Encouraging Kids to Play Outside

It can be hard to get kids excited to play outside, especially with all the fun toys and screens we have indoors for them to play with. Previous generations spent their playtime almost exclusively outdoors, but that has changed dramatically in recent years. Today, only 1 in 4 kids plays outside on a daily basis, compared to 3 in 4 children one generation ago1. There are significant benefits to playing outside, so encouraging your kids to get outdoors can be a great way to support their development!

Play Strengthens Your Child’s Development

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Have you heard the phrase, “Play is a child’s work?” It’s true. Play strengthens all aspects of your child's development. I’ll share a few examples of the benefits of play in different developmental domains.

10 Alternative Tummy Time Activities

We all know that tummy time is important! Tummy time helps your baby develop her neck, back, and shoulder muscles. Not only does tummy time help your child be ready to crawl and walk, it also helps her to be ready to drink from a cup and eat solid foods.

The recommended time for tummy time varies upon who you talk to, but it ranges from 30 minutes up to 90 minutes a day! Gradually work up to 60-90 minutes of tummy time per day by age 4 months. Now this sounds like a lot of time, but you don’t do it all at once. You can do a few minutes throughout the day. Think of it as your baby’s exercise!

I think it’s normal to automatically think of tummy time as placing your baby on her tummy on the floor with a few toys nearby. However, there are a variety of positions you can do tummy time with your baby.

Here are 10 “alternative” tummy time options:

1. Let your baby lay on your chest. This helps the position of being on her tummy feel more natural later on and also gives you some great interaction and eye contact with your baby!
2. Make it a part of your everyday routine. Every time you change her diaper, place her on her tummy while you take care of the diaper and clean up. Keep her in a safe place of course. With changing up to six diapers a day, this can easily take 12-18 minutes a day! If your baby is content when you return, take a moment to get down on her level and play a little longer with her.
3. After her bath time, do the same thing. Let her spend some time on her tummy in a safe place while you take a minute or two to gather her things to get her dressed.
4. Roll up a small receiving blanket and put it under your baby’s chest with their arms over it. Prop baby up with a small receiving blanket rolled up or a pillow. Keep their arms free in front of them. This allows them to see more around them besides the floor.
5. Try laying your baby down lengthwise across your knees while providing neck support. Remember to keep the baby's head aligned with their body. You can also move your legs softly from side to side to keep them entertained. If they fall asleep just remember to move them to their back.
6. The "football hold" is often a dad's favorite way to hold and carry his baby around. Place your baby across your forearm on her belly, chest in your hand, legs and arms dangling. Place your other hand securely on her back. Hold your baby close to you for added support. You can also gently rock the baby up and down. This is also a great position to calm a fussy baby.
7. Try placing baby tummy down on an exercise ball. Make sure to keep a firm hold on your baby as you move the ball gently forward and backward.
8. Lay on your back and lift your shins perpendicular to the floor. Place baby on her tummy on your shins and gently sway or lift your legs while holding her arms or side. Not only do you get a little exercise, she feels like she is flying!
9. Talking about flying, playing airplanes is a great option too! Similar to the football hold, support her body and neck and move her around the room!
10. Make tummy time fun! Try singing a song, playing peek-a-boo, or playing with rattles or other noise making toys while baby is doing tummy time. Get down on your baby’s level to really enjoy the interaction together.

Don’t get discouraged! Every minute of tummy time really adds up and can make a difference! With any skill-building activity, try to do tummy time when your baby is happy and content. For additional tummy time information, check out this article.

Helpful hint: When doing tummy time, help your baby get equal time on either side of her neck. If your baby begins to favor one side over the other, give her more time on the less preferred side. Be sure to talk to your doctor about any concerns you may have!

Yoga with Baby

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Daily yoga practice is a great way for moms to gain flexibility and escape the stresses of life. Your baby can also become stressed and this can affect the baby in many ways. One way to deal with this would be to practice yoga with your baby. “Practicing yoga with your baby isn't just an adorable good time—as the two of you bond, you’re toning your entire body as she develops motor skills. While you challenge your core, thighs, arms and shoulders during this gentle yoga practice, your baby benefits, too. It will help her/him sleep longer and help stimulate her/his mental and physical development" (Bump Baby and Beyond).


