Should I Buy a Baby Walker?
December 5, 2023
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By Francesca Resurreccion PT, DPT As a pediatric physical therapist, parents often ask if baby walkers help babies take their first steps. I’m here to
Uplift Therapy Journal
Encouraging Utensil Use
November 30, 2023
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By Christina Martinez, OTR/L As exciting as it may be for children to begin transitioning to solid foods, it can get messy! Little ones learning
Social Stories
November 14, 2023
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By Christine Hemelians, MS, OTR/L Social Stories are used as a learning tool to explain and illustrate certain social situations and problems and how people
Baby-Led Weaning
November 7, 2023
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L What is baby-led weaning? Is a popular approach to starting solid foods. It skips over purees and jumps into finger
What is Childhood Apraxia of Speech?
November 2, 2023
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By Pranali Shah MS, CF SLP Childhood Apraxia of Speech, often abbreviated as CAS, is a motor speech disorder that affects a child’s ability to
Pacifier use
October 12, 2023
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP Oh, the controversial pacifier! You might also know it as a binky, nookie, pon-pon, or dummy… (amongst others). Some parents
Core Activation Activities
October 10, 2023
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By Erica Gliga MOT, OTR/L More core, please! Core strength is foundational for developing an upright posture and motor skill development. Here are some different
Using Music to Help Children Learn Language
September 26, 2023
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP Have you ever noticed that your child’s eyes light up when they hear their favorite song? Or witnessed them jump
The Importance of Movement Breaks
September 19, 2023
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By Christine Hemelians, MS, OTR/L Think back to your childhood and remember how common it was to hear the phrase “sit still and pay attention!”
Age-Appropriate Chores and Tasks
September 12, 2023
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By Kyla Cole, COTA/L Engaging young children in age-appropriate chores and tasks around the house not only instills a sense of responsibility but also promotes
Infant Oral Reflexes
September 1, 2023
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By Rouzan Dishoian, MS, CF SLP Reflexes are involuntary responses to certain stimuli that help us protect our body from things that can harm us.
Play and language
August 23, 2023
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP “Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.” ~ Mr. Rogers Flashcards, quizzing, educational television shows… it
The benefits of using a visual schedule
August 16, 2023
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By: Christine Hemelians, MS, OTR/L Adults often use calendars, post-its, “to do” lists, and organizers to help complete tasks and enhance memory. Children as young
Screen Time
August 11, 2023
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L Screen time is definitely an advantage for parents to keep their little ones occupied while they have to deal with
Shouldn’t my child be playing with other kids? Parten’s 6 Stages of Play
August 1, 2023
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By Nicole Tutaj, MA, OTR/L Parents are often concerned when their child is not playing with others. Often times, it’s possibly because they are still
Stimming: What is it and why it happens
July 25, 2023
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By: Christine Hemelians, MS, OTR/L Stimming can be used to describe repetitive movements and actions to stimulate the senses. These movements can occur due to
What is Joint Attention?
July 13, 2023
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By ROUZAN DISHOIAN, MS, CF-SLP Joint attention or shared attention is a shared focus of two individuals on an object. It is achieved when two
What is self-regulation?
July 6, 2023
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By Nicole Tutaj MA, OTR/L Self-regulation is one’s ability to manage their behaviors, emotions, attention and adjust depending on the circumstances in the environment. It
Sensory Diets
June 28, 2023
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Does your child having a difficult time focusing? Are they always on the go? Climbing furniture, seeking touch, crashing into objects, placing inedible items in
Two Languages? I’m Worried it will Confuse my Child…
June 27, 2023
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By Rouzan Dishoian MS, CF SLP One of the most common questions SLPs get from parents is “Does speaking two languages confuse my child?” We
Sound Machines
June 20, 2023
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS, CCC-SLP There’s been a lot of noise recently regarding whether the use of sounds machines is helpful or harmful to babies.
4 Ways to Boost Your Child’s Development this Summer
June 13, 2023
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By Nicole Tutaj, MA, OTR/L With summer approaching and kids spending more time at home, it is the perfect opportunity to engage in numerous bonding
Messy Play
June 6, 2023
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By Erica Gliga MOT, OTR/L With the weather getting warmer, you may be getting outside more with your little ones. Whether inside or outside, messy
What is the Auditory System and Why is it Important?
June 2, 2023
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The auditory system is how we process and understand the sounds within our environment. Auditory processing can be broken into 3 auditory skills: auditory awareness,
Speech Sound Development
May 29, 2023
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS, CCC-SLP Do you ever have a difficult time understanding what your child is saying? Do you find them making mistakes for
Strategies for Offering New Foods
May 23, 2023
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By Karnie Babikian, Nutrition Educator Offering new foods consistently is critical in expanding a child’s diet to include foods from all important food groups. A
Managing Screen Time
May 16, 2023
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Nicole Tutaj, MA, OTR/L Managing screen time in this digital age is something many of us struggle with. What’s the right amount of screen time
Say What You Want Them to Say!
May 11, 2023
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Rouzan Dishoian MS, CF SLP Does your child repeat long phrases after you but will not use words to communicate? This is called Echolalia. By
Parent Coaching
May 4, 2023
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By Ani Oganesyan OTR/L How can you make the most out of your occupational therapy sessions? Simple, get involved in sessions! Parent involvement leads to
Happy Occupational Therapy Month!
