Blog Posts - Dragonfly Pediatric Therapy, Inc.

the importance of what you are putting in your mouth/body

10/12/2017

I know we all get so sick of hearing about what we are eating and how it is affecting our bodies. Believe me, I hate that I can't devour Mexican food and margaritas to my hearts content.

Now, consider what our kids are eating and it will make your cringe. The food people out there are literally altering our genetic make-up with the additives they feel are necessary to help them make more money, which in turn is causing syndromes and diseases such as autism, genetic disorder (I have never seen such an increase in my 25 years of practice), ADHD, childhood diabetes, obesity, and many more. It's out of control, y'all. It really is.

Now, on top of the alterations in our genetics, I have never seen such an increase in digestive issue such as leaky gut, IBS, colitis, Crone's disease, Celiac disease, etc. I too suffer from this very thing and it has taken me the last 10 years to get it figured out by reading, studying, experimenting, and suffering.

I discovered that I am gluten intolerant and yes, this is a real thing, dairy sensitive, sugar sensitive as it causes an out of control internal inflammatory craziness in my system and every joint hurts like fire, as well as simple carbohydrates. If I veer off of my nutritional path, I pay for it the next day with cramping, bloating, and frequent bathroom visits. Does this sound familiar to anyone?

What we put in our mouth and bodies can also affect our brain output and mental stamina. There are actually certain foods that cause an opiate affect in the brain. That's crazy!! Here is link to an article on this subject.

http://www.nourishingplot.com/2014/01/31/foods-that-cause-opiate-effect-in-the-brain/

Our bodies were designed to fix themselves and no, medication can't fix everything although I know in some cases it is necessary but so many doctors are taking the easy way out by throwing pills at every ailment we complain about. Be the detective for yourself and look at your diet first. I guarantee that this is the underlying issue 90% of the time.

Its time to take care of our bodies, its the only one we have and don't you want a better quality of life for yourself and your children?

If you don't know where to start, click on the tab on my website that says 'The Importance of Good Nutrition' and there you will find a checklist. Fill it out and get it back to me. I can help!

The Importance of Nature

8/30/2017

When I say the word 'nature,' what do you think of?

I think of Colorado, Arizona, and Utah which were my stomping grounds every year with my family from the time I was 6 months old and later, I had the honor of living in Colorado for a time and was a junky fisherwoman.

For me, nature cleanses my soul and helps me to remember that I am as much a part of my planet as my planet is a part of me. We are of the Earth. We are 70% water and our planet is equal to that in its water measurement as well.

The Earth was made for us to enjoy, live off of, fish off of, eat off of, and become ourselves again.

With all of this technology, the stress of our jobs, etc. we become so far removed from our very selves and nature has a way of helping us feel whole again.

Just a 20 minute hike in the woods being surrounded by trees, oxygen, birds, etc. can help us swing back to being whole again.

For children, nature is a healer. Here are 5 reasons to get your kids OUTSIDE!!

1. It helps improve their resilience to stress. Now a days, our kids seem to have more stress than ever with the increasing demands of school, sports, etc.

2. It helps to decrease symptoms of ADHD and depression.

3. It helps to increase creativity and cognitive function.

4. Being outside increases physical activity which in turn, helps to prevent obesity.

5. It helps develop their respect and responsibility for our planet.

As of today, we only have one Earth and it was given to us to love, respect, take care of, and enjoy. Its good, y'all, so enjoy it with your kids.

Get outside!!!

The dragonfly approach

8/20/2017

I have been working my tail off at the clinic for the last 20 years but especially the last 6 months and now, finally, all of the pieces that I feel are absolutely necessary to treat the whole child are in place.

Now, the book that I have written has been turned into the publisher and I want all of y'all to say some big prayers as this book NEEDS to be published. It is God driven and written from what I call 'the trifecta of understanding.' What this means is I live with special needs of my own, I bore two children with special needs of their own that I successfully treated, and I have worked with special needs for 25 years as an OT. I believe I have earned the honor of writing a book given this type of cellularly felt knowledge of understanding. Wouldn't you agree?

'The Dragonfly Approach' is what I myself deem the absolute justice you can do for each of your pediatric kids because it is based on knowledge, understanding, and treatment of the whole child, not his/her parts. It is a wholistic, healthy, spiritual, feelings, and OT treatment type approach.