"Yoga movements can mimic the soothing rocking motion your baby felt while in the womb," Garabedian says. "This stimulates the relaxation response in both of you, helping you and your baby fall asleep easier and sleep longer." The National Association of Sports and Physical Education  (NASPE) recommends that infants get daily physical activity, and yoga is a great, gentle place to start—and the perfect way to ease your baby into a lifelong appreciation for exercise” (Fit Pregnancy: Yoga Buddies).

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Mini Cobra:

Lie your baby on their tummy. Sit tall and straight to protect your back and help your posture. Begin by stroking from the shoulders to the hands; the baby should raise their head. Mini cobra is a great position to give your baby a gentle massage. From 12 weeks your baby will begin to lift their head by themselves whenever they are on their tummy.

Roller Coaster:

Sit with baby face down across your lap and cushion the floor under their head. Support with one hand on their back. Gently bend your leg under their chest to raise baby up, then lower. Bend your other leg under their hips to raise them so hips are slightly higher than head. Repeat a few times. Make sure you're sitting up straight. Good for babies older than at least 12 weeks old.

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Knees to Chest:

Lie baby on their back. Hold your baby's legs around the calves and bend them open slightly wider than hips. Press baby's knees up to sides of abdomen under rib cage. Release pressure and relax completely. Repeat a few times. If baby resists or seems uncomfortable, try wiggling the leg gently to ease resistance or wait until later. Suitable for newborns.

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Leg Lifts:

Lie on your back with baby face-down on your chest. Bring your knees toward your chest and place baby tummy-down on your shins. Provide support by holding baby's torso at all times and support baby's head with your hands or knees. Lift your head and shoulders toward baby to tighten your abdominal muscles and play peek-a-boo with baby.

Lower your head and bring your knees closer to your chest. Hold for 10-20 seconds. Gently raise your shins up and lower them down to soothe baby and tighten your leg muscles. Repeat. Maintain eye contact and sing to your baby!

References:
2 simple Baby Yoga moves for Tummy Time
Colic? Try Baby Yoga
Yoga Buddies Workout Moves

Beating the Winter Blues - Indoor Gross Motor Activities

It’s that time of year again. As the smog descends on the valley and the ice creeps still over the yards, the winter blues have officially hit. The last months of winter are hard on all of us, but possibly the hardest for our little ones who are tired of being cooped up inside all day every day. With the holidays over and the excitement of their new toys worn off your lil guys are ready to move! The park is still too cold so we have brought the fun to you! 

Here are a few, simple ideas to turn your own living room into a wiggle-release zone. We just might all make it through this winter!

Penguin Waddle!

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You'll Need:

• medium ball (i.e. kickball, exercise ball)
•  masking tape (optional)

How:

• The child holds the ball between his legs (knees or ankles- whichever is more comfortable) and they have to waddle while keeping the ball in place.
• Variations:
• Make it a relay race by marking a start and finish line where the child must pass the ball to another child or to you.
• Mark lines on the floor with the tape that the child must walk over, like zig-zag lines, curved lines, circles, squares, etc.

Freeze Skate! 

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You'll Need:

•  Paper Plates
• Music
• Masking Tape (optional)

How:

•  Give each child two plates- one for each foot, and skate around the living room carpet floor.
• Turn on your favorite tunes and freeze when the music stops!
•  Variations
• Tape off a “rink” that the child can skate inside.
•  Do a skate train where every one hangs onto the person ahead of their shoulders and skate together.
• Take turns showing each other your best skate tricks. Name them and teach each other how to do them!  Source

Snowball Fight in the News!

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You'll Need:

• Old newspaper

How:

• Depending on the age and interest of your child, make “snowballs” with them or on your own by scrunching newspaper into balls.
• Place them in one big pile in your living room and go to town throwing them at each other, gather and go again.
• Couches or chairs make great forts and places to hide.  Source

Marshmallow Hockey!

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You'll Need:

•  Marshmallows (big or small)
•  Broom (best if child sized but not necessary)
•  Masking tape

How:

• Tape a circle with masking tape on the tile, laminate or wood floor.
• Give child a broom
• Spread marshmallows around room and let him sweep them into the circle
• Variations:
•  Count the marshmallows as he gets them into the goal.
•  Pass/Sweep the marshmallows around the circle.

