tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91171603612288881912012-01-27T21:09:00.900-07:00Notes from the trenches from a practicing pediatric occupational therapist -- because everyone is entitled to my opinion. With gratitude and appreciation to these visionaries: A. Jean Ayres, Barbara Knickerbocker, Sheila Frick, Patty Oetter, Colleen Hacker, Julia and Patricia Wilbarger, Jan Z. Olsen, Winnie Dunn, Mary Sue Williams and Sherry Shellenberger, Bonnie Bainbridge Cohen, Andrew Taylor Still, Lawrence Jones, and F. Matthias Alexander. And to the insanely great Steve Jobs.Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.comBlogger961100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-78024241470662979752012-01-25T05:13:00.000-07:002012-01-25T05:13:10.187-07:00

More ideas about staying sane while staying indoors.  {If the weather at all permits, please, take your children outside to play!}   A therapy ball is invaluable for a young child who needs a lot of intensity but insists on maintaining control of the activity.  The child can sit and bounce to his heart's content, with the added bonus of strengthening up the intrinsic musculature around the

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-73553041958517278552012-01-18T05:19:00.000-07:002012-01-18T05:19:23.718-07:00

I can't urge parents strongly enough to make sure that their children get outside to play every single day.  It's critical to their health and to their neurological development.  A body that is not strong, stable, and healthy does not adequately support the work of the child's brain, eyes, and hands, and can't be counted on to keep him effortlessly upright against gravity.   A weak, unstable body

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-48526543409038396552012-01-04T05:41:00.001-07:002012-01-16T20:05:45.084-07:00

1.  The child does not get enough exercise.  Children require huge amounts of movement, preferably outside, every single day.  Movement and exercise is as essential as food for children in order to stay organized, develop and  mature their nervous systems, improve their coordination, strength and motor planning, and to be healthy!  So many of us live in cities now and have just forgotten how

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-72982171863621286342011-12-14T05:15:00.007-07:002011-12-15T18:20:50.928-07:00

Why don't I think electronic toys are a great choice for holiday gifts?  Let me count the ways... Electronic toys are addictive, violent, and don't require or encourage creativity. Children don't acquire critical skills like depth perception, hand eye coordination, problem solving, motor planning, joint stability, or balance while playing video games. Electronic toys encourage isolation, not

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-8123415973162027252011-12-07T05:11:00.000-07:002011-12-07T05:11:06.895-07:00

This series is divided into four parts.  The first, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Therapist, suggests that instead of automatically shielding children from the inevitable obstacles, failures, and disappointments that they will face in their lives, we instead teach them to be strong, resilient, and able to handle adversity.  The first step in this process is basing our actions and expectations  on the

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-34226281358848631432011-11-30T05:13:00.002-07:002011-12-10T13:12:53.934-07:00

Strategies for helping your child be independent and resourceful, and to maximize his ability to learn and to think critically. The ability to learn and to think is grounded in movement.  As a baby begins to move through, and to explore, his environment, he develops his understanding of the world based on his physical relationship to everything and everyone around him.  Around the age of six,

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-32219109758199068942011-11-16T05:15:00.000-07:002011-11-16T05:15:02.019-07:00

My job as a therapist  and a teacher is to make myself obsolete, and so is a parent's.  We know we have succeeded when those who have depended on us for guidance, support, and help no longer need us, because we have provided them with the tools to be able to manage without us. If you are a habitual reader of  advice columns, you have undoubtedly come across the same letter over and over again:

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-58115027314902397002011-11-09T05:17:00.000-07:002011-11-09T05:17:58.707-07:00

In her book The Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother, Amy Chua outlined her methods for raising her two daughters, and they were extreme.  She never allowed them to watch television or go on sleepovers or playdates, drilled them incessantly on their academics, forced them to spend hours and hours practicing their musical instruments, locked them outside in the middle of winter for disobeying her,

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-36018339027044982582011-11-02T04:16:00.000-07:002011-11-02T04:16:13.985-07:00

"Patriotism is the love of the food one ate as a child."  --  Lin Yutang. I have a little boy on my caseload whose parents come from Jamaica.  They have a large extended family here in New York, and get together frequently.  A few weeks ago, I asked him what he did over the weekend, {hoping to hear that his parents had taken him outside to play, which, despite my constant nagging, it rarely

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-14203796453940475622011-10-26T04:00:00.000-07:002011-10-26T04:00:40.374-07:00

The way in which we perceive the world directly determines how we respond to it.  Here is the story of a little boy I started treating at the beginning of the school year.  He was uninterested in other people, lined up his toys instead of playing with them, and had almost no expressive language.  Despite how impaired he seemed initially, he made an immediate, remarkable turnaround when some

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-70618511602519619382011-10-19T04:13:00.000-07:002011-10-19T04:13:08.792-07:00

