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Shoe Options for wear with AFOs/SMOs

Mon, 13 Dec 2021 22:38:19 GMT

Having trouble finding shoes that fit your child’s AFOs or SMOs?

Check out these brands!

BILLY Footwear
o billyfootwear.com
o Easy on/off zipper design makes slipping shoes over brace a breeze
o Toddler size 10 to Youth size 6
o Multiple styles and colors
o Available at Target, Amazon, Nordstrom, Zappos, and Kids Foot Locker

Butler Boots
o thebutlerbrand.com/shop/the-macaroni-orthotics/
o Easy on/off design with wide opening
o Waterproof and insulated boots made for all seasons
o Toddler size 5 to Youth size 3
o Two styles and colors
o Free shipping to Alaska
o Have questions? Join Facebook group “Butler with Orthotics”
o Sizing guide: thebutlerbrand.com/wp-content/themes/butler_sage/dist/images/size-chart-en.pdf

Kamik Boots – Winter Boots
o Kamik.com
o Easy on/off design with wide opening and foldable top portion of boot
o Waterproof and insulated is great for winter
o Recommended styles: Rocket and Snowbug
o Available at Amazon, REI, Sierra Trading Post
Nike Flyease for Kids:
o www.nike.com/us/en_us/c/innovation/flyease
o Multiple styles and colors
o Infant, toddler, and youth sizes
o Available in extra wide

Eye-Hand Coordination

Fri, 08 Oct 2021 19:29:39 GMT

Eye-Hand Coordination…

It's more than just sports!

Eye-hand coordination actually begins very early in development when the infant starts reaching. During the first year, coordination continues to progress to tasks like bringing toys and food to the mouth and putting toys in/out of containers.

With age, eye-hand coordination continues to develop with more complicated tasks such as shape sorters, clothing fasteners (buttons, zippers, etc.), using utensils for eating, using writing utensils for coloring and staying inside the lines, and putting together simple puzzles.

Eye-hand coordination can be honed throughout life with continued challenge and practice.

No matter how old your child is or where he/she is in development, eye-hand coordination is always something that can be improved! However, many other areas of development may impact eye-hand coordination, including vision or fine motor/gross motor strength and control.

How can you help your child improve his/her eye-hand coordination at home?

Here are some simple activities that can help develop eye-hand coordination:

Each of these activities can be made very simple and basic for younger children, and then increase the difficulty as your child improves their skills.

Banging toys such as a xylophone or cause-and-effect toys. This is more than the simple act of banging - to really help with eye-hand coordination, the banging should require some sort of target or accuracy to elicit the effect.

Pouring games - Using cups or spoons to scoop sand, uncooked rice or beans, or water and pouring the item into a different container

Shape sorters

Puzzles - Large knob puzzles or chunk puzzles are the easiest, then peg puzzles, 2 piece interlocking puzzles, and gradually increasing the number of interlocking pieces.

Dressing and undressing a doll - Larger dolls with larger clothing and fasteners will be easier than small dolls with tiny fasteners.

Bean Bag Toss - Start with the target/bucket close and slowly move it farther away

Catch bubbles - Catch the bubbles with hands, Catch the bubbles with the wand, Poke the bubbles with one finger

Ball skills : Start with lighter weight balls that require two hands to hold such as 7-9" balls. These medium-sized balls are much easier to start with. Typically, the smaller the ball the more difficult it is to catch. Large balls that require more effort or balance to lift or move can also hinder catching and throwing skills.

Bouncing balls - bouncing and catching the ball by themselves, bouncing the ball on pictures or colors on the floor, bouncing the ball to someone else

Rolling or Throwing balls - To another person, into a bucket, or to knock over stacked toys or blocks

Catching balls rolled or thrown to them

Throw and catch scarves and balloons - this is an easier way to practice catching because the scarves and balloons move so slow.

Beach Ball - This lightweight ball is more difficult to catch than it may seem due to its larger size and the slippery surface

Hitting a balloon or ball with a racquet or bat

Visual-Motor activities require the eyes and hands to work together and can help develop eye-hand coordination. Some examples of visual-motor activities include the following:

Mr. Potato Head

Coloring

Stringing beads

Pop beads

Stacking

Crafts are another way to help eyes and hands work together. Crafts could include coloring, glueing, cutting, folding, painting, and peeling/placing stickers.

