Blog - PediaStaff

Sing Rather Than Talk to Babies to Calm Them

October 28, 2015

30 October 2015, Newsletter, OT, SLP

[Source: Medical News Today] When an infant shows signs of distress, a parent’s first instinct may be to engage in baby talk in an attempt to calm them down. But according to a new study, singing may be a much more effective…...

October 28, 2015

30 October 2015, Autism, Newsletter, OT, Vision

By: Cara Koscinski, MOT, OTR/L, The Pocket Occupational Therapist My son with autism complained of frequent headaches, squinted, and showed difficulty reading. His pediatrician recommended an evaluation by an eye doctor. We anxiously awaited the appointment with the ophthalmologist and felt we would get…...

October 27, 2015

30 October 2015, Article, Fine Motor Skills, Newsletter, OT, Scissor Skills, Tip or Resource

[Source: Your Therapy Source] Here are 5 ways to help children learn how to use scissors and to make cutting a little bit easier. 1. Use thicker paper when cutting. Recycled mail, greeting cards or playing cards are fun and easier to…...

October 27, 2015

30 October 2015, News of the Week, Newsletter, Physical Education, PT

[Source: Medical X-Press] Weight and physical activity levels are both factors in a child’s ability to acquire and use knowledge, a new study finds. “The question this paper asks that has not been asked before is whether it is just fitness that…...

October 27, 2015

30 October 2015, App, Autism, Newsletter, Tip or Resource

Editor’s Note: The internet is exploding with the news that Sesame Street has launched an autism initiative. Check out the resources on the Sesame Street website HERE and then download this new, free app! [Source: OTs with Apps] Sesame Street, with the…...

October 27, 2015

30 October 2015, News, Newsletter

[Source: Medical News Today] More than a century ago, Pavlov figured out that dogs fed after hearing a bell eventually began to salivate when they heard the ring. A Johns Hopkins University-led research team has now figured out a key aspect of…...

October 27, 2015

30 October 2015, Autism, News, Newsletter, OT, SLP

[Source: Medical News Today] A five week treatment with the synthetic hormone oxytocin significantly improved social, emotional and behavioral issues among young children with autism, according to University of Sydney research published today in Molecular Psychiatry. The study, led by researchers at…...

October 26, 2015

Newsletter, OT, Proprioreception, PT

[Source: Your Therapy Source] Many pediatric occupational and physical therapists work with children who exhibit decreased sensory processing such as decreased body awareness, motor planning and proprioception. These difficulties of sensing where a child is in space can interfere with motor skill…...

October 26, 2015

30 October 2015, Fine Motor Skills, News, Newsletter, Thanksgiving, Tip or Resource

[Source: Lalymom.com] We are still on a fine motor skills kick in our house so I wanted to do a CUT-Punch-PASTE project to make a Thanksgiving Fine Motor Activity. I thought back to our L is for Leaf Paper Punch Puzzle…...

October 26, 2015

30 October 2015, Autism, News, Newsletter

[Source: NPR.org] The muppet Julia has not yet made her TV debut, but the wide-eyed little girl with a big smile is the star of her own “digital storybook” called “We’re Amazing, 1,2,3.” For over a year now, Sesame Street has…...