Siesta Hut Vision

Where will the Siesta Hut be in 5 years?
WHO: Young Elementary Aged Children.  Their number one occupation should be play.  Through play they will learn how to socialize, problem solve, regulate their emotions and create imaginations. Children at this age should not be required to pass academic tests.  If they are being tested, it's only one tiny piece of the puzzle.  Education for parents, teachers and caregivers is necessary to encourage imaginary play, show and tell, hanging upside down from monkey bars, snack time and a mat with a child's favorite secure item (blanket/stuffed animal).  In this scenario sensory processing issues, attention difficulties and other hidden disabilities for this age group may decrease. In the wild if an animal has a damaged vestibular system many times their mother's will kill them because in intact vestibular system is necessary for survival.  Humans are currently growing up with vestibular systems that are impaired because of the lack of play.

Tweens/Teens:  Parents and teachers seem to provide lots of structure and expectations at this age.  It is important that children at this age can begin to identify their strengths and weaknesses.  It is also important children at this age still continue to learn how to entertain themselves without an adult or electronic present.  Performing well on tests, participating in sports and socializing in the public school setting (whether it's good or bad) is only a portion of the foundation children at this age need.  Can they express their needs to adults/peers?  If they are struggling in public schools, what are their strengths (there are some).  If they are not college bound, what is their path?  If they are college bound and currently have an IEP, what is their path? Developing a sense of self and focusing on self esteem is crucial at this age.  What is our society/community doing to help this age group? Begin developing strategies to manage stress and discussing appropriate study habits.  Students should be aware what type of learner they are (auditory, kinestic, visual, etc.).  Stress management and mindfulness should be introduced. How they played as a child should give us lots of answers of where they are headed (and these qualities should never be ignored).

College Students: What are the social norms for study times?  Working while attending school? Are students using accommodations to the maximum potential?  Is stress management, study habits, work style(s) being used to maximum potential?

Parents: Need to give themselves a round of applause, a pat on the back and a big self hug. Parents will do absolutely anything to make sure their kids have a better life than they did when they were younger. Parents are constantly learning what selflessness truly is. Parenthood is the hardest, most time consuming role someone will ever have but also allows more personal growth and sense of love and accomplishment than any other role in life.  Are parents feeling overwhelmed? Lost? Where do they get answers when their child has a problem medically or at school? Are friendships and relationships with others struggling? Do parents have a sense of guilt because life seems to be hard for their child? It is important for parents to remember, without their health and maintaining a balance in their lives, their families (children) will also struggle.  Put your life mask on before you put someone else's on.

Working adults: Most parents are also working adults. They have been taught they can have it all. Technology also allows them to have it all.  Access to emails from colleagues when they have a child at home with a fever.  A video text of their baby taking his/her first steps while they are at work paying off student loans.  Our society hasn't left us with many different options.  This is when prioritizing becomes important.  When are adults going to admit we really don't want it all? We want to live a life full of passion. We want our families and loved ones to be healthy and we want to all live with secure incomes.  We are all unique individuals with different strengths and weaknesses which means that we will all have different goals, passions and aspirations for ourselves. Having a balance in our lives and time to take a Siesta often will allow us to get to know ourselves from the inside out.  When things are quite and calm where does your mind wander?  What makes you happiest when you are daydreaming?  Are you listening to your inner voice and intuition? By doing so you will enjoy the things that life has to offer.

I believe in offering services to people with all abilities.  My services will encourage inclusion into the community with the belief that everyone has something to offer.  It also needs to be understood that all of us are going to benefit from rehabilitation services at point throughout our lifespan.  Whether it is an acute injury, a child with severe medical needs or taking preventative measures to maintain our physical and emotional health, The Siesta Hut has a place for everyone.

WHAT:  Expand online as a more professional blog, e-books/book that is published.  Perhaps work on researching or writing grants in these areas that I am describing. I will be a consultant that is willing to meet one on one or give presentations to people of all abilities.  Long term goal: have a facility that is literally the Siesta Hut.  A place to receive my consultation services, along with other courses and services available.  This is an atmosphere to learn how to relax and to learn how to listen to your intuition and use it.  A place to learn that it is okay to accept resources from the community to live life to your fullest potential. The facility will have neutral earthy paint colors, natural lighting or dim lights.  I will hire a yoga instructor, massage therapist, OT/PT, educational advocates to help expand a holistic life to as many different individuals as possible.

WHERE: Online. Consulting in person by meeting at work places, schools or other public places. (The first 5-10 years)

WHEN:  The first 5-10 years around my current job at Eaton RESA. Nights, weekends, summer and other breaks from the school year.

WHY: I love Occupational Therapy and other concepts of rehabilitation. Without using certain techniques and following the advice of several rehabilitation professionals throughout my lifespan I would not be as successful as I am today. I also believe that my cerebral palsy has been a gift to me in terms of creating a career that is willing to show off all these amazing qualities of these professions.  My CP has allowed me to slow down and savor every challenge/barrier/accomplishment as I have encountered it.  I may move slowly and at times process things slowly but along with that comes conscientious and methodical approaches to the life I am living.  I would love to share that with others and watch them discover new things about themselves! The majority of workplaces appreciate and hope for individuals who produce an outcome often and the ability to be conscientious and methodical is often overlooked.  Especially in the rehab world (ironically enough).  And of course I want to be in a position where I am earning money to be around people and taking care of my body at the same time. These may seem like very personal reasons but that is the root of a passion!

