Hello OT families!
Some of you may be unclear as to what Occupational therapy is all about.
If it helps, you may think of an “occupation”as a job. In terms of Occupational therapy it is all the things people do to occupy their time. For children , their “job” is playing, doing school work and learning to take care of themselves. At our school session, we focus on functional school activities but also all the preparatory skills, such as having the postural strength and stamina needed to maintain attention and complete activities such as reading and writing.
Please try to take the activity ideas as suggestions for ways to skill build, bond with your kids and have fun, not as another chore to complete. *The most therapeutic aspect can be that while we are busy playing, moving or taking on a creative task we have an opportunity to talk, bond and take our focus off of our stress.
I have reached out and will continue to reach out to families to provide support. If you have specific skill building concerns I am happy to address these with you as well. Please feel free to contact me and keep looking for updates of ideas on this site.
Sincerely,
Bridget Goffredo, COTA-L
Advanced Therapy- RCSCSD
A Note From Miss Alina:
Hello my OT Friends! I would like to start by thanking each and every parent and caregiver who is helping our students during this time of uncertainty, and by saying to my kiddos, I MISS YOU!
I hope the first week of "homeschooling" went well, and you continue to be well and safe.
Our kiddos were hard at work during Occupational Therapy sessions working on their skills which help them successfully access their learning environments. I have been in contact with during this time to help provide materials to continue practicing the skills we have been working on, and will continue to do so moving forward. Many of these skills can also be addressed by activities we engage in without even thinking about- including indoor and outdoor play, moving throughout the house, sorting and organizing when we clean, and engaging in other coursework! Because of this, there are so many different ways to practice our OT skills. I will continue to provide paper-pencil ideas and materials, however I encourage you all to engage in play with your kiddos as often as possible--build towers with blocks, draw with sidewalk chalk, bake cookies, and explore your surroundings (safely!).
If there is ANYTHING you need during this time for support, please let me know. I am thankful we have a team of caregivers doing their best to help students practice OT skills; please allow me to continue to support you through this. I am available by email at abalicki@rcscsd.org.
To my kiddos-keep doing your best work during this time! I believe in you, and cannot wait until we get to be in OT sessions again!
With Love,
Alina Balicki, MOT, OTR/L