Tips to Strengthen Your Baby's Neck

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The development of the neck in babies is a milestone that precedes other very important baby milestones. Babies must have good head control before a they can sit up, roll over, or crawl. Since neck muscles are needed for swallowing, properly developed neck muscles also help a baby while he or she is learning to eat solid foods (LiveStrong).

We'll go through the stages of infant neck development, ways to strengthen your baby's neck and what to do if your child is favoring one side of her neck.

Stages of Infant Neck Development

From birth to about six months of age, your baby will gradually develop head control. The BabyCenter website has some great information about neck development and we've summarized part of it for you here:

Age	Stage of Neck Development
Newborn	Baby’s neck muscles will be really weak for the next few months. Use your hand to support his head and neck when you hold him.
4-5 Weeks	May briefly lift her head and turn it side to side during tummy time.
6-8 Weeks	May raise his head while lying on his back. May hold his head up shakily while you hold him on your shoulder.
3-4 Months	May raise her head up 45 degrees and keep it steady during tummy time.
5-6 Months	Should be able to hold his head steady and upright. His head shouldn't lag behind his body when you pull him up to sit.

Ways to Help Strengthen Baby's Neck

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As your baby grows and develops, those neck muscles will become stronger, but you can complete neck exercises and stretches with your baby to help expedite the process: (LiveStrong: Baby Neck Exercises)

Tummy Time

• Tummy time is highly recommended by pediatricians and service providers alike as a way to help strengthen your baby's weak neck muscles. As your baby is actively doing tummy each day, her neck will get stronger and she'll try to lift her head from the ground. Make tummy time more interesting for your baby by laying down and have face to face interaction with her or put some fun toys near her for her to play with. 

Toy Game

• Play with your baby while he is laying down. Take a rattle and gently shake it in front of him. Once he looks at the toy, switch it to the other side of your baby so he has to turn his head to find the sound again. Switch it back to the first side and continue back and forth. Keep your baby interested so he can get his neck muscle exercise  Even if he is a very young newborn, he'll look toward the sound and look at the toy. While you shake the toy, switch to the other side of your baby so that he has to turn his head to find the sound again. Parents Connect notes that you can switch toys if your baby seems bored to keep him engaged, interested and stretching his neck muscles.

Football Hold

• The "football hold" is often a dad's favorite way to hold and carry his baby around. This is done by position baby's body under your arm, with your hand firmly supporting her belly and chest. She should be facing downward--this helps strengthen her neck muscles as she looks around the room. The "football hold" is also a popular way to breastfeed.

Neck Stretch

• Some babies naturally tend to look to one side more. Gently turn your baby's head so that her chin touches her shoulder. Make sure you gently rotate the head, but never force it or it could become an injury. If the muscles are tight, gently massage your baby's neck muscles while you hold her. This may loosen the muscle to help your baby look to both sides equally. Talk to your doctor if there is any pain or if baby is still favoring one side.  

Does your baby favor a side?

If your baby tends to favor a side of his or her neck, you can try doing some these exercises with him: (KidsHealth)

• When your baby wants to eat, offer the bottle or your breast in a way that encourages your baby to turn away from the favored side. (Use your child's desire to eat to encourage him along!)
• When putting your baby down to sleep, position your baby on her back facing the wall. Since babies prefer to look out into the room, she will actively turn away from the wall and this will stretch the tightened muscles of the neck. 

Having Fun in the Sun

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It’s getting warmer! And I am so excited to spend more time outside in the sun! It seems like every summer, the first day I spend out in the sun, I get completely fried! However, this year, my roommate did it first, which means I've thought about it and will [try] not to over-do it. J So while my roommate is slathering on the aloe vera, I am thinking about buying a tube of sunscreen. 

That said, it’s time to get out and play in the sun with your kids! Being outdoors has so many benefits for everybody in the family! Children are naturally drawn to active play outdoors: it allows them to explore their environment, develop muscle strength and coordination, and gain self-confidence. Playing actively outdoors also increases flexibility, fine and gross motor skills and is related to the development of a wide variety of physical skills, including those involved in sports. (Information Credit)

Play is just as important for adults! Play brings joy… and it’s vital for problem solving, creativity and relationships. Even better, playing with kids helps us experience the magic of play through their perspective. (And who couldn't use a little more magic in their life?!) (Information Credit)

To help protect yourself and your kids from the sun’s damaging rays while playing outside, follow these sun safety tips:

