Child and Parent Occupational Wellness

Giving Your Children Skills for a Lifetime of Wellness this Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, many people find themselves faced with the big question of "what do we get for the kids?".  Childhood obesity and diabetes is on the rise all over the world but especially seems to stand out here in the United States.  There appear to be a multitude of factors involved: sedentary lifestyle, high calorie processed foods, oversized portions, and poorly balanced nutrition, to name a few.  Unfortunately we have allowed our culture to lose the importance of gathering for a family meal and appreciating the food that we take in while in each other's company.  Family meals have been replaced by fast food, eating on the road, and preparing quick and easy meals at home to put in front of the children, many times leaving them to eat alone at the table.  I just heard a report on the radio this morning about how high calorie fast food meals not only promote oversized portions (16 oz soft drinks, extra large fries), but many of these meals can be purchased for a cheap price, which makes it alluring to busy parents who "don't have time to cook".  Now, let's get one thing straight.  We, myself included, are all guilty of the occasional fast-food run.  But one must keep control over these outings so as not to make their children think that this is a normal part of our diet and lifestyle.  And besides, it's just not healthy.  How many times have you had that double cheeseburger and fries with a soft drink and then felt absolutely sluggish and uncomfortable afterwards?  These are the habits that our children are learning and it is killing their health and affecting their lives.

Children's bodies grow at a fast rate.  Their brains are constantly growing, taking in new information, sensations, etc.  Muscles and bones require the proper nutrients for optimum growth and strength.  Children's blood sugar levels need to remain constant to optimize attention, focus, and work/play output.  In this week's New York Times, Tara Parker-Pope cites a study done at Columbia University about children, nutrition, and food preparation in her article, Beyond Cupcakes: Children in the Kitchen .  She also provides names and authors of the most recent family cookbooks and most importantly, reiterates that teaching a child basic cooking skills will help them to be less picky eaters and make better food choices as they grow into adulthood.  In addition to what is mentioned in the NYTimes article, I have some book suggestions of my own which I have found to be helpful as a mom teaching her children to take part in their food preparation.  I highly recommend the following books not only for cooking, but for learning more about preparing meals for your children that will fuel them nutritionally: 

• The Family Nutrition Book: Everything You Need to Know About Feeding Your Children from Birth Through Adolescence by Dr. William Sears
• Superfoods for Children: How to Boost Your Child's Health and Brainpower from Preconception, Babies and Toddlers, Through to the Teenage Years by Barbara Griggs and Michael van Straten

So, all you adults out there--think about providing the children and parents in your lives with a cookbook or cooking lessons (many supermarkets now, such as ShopRite, offer adult/child cooking classes) as a holiday gift this year.  They will gain invaluable skills that will last them a lifetime. 

Children, Families, and the Occupation of Eating

        

Involving your children with simple meal preparations in your home will positively impact them forever.  In a world where processed food is marketed to kids and childhood obesity is on the rise, we as parents have a real chance to positively influence children in their eating habits and food choices from the beginning.  Besides learning self help and social skills, they are also learning problem solving, sequencing, math, and chemistry, among other things while cooking.  Learning to cook healthy food for oneself and others inevitably promotes good self esteem and healthy food choice preferences.  Plus, it is just plain fun for kids.  Most kids I know will jump at the opportunity to help out in the kitchen.  Just this weekend my 5 year old prepared her first batch of sauteed crimini mushrooms with her daddy as a side to our now traditional Sunday morning "English" breakfast.  She never really liked mushrooms until she helped prepare them herself, and she was incredibly proud to have cooked something that our entire family was able to eat together. 

I have always been a food lover.  Not only was I blessed with a mother who can cook just about anything, but I was blessed with a mother who lived in Italy for a few years and learned northern Italian cooking firsthand from her Italian neighbor, who resided in the same building.  While my parents were living in Italy, my mother was pregnant with me and so I was born in Parma, Italy.  I am not Italian by blood, but my parents, having enjoyed their time their so much, made it a point to always let that experience remain part of me, even though I was so young.  For the first 2 1/2 years of my life, I was presented with some of the best meats, cheeses, pastas, and vegetables that Italy has to offer.  Simple, healthy, and wholesome cooking at its best.  Lucky for me, after we moved back to the USA, my mother continued to provide my siblings and I with meals that leaned more towards the Italian diet than anything.  At an early age I learned to appreciate the tastes of a variety of different foods.  My mother cooked our meals and we ate as a family as much as possible.  Of course there were foods that did not fancy my taste as a child, but I was always encouraged to try them and as I got older, began to enjoy them and appreciate them.  As I got older, my mother would show me certain techniques and easy recipes that I could prepare on my own.  Just those little bits of time spent with her in the kitchen stuck with me and as I got older and was on my own at college and afterwards, being able to cook some smart, healthy, and flavorful meals for myself became one of the greatest gifts my mother has given me. 