Teaching Your Child to Ride a Bike

Sat, 19 Jun 2021 13:57:32 GMT

Riding a bike is a skill that can be fun for all ages. This is an activity that can allow a family to spend time together, enjoy the beautiful weather outside, and stay active for a healthy lifestyle. This is also an activity that can cause a great deal of frustration if a child is not given the tools to be successful. Bike riding is a complex task that requires multiple skills, such as pedaling, steering, and balance. Here are the steps that can help your child become a successful bike rider with less frustration:

1. When your child is young, start with a scoot toy where your child sits on it and pushes the toy forward with his/her feet. This introduces the concepts of steering and forward mobility without the need for pedaling or balance. Scoot toys come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes - just be sure to pick one that fits your child well.

2. Next is a tricycle or a bike with training wheels - it needs to be very stable. This introduces pedaling along with steering but does not require the balance aspect.

3. Next is a balance bike or a bike without the pedals. (The pedals can easily be removed from a regular bike.) The bike should be at a height that allows the child's feet to easily touch the ground flat footed. This will work on steering and balance without the requirement of pedaling. Encourage your child to push with his/her feet to get momentum but then pick up his/her feet to coast.

4. This final step is where everything is put together - balance, steering, and pedaling! Your child will likely need some help holding the bike while getting on. Start on a gently downward sloping hill so pedaling takes minimal effort. Move to a smooth, flat surface for slightly increased effort for pedaling.

The proper fit of the bike is essential. Here are the guidelines for proper fit:

Seat height should allow toes to touch the ground
When downward foot is at the lowest point of the pedaling cycle, the knee should still be slightly bent.
Tires should be inflated to the recommended pressure printed on the tires.

And... Don't Forget Safety!! Wearing a helmet is essential for your child's safety. Please be sure to find a helmet that fits your child well. The helmet itself should be comfortably snug, and the chin strap should be snug as well. If the helmet moves when secured, it is too loose.

With a properly fitted bike, the last component to riding a bike is confidence. This will take time and a lot of attempts before truly being an independent bike rider! So, be encouraging and supportive while your child learns this complex task!

Does Your Child Need Speech Therapy?

Thu, 10 Jan 2019 23:10:14 GMT

Studies have shown that one out of every 12 children in the United States has a voice or speech disorder. Since many children develop different skills at different stages, it can be challenging for parents to determine when speech therapy is a necessity. To better understand this prevalent issue, here’s some insight into when therapy can become a useful developmental aid.

Understanding Speech Therapy & Your Child’s Development

What Signs Indicate the Need for Speech Therapy?

In the first year of your child’s life, they should start to engage socially by smiling and making babbling noises at you. If in their first twelve months, they don’t seem to be responding to you, creating sounds, or using gestures to communicate, consider engaging a therapist. Other signs of speech disorders in children ages 2 to 5 include difficulty understanding their words, the inability to string words together to form sentences, or trouble making certain sounds. Stuttering, lisping, and ongoing articulation trouble are also indicators your little one could benefit from working with a therapist.

How Do You Find the Right Therapist?

To help your child improve their speech and language skills, find a speech pathologist who works specifically with children in early developmental stages. Before settling on a therapist, ask questions about their approach so you know you and your child will be comfortable with the process, and check their references so you can hear firsthand feedback from other parents.

Do you want to involve a therapist in your child’s speech and communication development? Building Blocks Rehab has been providing comprehensive pediatric therapy to young residents of Fairbanks and interior Alaska since 2005. If your child needs speech therapy or injury rehabilitation, this team of dedicated therapists is committed to providing effective care in an encouraging environment. To schedule an appointment for your little one, call (907) 374-4911 . For more information on their specialists’ approach to treatment and their devotion to helping children succeed and thrive in their daily lives, visit their website .

How Occupational Therapy Can Help Children with Autism

Tue, 18 Dec 2018 21:44:23 GMT

Occupational therapy is a versatile treatment approach which helps many groups of people, including the elderly, those in rehabilitation from an injury or illness, and children and adults who experience autism. Occupational therapists can help children affected by autism learn how to better complete everyday tasks while also addressing the child’s unique sensory issues. Consider the ways an occupational therapist might be able to help you and your child with task completion and behavior management.

Sensory Processing & Occupational Therapy

Up to 80% of children affected by autism may also have difficulty with sensory processing. This may mean they are particularly sensitive to some sights, sounds, and sensations, or that they have trouble processing input from multiple senses at the same time. Many parents whose children are on the spectrum have observed behaviors which are giveaways for sensory processing issues, such as the child stiffening when being dressed, but they may not have made the connection that the texture of the fabric is distressing or even painful for their child.

Occupational therapists who work with children can identify when the child is having trouble processing or is distressed by sensory input and then help develop strategies for that child to cope with that stimulus. This way, the child is less likely to shut down or have other negative responses.

