Connect Pediatric Therapy

🦖🦕Join us for a dinosaur themed sensory story time! All attention spans are welcome. We will read books, sing a few songs, and have a sensory activity.

Exercise balls have so many benefits for kids and are just one of the many tools we use here at Connect Pediatric Therapy.

Some benefits:
🔴 They improve gross motor and fine motor skills
🔴 They're multi-sensory: kids will use their proprioceptive (muscles), tactile (touch), and vestibular (balance) senses while playing with the ball, which can provide emotional regulation
🔴 They can improve a child's posture and body awareness
🔴 Some kids are better able to focus when sitting on an exercise ball during learning
🔴 But most of all, they're fun!

Try kicking or throwing the exercise ball, rolling it around on the ground (or up and down the wall), balancing on it (sitting or laying down), or bouncing on it. There are so many possibilities!

If you are looking for OT services for your child, look no further. Give our office a call at 402-413-1356 to set up a free, no obligation consultation call to learn more about our clinic and how OT could help your child!

Today is National Potato Day! 🥔

Did you know there are over 4000 varieties of potatoes? Did you know potatoes are grown in all 50 states?

Potatoes are versatile and a staple. With all the different ways to prepare a potato, surly you can find a recipe that will work even for the pickiest of eaters. Try them mashed, smashed, boiled, baked, fried, roasted, scalloped, or even baked into bread. The possibilities are endless!

Or, if your child is hesitant to try potatoes, make them fun. Cut a raw potato into a stamp shape (like a heart), dip them in paint, and stamp away. Remember, food is fun and can be played with (especially when your child is learning to love/like/tolerate it)! 🤎

⏰ As the school year kicks into full gear, establishing routines becomes crucial for our little ones' success and well-being. Routines provide a sense of security, improve time management skills, and help children feel more in control of their world. In this blog, we explore why routines are so important and how you can create effective schedules, especially for kids who struggle with morning or evening routines.

"Routines: Your Child's Secret Weapon for Success This School Year" | Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy | Lincoln, NE Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy is located in Lincoln, NE. Connect offers help to children with picky eating, sensory processing challenges, and more.

It's a new school year, which means kids are back to the classroom and having to focus and listen during lessons. Whole body listening is a great way to teach kids the tasks involved in listening. Sometimes, though, a kiddo needs some tools and accommodations in order to practice whole body listening.

Some things to try if your child struggles while listening:
👂 Chewing gum
👂 Deep breathing
👂 Flexible seating (balance ball, swivel chair, wobble cushion, wiggle stool, etc.)
👂 Fidget tools
👂 Lap pad or weighted vest
👂 Noise blocking headphones

There are many ways to help a child find success in school. Try the whole body approach, but if it doesn't work, think outside the box until your child is able to achieve success!

If you live in East Lincoln, check out this month's The Great Life magazine. Jessica, our clinical coordinator, and her crew are the feature family!

✏️Handwriting is a fundamental skill that plays a crucial role in a child’s academic success and overall development. In this blog, we provide you with practical techniques and fun activities to enhance your child’s handwriting skills, including proper pencil grip, letter formation exercises, and activities to strengthen hand muscles. We’ll also discuss signs to watch for if you’re concerned about your child’s handwriting. 🖍

Helping Your Child Improve Handwriting Skills: A Guide for Parents | Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy | Lincoln, NE Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy is located in Lincoln, NE. Connect offers help to children with picky eating, sensory processing challenges, and more.

The campers had a great week last week at Back to School Boot Camp! 📚

Some of the things they focused on:
🖍 The importance of school
🖍 Making friends
🖍 Routines and schedules
🖍 Zones of regulation
🖍 Flexible thinking
🖍 Handwriting
🖍 Reading comprehension
🖍 Math skills

A handful of the activities they did:
🎒 Had plenty of brain breaks
🎒 Took sensory walks
🎒 Made and painted with sidewalk chalk paint
🎒 Listened to audio books
🎒 Worked on STEM challenges as a group
🎒 Played bingo
🎒 Took "field trips" to the park
🎒 Wrote a letter to their future teacher

We another great week of camp with these amazing campers! We wish them the best of luck on a new school year!!! 🎉

We are continuing to collect backpacks and school supplies to donate to Barnabas Community. 🎒🖍 You can drop off donations to our clinic until August 8th. We appreciate your support and generosity and thank you to those that have already donated!!

Sandcastle Day is celebrated the first Saturday in August and is a good reminder of the joys of being outdoors and playing! ☀️

If you're unable to get to a local beach, make your own sand at home. You just need an 8:1 ratio of flour to oil (for example, 8 cups flour to 1 cup of oil). Throw in some seashells, shovels, buckets, or rocks and enjoy the sensory exploration! 🏝

Back to School Boot Camp is well on its way and we have some great campers with us this week! 🎒🖍

🐕‍🦺Diesel is excited to announce …….

❤️Connect has already collected 21 backpacks to donate to the Barnabus Center!!!!!

🎒You can drop off new and gentley used backpacks at Connect Pediatric Therapy. Can we get to 30???

📚School is just around the corner. Check out this past blog if your child struggles with going to school.

Making the Grade: How to Help Your Child Who Can't or Won't Go to School | Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy | Lincoln, NE Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy is located in Lincoln, NE. Connect offers help to children with picky eating, sensory processing challenges, and more.