•  Keep babies younger than 6 months out of direct sunlight. Find shade under a tree, umbrella, or the stroller canopy.
•  When possible, dress yourself and your kids in cool, comfortable clothing that covers the body, like lightweight cotton pants, long-sleeved shirts, and hats.
•  Select clothes made with a tight weave - they protect better than clothes with a looser weave. If you’re not sure how tight a fabric’s weave is, hold it up to see how much light shines through. The less light, the better.
•  Wear a hat or cap with a brim that faces forward to shield the face.
•  Limit your sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, when UV rays are strongest.
•  Wear sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection (look for child-sized sunglasses with UV protection for your child).
•  Use sunscreen.
•  Set a good example. You can be the best teacher by practicing sun protection yourself. Teach all members of your family how to protect their skin and eyes.
•  Sunscreen can help protect the skin from sunburn and some skin cancers, but only if used correctly. Keep in mind that sunscreen should be used for sun protection, not as a reason to stay in the sun longer.

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How to Pick Sunscreen

• Use a sunscreen that says “broad-spectrum” on the label - that means it will screen out both UVB and UVA rays.
• Use a sunscreen with an SPF (sun protection factor) of at least 15. The higher the SPF, the more UVB protection the sunscreen has.
• Look for the new UVA “star” rating system on the label.
• One star is low UVA protection.
• Two stars is medium protection.
• Three stars is high protection.
• Four stars is the highest UVA protection available in an over-the-counter sunscreen product.
• For sensitive areas of the body, such as the nose, cheeks, tops of the ears, and the shoulders, choose a sunscreen or sunblock with zinc oxide or titanium dioxide. While these products usually stay visible on the skin even after you rub them in, some now come in fun colors that kids enjoy.

 Sunscreen for Babies

• For babies younger than 6 months:
• Use sunscreen on small areas of the body, such as the face and the backs of the hands, if protective clothing and shade are not available.
• For babies older than 6 months:
• Apply to all areas of the body, but be careful around the eyes. If your baby rubs sunscreen into her eyes, wipe the eyes and hands clean with a damp cloth. If the sunscreen irritates her skin, try a different brand or try a sunscreen stick or sunscreen or sunblock with titanium dioxide or zinc oxide. If a rash develops, talk with your child’s doctor.

How to Apply Sunscreen

• Use enough sunscreen to cover all exposed areas, especially the face, nose, ears, feet, and hands and even the backs of the knees. Rub it in well.
• Put sunscreen on 30 minutes before going outdoors. It needs time to absorb into the skin.
• Use sunscreen any time you or your child might sunburn. Remember that you can get sunburned even on cloudy days.
• Also, UV rays can bounce back from water, sand, snow, and concrete so make sure you’re protected.
• Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours. Sunscreen wears off after swimming, sweating, or just from soaking into the skin. (Information Credit)

Put on your sunscreen and get out and play!

6 Games to Get Your Child Moving!

This one goes out to all the parents out there who have ever looked at their child and wondered how can they have so much energy?? 

Children need to run, jump, play, and be active! Physical activity is crucial in promoting healthy habits that can last a lifetime. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, it helps children develop stronger muscle and bone density, and promotes lung and hearth fitness! Participating in just 20-30 minutes a day can even boost brain function in your child, pretty awesome right?

With that in mind, listed here some rockin ideas to help release some of that pent up energy and get your kids MOVING!

1. Wacky Waiter
Now here is some really FAST food! Grab a large plastic dinner place and a ping-pong ball for each team, and voila! To play you need a starting line, a designated turnaround point, and two teams with at least two players on each team. While holding the plate "waiter style", the first runner on each team places a ping pong ball on their plate. The player carries it to the turnaround point and back to tag the next teammate, and so on. If they drop the ball, pick it up and keep going. The first team to go through all their players first wins! 

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2. Foot Volleyball
Forget they gymnasium, all you need for this awesome indoor activity is some yarn or string and a balloon! This activity is perfect for those days when the weather is less that ideal. For instructions on how to play, click here.

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3. Hose Head
Okay, so I'm getting a workout just laughing at the thought of this! Use some old tights for an interesting take on keep-away, you'll need some old control-top hose or tights, a sponge ball or rolled-up sock, and at least two players. Hey, maybe mom can even get in on the fun! Learn how to play here.