In today's New York Times, there is a Question & Answer with Rachael Ray, talk show host and host/cook of the Food Network show "30 Minute Meals" about involving kids in cooking.  In Rachael Ray Wants Kids in the Kitchen  she makes many good points about this subject that I not only agree with, but have also witnessed myself.  Among them are:

• Exposing your children to what you do in the kitchen is a feast for their senses.  Smell and sight play an important role in appreciating taste, so if you want your children to eat certain foods, let them watch you prepare them.
• Today's children need to be steered away from processed foods and have healthy diets that can only come from using fresh and natural ingredients.
• Being able to provide a good meal for yourself is very empowering, and even moreso if you can provide it for others in your family, thereby boosting self esteem and independence.
• You can use different types of utensils such as plastic knives and forks to make cooking and food prep safer for smaller children.
• If you get a little creative with food, you can entice your children into trying new things and teach them to learn to appreciate certain flavors and textures as they get older.

So all you parents out there, get your kids involved in the kitchen.  It will provide you with quality family time and provide them with a multitude of positive life skills.  And while they are playing around in the house with the TV on in the background, keep a food network or cooking channel on in the background.  You'll be surprised how much of it they take in and how interested they become in creating their own meal and trying new foods!

DOG-GONE Therapy!!! How Therapy is "Going to the Dogs"

There is much to be said about the human-animal bond, especially for children.  As the daughter of a veterinarian, I grew up with all kinds of pets.  We had dogs, hamsters, rabbits, birds, and fish.  Though I loved them all, I cannot say enough about the wonderful experience of growing up with my rabbits and dogs.  Most people who know me personally have probably heard at least one story about my beloved rabbit, "Cocoa", who came to his cage door when you knocked, who chased a ball, hung out with my dog, and learned to swim in my pool -- yes, you read correctly -- a swimming rabbit.

If people I know haven't heard about Cocoa, they have certainly heard about Raja and Ginger (pictured below), my parents' adorable mother-daughter combo of yellow labrador retrievers with whom I had the great pleasure of spending my adolescent and college years.

            

Companion animals provide many things to their human counterparts.  I can speak first hand about the security, unconditional love, socialization, and friendship that my pets provided me with (not to mention the nurturing skills and empathy that comes along with the responsibility of caring for another living creature).  These are but some of the qualities that make animals (especially dogs) such appealing partners in therapy. 

Therapy dogs are currently practicing alongside their occupational therapist owners/handlers in a variety of ways.  Dogs take part in therapy sessions to increase motivation in the child while the OT directs the treatment process to help the child reach his/her therapeutic goals. 

Some examples of this include:

• Improving gross motor skills such as bilateral upper extremity use, balance, and body awareness (possibly by having the child pet, brush, and do an activity with the dog, among other ways).
• Improving fine motor skills by having the child place objects/treats on the dog's vest, manipulate buckles on the dog's collar, utilizing a leash.
• Sensory integration skills/sensory stimulation - tactile awareness through petting the soft fur of the dog, regulating muscle control/force of upper extremities through touch.
• Visual perception- identifying colors/patterns on dog, categorizing, etc.
• Socialization/Sequencing- by talking to the dog and giving commands, children learn to communicate.  They can learn sequencing skills by following certain directions from the therapist to complete a "task" with the dog.

Dogs are unconditionally loving.  They are non-judgemental and they are social.  These qualities are appealing to children and often times can motivate a child more than a human could.  Children who are typically shy or withdrawn may come out of their "shell" in the presence of a therapy dog and take part more fully in the therapy session.  They can form an emotional attachment and friendship with the dog, which ensures increased motivation for future treatment sessions.

