• As an occupational therapist, helping children, their parents, caregivers and teachers for almost two decades, I have learned this lesson time and time again.  My actions are powerful, and so too are the words I pair with them.
• As the godmother to two lovely girls, one now almost a teen and one a young adult, expecting a child of her own, I know that the most important words we can speak to a child are words of love, affection and caring.
• And while the simplest, “I love you” is true and from the heart, there are many ways to nurture the love we have for children.  Many ways to show we care.  Many ways to show a child how to grow and flourish.
• So, I have written an ebook where I share  49 different ways to show your love, respect and caring to the children in your life.
• 49 ideas to nurture children, to celebrate what’s right, to highlight successes and to mark achievement.
• I believe we must tell children what is right, instead of, and more so, then what is wrong.
• We must say words that will bring joy, a sense of satisfaction, self-worth and an understanding of what is worth working for.  We can show and tell by speaking words and writing words.
• I have handed out a list of these words of love to each parent of a new child my team and I have helped in our occupational therapy practice.
• I have sent out a list of these words of affirmation on St. Valentine’s Day to health and educator colleagues who work with children.
• And one of my cherished memories is of a parent telling me she posted my list of words of love on the fridge as a reminder to use them every day with her sons.

How many ways are you saying, “I love you” to your child?

To discover how you to can share these treasured words with your child, click the link.

Further Reading: Enliven Your Child’s Days with Educational Activities and Parenting Best Practices

The post 49 Ways to say, “I love you” to a child! appeared first on Total Ability Solutions.

Parenting and teaching questions you may ask yourself “How can I be a better parent?” or “How can I be a better teacher?”

If you parent, take care of or teach a newborn,  a toddler, young child or teenager, you’ve experienced your fair share of parenting, caregiving and teaching challenges.

Ask any parent, and you’ll often hear about the challenges they face parenting their child.  As an occupational therapist, with over 20 years of practice helping parents, I have had many parents share their worries with me.

• Parents have many questions without answers.
• Many parents struggle everyday with things like; finding quality time for themselves in addition to quality time with their children in their busy, hectic daily lives.

For example parents tell me they worry about choosing the best or the right educational toys to help their child’s development and education.  For parents who have a child with a developmental or learning challenge those worries are magnified.

• Parents also feel stuck, wanting to be modern in their approach and move beyond old-fashioned toys for their young children but also don’t want to be too technology dependent on the screens of TV’s, computers or mobile devices.
• Parents often ask, “What is the happy medium between old-fashioned and too fashionable?”
• There are hidden difficulties in parenting too:  new moms, new dads and new grandparents are often exhausted by the physical care of their infant or toddler and put themselves at risk for injury.
• And a hidden physical problem for children? We pack them off to daycare, pre-school, or school with so many supplies for the day we don’t stop to think that bag they carry (often on their back) is going to hurt them.

There is an easy way for parents to find quality time for themselves and with their young children.

• With my 20 year experience in occupational therapy, helping children, their parents, grandparents and teachers, I assure you there is a balance between an old fashioned rattle and a smart phone for your toddler to play with that will help them develop skills and learn.
• For new moms, new dads and new grandparents protecting your back is a huge part of ensuring you are able to care for your child.  Knowing the correct way to pick up and carry a child can prevent a serous back injury from occurring.
• And finally going  sending your child off to daycare pre-school or school is a big step, make sure the bag you pick is the right backpack for your child and is less than 10% of their body weight when full.

Parenting, play time, quality time, screen time, technology and toys including educational toys are all covered in my FREE Ebook: Enliven Your Child’s Days with Educational Activities and Parenting Best Practices.

Have you got your copy? If not, signup for our newsletter or use the form in the top right of each page of our website, and you’ll get instant access to all this valuable information.

Further Reading:  Kindergarten – A Story of Overcoming Disability

Have you experienced a parenting challenge?

How did you learn to become a better parent?

How did you learn to become a better caregiver?

