Family Time During the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Jontue Koff, Pediatric Occupational Therapist While I am happy that we have the opportunity to slow down, take long walks as a family, and play a long game of Scrabble… I also realize that during all of this uncertainty that my girls, like most children, need a plan. A plan for each day of […]

Sensory Integration and Sensory Processing

by Stephanie Drummond, OTD, OTR/L One boy on the playground keeps away from his classmates, watching his peers climb structures and run around chasing each other. He observes what they are doing but does not initiate play with another friend or jump into the game in progress. Another girl asks her teacher to push her […]

“Dysgraphia” – More Than Just Sloppy Handwriting!

by Danielle Shulman OTR/L, MSOT Although our children’s exposure to technology continues to grow, handwriting remains a large part of a child’s school day. They are asked to keep written journals, complete writing assignments, and participate in art projects that involve writing descriptions. They use handwriting to write letters to their friends, parents, and teachers. Children also need legible […]

Independent sitting – when is it normal, appropriate and safe?

By Wendi McKenna, DPT, PCS, C/NDT A celebrated developmental milestone is when a 6-month-old baby (give or take a few weeks) can sit up independently. But, what does that mean? The reference books say independent sitting is when a baby is placed in sitting on the floor and can remain there without help from caregivers, […]

Is My Child’s Language Development Normal?

by Beth Brown, M.S., CCC Children vary greatly in the amount and type of language they develop during the first three years of life.  Many children have 50-100 words by 2 years of age and are combining two words together, but other children are slower at acquiring verbal language.  They point and gesture and wait […]

Is My Baby’s Head Normal?

By Wendi McKenna, DPT, PCS, C/NDT   Today, many more babies have flat spots on their heads than 20 years ago. In fact, it is now common to see babies out in public wearing orthotic helmets and to hear stories about their courses of physical therapy. Diagnosis of positional plagiocephaly and often-concurrent torticollis, two mostly […]