Down Syndrome - Our Top 10 Therapy Toys/Tools

I have always been interested to hear what types of therapy activities parents are doing with their kids with Down syndrome. There is such a vast array of options out there and I love to learn and experiment with Hazel. I like to have ideas to discuss with her PT (physiotherapist), OT (occupational therapist) and SLP (speech and language pathologist). One thing I have learned raising a child with special needs is that it truly does take a village. This post was inspired by my love for learning new activities to try and help my girl reach her full potential. I'm hoping this gives you some ideas to bring to your next therapy session to find out if these activities might work for your children.

Please feel free to share your ideas and activities in the comments of this post. I would love to hear from you.

 

1. Big Ol' Piece of Foam (PT & OT)

A piece of very firm foam that's about 2 feet x 2.5 feet. We used this for almost everything (kneeling, sitting, weight baring on arms, reaching, playing and standing). I know this could be tricky to get but ask around I am sure you will find it somewhere.

2. Mirror (PT & Speech)

We used this to encourage Hazel to sit, balance, reach, and TALK TALK TALK. She loves looking at herself and hearing her voice.

3. Baby Signing Time (Speech)

These DVDs are great for introducing common signs to your toddler. I find that as long as I use them in her day-to-day routines she learns them in context. They are an excellent tool to teach me the signs so I can use them to communicate with her.

4. Flap Books (OT & Speech)

5. Large Peg Puzzles (OT)

6. Pegs (OT)

7. Blocks (OT)

Stacking anything is the idea. It doesn't have to be blocks but this is what we use. We also use nesting cups, books etc.

8. Piggy Bank (OT)

Anything that has a slot and something to put into the slot is a winner here.

9. Push Toy (PT)

We used this toy for the longest time. We started with reaching, then kneeling, then standing, then walking. It really is a great investment.

10. Exercise Gym (PT)

We used this for standing and shifting weight on each leg. Then we used it to get her to cruise around the outside when she was bigger. Also, we used it for pulling to stand. We used this toy for a long time so I think it's definitely worth the investment.

So these are 10 of our favourite tools to use in therapy. To read more about what else we do check out my older posts here.

Also, don't forget to take a second to share your ideas or activities that you do with your children in the comments of this post. Also, feel free to ask any questions you may have!

Wishing you all success in your current and future therapy ventures!

Filling up our tool boxes

WARNING: There is a rant coming your way. You might want to leave now while you still can (but I really hope you don't - sniffle) or grab a coffee and come back prepared to take a moment to read my plea about "milestones."

Oh good, I am so glad you stayed...here goes.

I don't know if you've noticed over the course of reading and following the blog that I am not really one for comparing other kids, worrying about when milestones will be reached at what time, or giving praise for how quickly some kids do things compared to others. I am not sure how many times I have been asked...

"Is she walking yet?"

I always just answer in the most honest way that I can and hope that it satisfies the person asking. I find it interesting how our culture and society is always worried and focused on that next step. We just don't spend enough time focusing on the present (which if y'all have been reading for a while, know how I feel about "being present"). Enjoying the phases our kids go through in that moment. Let me ask you this...

"What is the next milestone you are going to ask me about if I tell you she IS walking?"

What do you want to know about after the walking? I have no idea what is after this. Is it talking? Running? Reading? Drawing? I'm not sure.

What I can tell you about the way that I see things is that every child reaches milestones when they are ready. We can't force them to feel confident enough to take that first step, say their first word, turn the pages in a book or feed themselves with a spoon. All we can do as parents is be there to teach, support, challenge, be patient and give them a soft place to land when the first 50 attempts end in a little heap on the floor or a huge mess on the wall. Developmentally, as our children show interest in these things, we start to fill our tool boxes with the necessary items to help them achieve, progress and grow.

Even before Hazel came along and taught me about being present, I mean really forced me to live in the moment, I never placed much emphasis on what milestones kids were reaching when. I would always be there to celebrate their success but never wonder when they were going to do certain things. Of all my nieces and nephews, I couldn't tell you what age any of them were when they started to meet milestones and become the little people they are. I am just proud of them. All of them. For the things they can do and the things they are learning. I like the people they are becoming and to me that is all that matters in the end. I'm just glad to be a part of the journey.

In the last 18 months (cause Hazel is 18 months now...crazy!) I have met and become so close with so many other mamas who have babies with DS. I embrace every single milestone that their children reach. I am proud of them. I know what goes into being a mom of a child with special needs. I know how much effort and energy goes into OT, PT, and Speech. I KNOW some of what's in their tool boxes. I get it.

Are all our babes reaching milestones at the same time? Of course not. But we all take out our hammers, levels, and cordless drills and give it the best we got.

Mamas to typical children: Do your children reach milestones at the same time as their peers? Of course not. But you take your measuring tape, screw driver and chalk line and give it the best you got.

Children are individuals and that is what makes them ours. That is what makes them the people we love. Watching them overcome challenges and hurdles is what makes us beam with pride. To see something that was once so difficult become so easy, makes us proud.

In the end we are all the same. We all want what is best for our babies. We want to provide the foundation that they need to become stronger, successful, stable, productive members of society. It's just that the tool box we use is filled with different tools and tricks.