How did you learn to become a better teacher?

Leave a comment below and I promise to respond.

Christel

The post Enliven Your Child’s Days with Educational Activities and Parenting Best Practices appeared first on Total Ability Solutions.

Five going on six-year-old Willem starts Kindergarten this September. His parents shared their thoughts about their son’s start to school as part of an interview just published in my children’s column in KV Style.What did I learn about Willem? Well, he loves to color and has a great crayon grasp (a tidbit shared by his mom no doubt because I am an occupational therapist!). Willem speaks with sign language (his hearing is just fine) and is now also using an iPad as his voice. He has attended pre-school since he was 3 years old. Willem also has Down syndrome.As an occupational therapist, it was enlightening do learn what Willem’s parents want for the start of his journey in school. I am so grateful to his parents for opening their home and their hearts to me.

What Willem’s parents want his teachers to know.  Ability comes before Disability.

Willem’s mom relayed that his before school testing was also “testing” for her. As she was interpreting his sign language responses, the assessor felt she was exaggerating his replies and abilities.

Willem is a bright, capable boy. His parents say he should not be underestimated just because “he has an extra chromosome”. Willem’s parents want him to be just as much a part of the classroom and school as every other child. His mom was once told; he might be happy to sit and color at school, the teacher won’t have time to work with him. His parents him to be taught and challenged. They are optimistic using his iPad will allow him to speak and contribute just as much as his peers.

What Willem’s parents want his classmates to know. Ability comes before Disability.

Willem’s pre-school classmates have provided his mom with a favorite and best memory. Slower to master stair climbing, he watched his peers intently as they walked up and down the stairs every day to gym as he always crawled up and “bummed” down behind them. One day, he waited his turn, gave a decisive nod of his head and walked up the stairs behind his peers, and has never looked back!

His parents say that while young children may comment “Willem doesn’t talk” they most often follow that up with a comment like “That’s OK” and play away.

Willem’s parents want his peers to know they are the most motivating and important teachers he will have.

What Willem’s parents want other parents to know. Ability comes before Disability.

To the parents of typical children; treat Willem as they would their own children. Down syndrome does not give him the right to be treated differently. He has chores and household rules in his home. When he visits friends, their parents should not treat Willem any differently than their own child.

Remember the important role your child has in the life in another child’s, in particular, his mom says in the life of her son with special needs. Have him over on a play date, invite him to a party, be his friend.

To the parents of any child with a different or special need. Find at least one other parent who has a child with similar needs. The local Down syndrome Society has been her savior. His mom appreciates the availability to talk to other moms who understand what day to day life is really like. From adults with Down syndrome, his parents have learned the importance of Willem having friends who also have Down syndrome in addition to those that don’t. For Willem’s siblings, it offers them a peer group of siblings who may share their questions, their embarrassments, or their frustrations as well as their joys.

What Willem’s parents want therapists and specialist educators to know. Ability comes before Disability.

Celebrate the small stuff. We therapists are always working on the next step once one is achieved. Parents want the small stuff (that often takes weeks and months of parenting devotion to attain) to be party-worthy too! And explain the why when showing the how in therapy or remediation. Share every single resource; parents want it all and will pick what helps them best.

These are the best take home messages for my team of occupational therapists and I!

What Willem’s parents want everyone to know. Ability comes before Disability.

Willem and other people with Down syndrome go to school, have friends, get jobs, and get married too. People who have Down syndrome do everything everyone else does. Sometimes they do it in a different order or at different speed or to a different level. Raising a child with Down syndrome takes some hard parenting work, but they also have a team and network of expertise and support to rely on that they don’t have for their other children. Their dreams for Willem are the same for all their children; happiness and success.

Children in Kindergarten

How have you or your child overcome a purported disability?

Do you see ability first?

What was your child’s start to Kindergarten like?

Share your stories, and I will respond.

Christel

The post Kindergarten – A Story of Overcoming Disability appeared first on Total Ability Solutions.