'The Approach' includes:

-Testing and recognizing the presence of retained reflexes. This is the most important piece of the puzzle and must be addressed or your child will have no foundation to work off of! I am floored at the number of therapists that are not looking at this at all and they wonder why some of the goals that everyone has set for the child are not being met and everyone is so dang frustrated.

-Treating these retained reflexes with exercises and cold laser with harmonic frequency practice. If you don't know what this is, look it up on line. This type of treatment acts as the needles of acupuncture but works twice as fast. It also utilizes cell energy, regeneration, the meridians, and acupoints of the human body. I also give daily exercises for home to each of my families to help integrate these retained reflexes faster so we can work on higher centers in the brain.

-Nutrition is imperative for a healthy gut and a healthy body and brain. If you are putting processed, poisoned foods into your body and the bodies of your kids, stop right now because you are damaging them and yourselves. I am now an advocate of Juice Plus+ and all of the research and hard work they are putting into the importance of plant based whole foods that is our body's fuel and if you want your body to work for you, you better take care of it. Did you know that 70% of the bodies immune system resides in the intestines? Leaky gut is real and when I don't eat properly, my leaky gut kicks my tail.

-Sensory integration issues are the direct result of retained reflexes. This type of sensory integrating therapy needs to go hand in hand with intense retained reflex integrating exercises. I do both at the same time.

-Get your kids a DEVELOPMENTAL eye exam if they are struggling with reading or school in general. This is different from a regular eye doctor. Your child has to have good eye development if he/she is to be able to do well in school.

-Aquatic therapy is a piece that I feel is imperative for certain types of children. The hydrostatic pressure is like a big water hug and feels so good to those sweet children. Now, not all clinics can provide this and if this is so, get your child into a pool and just play! It'll do them good.

-Hippotherapy is my latest and greatest medium that I have had the honor and privilege to add to 'The Approach.' The movement of the horse is rhythmic when it is walking. This rhythm is key in aiding the reorganization of the brain-body maps located in our brains. There is a whole bunch of literature and teaching on rhythmic movement therapy and the cool thing about the horse is, its doing it with just the ease of walking around a corral. There are a ton more benefits of horse assisted therapy and can be easily Googled and read about.

-Therapeutic Listening is a program that I love and use with just about every child on caseload. This therapy utilizes the vestibular system located in the ear and through modified music, can do wonderful things to the brain and its organization or re-organization. Vital Links is my go to program.

-Brain Beat is a program that utilizes the visual system, the motor system, the auditory system, and our inner timing. This program helps with timing, sequencing, and attention by helping the synapsis of the brain run in a more organized and fluid way.

-Biofeedback is one of the most awesome thing I use right now. I actually had a child who is so 'busy' and has never been able to feel what a calm state is until he worked on biofeedback. I got tearful when he looked at me and said, "I have never felt like this before, Ms. Sharon . . . never this calm." Holy cow!

-Yoga is one of the most powerful tools for getting in tune with our bodies. My OT kids absolutely love their yoga classes that I teach each Saturday morning and during their OT sessions. There are loads of benefits to yoga. I have also added a meditation and centering piece so these sweet kids can enter into a self-induced stated of calm. When was the last time you or your kids were calm? Sleeping doesn't count.

-Essential oils are Mother Nature's gift to us. For years I thought they were hooey, but boy was I wrong. I am a wholesaler for the Plant Therapy company and these folks do not have a pyramid scheme to support so their prices are incredibly affordable and their oils are 100% pure and wonderful.

Now, folks, I realize that not every clinic you are attending can offer all of these things and I'm not saying that my approach is the end all of approaches, but I can say that I am seeing things in these kids that are incredible. I have families in tears thanking me for bringing their child out of themselves and into a world that is easier for them to be a part of because of the skills they are accomplishing.

I have a huge beef with docs throwing meds at these tiny kids before the root of the problem is discovered. That's wrong y'all. Throwing pills at a little kid is like putting a band-aid on a pussy, oozing, bloody sore and expecting it to get well. It ain't gonna happen.

In my opinion, the marrying of Western and Eastern medicine is a necessary and vital thing for our human race. Pills are not always the answer but the natural ways of Eastern medicine can compliment the Western beliefs and pills should only be used as THE VERY LAST RESORT.

I realize the benefits of penicillin, antibiotics, depression meds, certain cancer drugs, etc. but getting to the root of certain issues can not only save a child, or yourself for that matter, a lot of added side affects from that pill that can sometimes outweigh the very need of those pills in the first place. Wouldn't you agree?

