Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Executive Function Activities for 18- to 36-month-olds

Executive functioning is the job of the frontal lobe of the brain.  As the frontal lobe develops, children are able to do things like focus their attention for longer periods, use a working memory to accomplish tasks and practice self control.  These skills develop over time, but there are activities to stimulate the development of executive functioning.  These activities are suggested for children from 18 months to 36 months.  If you would like some ideas for developing foundational executive functioning skills for younger children, please follow this link:
http://davisei.blogspot.com/2014/10/executive-functioning-for-little-ones.html

Active Games:

  • Provide many materials and opportunities for children to try new skills, such as throwing and catching balls, walking a balance beam, running up and down an incline, jumping, etc.  Set up simple rules to follow for added working memory and inhibition challenges - for example, take turns running to a "finish line" and back.
  • Older toddlers can enjoy simple imitation games, such as "Follow the Leader".  This is a great test of working memory as well as attention and inhibition.
  • Games that require active inhibition can be fun, too, like freeze dance (musical statues), although don't expect children to "freeze" without a few reminders.  Also effective are song games that require children to start and stop, or slow down and speed up (Popcorn, Ring Around the Rosie).
  • Song games with many movements are also fun (Hokey Pokey; I'm a Little Teapot; Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes).  There require children to attend to the song's words and hold them in working memory, using the song to guide their actions.
  • Fingerplays, or songs and rhymes with hand gestures to match, continue to be popular with children this age, similarly challenging children's attention, working memory and inhibitory control.
Conversation and Storytelling:
  • Simply watching and narrating their play can be a great way to help very young children understand how language can describe their actions.  As children get older, questions can be added, such as "What will you do next?" or "I see you want to put the ball inside the jar.  Is there another way to do that?"  These comments help children pause to reflect on what they are trying to do, how what they have tried has words, and how to plan their next move.
  • Telling stories about shared events can be a great way to reflect on these experiences.  The experience must be held in working memory while the child considers the order in which things happened, why things happened the way they did, and what the experience meant.  These stories can also be written or drawn into simple books and revisited.
  • Talking about feelings is also important, either by labeling children's feelings as they are noticed ("It looks like you are really angry right now") or by telling the story of a time a child became upset.  By giving children language to reflect on their feelings, these conversations can support the development of emotional regulation, which is essential for engaging executive function.
Matching/Sorting Games:
  • Ask children to play a sorting game in which you take turns sorting objects by size, shape or color.  You can use things you already have, like matching socks, putting spoons and forks away, or gathering all the toy cars in one bin and the blocks in another.
  • Engage older toddlers in a silly sorting game, such as putting small shapes in a big bucket and big shapes in a small bucket.  Children tend to put like with like, so a change is challenging, requiring them to inhibit the expected action and engage their selective attention and working memory.
  • As they get older, toddlers also start to enjoy simple puzzles, which require attention to shapes and colors.  Adults can ask children to think about what shape or color they need, where they might put a certain piece, or where they might put the piece if it doesn't fit, thereby exercising the child's reflection and planning skills.
Imaginary Play:
  • Ask children questions about what they are doing.  Narrate the things you see happening.
  • Play along with the child, and let the child direct the play.  Give the child a chance to tell you what role you should play and how you should do it.  Regulating the behavior of others is an important way that children develop their own self-regulation skills.
  • Provide a variety of familiar household objects, toys and clothing items to encourage children's imaginary play.
This information is taken from developingchild.harvard.edu

Monday, May 18, 2015

Common Problems of Children with Attention Disorders

The following information was submitted by Carol Trillia, a Developmental Specialist.

Children with ADHD or ADD have many common traits

Most children with ADD or ADHD are very creative and very active, these children seem to be on the go all the time, they do not come with an  "on /off switch!" They will run rather than walk, they jump before looking, they want everything "right now" and have a hard time waiting for rewards or special events. They may be looking straight at you when you are talking to them, but after a few words their minds are wandering! They can still hear you, but they are focusing on other things… They have a very active mind! They ping pong from one thought to another!
They have a very hard time staying on task. They have a hard time regulating their emotions, they  tend to overreact , and when they are emotional they can't concentrate or stay on task! They are passionate about everything they do. They tend to have many tasks going at all times!
Children with ADHD and ADD tend to be physically sensitive, clothing can feel itch or tight, lighting can be too bright, food can have weird textures of flavors, etc.
These children can be hard to love, because they can be so emotional,  impulsive and disorganized, everything is magnified!
They are not out to make your life miserable, this is how their brains are wired!
They are passionate, loving and very intelligent, everything they do, they put their heart and soul into,  they are intense, perceptive, passionate, creative and very caring.
If you have a child that is ADHD or ADD wired;  you are blessed, your will not have a dull moment in your life!  
That been said, there are a few things you may want to do to help your child reach his/her maximum potential.
When giving directions, give one or two at a time; show  by example visual and lots of hands on , give the child time and a place to be creative and a place to move.
Do  a physical activity before you have to sit and concentrate. Make time for frequent breaks. Use a large exercise ball instead of a chair, or no chair at all.
Set clear parameters and expectations, be specific, if you are vague they will fill in the blanks!   

