Happy PT graduation Ibsen! We are so proud of all the progress you have made! Keep up the good work buddy! #ptgraduate

The time has come for our annual Holiday Spirit Week! Families and staff are invited to participate by wearing any fun and festive holiday attire or join in our specific spirit theme each day! Monday 12/16: Merry Monday - wear red or green. Tuesday 12/17: Mad about Plaid - wear your favorite plaid or flannel shirt. Wednesday 12/18: Deck the Halls! - Accessorize with hats, headbands, necklaces, festive hairstyles, etc. Thursday 12/19: Wear a Bow for Emi - Celebrate our “gifted” children at SCT by wearing bows in honor of Emi. Friday 12/20: It’s Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas - Wear a holiday shirt or ugly sweater. Monday 12/23: Welcome Winter! - Pajama Day.

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” can be found at Trader Joes. Ginger Snaps and Non-Dairy Oat Milk Nog! The ginger snap cookies have a crunchy texture with some spice. The Oat Milk Nog has a unique flavor with a creamy texture. #feedingtherapy #foodoftheweek

For our December crafts of the month we are making Coffee Filter Christmas Trees and Finger Print Christmas Lights! Materials for Christmas Trees: coffee filter, clothespin, markers, and spray bottle. Directions: 1) Fold or cut the coffee filter into a triangle to form the tree shape. 2) Color the coffee filter with washable markers or dot markers. 3) Optional: spray it with water just enough for the marker to spread. Let it dry. 4) Attach a star to the top of the tree (use a star sticker, or cut out your own star). 5) Clip a clothespin to the bottom of the tree. 6) Stand the Christmas Tree up! Materials for Finger Print lights: piece of paper, marker to draw Christmas light cord, and finger paints. Directions: 1) Dip fingertip into paint. 2) Press fingertip onto the paper along the cord to create the “bulb” of the light. Tip: wipe finger on tissue between different colors. Skills addressed: isolating pointer finger, pincer grasp, bilateral hand coordination, tactile exploration, and visual motor skills. #decembercraft #christmascrafts

Storing those Thanksgiving leftovers is a perfect time to work on opening and closing containers with your child! Help them become more independent while improving their hand strength, finger grasp, and bilateral coordination by having them open/close food and play containers (i.e. twist caps, hinged or lidded tupperware, etc). Some are more challenging to open/close than others. For example, zippered plastic bags are easier to open/close than press and seal plastic bags. Some hinged tupperware may be easier to open than peel off lids. Place commonly used or motivating items inside containers such as snacks, stickers, arts and craft materials, toys, etc. inside containers for your child to practice multiple times a day.

We wish you and your family a very happy Thanksgiving. SCT is open Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday next week. We are closed Thursday Nov. 28th and Friday Nov. 29th. During the holiday season, it is especially helpful to know if you anticipate any schedule changes. If possible, please stop by the front desk and let us know in advance if you have any travel plans. We are truly thankful for all of you!

For our November craft of the month we are making turkeys! Materials: paper plate, cardboard, finger paints, colorful feathers, felt, googly eyes, glue, and tissue paper. Instructions: 1) Decorate the half paper plate with feathers, finger paints, do-a-dot, tissue squares, etc. 2) Fold cardboard triangle at tip to make a turkey head. 3) Glue googly eyes on folded tip. 4) Glue felt wattle on the backside of the folded cardboard. 5) Glue turkey head onto the paper plate. Skills Addressed: Fingertip grasp, bilateral hand coordination, tactile exploration, and visual motor skills. #novembercraft #thanksgivingcraft

In honor of Thanksgiving, this month’s sign of the month is “thank you.” Touch your lips, then move your hand out like you are blowing a kiss. 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

Sunny days are sweeping the clouds away at SCT! We enjoyed seeing so many of our families join us in dressing up for trick or treating this week. Have a safe and fun evening tonight! #sesamestreet #halloweenspirit