, send and receive email, prepare presentations and documents for class, read eBooks, access social media, download apps for practice, and participate in video conferences using FaceTime or Google+. It is truly my hub.
3. My car – My car has been my second office my entire career – from going on home visits, traveling between schools and childcare centers, and commuting to and from the University. I don’t need anything fancy, just something that gets good gas mileage and has a radio that I can tune into NPR and a decent alternative music station! My current ride is a 2006 Prius with a LOT of miles!

Two words (or more!) of advice for parents to develop a working relationship with their child’s PT: 

Ask & share. As you develop a relationship with your physical therapist, it is critical that you share information about your child and your family’s values and routines. This will allow your therapist to individualize therapy to your child and provide services that will enhance your family’s daily life. It is also so important that you understand what your PT is doing and why. Asking lots of questions will give you a better understanding of what PT is all about and will help you carry activities over into your daily life.

A word of advice for the parents of a child who recently started receiving PT:

Get involved! You are your child’s first and best teacher, and therapy is your time to learn how you can support your child’s development. What you do with your child between visits matters just as much, if not more, than what happens during therapy visits. Be part of the plan and the program!

One dream for the field of physical therapy: 

I would love to see all physical therapists move toward a more a more “strengths-based” approach to physical therapy. Imagine the impact we could have if we didn’t see people as a list of problems to fix, but full of strengths to build upon!

What I do to rest and relax (or in OT terms, how I maintain occupational balance): 

I am a wine lover and a bit of a foodie. I enjoy trying new foods and restaurants and traveling with my husband. In the summer, our family loves to go to baseball games (go Royals!), head to the pool, or hit the golf course. In my opinion, there is no place more relaxing than the beach, and we try to take a trip to the coast every year. I love to read, blog, Tweet, post, and pin. And I always love a good walk or bike ride with my family! I’m not a big TV-watcher, but I can’t get enough of Breaking Bad and The Walking Dead!

Life as the child of a PT - balance work is built into your routines!

Kendra, thanks so much for stopping by to share your perspective! Readers, be sure to check out Kendra's blog for great information on child development, like this great post on walking. You can also check out Kendra's physical therapy board on Pinterest and follow her on Twitter @KendraPedPT.

A PT's Perspective: Natalie of Beyond Basic Play

Please join me in welcoming Natalie of Beyond Basic Play to our PT Month celebration! Natalie is a pediatric physical therapist who loves running around with her clients and helping them meet their milestones, while educating parents on how to help their children reach their full potential.

Natalie, with her therapy dog, Bear.

 

My life as a physical therapist in five words:

Never stop learning and moving.

Four qualities every pediatric PT should have:

• Patient! :)
• Flexible
• Sense of humor
• Quick thinker

Three resources I can't live without:

1. Physical Therapy for Children by Suzann Campbell, Robert Palisano, and Margo Orlin.
2. Pinterest-for all types of therapy ideas.
3. Twitter-to search for relevant physical therapy/pediatric news/events.

Two words (or more!) of advice for parents to develop a working relationship with their child's PT:

Be honest and open with your physical therapist about your child's medical/birth history and about your concerns/goals for therapy. Also give your physical therapist a chance even though the first session may not go as smoothly as expected, but do tell them any concerns you have about how the therapy session went.

A word of advice for the parents of a child who recently started receiving PT:

Don't be afraid to ask your physical therapist questions about your child's care if you don't understand why/what they are doing. You are with your child more than anyone else during the week, so it's important you fully understand what is going on during therapy in order to help your child reach their therapy goals.

One dream for the field of physical therapy:

One dream is that I can eventually treat patient's directly without having to get a doctor's diagnosis first, in order to help kiddos as soon as possible and without losing time during their key periods of growth.

What I do to rest and relax (or in OT terms, how I maintain occupational balance):

I like to go on walks and jogs with my therapy dog, Bear :) Oh, and I like to blog too, of course!

Natalie, thank you so much for taking the time to stop by and share your perspective! Readers, you can keep up with Natalie by visiting her blog, following her on Facebook, seeing what she's up to on Pinterest, or sending her a tweet!

A PT's Perspective: Rebecca of Dinosaur Physical Therapy

The PT Month Celebration continues! Please welcome Rebecca Talmud of Dinosaur Physical Therapy! Rebecca has experience working with children ages 0-21 and her enthusiasm for kids is clear from all of her informative posts and fun ideas on her tumblr, like these fun yoga cubes:

My life as a physical therapist in five words:

Never-ending fun and excitement.

Four qualities every pediatric PT should have:

Creative. Warm. Fun. Intelligent.

Three resources I can't live without:

The children I work with, my fellow pediatric therapists, and journal/research articles.

Two words (or more!) of advice for parents to develop a working relationship with their child's PT:

Be open and honest, express your concerns, your wishes, the limitations that you see and what has or has not worked in the past. Watch your child's therapy sessions, do not be afraid to ask questions, try out the activities yourself, get involved. There is nothing better than a motivated and involved family. Working together is so important to the success of the child!

One dream for the field of physical therapy:

More evidence based practice!

What I do to rest and relax (or in OT terms, how I maintain occupational balance):

I love to read, write, create, explore, and spend time with my amazing husband and adorable bulldog.

Rebecca, thanks so much for taking the time to stop by and share your perspective! Readers, be sure to follow Rebecca's tumblr, visit her website, or follow her on Facebook to learn more about physical therapy and her fun and creative ideas! Like this yoga mat. I totally need to make one of these.