Before we run to pills, lets take the Eastern philosophy and practice into consideration first. Lets look at what the child's birth looked like. Were they born by C-section? Did the mom get a virus at a critical time of pregnancy? Was their undiagnosed diabetes, etc.? These things can cause retained reflexes which are located in the most primitive area of our brain called the brain stem.

If we start our investigation of each child at the brain stem level and not at the top more complex of the brain for the answers, loads of information can be learned and help start a good strong foundation of recovery.

I pray that my book gets published as I feel 150% sure every parent with or without kids with special needs will learn and feel empowered to ask the questions that need to be asked of every healthcare worker on your team. Trust yourselves parents for you are driven by 'intuitive neurons' and they are whispering to you when you feel something isn't quite right either about your child or anything else in your world for that matter.

Love y'all!!

Say no to soy!

8/4/2017

Children and Soy:
(An article taken from shirley-wellness-cafe.com)

A word of caution considering all of soy's health benefits, it is tempting for new and expectant mothers to see soy-based infant formula as a "miracle food" and to stock their pantries sky-high with the stuff. Well, hold on there mama. That most vulnerable member of the population, an infant unable to breastfeed, stands at great risk of developing a serious thyroid disorder due to a diet based entirely on soy formula. That disorder is hypothyroidism, or an under-active thyroid and it is a common cause of fatigue, depression, obesity, constipation, extreme sensitivity to cold and a number of other symptoms, most so common that the disorder can go undiagnosed for years.

The Deadly Influence of Infant Soy Formula Elaine Hollingsworth - "By far the worst calls are from women whose children have been fed soy formula. They tell me heartbreaking stories about baby girls who show signs of early maturation, such as underarm odor, breast development, body hair and even menstruation as early as two, three and four years of age! The risk appears to be greatest in girls who ingest soy formula for nine months or more. In baby boys, 12 months of soy feeding can lead to gross effects by the age of 11 or 12. Breasts can appear and testicles do not develop. Several women have rung asking what to do for these pathetic boys, who refuse to participate in sports, fearing shower-room ridicule, and who will be dependent upon thyroid drugs for life."

"I can't help, and I don't think anyone can. Nature did not intend infants to be fed hormones, and life-threatening consequences occur when they are. Of course, these horrible problems do not occur with every soy-fed baby, but is it worth taking such a chance? Your child will not thank you, and you may never have grandchildren. Drinking soy milk during pregnancy can cause a failure to produce breast milk, which can lead to feeding the baby soy formula. By far the worst cases of soy damage are reported to us by women who have drunk soy milk while pregnant, and then fed their babies soy formula. This is a deadly combination. These women cannot restrain their tears when describing the dreadful health problems their children have." They keep repeating to me, "I didn't know, I just didn't know, the doctor told me to drink it for my bones and give him soy formula."

Premature, early puberty related to soy products Elaine Hollingsworth, director of the Hippocrates Health Center of Australia and author of Take Control of Your Health and Escape the Sickness Industry, writes about the terrible effects of soy products on children:
"I am not exaggerating when I say that HUNDREDS of people have rung me during the past year to tell me about dreadful health problems that started after taking up the soy habit. Serious thyroid malfunctioning is one of the most common complaints. This is not surprising, since it has been known for years that isoflavones in soy can depress thyroid function, causing autoimmune thyroid disease and even cancer. It is a medically recognised fact that our body absorbs significant amounts of what we put on our skin. With Certified Organic food rapidly becoming the nutrition of choice by the health conscious amongst us, why would you accept any less."

Soy and Diabetes in Children"A few reports from the late 1970s and early 1980s suggested that a soy-based diet impaired infants' immune functions. About 15% of infants in the US, or roughly 750,000 children, consume soy-based formula each year." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences May 21, 2002;99:7616-7621
Dr. Mercola - "Soy formula is one of the worst foods that you could feed your child. Not only does it have profoundly adverse hormonal effects as discussed above, but it also has over 1000% more aluminum than conventional milk based formulas."

Contrary to popular belief that soy is a health food, evidence reveals that soy consumption has been linked to numerous disorders, including infertility, increased cancer and infantile leukemia, Type1 diabetes, and precocious puberty in children have been fed soy formula. (early maturation, such as breast development and menstruation as early as 6 years of age). Scientists have known for years that the isoflavones in soy products can depress thyroid function and cause goiters in otherwise healthy children and adults. A combined research team of Cornell University Medical College and Long Island Community Hospital medical experts have found that children who develop Type1 diabetes are twice as likely to have been fed soy formulas as those fed all other foods This confirms concerns based on animal studies raised in the 1980's and 1990s by Health Canada researcher Dr Fraser Scott and led to the American Academy of Pediatrics issuing their warning to pediatricians against any use of soy based formulas.

