BDI Playhouse Children's Therapy

Meet Ms. Molly, a Speech-Language Pathologist at BDI Playhouse!

Road Trip coming up? Pack for success with some of these favorites from our occupational therapists!

Join us on September 22nd for BDI Playhouse’s I Can Du It! Adaptive Duathlon! Early bird registration discounts end July 1st, so be sure to register soon. The race is a run-bike-run event for children and young adults with disabilities and their families with course length options to fit any racer. Racers are free to race with or without any adaptive devices needed such as adaptive bikes, training wheels, mobility devices, etc. Registration includes a t-shirt, medal, and official race time!
We’re excited for a day of celebrating abilities and giving it our all on the course. We can’t wait to see our racers cross the finish line with smiles from ear to ear!
Learn More and Register: bdiplayhouse.com/duathlon
Help Spread the Word: Share our event with your friends https://facebook.com/events/s/i-can-du-it-adaptive-duathlon/309807865046395/

Race profits will be donated to benefit Lincolnway Special Recreation Association

Illinois PUNS or the Prioritization of Urgency for Needs of Services is the waiting list to receive Home and Community Based Services (HCBS) Medicaid Waiver for funding and services during adulthood. There are many funds available, but you must sign up well in advance, so it is never too early to begin learning about this great program. Learn how getting on the list today will benefit your child and family tomorrow.
https://www.dhs.state.il.us/page.aspx?item=41131
https://www.aloveforspeciallearning.com/blog/what-is-the-puns-list-in-illinois-making-the-puns-list-make-sense-for-parents

Shout out to Ms. Cassey for being super creative to further help her client engage in bike riding! This is a great way to work on continuous pedaling without the resistance of the floor! If you are looking for bike riding lessons, give us a call to learn about our bike rising lessons with a therapist! https://bdiplayhouse.com/bike-riding/

Did you know that we have therapists trained in helping children read using the Orton-Gillingham Approach? Learn More! https://bdiplayhouse.com/reading-difficulties/

You're invited! Don't forget to register by July 1st to take advantage of our early bird registration discount!!! This year we're excited to announce that our race will be officially timed! We can't wait to see our racers cross the finish line!!!!

Fun with cicadas at OT! How are you feeling about the cicada mania? Ready to say goodbye or going to be sad to see them go? ☺️

Did you get your flyer yet!!? 💌 Our therapists are so excited to invite you to our adaptive duathlon!!! We want to make sure you don’t miss it!!! Learn more: bdiplayhouse.com/duathlon

🌟 A huge shoutout to Magnatiles for sponsoring the I Can Du It! Adaptive Duathlon🌟 With your All Star Sponsorship, our Adaptive Duathlon is set to be an unforgettable experience! 🏃‍♂️👩‍🦽🚴‍♀️ A heartfelt thank you for being a vital part of our journey towards the best race ever! 🙌 Be sure to Like their page (https://www.facebook.com/MAGNATILES) and check out their website to see their newest creations: www.magnatiles.com/products “Invented by an educator for educators, MAGNA-TILES® brand was born in the classroom in 1997. From these humble beginnings, they’ve become America’s #1 Magnetic Building Sets Brand and an essential tool for a child’s growing mind. We lead the way in innovating magnetic construction by living our motto, “Better never stops.” And we can’t wait to share with you what we think up next! No charger, internet, or loading time required. And you didn’t lose the instructions—they were never included. The Wall Street Journal named MAGNA-TILES® sets one of the best learning toys, they’ve been awarded the STEAM toy accreditation, and selected as Winners for the 2023 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards, among other honors.”

Happy Milestone Monday! Kindergarten just around the corner? Here's a few milestones your kiddo can master before the first day of school! If you have any questions about your child's progress towards these milestones, we'd love to chat! Just schedule a free screening! http://bdiplayhouse.com/free-screenings

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads who support and inspire their children every day! Your dedication and love make a world of difference in their growth and development. Thank you for being such incredible partners in their journey!

Check out Lincolnway Special Recreation Association’s Spring/Summer Booklet to check out all of their fun events and activities for all abilities! https://indd.adobe.com/view/a3363bf0-a30c-4573-a538-65efbe54a08f
Lincolnway Special Recreation Association

When school ends your child’s daily routine doesn’t have to! Summer is the perfect time to remain consistent. For kids, having a routine in the summer is especially important. It helps provide stability, which is crucial for their development and well-being. Here are several ideas for a summer routine. Read more: https://bdiplayhouse.com/the-importance-of-a-summer-routine/

Interested in getting involved in adaptive sports or trying out a new one? Check out BDI and LWSRA's Second Annual I Can Du It! Adaptive Duathlon on Sunday, September 22, 2024. Pre-register now to take advantage of the Early Bird registration price!

Click here to register now!
https://bdiplayhousechildrenstherapy.ticketspice.com/i-can-du-it-adaptive-duathlon-2024-registration-

The I Can Du It! Adaptive Duathlon is a modified run-bike-run race for children and young adults ages 4-22 with developmental disabilities and special needs. Each racer will be provided a volunteer buddy, or is welcome to race alongside their parent, to cheer them on, time their race, count laps, provide assistance, and ensure safety. Racers are to use their own assistive devices, adapted bikes, wheelchairs, bikes with training wheels, two-wheel bikes, etc. and equipment to complete the course. Every participant will receive a race t-shirt (with a new design this year!) and a race medal for completing the race. 🏅

Splish Splash! It's pool season! Check out our latest post for some safety reminders for summertime swimming. 💦

Our student, Bekah has the best PT activities to make balance, coordination and motor planning fun! Picking up cotton balls with little toes helps with foot/eye coordination, visual attention towards the ground, balance, plantar grasp and babinski reflex which all helps to prevent falls and injuries. Challenge your kiddo with picking up or taking off items from their toes!

