Kids health Newsletter by Center For Pediatric Therapies
Kids Health The Newsletter About Taking Care Of The Ones That Matter Most
February, 2018
“Tackle The Beast Of Bedtime!” BEDTIME ROUTINE FOR YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD?
The world is a big place. It’s an especially big place if you’re a child with special needs. Unclear expectations seem to pop up around every corner. The ever-changing pace can be dizzying and unsettling for anyone, much less a young person who struggles to keep up with day- to-day nuances. And then there’s bedtime. For many people with neurological differences, bedtime is its own beast. Shifting bedtimes impact children much the same as jet lag does. Yet sleep problems plague roughly 80 percent of children on the autism spectrum. Difficulty falling asleep, night waking, extendedmeltdowns, and hyperactivity are but a few of the challenges. For typically developing children, sleep deprivation can lead to learning problems and behavioral challenges. For children with special needs, the complications are multiplied: impaired cognitive abilities, diminished immune response, and mood changes become the norm.
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Kids Health The Newsletter About Taking Care Of The Ones That Matter Most
February, 2018
“Need Some Tips For Putting Your Child To Bed?” BEDTIME ROUTINE FOR YOUR SPECIAL NEEDS CHILD?
Inside:
• Why Seek Help For Fine Motor Concerns
• Staff Spotlight
• Writing A Review Is Just A Click Away
Fortunately, there is one strategy that will likely reduce the battles and benefit everyone in the family -- having a bedtime routine. Here’s why that one step can make such a huge difference. Importance of Bedtime Routines. The most important reason to enforce routines with special needs children is that having them builds self-esteem. When a child in pediatric therapy knows what is expected of them and how long they have to complete tasks, they can better manage their time and behavior. The predictability reduces the sense of chaos and frustrating so many of these kids experience. It can also help your child reach developmental milestones through early intervention. Routine and structure help children feel safe. The repetition of getting ready for bed signals to your child what to expect, thereby building a sense of security. Bedtime routines encourage children to soothe themselves and relax, especially if you teach some effective relaxation tricks, such as tensing and relaxing different parts of the body. All of these components put together equal a much happier family. Sleep Tips for Kids With Special Needs. It’s all great and well to say that you need a bedtime routine, but what does that consist of, exactly? How can you transition from chaos to calm? Read below for some tips. • Create a visual reminder of the routine. Use pictures and/or words to illustrate exactly what needs to be done and in what order, then post in your child’s bathroom or bedroom.
• Help your child develop self-regulation skills. He may not recognize the sensation of drowsiness, so you may have to explicitly teach this skill. Begin by touching different body parts and quietly saying, “Your stomach is quiet. Your hands are quiet” and so on. • Read the book Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Dr. Marc Weissbluth. It providesexcellent insight intostrategies forworkingwithchildrenofallages. • Studies show that children with autism and ADHD tend to have elevated levelsofmelatonin (thesleephormone) in themorningand reducedamounts at night. To reset the body’s circadian rhythms, consider spending at least ten minutes outdoors in the early morning, around noon, and again at dusk. •Consultwithadoctorspecializing inpediatrics fora fullphysicalevaluation. Children with special needs often have coexisting conditions that interfere with sleep, including sleep apnea, acid reflux, constipation, and restless leg syndrome. • Seek out the assistance of a pediatric physical therapist. Pediatric physical therapy can help your child build the strength, balance, and motion needed to thrive. Being able to do these activities also helps with sleep. More, it can help your child develop self-care routines that aid in sleep and provide the family with strategies to assist. When sleep interferes with wakefulness, there is a problem. Help your family develop a bedtime routine that everyone can adhere to for a better night’s rest.
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WHY SEEK HELP FOR FINE MOTOR CONCERNS
Unlike gross motor skills, fine motor skills are the small movement of fingers, hands and wrists. Fine motor skills include things like holding small items, buttoning shirts, cutting with scissors, keyboarding, eating and writing. These tasks require strength and coordination of small muscles. Fine motor skills are critical to everyday activities. The hands are needed to dress and to feed ourselves. And for younger children, the development of fine motor skills is needed to build on other functions. If a child does not achieve these milestones, it can affect learning, performance and self-esteem. There are many reasons why fine motor skills may be lacking, such as:
• Muscle weakness • Poor core strength • Difficulty with motoric separation • Low tone • Incomplete use of proximal joints • Inadequate synthesis skills • Poor trunk stability
therapist who has completed a residency in pediatric physical therapy. You can use the online tool at the American Physical Therapy Association to find a physical therapist with specific clinical expertise. You can also get recommendations from health care providers. A physical therapist will teach parents what they can do to help enhance their child’s fine motor skills. Specifically, the therapist will give advice on the types of activities and amount of activities to do during the day at home to reach that milestone. Keep in mind that longer that you wait for treatment, the further your child will fall behind. There are times that a physical therapist may work in coordination with an occupational therapist for the best outcome for your child. Just be sure to seek treatment at the first sign of trouble.
A physical therapist can help with both gross motor skills and fine motor skills with a specific physical therapy program. A physical therapist will evaluate you or your child to determine whether there is a developmental delay or injury. The goal is to build the skills needed to perform everyday tasks in the classroom at home or at work. In addition to evaluation, a physical therapist may guide one on how to move, hold a pencil, do specific exercises to enhance fine motor skills. It is not that uncommon for children to have a developmental delay with fine motor skills. Although a physical therapist is trained to treat a wide variety of conditions, it’s wise to choose one who is experienced in treating kids with development delay. It’s also wise to choose a physical
http://www.abcpediatrictherapy.com/get-help-now-fine-motor-concerns/
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Chrissy Putney, PT, DPT PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Staff Spotlight
Chrissy Putney, PT, DPT, is a Physical Therapist at the Center for Pediatric Therapies. She is based at our Lynchburg, Virginia, location. She provides physical therapy services to children from birth to 21 years of age in the outpatient clinic and at patient’s homes through Early Intervention. Chrissy’s clinical interests include treating children with torticollis and cerebral palsy. She has experience treating children with various diagnoses including but not limited to torticollis, cerebral palsy, Down’s Syndrome, Spina Bifida, idiopathic toe walking, cancer, developmental delay, and muscular dystrophy. Originally from Clifton, Virginia, Chrissy earned a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Virginia in Charlottesville, VA, in 2006. Chrissy worked as a Patent Examiner for 2 years and then as a nanny before pursuing a degree in Physical Therapy. She went on to earn a Doctorate of Physical Therapy (DPT) from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2013. Outside of work, Chrissy enjoys spending time with her husband, son and 2 dogs, playing tennis and soccer, snowboarding, and traveling. She is a member of the American PhysicalTherapy Association as well as the Section on Pediatrics.
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OUR SERVICES
• Pediatric Occupational Therapy • Pediatric Physical Therapy • Pediatric Speech-Language Therapy • Building Blocks Center for Children with Autism
4 Convenient Locations To Serve You!
DANVILLE 175DeerRunRoad,SuiteA Danville,VA24540
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P : (276)638-4809 F : (276)638-5139
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WRITING A REVIEW IS JUST A CLICK AWAY!
Center for Pediatric Therapies values each of our patients and believes that every child is truly special. We invite you to share your child’s experience with CPT by leaving us a review on Facebook. Simply log onto Facebook, visit our page @centerforpediatrictherapies then click Reviews to tell people what you think. We’d love to hear how physical, occupational, and speech therapy have impacted your child’s life.
Review Us On Facebook Today!
“ We’ve been coming to CPT for years now, and they are fantastic. Their therapists do so well with the kids, and they genuinely just want to help. ” - Mandy M.
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