A few weeks ago, a reader asked me how exercise could help a child who could not function at school.  Last week, I talked about how the sensory integration approach works.  This week, I thought I would continue the discussion by explaining what sensory integration therapy has to offer, and talking some more about how we go about accomplishing our objectives. A sensory integration therapist's

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-25352376266478208592011-10-12T04:23:00.003-07:002011-10-14T23:01:41.047-07:00

A reader left me a great question in the comments after I described a little girl who was struggling in her daily life. She asked how exercise could solve this child's problems. A. Jean Ayres, who founded sensory integration therapy, was an occupational therapist and developmental psychologist whose work was based on the theory that learning problems and behavioral issues were caused by faulty

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-81687448862105236302011-10-05T03:43:00.000-07:002011-10-05T03:43:42.412-07:00

 Here in America, we seem to have taken being sensitive to children's feelings into account to such an extreme that we have allowed them to take over.  Being kind and polite to small children is certainly important, but we have to be careful to maintain the role of the grown up while doing so.  It's not only all right for the grownups to assert their authority, it's crucial to a child's sense of

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-42895637635314631782011-09-28T02:52:00.000-07:002011-09-28T02:52:46.316-07:00

I would venture to guess that virtually every child with a diagnosis of ADHD is living in a body that doesn't support learning.  Before we label and medicate, we should assess and treat the impairments in the child's structural, metabolic and neurological functioning.   We also need to be sensitive to what we are demanding of a child.  If we are constantly expecting the child to perform at a

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-13547051855221136902011-09-21T04:12:00.001-07:002011-09-21T20:24:20.423-07:00

The habitual use of strollers, car seats, carriages, playpens, and strap on baby carriers forces a child into the role of  passive observer instead of allowing him to be an active participant in his surroundings.  This interferes with learning, delays his neurological development, and negatively impacts language, balance, motor control, socialization skills, vision, and academic performance. I

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-63196245224732541112011-09-14T07:02:00.001-07:002011-09-14T07:04:20.083-07:00

Normal male behavior is often incomprehensible to women.  We who are in charge of small children should try to be aware that when boys are violent, loud, messy, obstinate, competitive, and otherwise "not nice," they are simply being boys.  I have a bright, personable eight year old boy on my caseload who was referred for handwriting and other minor academic delays.  He's doing really well these

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-56216988039930143152011-09-07T07:26:00.003-07:002011-09-07T14:50:38.100-07:00

I have a piece of code embedded in my website that tells me why people visit my blog.  Almost every inquiry is the along the same lines:  My child can't sit still. There may be other reasons preventing the child from being able to attend, but first and foremost, a child who is unable to sit still and focus is a child who needs to move.   Children cannot be taught how to sit still.  They

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-42226986765655674352011-06-08T06:23:00.002-07:002011-06-08T06:23:40.680-07:00

I'll be back after Labor Day.  Meanwhile, I have some openings  both for summer and for the fall if you would like me to work with your child.

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-39095414961253206162011-06-01T04:43:00.000-07:002011-06-01T04:43:45.452-07:00

"Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety nine percent perspiration."  -- Thomas Alva Edison "Eighty percent of success is just showing up."  -- Woody Allen Learning to tolerate frustration is one of the most important lessons a child can learn, and one of the hardest.  Children who can't deal with frustration, who don't have the inner capacity to sit with themselves and struggle, have a

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-81852739752450374162011-05-25T04:52:00.000-07:002011-05-25T04:52:04.286-07:00

One of my favorite cartoons of all time, drawn by the incisive and hilarious Gary Larson, is called  What We Say to Dogs. A man is pictured talking to his dog, saying, "Okay, Ginger, I've had it!  You stay out of the garbage!  Understand, Ginger?  You stay out of the garbage, or else.  I mean it, Ginger!"  Below, the artist depicts what the dog actually hears:  "GINGER blah blah blah GINGER blah

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-67511414457983512412011-05-18T04:49:00.000-07:002011-05-18T04:49:16.553-07:00

"Man, through the use of his hands, as they are energized by his mind and will, can influence the state of his own health."   {Mary Reilly, 1962} A few weeks ago I wrote a post called Giving Them What They Need, So They'll Give Us What We Want.  I talked about making sure that children had plenty of sleep, fresh air, exercise, and healthy food in order to support their behavior and ability to

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-61388581048197918672011-05-11T04:31:00.001-07:002011-05-11T06:22:13.080-07:00

I know I'm a broken record, but I can't urge you strongly enough, now that the weather is good, to keep your children outside.  It's critical for their mental and physical well being.  I have a friend and colleague who knows a great deal about alternative medicine, both from a professional interest and a personal one.  She has a son with ADHD.  A few weeks ago, I emailed her a question about

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-14806949378210359532011-05-04T04:58:00.001-07:002011-05-04T07:14:49.873-07:00

Many of the children I treat are W sitters.  Instead of kneeling, sitting on their heels, or crossing  their legs in front of them, they sit in a W, with their legs bent at the knees on either side and their behinds flat on the floor. Children sit this way when they don't have sufficient balance or trunk strength to sit unsupported, so they manufacture the postural stability they need from the