The Blue Man Group is providing a sensory friendly performance September 15th! Be sure to check out their website for more information and ticket pricing.
https://www.blueman.com/chicago/buy-tickets/sensory-friendly

Need some fun water play ideas for this summer? Check these out!

Sitting at a table for a snack or making a fun summer craft? Let’s talk about posture!
-Use a helper hand to hold the paper down while coloring or writing. 📝
-Sit with your back straight and against the back of the chair. 🪑
-Place your feet on a step stool or book for core support if your feet can’t touch the floor. 👣
-Have fun!! 😄

June is National Scoliosis Awareness Month. Learn more about how we can treat scoliosis at BDI below.
https://bdiplayhouse.com/how-does-posture-impact-scoliosis/
https://bdiplayhouse.com/movements-to-avoid-modified-exercises-for-scoliosis/

For speech this week, Ms. Molly and her friends used Canva to make a menu with our speech targets! We loved picking out the pictures and the menu items for practice while playing restaurant/bakery. What a fun way to incorporate creativity and our kiddos’ interests into a therapy activity! We think the finished product turned out pretty great and would love to visit Speech Bakery ourselves!!! 🎂🍪🍰🧁🍦🍩

Happy World Bicycle Day! Did you know that BDI Playhouse offers a Bike Riding program? Learn more: bdiplayhouse.com/bike-riding

Is Your Child Ready to Ride a Bike?
Bike riding is an important milestone for any child! It fosters a sense of pride, self assurance, and independence like no other skill and provides a thrill that every child should be able to experience. In addition, a child gets aerobic exercise, gains muscle control and coordination, improves balance and strength, and can interact socially with their peers and family.

BDI Playhouse Children’s Therapy offers an individual bike riding program that will asses a child’s skill level and help fill in the missing pieces. We provide individual 30 minute sessions with licensed physical and/or occupational therapists that include one on one instruction and family feedback. Many of our children who have some experience pedaling a bike can ride independently in just 3 sessions. Others require more instruction or additional sessions for strengthening, balance, and motor control to get them riding on the road. You provide the bike, helmet, and child and we provide the expertise.

Sharing for any of our friends who love books! There are tons of picture books, easy readers, and chapter books available for FREE!!! What’s more fun than free books followed by a walk at the nature preserve? 📖🌳

Don't miss out on the ever-popular FREE book recycling event! Need to get rid of books? Looking for something new to read? Come to the Nature Center on May 31st, June 1 and 2 from 9-4 PM. Will County Land Use runs the event and the Nature Center hosts. All books that are left at the end of Sunday will get recycled.

Wild about BDI! 🦁🐯🐘🦓

Congratulations!!!! 🎉 Celebrating this amazing girl and all she has done! Thank you for letting us be a part of this amazing journey. 🥰

“Today is a day I was not sure might have never came…..

My Babygirl has officially graduated from Physical Therapy. 👩‍🎓

This little warrior has completed 815 therapy sessions.

📣 EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTEEN!!!!📣

That’s 186 Aqua Sessions, 14 Serial Casting Sessions, 9 Gait Clinics AND 606 Physical Therapy sessions.

Brooklyn has not only beaten all the olds and proven doctors wrong time and time again, but she continues to THRIVE. From the doctors that told me Brooklyn would never walk or talk, to the courageous girl that does competitive cheer, rides horseback, does hip hop dance, swims, & plays with all her peers. Continuously beating the odds! I am so unbelievably proud of this girl. Her determination to “fit in” with her peers is unmatched.

A huge shout out to all of her therapists and family members that helped us get to this point. I know I personally couldn’t have driven out to BDI Playhouse 815 times without the help of our “village”. Thank You ALL!

Our Occupational therapy journey is not over yet. But today, we are celebrating Brooklyn graduating from Physical Therapy, Aqua Therapy, Speech Therapy, and Feeding Therapy.

Now, onto her next challenge - There is nothing stopping her!”

🌟 Shoutout to School of Expressive Arts and Learning for sponsoring the I Can Du It! Adaptive Duathlon!🌟 Your sponsorship will make the I Can Du It! Adaptive Duathlon truly unforgettable! Thanks to your support, our athletes will enjoy a race that is going to be the best day ever!!! 🏃‍♂️🚴‍♀️👩‍🦽 🙌 A sincere thank you for your support in creating an amazing day! Be sure to Like their page: (https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557354701880) and check out their website: https://www.seal-il.com “SEAL provides a K-12 curriculum, which includes primary (grades 1-3), intermediate (grades 4-6), junior high (grades 7 & 8), high school (grades 9-12) and services as indicated until the age of 22. The primary, intermediate and junior high classes are self- contained offering a standard curriculum of Reading, Spelling, Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, and Physical Education. These domains coupled with SEAL’s therapy approach, Expressive Therapy, provide additional opportunities for student personal, emotional, and social growth. This unique and supportive environment encourages positive risk taking and enhancing self-esteem while meeting specific areas of need as outlined by the student’s IEP.”