Parenting is one of life’s greatest joys and challenges. As the parent of a child with autism, every day can bring more discoveries and new learning moments. Some parents have described it as learning how to build a plane while flying it, but with the right support, you can conquer any challenge. From Bucktown to…
Does it seem like your child is a picky eater? Do you dread every mealtime because you feel like you are force feeding your child? Does your child refuse to put certain foods near his or her mouth? If this sounds familiar, don’t worry—there are methods to introduce foods into a child’s repertoire in fun…
There are so many options for shoes for kids. From the day you bring them home from the hospital, you could have your child in light-up sneakers or bright and sparkly sandals. Though it’s exciting to find the cutest little shoes out there, deciding on appropriate footwear for your child is an important task! Shoes…
What is elastic therapeutic taping? Elastic therapeutic taping is used as an adjunct to physical therapy. It is used to increase carryover from a child’s treatment session to when they are at home. Therapeutic tape is a cotton tape with elasticity woven in, which means that the tape will not restrict movement. There are several…
WHAT SHOULD I EXPECT DURING THIS TREATMENT FOR MY BABY? In 1992, the American Academy of Pediatrics began their “Back to Sleep” campaign to reduce Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The campaign was successful in reducing SIDS by 40% in the United States, but has resulted also in contributing to the development of torticollis in…
As pediatric physical therapists, we commonly treat babies that have atypical or asymmetrical head shapes as a result of positioning or a variety of other factors. With early intervention, a number of techniques and positioning strategies can halt this asymmetrical shaping and avoid corresponding facial asymmetries that are often seen in conjunction with abnormal head…
Lift the flap, turn the page, lift the flap, turn the page. This is what many of us think about when envisioning an interactive story time with our kids. But, there are numerous other ways to engage your child in books! Building a bond with books can start when babies learn to hold objects in…
Encouraging your child to assume more developmentally appropriate positions during play I see W-sitting everywhere – in my daughter’s play group, at the park and even on TV commercials. As a PT I often get questions from parents asking, “Is W-sitting really a problem?” or “My child seems most comfortable when W-sitting. Should I really…
Copyright 1995/2022 by Dr. Kay A. Toomey Does your child choke or gag during meals? Does he/she have difficulty eating any of the foods in a texture group or a nutrition group? The SOS Approach to Feeding is a developmental feeding therapy that allows a child to interact with and learn about foods in a…
What is going on in my child’s brain? Can you believe that scholars and researchers used to believe that babies were born with no mind as if they were blank slates? Many parents back then were perplexed by such conclusion, if not accusation. We see how capable our children are each minute we spend time…
If you watch a typically-developing seven- or eight-month-old child for an hour, you will see them move and assume a wide range of positions. There is an amazing amount of variety in their movement. Variety is important – we want our children to be comfortable and able to play in sitting, on their back, on…
Feeding development is a complex topic that can be confusing for many parents to navigate. With hundreds of information sources out there, it becomes difficult to understand your child’s feeding development and the strategies you can use to help raise a healthy eater. Below we offer some helpful tips to support your child’s feeding during…
Your speech-language pathologist/speech therapist may recommend that your child could benefit from AAC, but what is AAC? Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a term used to encompass all forms of communication, other than oral speech, to express thoughts, needs, wants, and ideas. We all use AAC to communicate throughout the day. We may use gestures…
Children with autism or with ASD (autism spectrum disorder) typically display difficulties in the areas of communication, social, and behavior. In regard to communication, a child may present with significantly delayed receptive, expressive, and pragmatic language skills. A child with ASD often has difficulties processing information which makes it difficult for him or her to…
MY CHILD WONT EAT! Some tips/techniques to help! No parent imagines that feeding their child is going to be a difficult task. I look back at my own childhood and thought about how much I loved to eat at a young age, and there was no food that I would refuse. However, after becoming a…