But it's ok...there's more than one way to build an empire (just ask the Romans).

Sometimes we share the tools of others because they make sense to us and sometimes we hoard our little boxes and stick with what we know works best for our kids. Either way, we have all spent the time slowly collecting the tools that are helping us do what we need to do.

Make our children happy.

So I guess I just took the really round-about way of telling you all that Hazel has started to walk.

She took her first steps at 16 months and has been practicing at her own pace ever since. She is still very wobbly and it ends in a heap on the floor a lot of the time, but she is proud of herself. She is confident and she gets back up and tries some more. To me this is a success. Looking at her determined little face makes me feel like my box has all of the right tools stashed away in it. I'm sure in the future I will take some away and add others, but for now I feel fully equipped to build my empire. My empire is Hazel's confidence. As long as she gets back up and tries again, I am proud.

She was not letting go of that stick for anything. Also, she was giggling and laughing the whole way walking down the sidewalk.

Keep on gettin' back up baby girl. You got this!

A girls gotta have fun

Here is a video of Hazel and I doing physio. Well, it stared out as physio and ended up just being super fun. She figured out that she can fall to the sides and back without any injury. That and it's a super bouncy landing. Not really the goal while doing physio but, a girls gotta have fun too.

Click here if having trouble viewing 

If we were doing this properly, as a PT activity, I would be bouncing her much slower and moving her around in a circle very slowly. Hazel would be balancing herself by activating her muscles in her stomach and legs. It's a natural reaction for her to try and keep herself upright. It works great for core strengthening.

New goal for Chasing Hazel's Facebook page.

47 Chromosomes = 470 "likes"

Don't forget to click here to stop by her page and hit "like" for updates on all the shenanigans Hazel is up to.

Thanks for your continued support. Hope this video brings a smile to your Tuesday!

PT & OT 9-12months (for Hazel)

First, I MUST share this video. It's the John McGivney Awareness Video, the facility where Hazel's therapists work. LOVE!!!  

Click here if having trouble viewing 

Amazing, right?

Ok...moving on...

This post is a medley of old and new(ish) Physical Therapy (PT) and Occupational Therapy (OT). I am working on a new post of activities from 12 months and up.

YIKES!!! Time fly's...Hazel grows and then we start new activities.

Hazel started to do these activities when she was 9 months. She is still working on some and has mastered others. As with all of my PT and OT posts, these activities have been approved by Hazel's therapists for Hazel, please check with a therapist in your local community before trying any of these activities with your children.

Occupational Therapy

1. In & Out

Hazel is working on putting objects in a bowl and taking them out. We use any big bowl available. I think maybe a metal one would be better so that when she drops something in, it makes a louder noise. Sometimes when I am feeling brave, we use a huge metal pot (side note: holy it's loud!!!) Any little toys work to drop in, links, cubes, pegs, balls. Hazel often has a hard time hearing anything drop in because she is constantly talking and babbling while playing. What is that saying - "you can't talk and listen simultaneously" - wait...did I just make that up? Oh, either way, you know....

She takes toys out of her bin, not so much put them back in. That's my job. I think she just wants to make sure my position as maid is secure. She's so kind and thoughtful.

2. Drinking/Eating

We are always working on eating and drinking. Hazel practices drinking out of a cup and a sippy-cup everyday. We try to encourage self-feeding by giving her pieces that she can pick up herself and put into her mouth. Her pincer grasp is not finessed enough for her to pick up really little objects like Cheerios, but she does well with penne noodles, crackers, bread and bananas (to name a few). Poor girl still has no teeth, so taking bites is difficult. When she gets the pieces into her mouth, she can't bite a piece off. Frustrating!

3. Rings

Put them on. Take them off. Put them on. Take them off. Put them on...

So that's that one.

Oops...that's cheating! You can't just dump them all, Hazel!!!

Oh yes...bang them together is another game she likes to play.

Physical Therapy

(these activities are not all we do, just some)

1. Weight Bearing on Arms

This one is a precursor to crawling. Here is one of the positions that works for getting her ready to push herself up in a 4 point. It is also encouraging her to weight bare on her arms. We try to get her to go from one side to the other. I find it easier if you hold a toy out for her to see, however, it feels like I need another hand to support her and hold the toy. You have to find what works for you.

When I move the toy in front of her, she follows along with it and sits looking forward and then I drag it to the other side and she leans to reach it. It's a tricky one!!! This was also great for getting her comfortable with putting herself in the sitting position. She would push herself back into a sit.

She would often shift her weight and would be in a 4 point stance for a couple of seconds, which was great to get her used to the crawling position.

2. High Kneel

This was my favourite PT activity (now she does it all the time on her own while she's playing)

It is easy and efficient for mommies and very effective in teaching backing in to a sit. It is also perfect for strengthening her arms by encouraging her to weight bare on them for a extended periods (by this I mean about a minute...maybe more if she was really into the toy that day). When backing into a sit she just pushes off the toy with her arms, leans to the side and goes down.

I would often switch up the tools we used to get her into a high kneel. Here she is leaning on a pillow or nursing pillow that is on top of the foam piece we have. Works perfect. Sometimes I would put her mirror in front of her so that she would stay there and talk to herself for a while.

