Is it Sensory? Or is it Behavior?
I get this question a lot as a pediatric Occupational Therapist, and most often the answer is “Yes.” Let me explain. Sensory in short, is how we take in our environment. Did you know that we have 8 senses? 5 senses are well known: Olfactory (Smell), Auditory (Sound), Gustatory (Taste), Tactile (Touch) and Visual. We […]
Midline Crossing Activities: Help Build More Successful Children
We want to our children and grandchildren to be successful, right? What if simple daily activities could better assist us to achieve this goal? This is exactly what we find when we do midline crossing activities. Midline crossing is simply moving a part of one’s body to the other side of the body; such as […]
Early Interventionists Recommend Toys for Ages 4 Months to 3+ Years
One of the most popular questions that an early interventionist gets asked is what toys we recommend. My typical response is, “Nothing that takes batteries!” Our team met recently to make a list to share with families, and here it is: You can introduce these toys during this time, but many babies/toddlers may want to […]
When and what should I read to my baby?
As an early interventionist, one of the questions that I hear most often is “When should I read to my baby?” Parents know that it is important to read to their children but may feel a little silly reading aloud to an infant. Reading together when your child is an infant increases the chances that […]
How can we help children who are not yet talking develop language?
A child’s brain grows at its fastest rate between birth and the age of three years old. This is an opportune time to capitalize on development, and the reason early intervention programs are so impactful to those served. When discussing the development of speech and language, it is important to note that “speech” refers to […]
Free Developmental Screenings for children birth to five years old
Connecting Point is a project of the Sedgwick County Early Childhood Coordinating Council, which strives to improve the quality of early childhood services and reflect the diversity of the community. Screen for Success is provided by Wichita Public Schools and Rainbows United, Inc.- Connecting Point, and connects children and families to community resources. The screening […]
Camp Woodchuck: A Place to be Yourself
Eight-year-old Tig Benton is a very sensitive and caring kid. He is artistic and great at building things. Tig has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Currently, he attends Camp Woodchuck and receives case management through Rainbows. “Tig is always curious, asks lots of questions, and loves to […]
Eating Can Be Complicated
Supporting parents helping their littles learn to eat has been one of the most challenging and rewarding parts of my job as an early intervention provider. Eating can be emotionally loaded for caregivers-we can all feel a special kind of frustration (and failure) when our littles don’t eat the way or the amount we think […]
Let’s Talk About Cars
When William Thomas received speech therapy from his Rainbows’ therapist Rebecca Paden, his big sister Lillian was included. “Rebecca was always so kind to Lillian during William’s visits,” said Margaret, William and Lillian’s mother. “She could not have been easier for my children to connect with.” The family’s pediatrician recommended the family get in touch […]
A Toddler’s Job is to Play
We often take for granted the power of play and how critical it is to the overall development of our little ones in birth to three years old and beyond. A toddler’s job is to play, but what does that mean and what does that look like at different stages? As early interventionists, one of […]