April 27, 2023
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By Erica Gliga MOT, OTR/L April is here and with that, we celebrate all the wonderful things about occupational therapy and occupational therapy practitioners. This
Autism and play: Why play skills are important and should be reinforced at home
April 25, 2023
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By: Christine Hemelians, MS, OTR/L Play is an important part of a child’s development. However, in children presenting developmental delays or diagnosed with autism, play
Early signs and characteristic traits of Autism Spectrum Disorder
April 19, 2023
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L In light of April being Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month, here are some early signs and characteristic traits of Autism
Exploring Autism and Occupational Therapy
April 14, 2023
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In honor of April being both Occupational Therapy and Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month we would like to highlight the importance of occupational therapy for
What is Motor Planning?
March 30, 2023
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By: Christine Hemelians, MSOT, OTR/L Most families that seek services are familiar with the terms fine and gross motor skills, or delayed receptive and expressive
Helping Children Establish a Healthy Relationship with Food
March 28, 2023
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By Karnie Babikian, Nutrition Educator Many significant dietary changes occur in the first years of life as children transition from milk/formula to soft solids and
How to Boost Your Child’s Development in Your Daily Routines
March 24, 2023
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP Sometimes as adults it can feel almost impossible to find time to play with your child. Between rushing to get
Sensitive to Loud Noises?
March 14, 2023
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Erica Gliga MOT, OTR/L Let’s break down what it might look like if your child is sensitive to loud noises and how to support them
When is the right time to transition away from bottle drinking?
March 7, 2023
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By Nicole Tutaj, MA, OTR/L The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests getting rid of bottle drinking by 18 months, and sippy cups by age
Making Mealtimes More Successful: The Division of Responsibility in Feeding – The Ellyn Satter Model
February 28, 2023
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By Karnie Babikian, Nutrition Educator Parents play a big role in feeding their children and teaching them how to eat. It is important to recognize,
Gross motor skills: Jumping!
February 14, 2023
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L “When should my child start jumping?” is one of the common questions asked by parents. All the more, when parents
Explaining Meltdowns After School
February 7, 2023
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By: Christine Hemelians, MSOT, OTR/L Does your child have difficulty transitioning during school pick-up? Are pick-ups met with crying, screaming, yelling, pushing, hitting, and so
MyPlate: What are the 5 Food Groups and what Constitutes a Healthful Diet?
January 12, 2023
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By Karnie Babikian, Nutrition Educator at Uplift Therapy Center The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGAs) are nutrition recommendations that help us follow a dietary pattern
What are fidget tools and why are they important for kids?
January 6, 2023
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By Christine Hemelians, MSOT, OTR/L We all fidget in some way shape or form. For example, shaking our legs, twirling our hair, biting our nails,
The Power of Playdough
December 22, 2022
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP Play-dough is an all-time favorite toy at Uplift Therapy Center. Curious about why this toy is a staple for our
Sensory Strategies to Make Bath Time a Breeze
December 16, 2022
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By Nicole Tutaj OTR/L Do you dread bath time because your kid rules the place or doesn’t like their hair washed? Maybe they don’t like
Sensory “meltdown”, or behavioral “tantrum”?
November 29, 2022
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By Isabella Hakobian OTD, OTR/L It can often be difficult to determine whether your child’s actions are rooted from a behavioral or sensory issue. Here
ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, or both?
November 8, 2022
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L When children appear to have poor sustained attention to task, they typically attend to an activity for only several seconds
Toddlers Biting: Reasons and Recommendations
October 27, 2022
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By: Christine Hemelians, MSOT, OTR/L Toddlers biting can be a daily struggle. Are you constantly stressed out for playdates? Does your toddler bite at daycare
What is pediatric occupational therapy?
October 13, 2022
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By Ani Oganesyan OTR/L Many people have never heard of pediatric occupational therapy (OT) or may have heard about it and are still a bit
Sensory Strategies for Bedtime
October 4, 2022
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By: Christine Hemelians, MSOT, OTR/L Did you know that difficulties with sensory integration can negatively impact sleep? Close to 30% of children have trouble sleeping;
Picky Eating – When should I be concerned?
September 22, 2022
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP Picky eaters…. It seems like all of us know someone who can fit inside this category. Even as adults we
Preparing for a Haircut
September 15, 2022
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By: Christine Hemelians, MSOT, OTR/L Sensory processing disorder affects participation in everyday self-care tasks such as grooming, feeding, and getting dressed. Children who have difficulty
Is my child ready to transition from a crib to a toddler bed?
September 13, 2022
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By Angela Kurdzhukyan MS, OTR/L A common question parents ask is whether or not their child is ready to switch to a toddler bed. Although
What to expect during parent and me classes?
September 6, 2022
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Participate in a group of parents and babies to play, learn, and connect with each other. Parents and babies can expect a 60-minute-long session one
Picking Out Toys for Toddlers and Preschoolers
August 23, 2022
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By Christine Hemelians, MSOT, OTR/L It is crucial to pick out toys that are multi-purpose for children to develop and grow. This is especially important
Importance of Parent and Me Classes
August 4, 2022
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As a parent, you know that few things are more rewarding than seeing your child happy. But….parenting is a lot of work! It can be
What is the interoceptive system?
July 26, 2022
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By Ani Oganesyan OTR/L Have you heard about the interoceptive sensory system? It’s the 8th sensory system that is most often overlooked and is considered
Navigating Early Intervention Services through the Regional Center: A guide for practitioners and caregivers
July 12, 2022
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By Angela Kurdzhukyan MS, OTR/L 1) The first step in the early intervention timeline starts with the identification of a problem: A problem is identified
Benefits of Social Interaction
June 28, 2022
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As children develop, they start using both verbal and nonverbal communication for a variety of purposes like requesting, commenting, and sharing. By observing and participating
What’s heavy work and why does your therapist keep recommending it?
June 23, 2022
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By Christine Hemelians, MSOT. OTR/L Heavy work is a commonly recommended sensory activity that occupational therapists oftentimes suggest to the families that they work with.