At some point, she started going into this position and rocking. Crawl prep...

3. Crawling

Turns out this is the best PT there is. So, we just encourage her in which ever way motivates her that day to crawl around the house. Under the advisement of her therapist, we are not working on walking with Hazel. She is gaining so much strength in her arms, legs and core by crawling that we are just content to keep her doing that.

Speech Therapy

1. READ! READ! READ!

Lots and lots of reading. The same books over and over. We make sounds of animals, we point to the text. We start again...

Girlfriend is obsessed with books. She will sit forever with me and read. I LOVE IT!!!

Sometimes, she can't decide, speech or OT??? Decisions...

  

We have since added a bunch of new activities to our daily routine. I will share in a later post. Hope this helps to give some ideas!

Happy Days...

Occupational & Physical Therapy for Babies

For Down Syndrome Awareness month, I thought I would put together a post of all the PT and OT Hazel has done from birth to 6 months (she is doing more than this now, I will post later). I tried to be thorough and remember back to when we started. Hope it helps!!! This is our experience and if you would like to try any of these activities, please ask a professional in your community.

 

We are so fortunate to live in a community that has excellent resources for children with special needs, like Hazel. There are so many countries in the world that are not equipped with the financial means or the expert knowledge that Canada has to support children with different abilities (K...I am stepping off the soap box now, but I am only putting it aside, this topic will be addressed another day). I hope that this post helps those who feel they live in a community that doesn't have the best support for their children.

The John McGivney Children's Center (JMCC) provides us with all the services that Hazel needs, such as occupational therapy (OT), speech therapy and physical therapy (PT). I've sung this tune before and I will continue to sing the praises of the therapists that come to visit and play with Hazel. They are always encouraging, positive and extremely knowledgeable in their respective fields.

(Note: Hazel is awarded in-home services as a result of her cardiac issue (VSD). She is considered medically fragile and therefore needs to be in a clean sterile environment. When she is bigger and stronger she will receive all of these services at JMCC.)

Now that Hazel is done her surgery and getting older we can do some really fun muscle awareness and strengthening activities with her. We always follow her lead and never push her to do anything unless she wants to. For us, and all her therapists, it is first about Hazel being happy and content, one of the reasons I love them so much. Hazel has demonstrated a will to grow and meet her milestones all on her own with little help from us. We are only providing her with the foundation and from this she will build her empire.

Disclaimer:

I want to make a note that I am not suggesting that anyone do any of the activities that Hazel does without proper instruction from a therapist. Every child is different, works at their own pace and has needs that are their own. I am outlining the basics for those of you who are interested and can gain some understanding of what we do to support Hazel. Also, seeing what we do may spark discourse with your therapist to see whether these activities would benefit your child.

I wasn't as diligent at documenting her OT and PT at the beginning, perhaps because there really is not much we did early on. Starting from when she was about 3 to 4 months old we would put her laying on her side up against the back of the couch. We would often hold a toy out in front of her to encourage her to bring her hands to her mid-line. We gave her as much tummy time as she would allow. I would also carry her around the house in my arms while she faced out, which also encouraged strengthening the neck muscles. Rolling over started when she was about 4 months old.

Hazel in her side lying position...

Hazel working on balance and sitting up...

Sometimes I put her nursing pillow in front to support her and give her a top to play with her toys...

Now that she is 7 months and has mastered the art of rolling everywhere and anywhere, we are moving on to sitting up and being able to shift her weight from one side to the other, which will help to facilitate going from laying to sitting. Hazel has been doing very well and can sit balanced for a while, both using her hands out in front and with no hands at all.

Here is the position we have her getting used to. This will help her to transition her weight from one side to the other. So she will be able to turn to either side to play with her toys. Also, this will help her to learn to lean on and strengthen both arms. There are pictures attached of Hazel with her OT...LOVE LOVE LOVE her!!!!

Having her legs tucked under her like this will start getting her comfortable on her knees for crawling. Her arms are on top of her OT's thigh. We are making sure her knees and feet stay together so that her joints are not getting over extended. The OT is just putting gentle pressure on her leg to keep it tucked under and in the right position.

This one is just sitting with her feet firmly on the ground, which will get her used to putting pressure on her feet. The OT is holding her hand and applying light pressure to the tops of her knees or tops of her feet to create muscle awareness for her legs and feet.

This is Hazel's play arch. This is another way to help her to shift her weight and get used to balancing her weight on either side. It also encourages her to grab and play with her toys, aiding her along with her gross and fine motor skills. Her OT is there to guide her and let her move where she would like. She is allowing her enough freedom to go to whatever toy she wants, she just keeps her hands on her to support her.

FINALLY, the medicine ball has a purpose in our home!!! By putting Hazel on the ball and gently bouncing her on it in the position shown, it creates muscle awareness all over her body.

Her OT is applying firm pressure to keep her from slipping off (obviously) and so that she feels comfortable. She doesn't want her to over-extend any of her muscles by trying to look up and back at her.

She can let her stand on her legs, as shown here, to get her used to using the muscles there.