A child with ADD or ADHD will thrive when shown  compassion, understanding and love.  Enjoy the ride, it is going to be a wild one, full of adventure and fun, and very unpredictable! 

Monday, May 11, 2015

Information about Eating

Last week I was able to attend a lecture all about little kids and food.  The presenter was Dr. Thomas Sutton, from the Utah County area.  His passion is pediatric nutrition.

Dr. Sutton stated that parents need to look at the quality of food intake in their little ones as well as quantity.  If your child doesn't eat much then you need to make sure what they are eating is adding the vitamins and nutrients needed, including protein and micro-nutrients.

He pointed out some interesting facts:



:Image result for fun food
  • The brain doubles in size during the first year.
  • The brain triples in size during the first two years.
  • Better nutrition early increases communication skills at a later age (tests conducted when children were 10 years old).
  • Dietary intake habits are established by age 3.
  • Giving babies soda results in lower cognitive scores later.

Ideas to encourage healthy eating:
  • Make mealtime fun
  • Have the child help with the preparation of the food
  • Sit with the family for mealtime, but limit mealtime to 20 - 30 minutes
  • Avoid distractions (TV, toys)
  • Try all kinds of foods
  • Provide appropriate mealtimes and fasting times (3 hours between meals so kids will feel hungry)
  • Tolerate age appropriate messes
  • Maintain a neutral attitude during meals
If you have other concerns or questions regarding food and your little one, ask your service provider for more ideas.  Happy Eating!

Friday, May 1, 2015

May Community Activities

https://data.peachjar.com/user_images/14302360854798.jpg

Chloe's Sunshine Playground is a playground designed for children with other abilities.  This statement is from the brains, imagination, hard work, dedication, and fund raiser that made this park a reality: On May 9th, the ribbon will be cut to Chloe's Sunshine Playground! Everyone is invited to join us for this exciting day, which also happens to be Chloe's birthday! The celebration will include FREE birthday cake, snow cones, cookies, cotton candy, Wendy's Frosty's, balloon animals, face painting, bounce houses, and carnival games in addition to the amazing new playground. I can't think of a single reason you should miss it!

May 6th is Free Fishing with a Cop Day in Woods Cross from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm.  No fishing license is required.  Poles and bait will be provided.  Go west on 500 South.  After you cross over the Legacy Highway, follow the frontage road north.  You will see the pond from the road.  Turn west on Pages Ln. to the property.

Mother's Day is on May 10th!

May 13th - 15th is Magic on the Sidewalk - Chalk Art Festival in Bountiful

May 25th is Memorial Day.  Celebrations will be held in two locations:
   Woods Cross - at City Hall/Hogan Park (1555 South 800 West) with a Flag Ceremony and a Program beginning at 8:00 am with Sgt. Joshua Hansen speaking.  Breakfast after the program for $1 per person.

   Kaysville - at the Kaysville Cemetary (500 East Crestwood Rd.).  Sgt. Jill Stevens Shephard will be speaking.

Gigi's Playhouse Events for Saturday, May 1st:
Friends, Fun and Fitness, 9:00 to 10:00 am.  Miss Brittanie will continue to lead participants in exercises that will strengthen our cores to maximize balance, endurance and stamina.  Please wear clothing you can freely move in.
2 and Under (Busy Bodies), 10:00 to 11:00 am.  Special Guest, Miss Keely, a speech therapist will teach about parent and child training on speech development and lead activities to strengthen speech in our children.
Gigi's Playhouse is at 471 Heritage Park Boulevard, Layton.  More activities at Gigi's Playhouse for the month of May can be found at http://gigisplayhouse.org/layton/calendar/

Utah Easy to Love have the following activities scheduled for next week:
*Monday - Come say hi and join the fun at Station Park's Family First Activity from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.  Flowers and Frogs is the Spring Theme!
*Tuesday - T shirt Contest!  They are looking for some awesome tshirt designs to get some cute shirts printed.  They should not be disability specific but otherwise the sky is the limit!
*Wednesday - Kaysville GET AIR Jump for Mental Health Awareness.  From 4:00 to 5:00 pm Easy to Love families can jump for $5!  Please email info@utaheasy2love.org to reserve your spot.
*Thursday - Guest Posts!  Submit your guest blog post, poems, thoughts etc. so they can be loaded on the blog.
*Friday - Parents coffee/hot cocoa morning!  Two Creek Coffee House (470 South Main St.  Bountiful)  Wear green.
*Saturday - Come have some fun at Allies with Families Unmasking Children's Mental Health event in SLC (see the flyer below).  Don't forget your costume!