Here is a tip to help your kiddo get their shoes on the right feet (which helps you get out the door in the morning!) Try placing a sticker cut in half in your child’s shoes. It can be of a favorite animal, vehicle or their name if they can recognize it. Some shoe brands may already have them printed on the insoles of the shoes. #donningshoes
Reminder: South Coast Therapy will be closed on Monday, September 1st for the Labor Day Holiday.
Help us in wishing a sweet retirement to one of our wonderful OTs, Lori Griffin! We are sad to see you go, but are so excited for you! Thank you for all your years of service here at South Coast Therapy! #sweetmemories #workfamily
This month’s sign of the month is “drink.” Form a “C” shape with your hand like you are holding a cup and move your hand towards your mouth as if you were taking a sip. You can demonstrate this sign to your child or use hand over hand assistance to guide their hands.
Sign language is a visual language that uses hands, movements, and facial expressions to communicate words. Sign language helps to facilitate and encourage language development by providing children earlier access to language. There are several advantages to early introduction of sign language in children including: improved social skills, increased confidence, and improved self esteem. For a preverbal child or a child with a speech delay, communicating through signs provides a means to express themselves which in turn helps them to avoid frustration and tantrums.
Drawing from “Baby Signing 1, 2, 3 The Easy-to-Use Illustrated Guide for Every Stage and Every Age” by Nancy Cadjan
For our August craft of the month, we are making mushrooms! Materials: construction paper, glue, scissors, cupcake liner, cotton swabs, paint. Directions: 1) Cut out a mushroom stem shape. 2) Fold a cupcake liner in half to make the mushroom top. 3) Use glue to attach the mushroom top to the stem. 4) Use a q-tip to paint the spots on the mushroom top! *To level this up: Use scissors to make snips along the edge of a strip of green paper to make grass. Glue the grass and the mushroom stem on a piece of paper, then continue with attaching and decorating the mushroom top. Gently bend the grass to give it some dimension. Skills addressed: bilateral coordination, fine motor coordination, visual motor, and scissor skills.
#craftofthemonth
We would like to congratulate Pia Adams on her new role as a Speech and Language Pathology Assistant here at SCT. Thank you for all your years of dedication in the front office! You have been a fantastic front office manager. We are so excited to have you join our speech department! #sctfamily
We continue to host a cooking class once a month. In the past few months, we have made mac n cheese, smoothies, and mug pancakes! The participants got practice in cutting, pouring, and trying new flavors (even if they didn't like it!). Some have even learned Ms. Sharon's mantra "Cleaning is part of cooking!" They also got opportunities to share supplies ("I need some bananas please."), to ask each other questions ("Can I try your mac n cheese?"), and to hang out with each other. Please talk to the front desk if interested!
Every week, the occupational therapists at SCT have different Foods of the Week available to clients who are seen for feeding concerns in order to introduce novel foods of various textures and flavors, to increase oral awareness, and/or to improve oral motor skills. This week’s “Foods of the Week” are crispy coconut rolls, green apples, and caramel sauce. The coconut rolls can be found at Costco and the apples and caramel sauce can be found at Trader Joes or any other grocery store. You can try these separately or make “apple nachos” with crumbled coconut rolls. The apple provides a juicy and crisp texture. The caramel is sweet and smooth, and the coconut rolls provide a crunchy texture for kiddos to explore. #feedingtherapy #foodoftheweek
We are hiring! Do you love working with kids and their families? Do you enjoy working in an enriched environment? South Coast Therapy provides medically and developmentally based therapy services to infants, children, and adolescents. South Coast Therapy is looking for licensed pediatric Occupational Therapists who work well in a diverse, multidisciplinary, family centered pediatric clinic. We are interested in people who love working with children and their families, who like to learn and share ideas, and who enjoy working collaboratively with other therapists. Visit our website at www.sctpeds.com to learn more. Please send us an email at manager@sctpeds.com if you are interested.