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-80943866897361271942011-04-27T04:52:00.001-07:002011-04-27T07:35:29.864-07:00

Recently I had a bit of a run in with the mother of a little boy I treat.  His teacher had complained, yet again, that he simply could not sit still in class.  When she called to tell me about it, I asked her, yet again, if she was taking him to the park to run around and play for 20 minutes before school began and again in the afternoon before it was time for homework.  She became very

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-68507343841255343832011-04-20T06:19:00.000-07:002011-04-20T06:19:08.448-07:00

A commitment to following through with a home program can make a huge difference in a child's ability to function. A couple of mornings a week, I see children at a little clinic in a very poor neighborhood in upper Manhattan.  My treatment room is the size of a walk in closet, and instead of a beautifully equipped sensory gym with a large assortment of swings, a zip line, a ball pit, a climbing

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-49523090625834920552011-04-13T04:52:00.001-07:002011-04-13T05:02:18.923-07:00

 I had such a remarkable turnaround this week with a little boy that I started seeing last month that I thought I would share it with interested readers. A few weeks ago I wrote about a little boy who habitually entered the clinic and proceeded to zoom around from room to room.  No one and nothing could stop him.  When his parents rebuked him, loudly and sharply, he didn't appear to hear it.  If

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-67591166937278144392011-04-06T04:45:00.000-07:002011-04-06T04:45:46.585-07:00

Treating tactile defensiveness will vastly improve a child's ability to learn, explore, play, and socialize.  A tactile defensive child is in survival mode much of the time when he should be feeling at home and happy in his body and with the world. Many problematic behaviors can be attributed to tactile defensiveness.  A few of the classic signs are complaints about clothing, especially tags,

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-82895682309995274132011-03-30T05:05:00.000-07:002011-03-30T05:05:00.274-07:00

Consider these scenarios, taken from my files: 1.  A beautiful little girl who routinely turns down play dates and party invitations, and prefers to spend her weekends sitting alone in her bedroom with her clothing off, playing video games. 2.  A man in his thirties who can't bring himself to be intimate with his wife. 3.  A little girl who routinely wipes off kisses, won't sit on her parents'

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-34046125064069754912011-03-23T04:51:00.000-07:002011-03-23T04:51:18.774-07:00

I recently started working with a little boy who has quite a routine established.   As soon as he enters my office, he starts zooming around from room to room, checking out every inch of space in the clinic.  His parents always become highly  embarrassed by this behavior and rebuke him sharply, but nothing can stop him.  If he is physically restrained, as soon as he is free, he is off again.

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-2839450629399159232011-03-16T05:24:00.002-07:002011-10-15T11:17:57.882-07:00

One of the most common reasons why a child is initially referred for occupational therapy is that he can't sit still in class.  When a child simply can't stay put, it's vitally important for the grown ups to play detective and figure out why.  Children who can't sit still are children who are driven to move. Before we try to force them to be still, we need to find out what is behind their

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-59204257169641591592011-03-14T10:12:00.001-07:002011-03-14T10:12:01.901-07:00

I recently received a call from a mother who was referred to me by a learning specialist because her son was having problems with his handwriting.  She started to mention the orthotics a physical therapist had prescribed for him due to his abnormal gait, but quickly stopped herself, saying, "You're an OT, so you are only interested in his hands."  I replied that his hands were attached to his

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-70323203514879793422011-03-02T05:27:00.000-07:002011-03-02T05:27:34.838-07:00

Very often, the children I treat have balance and equilibrium problems.  They have an uneasy relationship with gravity and can't hold themselves up effortlessly against it.  They fall easily, and they fall flat and hard.  This is painful and scary, and makes them cry.  This has the effect of making them seem overly emotional to the untrained observer. In the clinic, I often observe that they

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-49913355616326280152011-02-23T08:06:00.002-07:002011-02-23T16:25:24.590-07:00

When a child's body is neurologically wired to operate in fight or flight mode, the brain interprets loud or high pitched sound as threatening and noxious.  So the child is going to respond by becoming disorganized or by acting out, hoping that he will be removed from the situation that is causing him so much distress. If a child runs aimlessly around in his classroom, and is oppositional,

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-88062672546880856802011-02-16T06:13:00.001-07:002011-02-16T06:13:58.079-07:00

If your child is having tremendous difficulty comporting himself at school, is aggressive towards his classmates, can't participate in noisy classrooms, either going off by himself or  acting out, and in general behaves in ways that are difficult to comprehend when he is in a noisy environment,  the chances are very high that his ears are hurting him and that he has no way to let you know that

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-44771397765841871632011-02-09T05:50:00.001-07:002011-02-09T05:55:11.438-07:00

Circle time can be extra challenging for children who have a hard time in school.  Sitting on the floor with backs unsupported is very difficult for low tone kids. There should be a variety of sitting options for circle time. Since no one wants to be singled out, I suggest that there be a few chairs around the perimeter of the circle at the beginning of the school year.  The teacher can invite

