Occupational therapy Consulting Services

Choosing the Right School for Your Child with Special Needs 🌟

Dear Parents,

When selecting a school for your child with special needs, it’s essential to consider several key factors to ensure they receive the support they deserve.

Your child’s success starts with the right environment. Take the time to visit schools, ask questions, and ensure they align with your child’s needs.

therapy

Choosing the Right School for Your Child with Special Needs 🌟

Dear Parents,

When selecting a school for your child with special needs, it's essential to consider several key factors to ensure they receive the support they deserve.

Your child's success starts with the right environment. Take the time to visit schools, ask questions, and ensure they align with your child's needs.

therapy

Attention Parents of Children with Special Needs:

We know how much you care about your child's education and well-being. Unfortunately, there are fraudulent individuals and schools that prey on the trust and vulnerability of parents. It's essential to ensure that your child receives the highest quality of care and support. Here are some crucial tips to protect your family:

1.Verify Therapist Credentials:
a) Ask for Names: Know the names of the therapists administering services at your child’s school.
b) Verify Licenses: Check their licenses at the Health Professions Council of The Bahamas to ensure they are qualified.

2. Ensure Proper Documentation:
a) Reports & Screeners: You should receive Occupational Therapy reports, screeners, and a school evaluation at the end of each semester or school year.

Here are some questions to ask your school or private therapists:

1. Educational Background: "Where did you attend school for your Speech, OT, or ABA degree?"

2.Licensing: "Are you licensed to work in The Bahamas?" can I see your license issued by The Health Professions Council?

3.Evaluation and Progress: "Do you provide a detailed evaluation, goal list, and recommendations? How often do you provide written progress reports?"

Stay informed and vigilant to ensure your child gets the support they deserve. Always verify the credentials of professionals working with your children. Your diligence can make a significant difference in their educational and developmental journey.



Feel free to share this post to help other parents in our community!

Embarking on the kindergarten journey is an exciting time for parents and their children. To ensure a smooth transition and a successful start, here are six key skills that aren't typically considered but are vital to work on in preparation for kindergarten.

1. Using the Bathroom Independently

Your child should be able to use the bathroom independently, including wiping, flushing, and washing hands.
a. Create a consistent bathroom routine at home. Place sequence card for washing hands in the bathroom.

2. Get Themselves Dressed

Your child should be able to get dressed independently, including managing velcro, zippers, and shoes.
a.Allow time each day for your child to practice dressing themselves, dressing their dolor action figures
b. Start with easy-to-manage clothes like elastic waistbands and Velcro shoes.
c. Break down the task into smaller steps and provide guidance as needed.

3.Use Glue, Scissors, and Crayons

Your child should be able to use glue, scissors, and crayons with basic proficiency.
a. Engage in simple craft projects that involve cutting, gluing, and coloring.
b. Work on snipping, holding paper, coloring within lines, opening glue.
c.Incorporate other fine motor activities like playdough, beading, and puzzles to strengthen hand muscles.

4. Build gross motor and coordination skills for participation with outdoor equipment

Your child should able to climb steps, stairs, manipulate a slide or swing.
a. utilize your local park equipment
b. create obstacle courses at home with Create an obstacle course using household items like cushions, chairs, and ropes. Include activities such as crawling under tables, jumping over cushions, balancing on a line, and climbing over chairs to assist with visual motor and coordination skills.
c. Play the classic "Simon Says" game, incorporating various physical actions such as hopping on one foot, jumping, spinning, and balancing on one leg.

5. Play with others:

Your child should be developing social skills including sharing, turn-taking, waiting, listening, cooperative play and regulating emotions.
a.Arrange playdates to practice interacting with peers
b. create fun puppets and role play scenarios
c. Involve children in preparing a simple recipe, assigning each child specific tasks to complete in turn.
d. Play games that involve waiting for a turn, such as "Red Light, Green Light" or "Freeze Dance."

6. Communicate Needs and Wants

Your child should be able to communicate their needs and wants effectively, whether verbally or through alternative methods.
a) Encourage your child to use words to express themselves. Have daily conversations with your child. Ask about their day etc
b)Read a story together, taking turns to read or describe the pictures.