Therapy dogs are currently taking part in programs with children to improve sensory integration, increase social skills, improve literacy and handwriting, improve gross and fine motor skills, and more.  Dogs are specially trained to work with certain populations in a therapeutic environment.  The treatment sessions are directed by the therapist/dog handler.  Check out this report about animal assisted therapy at Columbus Children's Hospital in Ohio:

If this topic is of interest to you as a parent or professional, I strongly recommend checking out the following link, which is a current weblog by an OT in Texas about her practice with her therapy dog and children.  It is a first-hand glimpse into the world of occupational therapy and how a dog is incorporated into sessions to elicit all kinds of responses from children in order to help them maximize their functioning.  The site includes pictures and videos of therapy sessions in action: 

                      Jumpstart Therapies Animal Assisted Therapy Program

Also, the following link is to an article about a literacy program that originated in the western United States and uses therapy dogs: Kids + Dogs = Combination for Paw-rrific Reading Adventures.

For more specific information on animal-assisted therapy (AAT) and the training of therapy dogs and their handlers, click on:

The Delta Society - Improving Human Health Through Service and Therapy Animals.

Lastly, refer to the sidebar of this site under "Animal Assisted Therapy/Therapy Dogs" for future updates on information and articles on this subject.

I welcome any personal stories & anecdotes regarding therapeutic experiences with therapy dogs and/or other animals.  Please share!

Halting Hyperparenting

A few months back (see Are We Overscheduling Our Kids?) I wrote about how parents must be aware as to whether or not they are overscheduling their children and as a result, negatively affecting their family dynamics and childrens' happiness and development.  In it I mentioned some tips from Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld, a child psychiatrist who is an expert on this topic. 

Today I happened to come across someone else's recent blog post about the same topic - hyperparenting- and how she stopped doing it.  It is a heartfelt, motherly post about realizing what's truly important in family life and even moreso, in making sure that your child is allowed to just "be a kid", because they only get to do it once. 

Click here to read this post: Life Practice: Hyperparenting

The Repetitive Movements of Motherhood

I am sure there are plenty of moms out there who share my belief and experience that it is incredibly difficult to get yourself back on the exercise bandwagon after your baby is born.  For me, it is something that in general I have always enjoyed -- keeping in some kind of "fit" form, but at no time is it more difficult than after you give birth.  On top of that, I tend to "reward" myself for "bringing a new life into the world" by treating myself to goodies (mmmm....brownies a la mode, anyone?).  There is no arguing that getting started is one of the toughest things to do.  Let's face it -- recovering from delivery and caring for a newborn takes a physical toll on our bodies, as well as psychological.  Though we are burning lots of calories during everyday tasks with our infants (especially if you are breastfeeding), the movements and positions that our bodies are in can become repetitive over the weeks and months.  First and foremost, our abdominal area is weakened from the 9 months of pregancy itself.  If you had a C-section delivery, you then have to deal with the healing of the incision and muscle weakness that accompanies that.  Because of the weakness in our abdominals, our lower backs are at risk for strain from muscle imbalance (strong back muscles, weak abdominals).  This is important to be aware of, since it is these torso muscles that give us our stability for movements of our limbs.

Secondly, the walking back and forth, bending up and down, lifting the baby, holding the baby on one side, preparing bottles, changing diapers, breastfeeding, and many more tasks -- all can lead to "static positioning".  Over time, our bodies become tight in other areas due to lack of mobility and the constant pulling, tugging and muscle strain in the primary areas we use during our day for childcare. At times I felt like the tin man in the Wizard of Oz, stuck in some areas.  I liken it to what can happen to the worker who is in an office job: something called repetitive stress injury.  For example, someone who sits at a computer all day long for their job using a mouse, typing, etc. can be at risk for certain upper extremity repetitive stress injuries that can affect the fingers, wrists, or entire arms.  There could be nerve impingement (as in carpal tunnel syndrome) or arthritic developments within the joints that are used repetitively in the same motions/positions. 

The everyday demands of newborn care can take their toll on our upper backs, lower backs, wrists, and necks.  Each woman could have different symptoms based on her unique style of carrying a baby, changing, feeding, etc.  For me, I tend to curl my shoulders inward towards my chest while cuddling a baby and nursing.  Over time, I have noticed that my chest muscles are contracted and my upper back and shoulder muscles are overstretched, leading to rounded shoulders (which us women want to prevent, especially as we age and become more at risk for osteoporosis) and neck discomfort.  It is very important that we take the time we need to care for ourselves so that we can be our best for our children and enjoy the occupation of motherhood.  Though there is a lot of information out there recommending exercises for new moms, here are some that really helped me, and don't take a lot of time or energy (very good for those early weeks and months when sleep seems to be an unknown).  Of course, if you think you are suffering from a severe weakness or injury, contact a physician immediately and get checked out.