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4. Shoe Pile Scramble 

This one is so easy! All you need? The shoes on their feet! Have the kids remove their shoes, and place them in a pile. Scramble them up to make it more exciting, then line up the players at the starting line a short distance away. The objective is this: put on your shoes, and make it back to the finish line, fast! Blow the whistle, and see who wins!

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5. Mom (or Dad) Calling
Speaking of getting parents in on the fun! This is an excellent way to stay active with your children, while getting a little social time in with the neighbors too! Here's how to play: Mothers (or dads!) line up side by side, blindfolded. Across the way, have your kids lined up side by side as well. At the "Go" the kids start calling out your name. The mom or dad who can find their child first, wins!

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6. Stepping Stones 
Finally, you can put a use to those old T-shirts! This is so simple, and a great way to spark their imagination. Each player get's two "stepping stones" (old t-shirts, towels, etc.) and you must cross a pretend stream, personally I prefer a  river of lava. No touching the grass! Stand on one stone, then place the second one ahead and jump onto that stone. Reach back to retrieve the first stone, place it farther ahead, and so on. The first to reach the other side unscathed wins!

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Get creative, be active, and have fun! Post below if you have addition awesome ideas!  

Fun in the Springtime Sun!

How great has the weather been lately?! It just makes me want to get out and do stuff! With busy schedules and six long months since we were able to do some fun, WARM outside activities, it can be hard to think of fun things to do in that beautiful springtime sunshine. So I scoured the internet and came up with 10 great ideas for some new or nostalgic, active or relaxing, family-friendly or kid solo activities to do this spring break.

1. Plant something green

Whether you are outside getting an early start on your summer garden...

...or spending a rainy day making a beautiful indoor garden, springtime green is always a happy addition to a home.  

2. Take a hike

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Hiking is a great way to help kids connect with nature. Its also a great way for parents to refresh as well!

3. Go on a bike ride
Get out and enjoy the sunshine while you visit downtown or your local park on a bike ride.

4. Visit a farm

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5. Fly a kite
Flying a kite is the perfect match to a windy spring day. Get nostalgic and show your kids a fun new activity!

6. Jump in puddles

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April showers bring May flowers....and plenty of puddles for kids to play in! Send them out in the rain if you need to get out some of those winter wiggles.

7. Feed the ducks
Ducky ducky! Visit your local duck pond and have a picnic, for you and these cute little animal friends.

8. Pick strawberries

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Don't those look delicious! Investigate local farms in your area that let visitors come and pick their strawberry harvest and get to pickin'.

9. Play with sidewalk chalk

Help your kids create a sidewalk chalk world to take pictures in and then have an afternoon photo session.

10. Take a sun nap
What better way to recharge than to relax in the sun and get in a quick nap. Or a long one!

Get out and enjoy spending some time in the sun, or rain, this spring!

Let's Talk Tummy Time!

You're doctor has probably said it, getting daily exercise is important! Is it any surprise that the same holds true for the little ones in your life? Whether your child is two months or twenty, working those little muscles is an important step in their development! That's right, I'm talkin' tummy time! Did you know spending time on their tummy helps infants to develop strength in their neck, shoulders, arms, back, and torso that helps them learn to crawl?

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If your baby shows little or no interest in tummy time, it can be difficult but try to be patient! Try setting them on their tummy in shorter intervals through out the day. The more time they spend on their tummy, the more normal it will become.

When should my baby start tummy time?

The American Academy of Pediatrics  recommends encouraging tummy from the first day home while they are awake and alert in short intervals (3-5min) 2-3 times a day. As they grow older and begin to enjoy the activity, more time is needed to build more strength.

Need some inspiration? Try the following activities to help encourage tummy time for your baby!

Tummy to Tummy
You can start encouraging tummy time from birth by resting your baby on your chest. This will help the position feel more natural later on, not to mention give you some great social interaction and eye contact with your baby!

Entertainment! 
Staring at the carpet can get boring, try placing a toy or a colorful cardboard book in front of them. To give them a different perspective, change up the view! Roll up a small receiving blanket and put it under your babies chest with there arms over it.

Lap Time
To mix it up, try laying your baby down lengthwise across your knees while providing neck support. Remember to keep the baby's head aligned with their body. You can also move your legs softly from side to side to keep them entertained, if they fall asleep just remember to move them to their back.