A PT's Perspective: Margaret of Your Therapy Source

Kicking off our PT Month Celebration is Margaret Rice of Your Therapy Source! Margaret is president of Your Therapy Source Inc, an online resource for pediatric occupational and physical therapists (and a go-to resource for me!). She has also authored several books on sensory motor development. Read on to learn a bit more about Margaret and to hear her perspective!

My life as a physical therapist in five words:

Exciting. Active. Fun. Creative. Busy.

Four qualities every pediatric PT should have:

Creativity. Knowledge. Patience. Acceptance.

Three resources I can't live without:

The internet, my iPhone and iPad, and a giant bag to hold all of my PT stuff!

Two words (or more!) of advice for parents to develop a working relationship with their child's PT:

Communicate via phone or email. Ask any questions and please let me know what goes on at home. If you have tips or suggestions that work at home, let me know so we can carry it over or modify it at school. Parents know way more than we do about their child!

A word of advice for the parents of a child who recently started receiving PT:

Try to be involved with carryover. It can be hard to juggle every day schedules and PT suggestions. If your life is hectic (and what parent's life is not super busy?), ask for suggestions that are easy to implement into your normal routine. 

One dream for the field of physical therapy:

More data collection! We need to document that what we do makes a long term difference.

What I do to rest and relax (or in OT terms, how I maintain occupational balance):

Play games with our five children, go camping, or anything outdoors.

 Margaret, thanks so much for stopping by to share your perspective! Readers, be sure to check out Your Therapy Source and the Your Therapy Source blog for tons of information and helpful tips for pediatric therapists, including a bunch of free stuff, too! You can also stay up to date on all of the happenings at Your Therapy Source on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Happy PT Month!

 

I know, this is a blog all about pediatric occupational therapy, but today we're going to take a moment to celebrate physical therapy! Over the years, I have learned SO MUCH from my physical therapy colleagues, and throughout the month of October, I will be sharing some bits of advice from some of my favorite pediatric PT bloggers.

Based on the popular OT's Perspective I ran in April to celebrate OT Month, I will be sharing a PT's Perspective series this month. So stop by tomorrow to read the first PT's Perspective and then join me each and every Wednesday for a brand new perspective!  

Dexteria Jr App Review {+ giveaway!!}

Dexteria Jr. is a pre-writing app from Binary Labs, the developers of the popular fine motor and writing app, Dexteria. Dexteria Jr is aimed at preschool age children and was developed in response to feedback that Dexteria can be too challenging for younger children.

Dexteria Jr consists of three games that target fine motor and visual motor skills.  

The first activity, Squish the Squash, encourages finger isolation to touch (and squish) each squash. As the levels progress, the squash begin to move around, and the higher levels require the squash to be double tapped.

In the second activity, Trace& Erase, a series of progressively more challenging mazes must be traced. This works on both finger isolation and visual motor control.

Below is a screenshot of diagonal lines. While this is great for finger isolation, you could also have the child use a stylus if you wanted to introduce tool use and start developing a pencil grasp.

After all of the lines have been traced, the child then uses an eraser to trace the lines again, this time erasing the lines. Another great visual motor control activity!

The third activity, Pinch the Pepper, works on developing a pincer grasp. This is very similar to the crabs in the "Pinch It" game in the original Dexteria. As the levels progress, the peppers move around more and even begin to change colors. If you pinch a pepper that is yellow, it will turn into even more peppers!

How I use Dexteria Jr in therapy:

• I like to use Dexteria Jr as a warm-up activity prior to completing other fine motor or visual motor activities.
• When playing Squish the Squash, I make sure the child is correctly isolating the index finger and not just hitting at the squash with multiple fingers or the whole hand.
• Like I mentioned above, Trace & Erase is a good time to use an iPad stylus, which allows me to introduce tool usage and to teach appropriate pencil grasp. This can be a great option for students who are less motivated by paper and pencil activities. 
• In all of the games, I encourage the use of the dominant hand (if a dominant hand has emerged), rather than switching hands or using both hands at once. This helps develop good habits for writing activities.
• With writing and pre-writing apps, I like to have the child transfer the skills learned to paper. This can be done using screenshots from the Trace & Erase game. For more information on how I use screenshots to create therapy activities, check out the multisensory activities I created using screenshots from the Shelby's Quest app.

What I like about Dexteria Jr:

• Fun graphics
• Easy to use
• Developmentally appropriate for preschoolers
• Developmentally appropriate progression of tracing skills in the Trace & Erase game
• In-app purchase for multiple user data collection is only $0.99

Best for Ages:

The developer states that this app is for children ages 2-6. I would recommend it for any child who is working on developing pre-writing skills, typically between the ages of 3 and 5.

Bottom line:

While no app can replace traditional fine motor play, this app is a great complementary activity for children developing their fine motor skills. Teachers, parents, and therapists will all find that this app targets developmentally appropriate fine motor and visual motor skills for preschoolers. Preschoolers will find the graphics fun and engaging!

App Information:

Name of App: Dexteria Jr
Publisher: Binary Labs
Compatible with: iPad, requires iOS 5.0 or later
Price: $2.99


Disclaimer: This app was received via a promo code provided by Binary Labs. However, all opinions expressed are entirely my own. This post also contains affiliate links, App information was correct at the time of publication of this review, but is subject to change,especially compatibility and price, so please confirm prior to downloading.

Now for the giveaway!

For a chance to win a promo code for the Dexteria Jr app, please enter by using the Rafflecopter below. Leaving a blog comment only does not enter you in the giveaway. You must also sign in using the Rafflecopter. This makes it much easier for me to contact you if you are the winner. Good luck!

 

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