1. Just lay flat on your back for 10-15 minutes a day! -- Grab an exercise mat or a soft blanket, lay flat on your back on the floor and let gravity do its work.  Allow yourself to "melt" into the floor.  Once relaxed, do some deep breathing and move your limbs, stretching your arms up and out.  You will feel a stretch in your chest muscles.

2. Shoulders back and down -- Throughout the day, try to remind yourself to keep your shoulders back and pulled down towards the floor.  Do some shoulder rolls backwards to allow the shoulder girdle joint to get some mobility in all directions, not just the ones used in picking up and putting down your baby.

3. Neck Stretches -- Try to tilt your head to each side (ear to shoulder) a few times a day to allow your neck muscles to stretch out.  Relieving that tightness can many times relieve any neck pain you may be experiencing due to uneven muscle pull/strain on the neck vertebrae.  Of course, if you are experiencing severe neck pain, see a doctor or chiropractor.

4. Practice good body mechanics- Remember to practice good body mechanics and positioning during your daily tasks/occupations.  When lifting the baby, don't allow too much strain on your thumbs, because this can lead to wrist pain.  During lifting and placing of the baby, keep him/her close to your body so that your core muscles can do the work and you do not strain your back.  Bend at the legs, not at your waist.  Use a pillow to support your arm while bottle-feeding.  Use a nursing pillow to support the baby and your upper body during breastfeeding. 

5.  Avoid sudden movements - Don't forget that pregnancy/birth hormones are still flowing strong in your body after you give birth.  These have a relaxing effect on muscles and ligaments, so beware of sudden movements that could easily strain your muscles or overstretch them.

The Great Balancing Act

About 3 months has passed since my last post.  In that time, I gave birth to my 3rd daughter and have been adjusting to life as the alpha female of a family of 5.  Though many men and women become mothers and fathers (some of only one child, some of many more), it can never be underestimated as to the immense adjustment it is, no matter how many children one has.  As wonderful an experience as it can be, it is challenging to find a "balance" in life between being parents, spouses/partners, workers, friends, and everything else that comes along with being part of life and society.  It is important to be organized and aware of oneself and the needs that must also be met to take care of yourself.  When we, as parents, are running around, caring for children, dressing, diapering, bathing, feeding, transporting, listening, playing, etc. it is easy to forget to chisel out even just 15 minutes for ourselves.  And throw on top of that the housework, cooking, grocery shopping, a job outside the home, or school, and adult relationships to maintain/nurture.  It can all get very hectic!  It is "easy" to say that you'll take time for yourself, and "easy" to advise others to do the same, but it's actually very difficult to "do", because when there is a new addition to the family, the truth of the matter is there barely is any time for the primary caregiver, usually the mother.  Something always comes up, whether it's a diaper change, an emergency bath, an accident, or your toddler vomiting on the floor because they are sick!  Now that my youngest is almost 4 months, things are settling down a bit in terms of a predictable schedule for feeding, naps, etc.  However, those early days and weeks of the amazing newborn are some of the most demanding of our lives.  Who can forget those LONG nights of being up feeding/consoling your newborn?   It can be incredibly frustrating when you are dead tired and everyone else in the family is sleeping around you.  If you have more than 2 children, finding even just 20 minutes during the day to catch up on your sleep is virtually impossible if you are on your own. Keeping a positive attitude and "biting the bullet", so to speak, are just what we have to do to get through it.  Of course, having a supportive partner and some help is a great asset.  But with help or without, we have to keep reminding ourselves that this demanding adjustment is usually only for the first few months and sooner or later things will settle down.  No matter how stressed and tired we are, we have to take some time for ourselves once in a while in order to "recharge" our mind, spirit, and physical self.  By doing this, we do a service to both ourselves and our children.  A mother and father who are calm, relaxed, and refreshed are able to offer more of themselves to their children in the long run.  So, moms and dads out there--take some time for yourself when you can, and accept help if it comes your way.  Be positive and keep reminding yourself that things will settle down soon enough.

Are We Overscheduling Our Kids?

With so many choices out there in society, it can be difficult to choose which activities and how many to put our children in.  Of course, these choices are greatly affected by a child's age, family income, time constraints, and family dynamics.  It seems that anywhere one looks as a parent, there is information flying at you telling you how to "make your child smarter", or "give your child an advantage" by putting them into different activities.  No doubt that some activities are great for children.  Aside from teaching them a specific skill such as a musical instrument, dance, or gymnastics, for example, these kinds of activities also promote social development, self confidence, and friendship. 