For some babies beginning tummy time is a blast! For others, not so much. Just remember to keep trying, it's a process! As they say, you gotta crawl before you can walk. But let's not get ahead of ourselves here!

Out and About: Fun Summer Activities in the Community!

Looking for summer activities to do outside of your home? One of our blog posts (Fun for the Thrifty Family) focused on summer activities to do with your kids at home. The flexibility of in-home activities can be very appealing (especially to parents with young children like me!). However, it is also great to have some out-of-house options up your sleeve for the days when everyone gets a little stir-crazy or you just plain need to be around other people! :)

But what parent has hours to spend researching different activities in the community? Luckily Child Care Resource and Referral has done the dirty work for you! They have compiled a fantastic summer activity guide which includes a list of summer programs, community activities, information on public swimming pools and libraries, articles on summer safety and more!

To view the summer activity guide for Utah, Summit, Wasatch, and Juab Counties, click here.

Spotlight from this activity guide: Provo Recreation Center

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The new and improved Provo Rec Center is something you shouldn't miss out on! Located at 320 West 500  North in Provo, the center offers a wide range of activities for both children and adults. 

As far as aquatic fun alone goes, the rec center boasts: 

- a kids' swim area

- a lazy river

- a deep water pool

- an indoor leisure pool

- a hot tub

- an outdoor splash pool

- and outdoor water slides! 

Day passes are $5 for adults and $4 for youth (ages 3-17). Summer swimming lessons are also available. For more information about the Provo Rec Center, including a full list of 

facility amenities, click here.

To view the summer activity guide for Salt Lake and Tooele Counties, click here.

Spotlight from this activity guide: The City Library

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"The City Library" indicates libraries that are part of the Salt Lake City Public Library System. This system includes six libraries in the Salt Lake area (for a list of these library hours and locations, click here). Each branch offers several recurring kids' events every week. Some of these events include:

- Preschool Story Time

- Friday Afternoon Movies

- Wednesday Crafts

- Book Baby

- Cuentame Cuentos

- Weekend Wiggle Time

- Family Yoga

Activities offered vary by location. For a complete list of recurring children's events and 

which libraries they are offered at, click here. Additional non-recurring library events that your 

kids may enjoy can also be found here.

Get out of your house this summer and have fun with your kids! 

There are so many things to do - they'll love it! :)

Baby Smarts

Parents are their baby's first teachers and they learn more from loving interaction from you, and from their other caregivers. So the secret to a to helping your baby learn is you, and the interaction you have with your baby can help them become smarter.

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 The activities that you can do with your baby can be simple but as simple as they may be they are important to their learning and development, and your connection with them. 

Here are some examples of different activities you can do to interact with your baby and helping them become smarter:  

• Time for a talk. Sound simple? That’s because it is. While some new parents feel a bit funny about talking to babies who can’t talk back, this isn't the same as talking to yourself. Whenever you take the time to talk to your baby while changing his diaper, tell him about your plans for the day or just comment on whatever it is that comes to mind. The nuances may be lost on him for a while, but he’ll definitely be listening and learning.

• Take a walk. Not only does taking a walk get you both some fresh air and you some exercise, but it gives you plenty more interesting things to talk about and describe to your baby. We’re both fans of front-pouch carriers or slings, as they offer you the close contact that is even more conducive for carrying on a conversation.

• Sing, sing a song. One of the classic Sesame Street songs says it perfectly: Don’t worry if you’re not good enough for anyone else to hear, just sing, sing a song! Your newborn will not only cut you some slack if you happen to sing off key, but will instantly become your biggest fan.

• Imitate. Start by sticking your tongue out and you may be surprised to find that your newborn copies you. Move on to making some exaggerated facial expressions and repeating sounds your baby makes, and before long you’ll find that she’ll imitate you as well!

• Stay in Touch. Massage is a great way to stay in touch with your baby. Anyone who has ever had one will agree that it is relaxing. But beyond just relaxation, touch is a particularly important part of how young babies experience the world, and massage can be a true bonding experience—whether you make it up as you go along or buy a book on the art of baby massage.