Alternative communication methods can include:
1. AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication): If your child uses AAC devices, ensure they are comfortable and proficient with them.
2. Picture Cards: Use picture cards for common requests and emotions.
3. Sign Language: Teach basic signs for essential needs like “eat,” “drink,” “help,” and “bathroom.”

🔍 Concerned about the rising prevalence of neurodevelopmental disorders, learning disabilities, and general delays in children?

Now more than ever, it’s crucial for educators to be equipped to create inclusive and supportive environments tailored to all learning styles.

👩‍🏫 This summer, join us for a comprehensive training designed specifically for nursery and preschool teachers. Our focus: Developing the Whole Child through innovative, multi-sensory learning techniques.

🧠 What You’ll Learn:

Multi-Sensory Teaching Strategies to engage all learners
Inclusive Classroom Practices to support children with diverse needs
Behavioral and Emotional Support Techniques
Collaborative Tools for working with parents and specialists

🌈 Let’s build a brighter future for all children together. Secure your spot today!

Scan the QR code and Register your school today

Happy 51st Independence Bahamas!

July!

Time is surely flying! Make the best of this month.

Do you know that the process of getting ready in the morning, cooking, driving, completing laundry, grocery shopping, traveling to work are all important tasks that are considered Activities of Daily Living (ADL)?

Before we go to school or work, we completed these everyday. These tasks are not always automatic and difficulty in skills such and cognition, fine motor, visual perceptual, attention can impact our ability to function independently daily!

TAKE ADVANTAGE OF OUR DISCOUNTED SUMMER SPECIALS for ages 9-14.

Our goal is to assist this age group in developing the skills needed to transition into puberty changes and demands, prepare a meal, clean their environment and navigate their community.

email us: [email protected]

Take advantage of the summer special for ages 3-6 for the month of July!

Ideal for children who may have difficulty with fine motor, self care, and handwriting skills. Let's work on those skills needed to excel in school, home, and the community!

NOTICE: Please note that we are CLOSED this Monday, May 20, 2024 in honor of the Whit Monday Holiday.

Clinic operations resume on Tuesday May 21, 2024.

I'm looking for person's with SPECIALTY degrees or certification who work with children with dyslexia and other learning disorders.

Any recommendations?

"Occupational therapy is my jam!

Whether it's helping kids develop essential life skills or supporting adults in reclaiming their independence, OT is all about empowering people to live their best lives.

We’re passionate about making a difference.
"

Puzzles come in a variety of forms, sizes, textures, materials and levels of difficulty. They are common toys for young children and can challenge children as they grow based on the increasing complexity.

Do you know that puzzles are great for building cognitive and fine motor skills needed for young children to function daily within their various environments?

If you're not sure where to start with promoting fine motor, problem solving, visual motor skills etc, in your child, start will puzzles.

Can we go back to using arts and craft to promote visual motor, fine motor skills, problem solving skills and sensory integrated skills?

We have neglected these foundational skills and expect our children to write and create 3 D projects when they have such difficulty following instructions, peeling, gluing, tearing, cutting etc.

Let’s build a strong foundation for our kids!

Let’s support!

Do you know what month it is???

It is Occupational therapy Awareness Month!
A month where we celebrate our profession through education, advocacy, and community service.

Join us as we celebrate all month long! Here is a message from our President!

It's World Autism Awareness Day!

This is a day we celebrate diversity. We believe in inclusion, embracing differences and spreading understanding.

Check out our Easter Schedule!

Are you concerned about your child’s growth and development?

Are you concerned that your child is having difficulty meeting the demands of school?

Here is the podcast for you!

If you missed our podcast debut on Kiddiatrix podcast with Dr. Dr Ayana Remy, you can click on the link 👇:

https://thekiddiatrixpodcast.buzzsprout.com/2187492/13961238

Don’t forget to catch up on other interesting podcast concerning your kids health, dental care, motor and speech skill.

Do you often wonder what we do in Pediatric Occupational therapy?