The absolute hands down importance of integrating retained reflexes!

7/2/2017

Primitive reflexes were set in place at the brain stem level to assist with the birthing process of babies. Their job is to help the baby with early development as a launching pad for gradual more complex development and a vaginal birth launches these reflexes properly most of the time. There are several reasons that it is believed they get stuck and don't integrate like they are supposed to.

1. A stressful pregnancy

2. The mom eating the byproduct that have made their way into our foods such as the hormones, GMO'S, nitrates, etc.

3. Being exposed to the waves that come off of our computers, microwaves, and cell phones

4. A C-section instead of a vaginal birth (if you can have a vaginal birth, PLEASE do so!!!!)

And a few other thoughts about why this happen. Retained reflexes are most likely the basis for sensory integration issues, ADHD looking behavior, vision issues, posture, muscle tone, sleep issues, and many more areas of disturbance in the proper development.

I tell my parents in my OT practice that retained reflexes are like the reins on a horse, when they are pulled, what does the horse do? He/she stops or slows way down and these retained reflexes are the reins on your child which prevent proper development.

In practice, I work from the bottom of the brain to the top. What that means is, I start from the primitive brain stem where those pesky retained reflexes lie because if you start at the top or the middle of the brain for treatment, you will be like the child who builds a fantastic sandcastle too close to the incoming waves, sure, you may have a castle for a few minutes but the tide/waves will come in and wash it all away. Or building a house with no foundation, it just doesn't work, y'all, it just doesn't!

THERAPISTS HAVE TO START FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BRAIN AND WORK UP!

If you are in an OT practice that has not tested or treated for retained reflexes in your child, the gains expected will not be met successfully because you don't have a solid basis for which higher functions will be able to launch from. Does that make sense?

Below is a chart of just a few of the 70 primary reflexes that if retained, will explain what can happen to your child's development.

If your therapist needs some advice on this, I'm your girl, have them call me. I am not a therapist who keeps information to herself to get ahead, I am here to help anyone that needs me.

If you would like more information, just Google "retained reflexes" as there is a ton of information out there on this subject.

If you need an OT that will help your child soar, call me, I am here to help, y'all.

questions to ask your occupational therapist even before your first visit

4/10/2017

This past weekend I had the honor of having a Charity Rummage Sale here at my clinic. All of my OT kids got to vote, with an official ballot and everything, on what charity we would donate the money to. These precious kids chose Both Hands Foundation, which is a wonderful organization that helps families adopt children.

In the process of the sale, I found myself on the phone with my rummage sale helper/friend's aunt who lives in Kentucky and has a 3 year old that she feels is having some issues but doesn't know exactly what to do about it or the questions to ask.

It dawned on me, after she asked me to move to Kentucky to help her son, that many families are not equipped with the questions to ask your newly discovered OT, whether recommended, referred to, etc. So, I decided to equip y'all with some questions to ask your OT even before the first visit.

1. Do you test for retained reflexes? (These are reflexes that should have integrated between 4-7 months old and if they are still present after that, they can cause a lot of issues in children)

2. How do you treat these retained reflexes if you were to find them in my child?

3. Have you been trained in sensory integration?

4. Do you test for general visual tracking, convergence, double vision, and visual perception? How? And if not, can you recommend a place that will?

5. Will you provide us with a home exercise program to work on daily?

6. Am I allowed to sit in on therapy so I can observe and learn? (And yes, you should be able to on occasion unless it is enormously distracting and your child isn't making gains)

7. What is your experience with autism, Asperger's, genetic disorders, ADHD, ADD, auditory processing, executive dysfunction, etc.?

8. If my child is involved in other therapies, will you be contacting and consulting with each other for a more whole child, team approach?

9. What areas will your evaluation assess? (They should assess every area, head to toe so as not to miss a thing)

This is your child's therapy and you HAVE TO OWN IT! Most importantly, you have to ask the right questions so you can have the best therapy possible. ASK QUESTIONS!! It is your right as your child's parent.

P.S.-YOU HAVE TO FOLLOW THROUGH with the exercises that your OT or any other therapist gives you once you have made your decision on the right therapist. That's your child's right!

