Snow Day and Heavy Work

I don't know what the weather is doing where you are, but it feels like we've had nothing but bitter cold (minus 37C with wind chill!), freezing rain and more snow than we know what to do with since Christmas.  It feels like the kids have been on an extended holiday for weeks now because of all of the bus cancellations.  The mercury is so low that they haven't been having their regular outdoor breaks at school either.

Even the kids are wondering when it will stop

All of this is throwing a bit of a monkey wrench into our daily life.

The kids are bored but also full of energy. Which spells trouble. Are your kids driving you nuts yet? Are they a bit out of sorts?

Either we all need a vacation (not likely to happen) or we need to help them sort themselves out!

Looking for the "bright side"? I sure as heck am!

One of the best parts of being a special needs parent is learning some cool tricks to make things run a little smoother. I wish I had realized the mechanics behind this a long time before now- because I find it works wonders for all three of my kids and it is so simple to do.

Heavy work activities (i.e., proprioceptive input) are used for children with sensory processing difficulties to help increase attention, decrease defensiveness, and modulate arousal.

Oh yes, the snow IS WAIST DEEP!

Proprioceptive input is the performance of tasks that involves heavy resistance and input to the muscles and joints, and is essential in helping our bodies (both typical and atypical!) assimilate and process both movement (vestibular) and touch (tactile) information. This resistive input obtained through heavy work activities is generally organizing and can improve attention, arousal level, body awareness and muscle tone, as well as decreasing defensiveness.

And it's incredibly simple and easy to build into your day- especially in the winter months.

Are your kids a little out of sync? Dress them up in their heavy winter clothes- for some kids, the heavier the clothes the better this works. Take them out in the deep snow have them fight their way over the snow drifts! Stretch! Climb! Work it!

Oh yes- while they are out there, hand them a shovel.  Heavy work is about pushing, pulling, and lifting. I'm sure you could use a hand clearing the snow from the side walk and driveway! Grab a sled and fill it up with snow. Drag it around the yard a few times.

The Trailbazers hard at work

She tried really hard, but required a tow!

Connect and engage with your kids.  They are totally worth it! Snow days can be rough on everyone but I think that we owe it to ourselves to find positive ways to use the time we are given.

Do you have any tips or tricks for coping with kids on snow days?  Please share! I am dying to know!

Leave me a comment below- don't worry, I promise I won't bite! :)

No tears here! She's a very good sport!

Tough Guys DO Dance

.......And then, she asked: "Is he Crossing Midline?"

"Um, what's that?" I asked, and felt the red rising up my neck and into my cheeks.

"Does he reach across his body to pick up toys or to touch an item of interest?"

"Well, come to think of it.... No.  He's more likely to move himself closer to the toy than he is to reach across...."

And so began the journey.

What is so important about crossing midline anyway?  Well, in short- crossing the midline is an indicator of bilaterial coordination, meaning the “ability to use both sides of the body at the same time."  It is a prerequisite (of sorts) for climbing stairs, riding a bicycle, catching a ball.  Not to mention the development of cognitive skills like reading, writing and learning.  Laterilazation is important in the process, as is establishing side dominance.  And one of the biggest challenges for Owen has been bilateral integration- where both sides of the body working  simultaneously and independently in body-related, as well as mind-related actions.  You've all seen the kid on the playground that can't jump with his feet together (step one), couldn't do a jumping jack if his life depended on it (step two), let alone put toothpaste on a toothbrush (step three)?  That's Owen.  Love him for all of these quirks and more, because he makes me think outside the box!  For a more indepth look at crossing midline, there is a great article available here:  Establishing Dominance and Crossing Midline

So.  What do we do to help?  Lots of everyday things like playing games at the table that force the kids to reach across their bodies to pick things up.  And of course, we dance. Twenty minutes each night, as a matter of fact.  And sometimes, when you least expect something, it happens....

Crossing midline AND alternating sides, Gangnam Style!

The best Occupational Therapy is doing the things you like to do, regardless of how good you are at it, and doing it as often as you can.  So my challenge to you readers, is to turn up the music, and DANCE with your children.  Even if they are typically developing kids, and you are a typically developing parent, I guarantee that you will both benefit from the experience.  After all, as Maya Angelou said ~~

"Everything in the universe has a rhythym.  Everything dances."

I knew he was up to something, but it didn't know what....

I plan on writing a post on Thursday for the next little while to give you a glimpse inside our lives.  Thursday will henceforth be known as Therapy Thursday, and I hope that you will join me.  Post a blog, or tweet about it using the hashtag #TherapyThursday.  Feel free to post a link below in the comment section!  Remember that there are many different types of therapy- Occupational, Physical, Feeding, Speech Language and Behavioural to name a few.  I hope it will serve as yet another way to spread awareness of special needs!  If you have stopped by to visit today, please don't be afraid to say hi, or leave a comment below.

From the Canadian Association of Occupational Therapists

"Occupational therapy is the art and science of enabling engagement in everyday living, through occupation; of enabling people to perform the occupations that foster health and well-being; and of enabling a just and inclusive society so that all people may participate to their potential in the daily occupations of life (Townsend& Polatajko, 2007, p. 372)."