The younger campers had a blast at Superheroes of Self-Regulation Camp last week!

Some of the topics they focused on:
🦸‍♂️ The Zones of Regulation
🦸‍♂️Applying the zones
🦸‍♂️Calm down strategies
🦸Flexible thinking
🦸‍♂️Size of the problem vs size of the reaction
🦸‍♂️Whole body listening

Some of the activities they did:
🤸Created superhero capes
🤸Made a Zones of Regulation book
🤸Played Bingo
🤸Read books
🤸Created a calm down toolbox and practiced calm down activities
🤸Went to the park
🤸Took movement breaks (obstacle courses, yoga, animal walks)

We had a lot of fun at camp last week and hope these superheroes did too!

The older campers had a great time at Superheroes of Self-Regulation Camp learning, making friends, and having fun last week!

Some of the topics they focused on:
🦸‍♂️ The Zones of Regulation
🦸‍♂️Triggers and how to handle/respond to them
🦸‍♂️Calm down strategies
🦸Superflex vs rock brain
🦸Self-control and the ability to stop and think before making choices
🦸‍♂️Size of the problem vs size of the reaction
🦸‍♂️Whole body listening

Some of the activities they did:
🤸Created superhero capes
🤸Made play-doh
🤸Played games
🤸Painted/colored
🤸Created calm down jars
🤸Went to the park
🤸Took movement breaks (obstacle courses, yoga, animal walks)

We had a lot of fun at camp last week and hope these boys did too. They trained hard to be excellent superheroes of self-regulation!

🌞🏖Join us for a beach themed sensory story time! All attention spans are welcome. We will read books, sing a few songs, and have a sensory activity.

If you've tried occupational therapy at another clinic(s) and you are looking for a change, call our office at 402-413-1356 to set up a free consultation today! ☎️

Bolster swings are one of the many tools we use here at Connect Pediatric Therapy during individual therapy sessions, camps, or social groups.

They improve:
✔️Strength
✔️Gross motor skills
✔️Coordination
✔️Sensory processing

They challenge:
✔️Balance
✔️Vestibular processing
✔️Motor planning
✔️Cervical extension endurance (neck strength, stability, and control)
✔️Proximal control/stability (core control and stability)
✔️Core strengthening

Plus, they're fun to ride on with a friend!

🎒Connect Pediatric Therapy is collecting new or gently used backpacks and school supplies to donate to children in need. 🎒

Last year was a huge success (picture attached). We'd like to help even more kids this year. Please consider helping us out!

🏃‍♂️🤸‍♀️Is your child developing their gross motor skills? Discover what gross motor skills are, how to identify potential deficits, and practical tips to help your child improve these essential abilities. From fun activities like obstacle courses and dance parties to everyday exercises, learn how to support your child's physical development in an engaging and enjoyable way. Dive into our latest blog post to find out more and ensure your little one is on the path to becoming more active and confident!

"Boosting Your Child's Gross Motor Skills: A Parent's Guide" | Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy | Lincoln, NE Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy is located in Lincoln, NE. Connect offers help to children with picky eating, sensory processing challenges, and more.

Celebrate National Jello Day by trying one (or all!) of these activities:
⭐️ Make Jello...for a sensory bonus, add in fruit, marshmallows, or cool whip for textural exploration.
⭐️ Hide toys in a jello mold and let your child dig for them.
⭐️ Play in the Jello...use hands, cookie cutters, spoons, shovels, etc. to explore the texture. Jello is a fun, edible sensory bin material!

Jello is a great way to explore the senses so celebrate today in a new way!

Superman pose is crucial to developing postural muscles required to sit up right. This pose also promotes body awareness and helps children develop their vestibular system. Children that struggle with this pose will likely struggle with motor, balance, coordination, and sensory integration challenges.

We're so proud of how far this little superman has come! 🦸‍♂️

From all of us at Connect Pediatric Therapy, happy birthday Dr. Kristen! We hope it is a joyous occasion followed by a remarkable year!! 🎉🥳

Are you looking for fun and effective ways to help your child improve their fine motor skills? 🖐️✂️

Fine motor skills are essential for everyday tasks like writing, buttoning clothes, and using utensils. Here are a few playful activities you can try at home.

Remember, the key is to make these activities fun and engaging. Consistent practice can make a big difference in your child's fine motor development! 💪✨

Watching your child struggle with sensory overload or anxiety can be tough, but there are ways to help! Our latest blog shares practical calming techniques for kids, including deep breathing exercises, sensory breaks, and calming sensory tools. Learn how to create a consistent routine and use mindfulness exercises to help your child find their calm. Discover tips and tricks to make your home a more peaceful place for your little one. Read more on our blog!

“Helping Your Child Find Calm: Effective Techniques for Sensory Overload and Anxiety | Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy | Lincoln, NE Connect Pediatric Occupational Therapy is located in Lincoln, NE. Connect offers help to children with picky eating, sensory processing challenges, and more.

If your child currently receives services or has in the past, please help other families find us by leaving a review. 📝

Head to https://g.page/r/CaOTGJsupijWEB0/review.

The 4th of July is less than a week away! 🎆 If your child is auditorial sensitive, re-read our blog post from last year on ways to help them have fun on the 4th.

Read it here: https://connectpediatrictherapy.com/2023/06/4th-of-july-with-auditory-sensitivity/