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-14995105873985509432011-02-02T05:53:00.000-07:002011-02-02T05:53:44.380-07:00

Which do you prefer in a restaurant, a banquette or a table in the middle of the room?  Banquette, right?  Ever wonder why? It's because your back is not exposed to people walking or moving behind you, so it's easier to let down your guard and  focus on the meal and conversation.   A sensory defensive, hypervigilant child can't truly concentrate with his back exposed, which is often the case

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-25516463303264554562011-01-26T09:15:00.001-07:002011-01-26T11:29:08.649-07:00

The stronger and more coordinated your child's body, the easier it will be for him in school and in life.  The ability to sit and attend is made so much easier when the child has a stable base of support. Crawling, which typically occurs when the child is about six or seven months old, is a critical stage in a child's development.  The action of crawling, among other things, sets up the pelvis

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-30947666254102797772011-01-19T05:45:00.000-07:002011-01-19T05:45:26.745-07:00

If your child has a hard time coping with everyday life and has to have his own way all the time, it could be a symptom of sensory processing difficulties.  In the sensory gym where I have my OT practice, there is a room with a zip cord.  The children climb up a platform, hold on to a plastic handle that runs along a wire suspended over the room, fly through the air and crash down into a ball

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-5714908229217208932011-01-12T08:52:00.000-07:002011-01-12T08:52:28.370-07:00

A woman I used to know a long time ago once called me to tell me about a day with her six year old that had gone wrong. It had started out with him coming to the breakfast table with a small water balloon in his hand. There was a glass of orange juice set at his place. His mother saw him eying the glass and said, "Don't you dare even think of putting that balloon in your orange juice." So of

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-72934863743420912652011-01-05T05:50:00.000-07:002011-01-05T05:50:16.873-07:00

Grownups, please do some detective work if your child {or student} is struggling in the classroom.  You  may be expecting him to function under circumstances that you would be unable to tolerate yourself. I recently evaluated a little boy whose teacher reported that he was unable to produce much, if any, written work during morning writing time.  He would sit quietly,  not bothering anyone, but

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-82065888710452319072010-12-29T07:47:00.002-07:002010-12-29T08:43:18.883-07:00

Making sure that your child's morning routine goes smoothly will help set him up for a good day at school. If mornings are chaotic and disorganized in your house, what can you do to make them less stressful?   Here are some ideas that to consider: Make sure that your child is getting enough sleep at night.  Small children need 11 to 12 hours of sleep.  Even 11 year olds need nine to ten hours.

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-24055306999392162652010-12-22T05:52:00.000-07:002010-12-22T05:52:03.923-07:00

Children with sensory issues can be stubborn, inflexible, rigid, and altogether infuriating.  The temptation to scream at them when they are pushing your buttons can be overwhelming.  Mornings are the worst.  Schedules are tight, everyone has to get out the door, the school bus will be there any minute... and there is your child, still in his pajamas, video game in hand, saying he has no idea

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-77807489370466040942010-12-15T08:42:00.000-07:002010-12-15T08:42:51.403-07:00

Toys that promise to make your child smarter are probably going to do just the opposite.  Remember  those Baby Einstein videos?  The promise that they would turn your child into a genius, just by watching?  Um, no.  Sitting passively in front of a video screen does not make a child smart.  Moving his body, coordinating his hands and eyes, solving problems, and using his imagination, on the other

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-82792242607607771442010-12-08T08:43:00.000-07:002010-12-08T08:43:17.523-07:00

Children NEED and WANT the grownups to be in charge.  It makes them feel safe, which gives them the confidence they require to go and explore the world.  They will feel less safe if they know that they can push you around and bend you to their will.  I highly recommend forgetting about winning popularity contests with children.  It's far better to assume an authoritative role {authority with

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-7257597659337225892010-12-01T11:04:00.000-07:002010-12-01T11:04:31.678-07:00

                                        Children with sensory issues often have undetected food sensitivities, especially to preservatives, flavorings, and dyes, and don't let anyone tell you any different.  Artificial sweeteners, especially aspartame, should be strictly avoided.  They are so far removed from anything occurring in nature that the body has absolutely no ability to deal with them.