Other Benefits

In addition to helping a child cope with sensory issues, occupational therapy can help a child’s performance in everyday tasks. An occupational therapist helps a child learn skills like feeding himself, tying his shoes, and other self-care tasks which he may not have learned at the same time as his peers. Therapists also help children perform better in the classroom and improve their social development. They do this by observing the child’s areas of difficulty and helping devise strategies and techniques for the child to deal with those specific challenges.

If your child has autism, sensory processing disorder, or any other condition which could be helped by occupational therapy, turn to the therapists at Building Blocks Rehab in Fairbanks, AK. Serving interior Alaska and specializing in pediatrics, this rehabilitation center offers comprehensive therapy services all in one place, including physical, occupational, and speech therapies. They offer help with handwriting, socialization, sensory integration, and environmental adaptation. To schedule a visit, call (907) 374-4911 or reach out online .

Key Sensory Milestones for Children

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 21:05:55 GMT

Sensory processing plays a significant role in your child’s development. It affects how they perceive and assess the world around them as well as how they choose to interact with and respond to it. If they don’t develop sensory skills naturally, it can affect a variety of lifestyle and learning factors. Pediatric therapy can be an invaluable solution if your child is having trouble, so check to make sure they’re meeting the following milestones.

Your Guide to Sensory Processing

What Is Sensory Processing?

Sensory processing refers to how your child’s brain receives sensory details about their surroundings and their bodies. When functioning correctly, the nervous system transmits information from the senses so children can then respond with their motor skills . When a child isn’t developing on track, it can mean they’re living with Sensory Processing Disorder, which can make regular tasks challenging without assistance such as pediatric therapy.

Sensory Milestones: 0-3 Months

Milestones your child should reach within this age range include exploring and enjoying movement, being able to visually track objects while on their back, reaching for toys while on their back, and keeping their head centered while watching moving objects. They should be able to be calmed by being touched, held, and when hearing relaxing sounds.

Sensory Milestones: 4-6 Months

As your child ages, they should begin using their hands to explore their environment, including general touching and bringing toys to their mouth. They should continue enjoying movement and not be upset by everyday noises. They should begin to explore movement play when given the opportunity.

What Should I Do if My Child Is Developing Slowly?

If your child is having developmental issues or is living with Sensory Processing Disorder, you can see a therapist for pediatric therapy. During sessions, the therapist will introduce your child to a stimulating environment and present challenges with objects that encourage them to use their senses. Gradually, your child will learn to use these in everyday life as you practice exercises with them outside of sessions.

If you want to ensure your child is reaching their sensory milestones or if you are concerned about their progress, the skilled team at Building Blocks Rehab is committed to ensuring children have all the developmental resources they need. Located in Fairbanks, AK, they provide pediatric therapy, injury rehabilitation, and address speech disorders for interior Alaska residents and their children, and they believe in a one-on-one approach to achieve the best results. Visit them online to further explore their wide scope of services, and call (907) 374-4911 today to schedule a consultation.

Baby Milestones: The Importance of Gross Motor Skills

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 20:16:58 GMT

As a new parent, you’re likely fascinated by the many skills your baby is learning. The development of gross motor skills is just one aspect of this, and it’s vital your baby is reaching these milestones according to their age. The pediatric therapy team at Building Blocks Rehab provides the following information to parents in Fairbanks, AK, so they can better recognize any delays in their child’s development.

One Year

Leading up to their first birthday, development happens very quickly, and your child should be able to do things like sit up without assistance, stand with support, and crawl. By age one, these skills should develop even further, and your child may also begin to crawl over items. Walking typically begins around this age, though most kids will need to grip furniture for support as they go.

Two Years

By age two, your child should be able to walk on his or her own. Kids can also bend over and pick things up from the floor at this age without falling, meaning their balance is developing. Running may also be attempted. If you notice an inability to walk or sit independently, you may want to schedule a consultation at a pediatric therapy center.

Three Years

At this point, gross motor skills should have advanced a great deal. Most kids will be able to climb, run, and balance on one foot, perhaps on a balance beam. The ability to throw and catch a ball should also be developing, as should the ability to walk backwards to a reasonable degree.

If you have concerns about your child’s gross motor skill development, pediatric therapy is an option. At Building Blocks Rehab, Traci Roon and Theresa Sabens along with their physical therapy team focus on the needs of children experiencing developmental delays. This includes issues with walking, crawling, and standing, as well as those related to speech disorders. With their assistance, your child will be able to make verifiable gains and lead a fulfilled and happy life. If you’d like more information on pediatric therapy for your child, call (907) 374-4911. You can also learn more about their complete listing of services offered by visiting them online .