A Helpful Blog From Plant Therapy

2/27/2017

WHERE TO APPLY ESSENTIAL OILS ON THE BODYMarch 13, 2013
by Plant Therapy
By: Retha Nesmith, Certified Aromatherapist
When it comes to Essential Oils the saying “I’d rather be safe than sorry” should be taken seriously. Essential oils are very potent and may cause *irritation to some skin types. To be SAFE rather than SORRY, always start by applying the essential oil to the least sensitive part of your body, the bottom of your feet!
Where to Apply Essential Oils On the Body

Soles and top of feet
Ankles
Over Vital Organs
Abdomen
Upper Back
Neck
Behind Ears
Temples
Crown of Head

OK! So really you can apply essential most any where on your body!
How to Apply Essential Oils (this is where it can get a little tricky and confusing)
BEFORE you start, always remember to test a small area of the skin first. If irritation occurs, immediately add a carrier oil over the irritated spot to help dilute the essential oil.
If you only remember ONE thing from this post, I want it to be this: When it comes to using essential oils, LESS is better! Like I said before, essential oils are very potent and you don’t need very much to get the therapeutic benefits of using essential oils. You can always add more if needed.
–Diluting Essential Oils (not only will this save you money, but it is safer)

For children and infants: 1 drop of essential oil per Tbsp of carrier oil is generally a safe rule to follow (.2% dilution)
For Adults: 2 drop of essential oil per tsp of carrier oil (.75%)
When using in a massage a 2%-5% dilution is a good start
Check out THIS link for carrier oils

–Applying Essential Oils Neat (not diluted with a carrier oil)

There are some essential oils that sometimes can be applied neat. I usually do not recommend this though
If you choose to apply the essential oil neat, please get advice from an experienced Aromatherapist first!

Now that we have gone over all of the basics, this is how I like to use my essential oils when applying to my body (use the above recommendations for diluting):
-When I am not feeling my best, I like to apply diluted Germ-Fighter and Immune-Aid to the bottom of my feet and Respir-Aid to my chest. This helps support healthy immune function.
-When I have occasional stomach problems, I like to apply diluted Digest-Aid or Tummy-Aid (depending on the problem) to my stomach. I will massage in a circular motion.
-When I have head or neck tension, I like to apply diluted Tension Relief or Peppermint to my temples, forehead and/or back of neck.
-When I my muscles are occasionally sore from exercise or overuse, I will apply diluted Muscle-Aid or Pain-Aid to affected area.
-When I am in need of some an energy boost or in need of relaxing, I like to apply diluted Energy or Invigor-Aid (for energy) to my wrist and Relax or Tranquil (for relaxing) to my wrist. I will take a whiff when needed!
These are usually the essential oils that I will apply to my body (or families body) when needed! Remember there are so many more essential oils you can use and so many more uses for these essential oils! These are just the ones that I apply to my body most often!
For more essential oils and there uses, check out www.planttherapy.com. Just click on the essential oil you want to learn more about and read their suggested uses ideas!
*Essential Oils that MAY cause irritation (this is not a complete list)

Camphor
Cinnamon
Fir Needle
Oregano
Pine
Sage (Dalmation)
Spruce
Tagetes
Thyme

**NOTE The advice shared is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any illness or disease nor is it intended to replace proper medical advice. When using essential oils we always recommend you consult with your doctor.

not a bunch of hoo-ee at all!!

2/16/2017

I have been asked here lately why I have decided to add essential oils to my repertoire of treatment, so, I've decided to tell the tail.

First, let me give you my background. I am a Pediatric Occupational Therapist who graduated from UAB way back in '93. I first started out treating adults and became specialized in head injury and stroke. I also was a Aquatic Therapist specializing in the two areas mentioned as well as rheumatoid arthritis. After my son was born in 1999, my world as I knew it changed in a way that would lead me to where I am today.

You see, I was terrified of children. Not terrified like they'd eat my flesh or anything, but I was so afraid I'd inadvertently hurt them somehow. After my son was born, however, I saw the light. That light was how fascinating children were and even more fascinating to me became the are of pediatric practice.

So, I read every article and book. I took every class, watched lectures, and DVD's because I was determined to learn everything and be the best OT I could be to my OT kids.

In 2001, I decided to start my own practice because the contract work I was doing at the schools just wasn't the kind of quality treatment I wanted to give my kids. So, was born Dragonfly Pediatric Therapy. It is my baby and I have nurtured the heck out of my baby.