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-88601362869166308482010-11-24T08:51:00.000-07:002010-11-24T08:51:07.675-07:00

Try taking a step back if  your child is constantly failing to meet expectations. There is such a wide, wide range of human behavior and abilities.  If your child does not behave exactly like his classmates, it's not necessarily a pathology.  These days we expect all children to have all the same abilities, be successful in only one basic type of environment, and develop along the same time

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-50751126617013030792010-11-17T05:46:00.001-07:002010-11-17T05:46:29.085-07:00

In a previous post, I mentioned a friend whose husband used to use her as his emotional punching bag by picking fights with her after a stressful day at work.  Do you ever get the feeling that your child needs to let off a little steam by having a temper tantrum and is inventing an excuse to duke it out with you?  There have been so many times I have seen children come into the clinic spoiling

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-25049448948730811062010-11-10T08:31:00.000-07:002010-11-10T08:31:34.988-07:00

Last week I discussed the joys of never having to say "How would you feel if someone did that to you?"  Here are two more phrases that I have happily quit using, because they never seemed to get me anywhere:  "You need to..."  and "I need you to..." "Oh, really?"  I can just hear the child thinking when I say he needs to calm down.  "Oh, no, I don't!"   "I need you to" is equally as ineffective

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-41726566227366977382010-11-03T05:13:00.000-07:002010-11-03T05:13:06.965-07:00

A couple of years ago, I read the very smart and funny book, "Why Men Marry Bitches."  The author maintains that men think that women are too emotional.  Consequently, they tend to shut them out during arguments or negotiations. A woman sounds less than rational to a man when she starts talking about her feelings when trying to reach consensus.  She suggests that a better way to get what you want

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-56621516767153922282010-10-27T07:40:00.000-07:002010-10-27T07:40:59.055-07:00

In my previous post, I talked about strategies to circumvent having to overtly correct or discipline the children I treat, using incompatible behaviors. The other idea from this article that has been very useful in creating a toxic free zone is the LRS, or least reinforcing syndrome. This is employed by animal trainers to shape behaviors, by ignoring what they don't want and only responding to

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-87117003984251721552010-10-13T04:49:00.000-07:002010-10-13T04:49:10.471-07:00

I found this article to be beyond disturbing, but not for the obvious reasons.   Digital apps for handwriting are fun, but they are not a substitute for real teaching. The reason the four year old in the article didn't want to write is because four year olds should not be writing!!! Writing should not be introduced before the age of six, despite what anyone tells you.  Most children simply do

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-25043411613073902472010-10-06T04:38:00.000-07:002010-10-06T04:38:39.318-07:00

How do you know if your child is auditory defensive? If your very young child is acting up or being consistently disorganized in a noisy classroom {or trying to escape by hyperfocusing on books or otherwise tuning out and refusing to participate in class} the chances are very good that he is sensitive to noise and is seeking a way to escape. Auditory defensiveness is a clinical condition in which

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-86383255318881543282010-09-29T07:41:00.000-07:002010-09-29T07:41:54.358-07:00

In my last post, I talked about some of the reasons why a child who is bright and articulate can't commit his thoughts to paper in a way that reflects his true abilities.  Today  we'll look at ways to work with children to make writing completely automatic so that that their minds and bodies are free to think more deeply and write more fluently.  The more completely automatic the child's

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-38285872146524590682010-09-22T04:58:00.002-07:002010-09-27T09:29:40.434-07:00

Very often, when a child is referred to me for handwriting problems, the parent tells me that the child is very bright and articulate and has lots of ideas, but simply cannot get his thoughts down on paper:  "He will write a sentence or two when the rest of the class has written three or four paragraphs." In order for a child to be able to write well, the act of writing itself must be completely

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-88351742872875806432010-09-15T05:01:00.000-07:002010-09-15T05:01:03.730-07:00

You can go a long way towards improving a child's ability to cope by eliminating toxins from his environment, making sure he gets the nutritional support he needs, and gets plenty of sleep and exercise. 1.  Take your child to the playground for a quick workout before school starts and make sure that he gets daily vigorous exercise.  If your child is not getting outside to play every

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-34752607864844120482010-09-08T05:06:00.000-07:002010-09-08T05:06:35.388-07:00

When you prime the pump, the first thing that comes out is mud.  If your child's behavior gets worse before it gets better after he starts therapy, actually, you're probably on the right track.   Sometimes when a child starts sensory integration OT, things happen that you don't expect.  It's important to remember that big changes in a child's nervous system are going to manifest in all kinds of

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-9866598356002109382010-09-01T05:37:00.000-07:002010-09-01T05:37:47.777-07:00

OH MY GOSH!!! HOW DID IT GET TO BE SEPTEMBER ALREADY??? Welcome back to my blog.  I had a lovely summer.  Most of the children I treat were on vacation, so I had lots of time to write articles!  I hope you had a nice one too  -- and I hope your children played outside every single day, and ate lots of delicious summer fruits and vegetables.  I continue to have a few openings for both

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-61475572864652034502010-08-19T19:19:00.002-07:002010-08-19T19:19:26.431-07:00

I have some openings in my Manhattan practice for September, especially for preschoolers, but I also have some after school slots available.  Please email me if interested.

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-60720037254424246302010-07-05T05:16:00.001-07:002010-07-08T05:54:45.704-07:00

Check back after Labor Day for more posts.  Meanwhile,  now there is scientific evidence for making sure your children play outside every day, since it can  make them smarter and boost their immune systems.

