Just because the kitchen might be off limits to your kids this Thanksgiving, doesn’t mean you can’t find a few creative ways to make the holiday extra special with fun activities. COLORING-BOOK TABLECLOTHS Many of us are familiar with the kids’ table. It may be smaller than the grown-ups’ seating arrangement, but it doesn’t have to be any less special. Turn your kids’ table into a canvas for a colorful, creative dining experience. To do this, use craft paper to cover the table. Tape everything down tightly and provide crayons for every place setting. If you want to add some extra holiday spirit, put the drawing supplies in empty cranberry sauce and pumpkin cans. STUFF THE TURKEY GAME Want to get the kids outside so you can get to work in the kitchen? Create a Thanksgiving-themed game for them to play outside while you prep the stuffing and put the turkey in the oven. To play “Stuff the Turkey”, all you need is a few paper bags. Use two small bags stuffed with scrap paper to create legs and glue them to a larger bag folded to look like the body of a turkey. Now get ready to stuff. Anything soft and baseball-sized will work, even some balled-up paper. Kids will take turns trying to toss the balls into the turkey, scoring points for every shot made. FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR THANKSGIVING
A Long-Time Team Member SPOTLIGHT ON JAN BALLARD
Jan Ballard, a physical therapy assistant at North County Water and Sports Therapy Center, has been with us for 15 years and has seen our practice grow leaps and bounds during that time. “When I started,” Jan remembers, “it was just Beth, one other person, and me. I was doing per diem work and covering vacations, and my role grew from there.” It was actually a happy coincidence that led Jan to our doors. “Before I started here, I was working at a hospital,” she says. “I was put in charge of the aquatics center, basically because nobody else wanted to do it. To train for this role, the hospital put me in touch with Beth. I was immediately impressed, and when the opportunity to come aboard presented itself, I didn’t hesitate.” Jan loves the wide-ranging array of services we offer, but it’s the relationships with patients that matter most to her. “Being able to help people achieve their goals and live pain-free,” she notes, “is the most rewarding part of my job.” She’s also fascinated by spinal injuries and enjoys learning new things about the complex mechanics of the human body. When she’s not at work, Jan is busy with her family. As a mother of three and grandmother of 10, there’s always an event to attend or activity to take part in. “One Christmas,” Jan recalls, “I bought everyone kayaks. Since then, it’s
become one of our favorite hobbies. We also love to hike and explore — you know, typical outdoors stuff.”
We are so lucky to have Jan as a member of our team at North County Water and Sports Therapy Center. Her energy, enthusiasm, and dedication to patients are the epitome of the care we strive to provide. Here’s hoping 15 years is just the start!
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