I have always been a huge book nerd, I love reading and learning anything and everything especially about pediatrics. My husband says I'm obsessed and yes, I am, darn it but I can't help myself. I love these kids and want to do the best I can as their OT by golly.

About 5 years ago, I began to hear a buzz about essential oils and all the benefits that went with them. I thought, "Um, can you say HOO-EE?!" I scoffed at it and moved onto other things to study. So, I became Interactive Metronome Therapy certified, Sensory Integration trained, Handwriting Without Tears trained, The Listening Program trained, Reiki Healing certified, Kid Yoga certified, Biofeedback trained, and you know what? I just completed my Aromatherapy Certification because I had a divine intervention after being approached for the 82nd time by someone telling me about the importance of these so called essential oils.

I stand corrected, y'all and I feel like a big dummy not listening so long ago. Essential oils are not hoo-ee at all, not at all. Shame on me! As you can see from my new website, I have seen the light and the light is good.

If you have any questions, want to place an order, or anything else you can think of, I'm here and yes, I have been humbled! ;)

Treating the Whole child

1/24/2017

It has become blatantly clear to me here recently that I missed a boat as an OT I should have seen floating right in front of me all along . . .

I've been practicing for 24 years and 18 of them have been in pediatrics. In school, we are taught to set goals based on function such as dressing yourself, brushing your own teeth, better handwriting, etc. However, we weren't taught the importance of a centered, calm, and mindful person. That anxiety can hold a child back from meeting the very goals set for them.

Anxiety in children can cause many areas of difficulty such as their whole way of thinking. For example, the anxiety they feel appears to them as too great to overcome therefore creating more anxiety.

As far as physical harm, anxiety in kids causes them to avoid situations that they feel will add to the anxiety therefore they miss out on situations of learning such as making a new friend, trying a new climbing toy on the playground, etc.

It also causes headaches, stomach aches, sleeping difficulties including trouble falling asleep, nightmares, and once asleep, trouble staying asleep. It can also cause diarrhea, irritability, difficulty concentrating, and tiredness.

Now, I have a couple of kids on my caseload at the moment that have what is called a retained reflex. This means reflexes that were supposed to have integrated before 7 months old or so but don't. When they are still hanging out at 6 or 7 years old, that's when you see a lot of trouble.

One of the most difficult retained reflexes to still have is what is called the Moro/Startle Reflex. This reflex is present at birth and should be integrated by the time the child is 4 months old or so. This reflex is an involuntary reaction to threat and is the earliest form of "fight" or "flight." If this reflex fails to integrate at 4 months old, a child will retain an exaggerated startle reaction which may result in continued hypersensitivity to light, sound, movement, or alteration of position or balance may elicit the reflex at any moment or unexpected moments so that the child is constantly on alert and in a heightened an uncomfortable state of hyper-awareness.

The other part of this is the release of adrenalin and cortisol-the stress hormones- being in such a state, which increase sensitivity and reactivity so that both the trigger and the response are built into the system.

The Moro/Startle Reflex is one of the hardest ones to treat.

Because of this reflex, I have decided to add yoga to my treatment treasure chest. Treating the whole child means not just helping them to learn to tie their shoe, feed themselves, have a stronger core, better sensory integration skills, or better handwriting . . . no . . . it means the emotional part too because it all matters, all of it, especially the anxiety, which can act just like the reigns on a stage coach. When you pull back on those reigns, the horses either slow down or stop. This is what happens to development if the whole child is not treated and thanks to a very special young man on my caseload, I have seen the light.

Thumbs up sweet fella!! :)

don't take recess Away from The kids!

11/7/2016

Now, I know that kids can be trying and every teacher has there method of discipline such as pulling a stick, going from green to yellow, etc. but PLEASE DO NOT TAKE A CHILD'S RECESS AWAY! Taking recess/movement away from a child with a skeletal system, a muscle system, a vestibular system, and a proprioceptive system is like taking oxygen away from your lungs.

Because our bodies are built to be dynamic and because movement=learning, it just doesn't make a whole lot of sense to do this to the child.

In fact, I'll bet a donut to a dollar that the child is even worse after recess and probably for the rest of the day because by not allowing them to give their system the movement that it needed to self-regulate, the child will be like a volcano ready to explode, letting steam off at first before the big shebang!

Same with the child that is not allowed recess, they will steam/act out for the rest of the day if not allowed to blow the steam off.

Please find another way to discipline these children but don't take their recess away because by doing so, they will miss an opportunity to learn through movement and they will probably be worse for you later.