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-77750308576513106562010-06-30T06:42:00.002-07:002010-07-12T11:10:38.179-07:00

In my  last post, I talked about the child who is lost in school.  He has failed to internalize the expectations of the classroom, lacks sufficient internal structure to be able to work independently,  and requires constant adult direction and supervision to be able to do what is expected of him. The rule of thumb here:  as soon as we recognize that a child has not developed the internal

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-45919612285723082512010-06-28T07:12:00.002-07:002010-08-05T18:05:36.569-07:00

The movie Groundhog Day stars Bill Murray as a hapless weatherman stuck repeating the exact same day over and over, never learning anything from his mistakes and becoming more and more frustrated and miserable.  For some sensory defensive children, a typical school day is one in which he is doomed to repeat the same mistakes over and over, because he hasn't figured out what is expected of him and

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-15121897224597738102010-06-23T06:10:00.000-07:002010-06-23T06:10:51.646-07:00

For more information on vision, read my other post on the topic, It's a Vision Thing. Most, if not all, of the children who come for occupational therapy have an undiagnosed visual problem.  This is because the low muscle tone in the neck and trunk of children with sensory processing issues does not give the eyes a stable base of support from which to operate.  As a result, the fine motor

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-22777541631222307972010-06-21T05:59:00.000-07:002010-06-21T05:59:20.835-07:00

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Very often, a parent will say to me, "My child couldn't possibly have any attentional issues. He

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-22384609027354130812010-06-16T06:10:00.004-07:002010-07-12T11:15:16.355-07:00

Poor handwriting can have a lifelong negative impact on a child's ability to succeed at school and in his career. In most cases, it is easily avoided with proper instruction. It's really not an exaggeration to say that our handwriting is a direct reflection of who we are. Illegible, poorly organized written work reflects poorly organized thoughts from a poorly organized brain, and

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-70546683795497822512010-06-14T07:00:00.002-07:002010-07-12T11:16:27.363-07:00

1.  Make sure that the child with attentional issues is sitting near an adult with his back facing a wall, or better yet, niched in a corner.  A sensory defensive child lives in a chronic fight or flight state, and sitting with his back exposed will make him even more vigilant.  The more vigilant he is, the less he is able to attend. 2.  During circle time, the child’s place should be next to

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-90029194264779400392010-06-09T05:27:00.000-07:002010-06-09T05:27:25.914-07:00

In my last post, I talked about the child whose sensory issues may not become completely apparent until he is forced to cope out in the world, away from his parents, and is failing to meet expectations at school. Sensory defensive children often behave in ways that we don't understand. Things that we may not even notice {the sounds made by a refrigerator's motor or the hum of an air

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-81679134066542343882010-06-07T06:44:00.001-07:002010-07-12T11:18:34.356-07:00

As a fairly new pediatric therapist practicing in a busy clinic in Brooklyn, I worked with a little girl for almost an entire school year before I found out, to my utter astonishment, that she had a diagnosis of PDD, a form of autism.  It wasn't on her IEP, and her mother, who had other seven children at home and was always in a tearing hurry to drop her off and pick her up, never said a word

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-85861206861876624072010-06-02T04:15:00.001-07:002010-07-12T11:19:12.726-07:00

More thoughts about why your child is having attentional difficulties, and some possible solutions. 1.  If your child does not have a set bedtime, it's time to enforce one.  Small children need an average of ten or eleven hours of sleep every night.  If your child has trouble transitioning into sleep, limit computer time and video gaming during the school week.   Turn off any computer

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-3624000972574658142010-05-31T05:14:00.002-07:002010-05-31T08:14:35.306-07:00

Since everyone is entitled to my opinion, I firmly believe that much of modern life is the culprit in a mass tendency here in the U.S.  to shortened attention spans, and not only in children.   Some things we can do:  eat better, turn off the electronic devices, get outside and play more, and return to the very human occupation of making things.   1.  Make sure your child is getting plenty of

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-48261256899568899122010-05-26T05:27:00.004-07:002010-07-12T11:21:48.909-07:00

It's an unfortunate reality these days that our environment is toxic.  {I started this piece before the oil spill in the Gulf, and now it looks as if the spill is headed into the Atlantic Ocean.}  Our groundwater is becoming contaminated, our air is polluted, our wild caught fish {what's left of them} are full of mercury, our soil is full of chemicals, our food is full of additives and

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-68159542044211861792010-05-24T03:12:00.001-07:002010-07-12T11:23:28.409-07:00

A few weeks ago I wrote a post I called Great Expectations, about how children love it when the adults in charge have high standards for them.  This post is about examining our expectations for very young children, and whether they are realistic. Recently I got a call from a mother who was concerned about her four year old son, who was having tantrums and being oppositional much of the time.  He

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-4908797375522335622010-05-19T04:01:00.005-07:002010-05-19T09:51:41.764-07:00

Arousal refers to our state or consciousness or awareness.  Someone who is in danger, or is moving at high speed, is in a high state of arousal, and someone who is about to fall asleep is in a low state of arousal.  Then there is everything in between.  Many children with sensory issues have arousal problems, clocking in either too low or too high for whatever situation they happen to be in. 

