KID FUNdamentals Therapy Center, Inc.

Happy Occupational Therapy Month!

Fun fine motor activity! Perfect for Easter and Spring. - Bunny erasers: Target Dollar Spot - Yellow Pop Fidget Sensory Toy: Amazon.com

March 21, 2021 is World Down Syndrome Day. This day is dedicated to raising awareness about Down Syndrome and celebrating individuals around the world living with the genetic condition. WHAT IS DOWN SYNDROME? Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes. Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21. Down Syndrome is also referred to as "Trisomy 21."... Down Syndrome remains the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States. Each year, about 6,000 babies born in the United States have Down Syndrome. This means that Down Syndrome occurs in about 1 in every 700 babies. (Source: cdc.gov) OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY & DOWN SYNDROME Occupational Therapists work with persons with Down syndrome to help them master skills for independence through self-care like feeding and dressing, fine and gross motor skills, school performance, and play and leisure activities. During infancy, OTs can help mothers whose children are having feeding problems because of weak muscles in their cheeks, tongue, and lips. During early childhood, therapy can focus on mastering motor skills for independence, focusing on low muscle tone, loose ligaments at the joints, and visual and auditory deficits (Bruni, 2001). School-aged children with Down Syndrome benefit from an OT’s ability to address self-care skills like zipping a jacket, and fine and gross motor skills like cutting with scissors or completing multistep classroom routines to facilitate participation in school activities. OTs can also assist in the classroom by enhancing the child’s communication skills through printing, handwriting, and keyboarding. Other issues addressed are adaptations to the classroomsuch as the position of desks and chairsfor optimal performance, based on the child’s physical abilities (Bruni, 2001). Adults with Down Syndrome benefit from occupational therapy in finding and retaining productive work, learning independent living skills, and participating in active recreation for health maintenance. (Source: Stephanie Yamkovenko from aota.org) #downsyndrome #downsyndromeawareness #downsyndromelove #trisomy21

What do I LOVE about what I do? I get to work with amazing kids and their families...I get to use PLAY to teach kids the FUNdamentals they need to live a better life, and be able to participate and enjoy moments with family and friends. Seeing improvements as we work hard every session means a lot to me. We celebrate the small and big gains. Happy Valentine’s Day from Ms. Leslie @ KID FUNdamentals Therapy Center! Enjoy your day with the ones you love. Shirt from Etsy: SimplyRootedApparel

At the clinic today...