• Read a book. The entire reading-with-your-baby experience is custom-designed to foster both fun and learning, from the close contact of being held, to hearing the sound of your voice, to watching the pictures and pages go by. In your baby’s first months, however, don’t worry too much about pictures, because it’s the time you share and the sound of your voice that your baby will care about most. In fact, we suggest you take this opportunity to read aloud whatever you find to be the most interesting, since it will only be a matter of months before your baby will expect to have a say in which book(s) you read!

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Let it Snow!

If you're here in Utah, you're well aware I'm sure of all the snow we got over the weekend! If you're like me, getting snow means staying inside and only venturing outside when completely necessary. But, as parents, you may go crazy trying to keep your kids entertained inside all winter so why not take advantage of the changing seasons to enhance your child's development?! Your kids may be really experiencing winter for the first time or as they grow they can understand it in a different way! So bundle up and head outdoors!

Outdoors

Build a Snowman: By using their little muscles to build a snowman they are working on their gross motor skills! Plus they can do some problem solving to figure out what would make the perfect nose on that face.

Make a Snow Angel: They can also work on their gross motor skills by plopping down in the snow to make angels, get those muscles moving!

Taking a Walk: By simply taking a walk around in the snow your child can be visually stimulated by how different the world is when there's snow! Talk to your kids about what they see and get them talking about everything they're experiencing.

Sledding: Not only is sledding completely exhilarating, it's another way to get moving!

Coloring Snow: Fill a squirt bottle with some colored water (just use food coloring) and let them go to work decorating the snow! Just as coloring with crayons gets the creativity flowing, imagine how much fun it is in the snow!

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Be creative! Get your kids out and about in the snow so they can experience the world around them and learn from it! Just remember to stay warm and play safe.Of course you can't always be outside, so bring winter inside!

Indoors

Snowflakes: Make snowflakes by cutting shapes out of white paper and decorating! Using little scissors will get your child's fine motor skills working! You can even take it a step further by using glitter or coloring your snowflakes!

Build a Fort: Use blankets, chairs and pillows to make a great fort to watch the snow fall outside. That way you can be cozy and warm to watch the world change outside. Talk about what's going on!

Bake: When it's cold outside, warm treats are always especially great! Have your kids help you or watch you bake, having them involved will help them to get their brains working! Plus you get to enjoy a yummy treat!

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There are many more ways that you can take advantage of the changing seasons, find ways that are fun for your family and use it as a learning tool to help your kids to continue to grow! Just remember to stay warm!

Recognizing Sensory Processing

We are thrilled to have a guest post today from Katharine Robinson (MOTR/L) and Crystal Emery (P.L.A.Y. Consultant) from Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain, a program that provides services and support for children and adults with disabilities and special needs. Check out their site HERE for more information. Today they'll be talking about sensory processing.

Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain Sensory Services

Our sensory systems help us make sense of and learn from our every day experiences.  Sometimes, a person’s sensory system doesn't register information at a typical intensity – it registers either too little or too much.  Easter Seals-Goodwill Northern Rocky Mountain produced a simple and informative video explanation on of our senses and how they affect our everyday lives narrated by one of the exceptional children we serve. Check it out!

Another resource we offer is our Wiggly Worm Sensory Processing Class.  This is an 8-week parent/child class that covers a different type of sensory processing input each week.  Parents learn and children practice fun and helpful strategies each week and leave at the end of the class with a list of activities specifically chosen to meet their unique needs. For more information about this class, contact Janae at (801) 946-1860.

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The following information is provided to help understand sensory processing a little better:

What is Sensory Processing?

Sensory processing involves the ability to take in information within our environment through our senses and utilizing that information to create a response. Once sensory information is received through nerve receptors in our body, that information is sent up to the brain. The brain then decides how to respond or react to that sensation.

The most familiar senses involve vision, hearing, taste, smell, and touch/tactile. But we also have two other sensory systems –proprioception and vestibular.  Proprioception relates to deep pressure to our muscles and joints. It helps us know where our body is in space. You get this input through climbing, jumping, running, etc. The vestibular system involves the circular canals in your ears that detect movement. It is considered your “equilibrium” and helps with balance.

What happens when problems occur?