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-88742856188303054772010-05-17T08:38:00.003-07:002010-05-17T19:35:43.141-07:00

A term that sensory integration therapists tend to use a lot is "arousal." What does it mean when we're talking about a child, and why is it important? Arousal is your level of alertness at any given moment. When you're lying in a hammock which is gently, slowly swaying back and forth in a warm, sweet breeze, and the birds are chirping, you can hear the sound of the surf in the background,

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-45713242840186361852010-05-15T06:23:00.000-07:002010-05-15T06:23:42.483-07:00

Jane  Tomkiewicz  discovered the Alexander Technique during her years performing on the downtown and worldbeat music scene.   Jane trained and certified at the American Center for the Alexander Technique (ACAT).  She has taught privately in  Manhattan since 1990, and has been teacher in residence at  the 92nd St. Y’s Harkness Dance Center since 1992.  She currently also teaches at the

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-70302164550626502062010-05-12T07:35:00.004-07:002010-05-12T11:02:27.948-07:00

In a previous post, I talked about craft activities that promote fine motor control.  In this post, I'll talk about other activities and games that children can do to improve strength, pinch, and coordination in the thumb and fingers. As we develop, the thumb and forefinger {the radial portion} separate out from the rest of the hand and perform the fine motor functions.   The pinkie, or ulnar,

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-51206938514358481982010-05-10T06:34:00.000-07:002010-05-10T06:34:56.588-07:00

I used to treat a little boy who, looking back, I think had a lot of undiagnosed food sensitivities. He would come into the clinic polishing off a snack of some highly processed food, {"Blue Berry Blast Go-Gurt" was a favorite,} then top it off with a stick of sugarless gum. He would then morph from a fairly reasonable little person, ready to play and have a good time, into an out of control,

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-7153382376047034922010-05-05T07:06:00.000-07:002010-05-05T07:06:12.203-07:00

So many children come into to the clinic after a long day of school and go into overdrive as soon as they enter the sensory gym. They become disregulated and behave in a disorganized way almost immediately. They run around, throw things, hurl themselves on and off the equipment, scream, and literally bounce off of the walls. They can't contain their reactions for one more second after

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-3849772322063327992010-05-03T06:23:00.002-07:002010-05-03T06:31:44.668-07:00

According to Webster, modulation means to regulate, according to measure or proportion.In OT language, modulation is the ability to regulate behavior by taking in information from the environment, making correct judgments about it, and responding to it in an appropriate way.Children with modulation issues are constantly struggling with their reactions, which are often not in

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-53892968846991632222010-04-28T07:43:00.004-07:002010-04-28T07:47:08.975-07:00

Children with low arousal levels are constantly looking for ways to increase their energy so that they can be more alert. Unfortunately, especially when they're at school and stuck sitting in one place for a long time, we don't allow them to implement many of the strategies that would actually help them get themselves into a just right state, like chewing gum, going

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-72437025998182530692010-04-26T05:26:00.004-07:002010-07-07T05:52:29.903-07:00

Why does my child behave out in public, but not at home?   I remember seeing a movie called "The Tic Code," about a single mother raising a boy with Tourrette's Syndrome. His father, who lived in another city, was very put off by the child's tics, and so the boy used a tremendous amount of effort to stop them during a brief visit. After he said goodbye to his father and was back

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-47459025744449562662010-04-21T07:51:00.004-07:002010-04-21T07:51:37.904-07:00

How well your child performs in school depends a great deal on his ability to process visual information.When we think of getting our eyes checked, we envision sitting behind the machine with all of the lenses, and the eye doctor turning them and changing them until we can read the small letters on the eye chart easily from a distance. That is called visual acuity; it is the ability of

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-10156101117006198962010-04-19T07:23:00.001-07:002010-04-19T07:24:48.473-07:00

As a therapist, I sometimes forget that civilians don't understand all of the professional jargon that my colleagues and I use to communicate with each other. I try, when I write an evaluation of a child, to explain what each thing I assess means, and most important, how it affects the way the child functions. But when I hand over a 12 page report to a parent, I have to remember that

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-12997059706652791382010-04-16T04:17:00.001-07:002010-04-16T04:17:52.724-07:00

When I was in OT school, I took a course in group treatment techniques. My classmates and I all took turns leading groups and playing the roles of different types of patients. We pretended that we were elderly women with dementia, stroke survivors, homeless and mentally ill, and drug addicts. One day it was my turn to be the group leader, and my population was a group of alcoholic

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-23146635738491427362010-04-15T05:37:00.000-07:002010-04-15T05:38:21.312-07:00

A common reason for attentional difficulties is sensory defensiveness. This means that the child experiences certain sensations that we would either find neutral, or would not even register, as unpleasant or threatening.A defensive nervous system has a hard time adapting to novelty and filtering out extraneous information. What this means: when you put your shirt on in the morning

