Blog - Kids Place Therapy Services

Why Open-Ended Play Matters

Parents and summer have a love/hate relationship. Kids spend more time at home and the weather is warmer. That said, typical routines and schedules go out the window. While it may be tempting to register our children for summer camps, classes, sports, play dates, and more, it is very important to remember that our little ones need open-ended play with friends and free time just as much as structured activities. Not only does it benefit their mental health by reducing stress and anxiety, it also encourages creativity, problem solving, and other skills vital to their development.

Other benefits to free time and open-ended play include:

Emotional regulation. Unstructured play helps children process difficult emotions while still allowing them to act like a child.
Reducing burnout. It takes a lot of mental energy for children to stick to structured routines during the school year. It’s important to allow them time for themselves, similar to how adults approach self-care.
Improves sleep and boosts immunity. Warmer weather often means more time outdoors, which uses a lot of physical energy in kids. Physical exercise has also been shown to reduce stress and anxiety, which boosts immunity, in addition to improving sleep!

Contact our office and our therapists can help identify strategies that work best for your family during summer break.

May 21, 2024/by jessenpr

Benefits of Playing in the Rain

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April showers bring May flowers! Not only is this rainy time of year good for the earth, it brings many benefits for our children’s development. Playing outside in the rain can positively impact your child as they grow in a variety of ways, including:

Physically. When a child plays outside, they rely on their gross motor skills–running, jumping, climbing, etc. The rain can increase the need for balance, along with providing puddles to jump in! This strengthens their coordination and encourages them to be aware of their surroundings. Playing outside in the rain also positively impacts their immune systems–just make sure they are dressed appropriately to go outside and once they come back in.
Sensory. Rain provides a unique sensory experience by transforming the world around them with different sights, smells, sounds, and touches. Sensory input from the outdoors helps build neural pathways in the brain and promotes self-regulation.
Creativity. Rain encourages them to explore their surroundings via simply walking/running around, drawing with chalk (which can turn paint-like when wet), using their imaginations and playing with mud, dancing/singing, or catching rain drops on their tongue. It allows them to problem solve, cultivate a sense of wonder, and contributes to their overall intellectual development.
Mental Health. It’s been shown that playing outdoors for at least 20 minutes a day helps kids self-regulate and lower cortisol levels. When most adults see rain, they think to stay inside. However, being inside all day can lead to sensory overload for the little ones.

Contact our office today to see how playing in the rain can help achieve your child’s therapy goals.

April 18, 2024/by jessenpr

Tips for Healthy Sleep

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Did you know that poor sleep in kids is linked to social, developmental, and behavior difficulties, irritability, academic challenges, and learning difficulties.

Here are a few important things to do to help your kiddo get a restful night’s sleep:

Set a routine. Start winding down about an hour before bed. Avoid any high energy activities. The bedtime routine should be the same every night, lasting about 20-30 minutes, and include consistent calming activities (i.e. brushing your teeth, taking a bath, and reading a book). Always finish the routine in their bedroom.
Keep consistent bed/wake times. Try not to deviate by more than an hour on days where kids do not have school.
Create a calm bedroom environment. Keep your child’s room dark, calm, and comfortable. Avoid using it as punishment so your little one does not associate their room with punishment.
Naps matter. Make sure you follow the appropriate nap schedule per your child’s age. Too much sleep during the day can impact their sleep at night. A good resource to reference is the Baby Sleep Site.
Maintain a healthy diet. Foods with high sugar, low fiber, high saturated fats, and high carbs have been shown to contribute to poor sleep.

If you think your child needs something more to help them drift off to sleep, sensory aids can help.

Weighted blankets simulate deep pressure, or feel like a hug.
Massages before bed can soothe them to sleep
Epsom salts in their bath before bed can help relax your child’s muscles and body. Epsom salts contain magnesium which creates a calming effect in our bodies when absorbed through the skin.
White noise can help protect against unpredictable or distracting sounds.
A designated night time item like a stuffed animal or blanket can provide comfort.
Diffuse calming essential oils (lavender, bergamot, or eucalyptus) to create a soothing environment.
Melatonin, a common sleep aid, can be used if your child is still struggling to maintain good sleep after trying all of the above. Be sure to talk to your pediatrician first before trying.

Contact our office for help on where to begin. Our Occupational Therapists can help you identify what strategy may be most helpful for your child.

March 4, 2024/by jessenpr

Ways to Show Kids Why Loving Themselves Matters

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Love is in the air! February is a great time to teach your kids why loving themselves matters. This means caring for their physical, mental, and emotional health, being kind to themselves, and appreciating/respecting who they are as a person. In doing so, you can help your child increase their resilience, decrease stress, promote positive mental health, and improve self-esteem and confidence.

Here are a few Ideas to promote self-love:

Positive self-talk can be done verbally in front of the mirror or with post-it notes on a mirror that your child uses. Have them say/write:
- I am smart and I can learn new things each day.
- I am kind.
- I am a good [brother/sister/son/daughter/friend].
- I am loved by my family.
Make a beaded bracelet with a positive word your child thinks describes them.
Have your child draw a picture of themselves, then have them write or say three things that make them special.
Create an “I love me” jar
- Fill it with written notes of things they feel proud of throughout the year
Movement
- Dance party (Can look up videos they can follow along to)
- Create an obstacle course (could include animal walks, climbing over cushions, etc.)
- Use yarn to make a laser course through a hallway
- Plan a scavenger hunt within the home

Looking for other activities to keep your kids entertained this winter? Check out our other blog, Winter Weather Fun.

February 1, 2024/by jessenpr

Winter Weather Fun

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Looking for ways to entertain your kids when it’s cold outside? Heavy work–or activities that burn energy–are critical in keeping our kiddos regulated.

If you’re willing to brave the cold and throw on some snow gear, try:

Shoveling. Kids love to feel helpful!
Making a snow fort. Creative and imaginative!
Sledding. Climbing up a hill before flying down is a surefire way to burn energy.

Prefer staying inside and warm? Try these fun options:

Make a blanket fort. You can fill the inside of the fort with spare pillows for added deep pressure!
Pillow fight. If your kiddo can handle this activity, you should definitely give it a try. Provide deep-pressure pillow squishes at the end of the activity to assist with calming them down.
Lifting/Pushing/Pulling. Pushing and pulling provides proprioceptive input* through the muscles and joints. Activities such as carrying groceries, putting wet clothes inside a dryer, or pushing a sibling around in a laundry basket are all great examples.

*the sense that lets us perceive joint position and movement, muscle force, and effort.

January 5, 2024/by jessenpr