With our senses, there is a “normal” range of functioning. When the information received through our senses is interpreted outside that normal range, problems occur. A child can either be considered “hypersensitive” or “hyposensitive” to sensory stimuli. Hypersensitivity is when the sensation being received is too overwhelming and therefore the child becomes resistive to the input. For example, when a child is hypersensitive to tactile input, they may become defensive (more so than usual) when their parent applies sunblock to their skin, or when the child accidently touches a certain texture of food during mealtime (they most likely will refuse to touch it to begin with), or when they are hugged by a friend. Hyposensitivity is when the sensation being received is not enough and therefore, the child needs more input to register it. For example, when a child is hyposensitive to vestibular input and fails to register movement appropriately, the child will seek additional excessive movement such as rocking, spinning, swinging, etc. These children may also have difficulty with balance and bilateral coordination. It is important to note that one or more sensory systems can be impacted at the same time.

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“Sensory Diets”

The best thing one can do for a child who has sensory processing issues is to expose them to sensory stimuli in a gradual, consistent, and safe manner so that they can successfully experience these sensations in their natural environment. Once you determine what a child can tolerate, gradually provide more variety or intensity so that the child is eased into experiencing more of these sensations. It is important to be an active participant with the child during these activities so that they are able to progress in terms of what they are willing to try and experience.

Occupational therapists often create “sensory diets”, implemented as part of their daily routine, to allow the child to function at their best within their environment. Sensory diets are customized and specific to each child and family, having consistent activities to perform within the day according to the family and child’s schedule and needs. The chart below (adapted from Gilbert, Anderson, Kurtz, & Roche-Outen, 1995) provides general guidelines in choosing activities to either “calm” or “alert” a child, depending on whether they are hypersensitive or hyposensitive to stimuli. In some instances, a calming activity may be more alerting to a child; therefore, their reactions must be closely monitored to ensure a successful sensory diet.

	To Calm	To Alert
Vision	Use soft light Use no lights Block distractions using a screen, room divider, or study carrel.	Use bright lights Use a focused light on an object.
Sound	Sing softly Play soft classical or nature music. Speak in a monotone or whisper.	Provide music with varied pitch, sound, or an uneven or fast beat. Speak with a high and low voice.
Touch	Pat or stroke rhythmically on child’s back. Stroke a stuffed animal. Hold or wear something warm. Hug, if accepted. Sit with a pillow on lap or surrounded by pillows. Use a lap desk (pillow with hard top). Roll up in a blanket. Rest hands on child’s shoulders. Fold arms against body. Sit in a womblike place (tent of box).	Provide light touch to palm. Hold something cold. Hold a fidget item (something to hold in hand). Dress in cool clothing. Gently but quickly rub the skin.
Movement	Rock, roll, swing, or bounce, slowly and rhythmically. Seat push-ups (raise bottom off chair using hands). Wall push-ups (push against wall with hands)	Change positions often, exercise, jump, dance, jiggle. Sit on a chair-sized ball. Jump on a mat or bounce the child on lap. Pass out papers, books, get water, erase the board, deliver messages.
Oral-Motor	Suck mild flavors. Use a straw to blow a hanging balloon or streamers. Blow tissue paper wads into a container during motor groups. Drink from a straw. A narrow straw and thick liquid requires more effort. Blow soap bubbles. Blow through a straw to the wand.	Crunch and lick food. Eat salty, citrus, sour, or smoked flavors. Suck lemonade ice pops. Lick fingers after making batter. Chew on a child’s tow designed for chewing. Blow whistles with moving parts. Allow the child to have a cup of ice water throughout the day. Allow for frequent water fountain breaks.

 

Resources for Parents

Catching Kids Before They Fall:

How Sensory Processing Disorders Affect Young Children’s Learning and Behavior

Carol Kranowitz

http://www.out-of-sync-child.com

Sensory Processing Disorder Foundation

http://www.spdfoundation.net

The Sensory Processing Disorder Resource Center

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com

Fun Sensory Integration Therapy Activities

http://www.sensoryfun.com/sensory_integration_activities.htm

OT Mom Learning Activities: Sensory Integration activities

http://www.ot-mom-learning-activities.com/sensory-integration-activities.html

Sensory Activities – Parents’ Discussion board

http://www.wrongplanet.net/postt184411.html

Sensory Processing for Parents and Professionals: Advice, Activities, and Games

http://www.sensoryprocessing.info/

The Toddler’s Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1 ½ to 3-Year-Old Busy

Trish Kuffner

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0671317741

The Preschooler’s Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities To Occupy 3-6 Year Olds

Trish Kuffner

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0671316338

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