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-54902550038093570842010-04-14T06:36:00.003-07:002010-04-15T18:09:06.767-07:00

I'm always on the lookout for craft activities to do with the children I treat, and I encourage parents to do them at home. I find that crafts are helpful in supporting so many of the goals I set for them. They encourage the child to tolerate and work through frustration and improve attention and concentration. Here are some of my favorites that are easily available online or in most

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-39058201853040360462010-04-12T16:05:00.006-07:002010-04-13T05:17:51.179-07:00

I love doing craft activities with children, although I am not especially crafty by nature. If anyone who knows me now had seen me struggling and cursing during my skilled craft courses in OT school {woodworking class was like entering the twelfth circle of hell every Tuesday and Thursday, but my weaving class was a lot of fun... until we had to warp our looms} or watched me staring in shock

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-1862273187735931642010-04-11T11:52:00.012-07:002010-09-17T07:51:40.887-07:00

One of the wisest, most useful pieces of advice I have ever heard about talking to young children, especially children with special needs, was to replace the word "but" with the word "and." I cannot begin to guess how much emotional trauma this has saved me and my little clients over the years. It works like a charm. There is something so magical that happens when you substitute "and" for "

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-25107049219069641882010-04-09T09:37:00.002-07:002010-04-09T10:17:26.600-07:00

A visit to a sensory gym during treatment hours looks like an indoor playground, with children climbing, swinging, jumping, navigating obstacle courses, throwing stuff at targets, yelling and laughing, getting messy, and, if they are working with me, making craft projects. I'm sure that it seems as if the children are just playing. How could it possibly be therapeutic?

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-16774036906593309462010-04-07T13:22:00.007-07:002010-04-08T08:22:13.063-07:00

I wrote this piece over ten years ago for a website that never happened, and thought this would be a good place for it.Have you ever watched a very young child at play, and marveled at the ease, freedom, and flexibility with which she moves, how she squats effortlessly when playing, and how upright and straight she sits and stands? Have you had the experience of watching your school age children

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-85533035340298793152010-04-02T09:56:00.013-07:002010-04-07T13:47:32.863-07:00

I should preface this by saying that one of my colleagues told me that as long as I live and practice in Manhattan, where the applications process begins at conception, that I should never, ever suggest to a mother that her child is in the wrong school, unless I enjoy causing and coping with full blown panic attacks.In a city with many private schools, like Manhattan, there is an abundance of

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-83192198829260759262010-04-02T09:08:00.000-07:002010-04-02T09:11:04.876-07:00

Why Do Children Have to Sit Still, Anyway?Have you ever wondered why on earth your child can't sit still?Let me ask you this: Why should children have to sit still? Why are we preventing them from moving instead of encouraging it?I find it highly sad and ironic that children, who need to move in order to activate their nervous systems, to develop their coordination and visual skills, and to just

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-21322111140311975522010-04-01T16:22:00.003-07:002010-04-06T05:00:31.513-07:00

Bonus points for knowing the theater reference in the title of this post. And in yesterday's, too.I once asked a colleague what it was like to have both of his children in the Gifted and Talented program at school, and he sighed and said plaintively, "I have sooo much homework!"Personally, I think homework is unnecessary and pointless, but I'm swimming upstream here. I find it cruel and unusual

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-8173403807887614252010-04-01T14:42:00.004-07:002010-04-05T06:31:19.430-07:00

Something I've noticed that never fails to intrigue me is how much children require, and thrive on, the focused attention of grownups. I once had a job working in a clinic in Brooklyn with children who came from very large families, and I sometimes think that the most therapeutic thing I did was give those children a whole grown up all to themselves for an hour once a week. For many of them,

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-72247052622060747442010-04-01T11:07:00.001-07:002010-05-13T19:53:17.112-07:00

Here's a secret: children love it when parents and teachers have very high standards for comportment and expect their children to meet them. They love it when adults are calm, strict and fair, and they especially love it when the adults in their lives are clear in their expectations and strong in their boundaries. If a child perceives that he is in charge, and more powerful than the

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-83659939941010609072010-03-31T11:06:00.001-07:002010-05-17T20:31:44.899-07:00

Making sure our children get enough movement begins when they are born. I can't emphasize how important this is. Until about the age of six, everything that a child knows is based on his physical relationship with the world. Therefore it is critical that he be given as much opportunity as possible to explore it freely and interact with it successfully. To begin with, babies need lots and

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9117160361228888191.post-59036523906584328742010-03-30T05:46:00.001-07:002010-04-08T07:38:55.335-07:00

Welcome! I'm an occupational therapist living and practicing in New York. I love what I do and I love to talk about and write about my work. You can leave questions for me about your child in the comments section.Today, I want to share something that I tell all of the parents of the children I treat. Much has been written about prescribing sensory diets for children, and I could get quite

Loren Shlaeshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04203511067195560724noreply@blogger.com10