OT

22 Jan 2014

Affirmations for Children/People with Low Self-Esteem

“Blank” Basic Beat

Multiple affirmations and lively beat

I believe in myself

I feel good about myself

These downloadable mp3s are positive affirmation chants, specifically made for me on request by famed drummer Russell Buddy Helm. I had them made for my children who receive occupational therapy services, children who often struggle with low self-esteem. Although they are great for all children and adults alike. While these “power songs” can be chanted or focused on, the intent is for it to eventually just play in the background, if not annoying to the child.

Boy

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7 Jan 2014

Bed-making Energy Conservation: OT tip of day

It can be easier to make your bed while still in it. While lying down spread the sheets into their most appropriate areas and then slip out. It’s either good enough or easier to finish. Be like a starfish!


7 Jan 2014

Hire This 4th Grader to Help You Fire Your Mother

Background: John is very angry with his mom about a big decision that was upsetting to him.

Mother reports: “John asked me into his room, shut the door, sat me down at his Lego table and told me he had to “let me go”. He handed me an envelope with some peppermints and bandaids. Compensation, I believe. This week he gave me and Shane (ed note: father) some progress charts. He said we could skip the meetings.”

JerkChart

Jerk Chart

Jerk Chart

Notice the chart that shows levels of behavior:

“Good”
“Ok”
“Bad”
“Very Bad”
“You’re a jerk”
 
Unfortunately, according to the charts, his father got to the “You’re a Jerk” level several times. Mom luckily fared better, especially considering this was after she had been fired.
Update: Mom reports that the chart has been modified with a new level below “You’re a Jerk”. It’s “Get Out Now”. Apparently she “fell into that zone” last week. Oh no!

2 Jan 2014

Cutting/fine motor manipulation/imagination: OT Activity

DinosaurEdited

 

ACTIVITY

1. Take dinosaur post-it or other random animal paper. Child cuts across animal.

2. Child is veterinarian and fixes animal. (Skim over the fact we were directly responsible for its hurt, cough).

3. Give child a band-aid.

4. Child puts animal pieces together in right orientation, secures band-aid.

See below about grading the activity, skills worked on, and extra notes, while I figure out how to add in a “read more” link 🙂

TO GRADE ACTIVITY (change difficulty level) depending on child’s strengths/weaknesses:

Cutting:
Harder: Multiple lines, thinner lines, curvy or wiggled lines, lower contrast lines, more directions, having child make own lines first and cut out own.
Easier: One thick line, high contrast, fewer directions, no line at all, thicker paper (like a manila folder, construction paper, index card), modified scissors

Band-aid:
Harder:Child gets out band-aid and performs rest of task independently or with minimal assistance, no prompting for sequencing
Easier: Open the band-aid or help the process (start it until manageable by child, such as peeling the bandaid pieces a tiny bit apart and child takes over). Help hold the papers down so child can apply bandaid.

Imagination:
Harder: Do not give the child a sample, fewer prompts, encourage playing pretend
Easier: Role model playing pretend yourself only, give child sample

SKILLS worked on with animal band-aid activity:

  • Cutting
  • Fine motor manipulation (opening and placing bandaid)
  • Visuospatial organization (placing pieces back together)
  • Imagination/creativity/flexibility (understanding concept via drama/pretend/silliness)
  • Life skill (manipulating band-aid)
  • Cognition/Problem-solving (figuring out how to use the band-aid and put it all together)

Notes:
1. Be silly/dramatic. Children with mental rigidity can handle this sort of task as it’s concrete enough to make sense, but the imaginative creative piece is helped by silliness. “Oh nooooo our poor dinosaur!! I hope we can fix him!!!”

2. KIDS LOVE BANDAIDS. I didn’t have any cool ones, but that would help even more. If you have more than one type, let them choose. Even children resistant to cutting/directions may complete this task if they see a band-aid is involved!


1 May 2012

AOTA Conference in pictures

Hi guys, so here are some pictures I took from conference. I need to write about it in detail soon too eh? But for now, pics.

 My Carry on…my boquet of flowers + my tiara in preparation of being Miss OTPF. I totally stabbed my arm with the tiara and ended up with a bunch of red marks. Only I could stab myself with a tiara.

Hmm these pictures aren’t in order. This was late Saturday night in Erik’s killer awesome JW Marriot room…He wanted to show us the killer view Libby, one of my AMAZING blog readers and also the co-writer on the feature article of OT Practice on Animal-Assisted Technology, is on the left. 

One of Anita’s students, Frankie, who is utterly hilarious, showing us the Tebow pose on the dance floor. 

Wow Libby. Wow. 

Me, Erik, Anita…all part of the social media panel. 

BroOT! Join the brotherly movement, bro. 

 Me, Libby, Libby’s former classmate Erica, and Frankie, on our way to AOTPAC night.

Erik showing us how to do Star Wars on the Kinect during a tech day presentation earlier in the day. 

Me getting Anita getting Erik. 

Libby guarding our stuff…

Huge tech room. It was pretty busy even though I know it looks empty. 

Sweet Erica took this picture of the panel…Anita, me, Erik, Christopher Alterio of ABC Therapeutics, and Cheryl Morris of OT notes. 

Erik’s ingenius use of the water jug as an ipad holder to video the person talking since we were streaming live. 

Anita presenting in her PJs. We were all in character.

SAN DIEGO NEXT YEAR! 

 Me and Cheryl right before it started.


21 Sep 2007

Therapeutic Handling Occupational Therapy Lab Demonstration

This is quite possibly the worst occupational therapy video ever made (due to my own stumbling, not my subject/cameraman). I was just trying to demonstrate some of the techniques we learned in our handling lab! I have a bad memory so I wanted it on camera to help me remember. Plus I wanted to show y’all the amazing handling skills I am starting to possess.

Basically you could use this more easily with a child, but it’s all about key points of control. Using just your hands in certain spots, you can manage to get someone from supine (think of holding a bowl of SOUP, i.e. hand cupped upward) to prone (belly down) to long-sitting to side-sitting to tall-kneeling etc until the person is standing. This is for someone who requires some assistance but can help at least a little bit.

Pros of this video:
It shows you key points of control
It’s amazing because it involves Brooke, me, and camerawoman Allison, plus Meg + other voices in the background

Cons:
I stumble and can’t remember exactly where my hands go at times
The sound is bad
I am holding onto Brooke’s bootie probably more than necessary but it’s a lot easier when you have as much leverage as possible. Sorry, Brooke.
PS: Sorry it is embedded twice. I don’t know how to change it without starting over, which I refuse to do. It’s the same video though, don’t watch it twice unless you are so enraptured you feel a strong desire to do so.