The Perfect Pencil Grip

I forgot to mention during the first OT session with all of my students I also documented whether or not they were using an age appropriate pencil grip.  I am not a nun in a catholic school however as long as we are all still writing the old fashioned way, a good pencil grip is important.

At the beginning of every school year I have Kindergarten teachers ask me how to teach students how to use an appropriate pencil grip.  The truth is, learning how to hold a pencil like an adult is a long developmental process.  It actually goes way back to infancy.  Do children crawl?  If not there's a chance their arches of the hand are not fully developed.  Did the children develop a pincer grasp while eating cheerio's from their tray?  These are things we can't fix now but will help teachers and parents understand the process. Carefully look at the way you grip a pencil and notice the strength and dexterity it takes to maintain that grasp while you are quickly writing!

In infancy we all develop more hand strength on the side our pinky and ring finger.  We are able to grasp larger items/toys with that side of the hand before we can pick up cheerio's/beads/buttons with our finger tips.  This outside edge of our hands is used for strength and the thumb and pointer finger is used for dexterity.  Appropriate wrist rotation and movement will also assist with a good grasp while handwriting.

Cylindrical Grasp (1-1.5 years):  Young toddler's will grasp writing utensils with a fist and when they scribble they have very limited wrist rotation, instead they are using their whole forearm to make the marks.  This is when the strokes are larger.  About 2-3 years they will begin to use a digital grasp which provides even more refined movements.

Modified Tripod Grasp (3.5-4 years):  As they are shown how to hold a writing utensil and want to begin making more detailed pictures, they begin to grasp the writing utensils with 3 or 4 fingertips. This is naturally increasing strength and dexterity in their fingertips and also encouraging more refined wrist movements.  At this stage it is a good idea to give children positions that encourage wrist movement while they are drawing, coloring or writing. Some of these positions include lying on the tummy while resting elbows on the floor and coloring/drawing or drawing on a vertical plane (wall/white board/easel/chalk board).

It's a good idea to explain to children the thumb, index finger and middle finger are the "Go" fingers and the ring finger and pinky are the "stop" fingers.  The go fingers make the writing utensil move and the stop fingers rest towards the palm of the hand.

Open/Close clothes pins on wooden ornament

Also during this stage it is also important to continue increasing dexterity and strength in the fingers. Picking up small pegs, beads, coins, buttons with the thumb and index finger.  Using the thumb/index finger/middle finger to push small pop beads together, open clips and use tongs/tweezers to pick up items are good exercises.  They are also fun!   One of the schools I work with are allowing Kindergartners to work on these exercises for about 30 minutes a

Pop beads to push together and pick up with strawberry huller

couple of times a week and there have been improvements with how children are grasping pencils.
Shortened markers/pencils or broken crayons are also beneficial.

Tripod Grasp (4.5-7 years):  Eventually children should develop a tripod grasp which provides the strength and coordination to grasp a writing utensil and provide refined movements for writing.  I really like the idea of showing kids a picture of how they should be holding their pencils. It would even be good to place a pom pom or cotton ball inside of the ring and pinky finger for them to hold onto while using a writing utensil.  I like trying all of these ideas before just trying to use the various types of pencil grips that are on the market.

If the nuns only would have known having fun with small toys is much more effective than a ruler! There are even videos:

How does Kim Measure Up with Time Management..

When thinking about organization and time management for myself, a few things pop into my mind:

1.  I am becoming really resentful about completing non-purposeful things.  It scares me, I don't like being resentful.  However, at least I have established what matters to me.  It is taking more of an effort to filter out what does not matter to me.  This is a work in progress.  I think because it's on my mind and I am feeling this way, I am more apt to make the changes I want to make.

2.  An IEP a day keeps the stress away.  About once a week I have an eval (2 hours worth of report writing) and couple times a week I have IEP information to fill in (20-30 minutes).  My hope is just to get these done and out of the way, in small chunks, daily.  It seems easy...but I assure you, an IEP a day will take major discipline.  But I'll walk away feeling more accomplished. And yes, this is a purposeful thing. Kind of like going to the

dentist.

3.  Small chores around the house should be handled just like an IEP a day.

4.  I want to earn money by taking care of my body and mind.

5.  I'm tired of making time for things like Netflix and Facebook, watching the evening news.  If I need a break why am I not meditating/reflecting, getting massages or sleeping?  It is just easier to maintain the same routine after work.  I did this after a very overwhelming 6 day work week this evening.  I shut Netflix off, set my phone down and began to breathe. I listened and watched a Thunderstorm as my dinner warmed up in the oven.  I really was able to hear myself think and thoughts beyond work deadlines or what friends/family are up to or what laundry had to be folded bubbled to the surface.  It did feel peaceful and good.  After about 22 minutes, someone texted me and I ended it.  But if it's a real time to be truly with myself and think about long exhales and what matters to me the most, that's all that is needed.

6.  If you think long exhales and deep breathing is only for nut job hippies....I challenge you to try for a week.  While working on it, you get to make noises like Darth Vader.  I used to say I could never exhale longer than I inhaled.  I proved myself wrong!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0KYxYOo2RnA


7. I may have OCD.  I've known it before but this month after blogging about organization.....I do get a rush after things are clean and in order.  I have a hard time initiating it, but once I get going...I become anal and particular and have the end rush.  If report writing made me feel this way, my life would be complete.

8.  Time Management will keep me employed in a bureaucracy.  However it takes effort and is a work in progress.