Beacon Occupational Therapy Services

Looking into 2021 with apprehension and hope! Wishing you all a safe and happy NYE and a wonderful and less eventful 2021!

Wishing you all a very safe and happy holiday season!

Surviving The 2020 Time Change October 31 was not only Halloween on a full moon, but also a time change! For parents, this trifecta may have created many sleep issues that they are searching to remediate! Halloween usually means a disruption in routine, later bedtimes and extra sugar. One of these things separately could wreak havoc on sleep schedules. The time change may have created difficulties in settling at bedtime or with early waking. These disruptions are due to the ...body's clock not recognizing the shift in time. Here are some tips to help get the body adjusted to this shift. Now that the time has changed, let your child rise at their usual time, (which will be 1 hour earlier, according to the clock). Follow your regular schedule through the day according to the new time on the clock. E.g. if bedtime is at 7:30 pm, despite their body telling them they should sleep earlier or later, try to stretch bedtime to the new clock. If this is too tough, consider moving in 15 minute increments or splitting the difference. Make sure that your child gets a lot of natural light during the day and limit screens at least 1 hour before bedtime. Light can help shift the body’s sleep and wake hormones to help with the time change. Since it is close to Halloween, be mindful of how much sugar your children are having and when. Sugar is a natural stimulant and can create difficulties with settling at bedtime. Make sure that your child gets plenty of sleep during the day if they are still napping (get the naps in any way you can) so that they can cope with the change in bedtime. Wake ups may be happening at the earlier time until the body adjusts. Consider using a wake-up light with your toddler or older child to signal when it is OK to get up and out of bed. Simply put a small bedside lamp on a timer or connect it to a remote device. Here’s the message: when the light is off, it’s night time. When the light comes on (according to the time you have set or when you turn it on remotely), then it’s time to wake up and start the day. See more

I feel like this year, more then any other year, it is important to keep other peoples comfort levels in mind. There are many reasons why people are adapting their trick or treating or Halloween celebrations, remember to be kind, be mindful and be accepting of their choices and reasons! Wishing you all a Happy and Safe Halloween!

https://www.facebook.com/HedgerHumor/posts/204904507666851 A smile for your Friday afternoon :)

Day 30 of National Occupational Therapy Month. Yes pediatric OTs help with Potty Training!

Day 29 of National Occupational Therapy Month.

Day 28 of National Occupational Therapy Month. We are a caring profession that helps rebuild independence and quality of life in all ages.

Day 27 of National Occupational Therapy Month and World Occupational Therapy Day!

Day 26 of National Occupational Therapy month is nearly over. I didn't post earlier because I was taking some much needed self-care time this evening! Remember that taking care of yourself is just as important as taking care of everyone else! Have a tea, take some time and relax!

Day 25 of National Occupational Therapy Month. With 6 days left until Halloween, monsters, witches, skeletons and all other scary things will be out in full force! Like my last story book feature that recognized the importance of validating "worries". This book feature helps to validate our children's fears. Scary things may not be for everyone and can create a lot of unnecessary anxiety. Make sure to prepare your k if child they seem unsure of costumes, spooky houses and s...cary things. This is a great book to start the dialog on what feeling scared means. It also validates that everyone has fears and that those fears matter, no matter their size.

Day 24 of National Occupational Therapy Month. I want to talk about Social Emotional Learning (SEL) and the benefits of teaching your children these skills at home and school. Social Emotional Learning is a skill set through which adults and children gain and effectively apply the attitudes, knowledge, and skills necessary to understand and manage emotions (both their own and the emotions of others). Social Emotional Skills help to establish and achieve goals, feelings, and ...demonstrate empathy for others, create and maintain relationships, as well as help with making responsible decisions. These skills are often referred to as the soft skills. Skills such as conflict resolution, perspective taking, emotional regulation and impulse control. Recent studies demonstrate that these soft skills are very important to establish early on and if ignored can create social and academic difficulties for children later in life. It is important to give children a platform for understanding their thoughts and the feelings these thoughts produce. It is equally as important to help children understand that their thoughts can be different from someone else and that BOTH individuals’ thoughts and feelings hold merit. Explicitly teaching social and emotional skills can help children become more resilient. This resiliency will help them better deal with the effects of trauma or adverse events in their lives. It will also encourage them to be more empathetic, compassionate, and understanding of the differences in others. If you have a child who is struggling with these skills or are a parent looking for more information on how to explicitly teach these skills in a developmentally appropriate way, I can help! See more

Day 23 National Occupational Therapy Month. Occupational Therapists LOVE working with other professionals. You can't have a hollistic ptactice without getting other professional perspectives first! Brene Brown is a social worker by profession and a wonderful human being! If you haven't already heard of her, I encourage looking her up! She is definitely a great resourse to have in your back pocket!... https://www.facebook.com/188471851167932/posts/3952896148058798/

Day 22 of National Occupational Therapy Month. Today I am doing a story book feature! Why? Because worries are real, especially around this time of year with all of the extra spooky in the air. We all have worries and we need to remind our children that their worries, regardless of size, are legitimate and real. By addressing the worry and working together to overcome it, a child not only feels in control, but also heard. It makes it easier for them to feel safe about app...roaching you in the future with other worries that may be plaguing them. This book is really great at introducing what a worry is and that worries are common and nothing to be ashamed of. It also address how to combat said worries in a playful way!

Day 21 of National Occupational Therapy Month. If you or your child/ren have had past trauma, these past experiences can create difficulties with focus, impulse control, increased anxieties and compulsions, sensory difficulties and emotional disregulation. As a pediatric OT I can help reduce the impacts of past trauma through 1:1 sessions.

Day 20 of National Occupational Therapy Month. I was late to post today.. why? Because of life!! As a mom of 3, business owner, wife, etc, some days I feel like I need someone to just come and organize my life for me! Someone to help me create routines, brainstorm areas where I can be more efficient, strategize parenting difficulties and help me incorporate self care time for me! Ironically, an OT can help with all these things and more! Especially in those first months po...stpartum when everything in life seems a little more difficult to accomplish or with families facing new diagnosese, mental health concerns, etc. As a certified sleep coach, COSP- provider and OT I have a unique skill set to support parents and families in their journey to finding their new normal. I help provide guidance, support, information and direction with sleep, routines, tricky behaviours, eating, transitioning, organization, etc. The goal is to getting you and your family thriving as a unit, instead of just surviving. DM me for more information!