The problem in today's society is that parents can easily fall into the "more is better" trap.  That is, they want their child to be a part of as many different "extracurricular" activities as possible.  What some people forget is that a child also needs downtime in their life, just as adults do.  Children need time and space to just play, be home, and explore for themselves.  I think that as parents, we can allow ourselves to be pressured at times into putting our children into things even when we don't feel 100% comfortable with it.  It may be due to societal pressures, or pressures from other parents who push their children into a myriad of activities.  Parents also feel that the world is so competitive that if they give their child a "headstart", it will benefit them greatly later in life (which could be true, if done the right way).  A friend of mine recently felt guilty that her daughter, who is 4 years old, was not going to be able to continue her gymnastics class because she was going to be in school until 4pm everyday.  I tried to remind her that though she would not be going to the gymnastics class, her daughter's day would now be filled with other activities during her school day.  Schedules change and children grow; there will be other times to take a gymnastics class again.

Dr. Alvin Rosenfeld is an expert in child psychiatry and a co-author of the book: The Overscheduled Child: Avoiding the Hyperparenting Trap.  He recommends the following fundamental principles to assist you in making decisions that will work best for your family regarding this issue.

• Limit activities
• Develop Healthy Skepticism
• Give Yourself a Break
• Family is a Priority
• Buyer Beware
• Character Counts
• Be Unproductive
• Childhood is a Preparation, not a Performance
• Pleasure has a Place in Parents' Lives
• Pleasure has a Place in Kids' Lives, too!
• Leave Empty Spaces on Your Calendar
• There is no Single, Right Way to Parent
• Trust Yourself

For more in-depth explanation of these principles and to learn more about hyperparenting/oversheduling children, click on these links: How to Avoid the Hyperparenting Trap and Hyperparenting: the Overscheduled Child, Brown University Newsletter April 2001

I am a proponent of organized activities for children.  Especially in this day and age, when parents are fearful of letting their children play unsupervised outside, it is wonderful to have such choices of kids' activities out there.  However, one must know their child well and read their cues.  Some children can handle more than others.  Some children enjoy doing lots of different activities, while others may tire of it, become uninterested, and withdraw.  The biggest key is monitoring your child's happiness.  Don't forget that downtime at home can be fun, relaxing, and healthy.  It gives the family a chance to spend quality time together, doing new activities.  Downtime also allows children to learn to entertain themselves and have the time to explore their own interests, without somebody constantly directing them.  This goes a long way as they learn to monitor themselves and conduct themselves as individuals in the grander societal scheme.

Building Bonds through Infant Massage

Infant massage is an art that has been practiced for centuries in many cultures around the world.  While somewhat new to the Western world, infant massage is quickly catching on with parents as a way to increase emotional and physical bonds with the child and to optimize the child's growth and development. 

As a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) with the International Loving Touch Foundation, I have seen the benefits that both babies and parents derive from infant massage.  More importantly, I have experienced these benefits as a mother myself while massaging my own children. 

Infant massage creates a unique opportunity to bond with your baby through loving touch.  It also provides an enjoyable way to promote healthy growth and development of your baby.  The following is a list of simple benefits for both baby and parent:

Benefits for the Baby

• Emotionally nourishes the baby
• Begins a loving, intimate communication between a parent and the baby
• Helps to strengthen and regulate the baby's primary systems (ie. respiratory, circulatory, nervous, musculature and gastrointestinal)
• Reduces gas and colic and allows the baby to sleep better
• Helps the baby relax and release the tensions of daily stimuli

Benefits for Parents

• Better understanding about their infants' cues of responsiveness
• Enhances communication and emotional ties
• Increases confidence and handling skills
• Greatly improves the bond of affectional attachment
• Provides a means to develop quality interaction time
• Helps the parents relax and listen to their baby
• Massage becomes a perfect avenue for conversation as the child gets older

Copyright 1994, International Loving Touch Foundation

The International Loving Touch Foundation trains instructors around the world in the art of infant massage.  These instructors teach infant massage to parents in homes, hospitals, community centers, clinics, and private settings.  To find a Certified Infant Massage Instructor (CIMI) near you, click here:

Certified Infant Massage Instructors (CIMI) Directory, ILTF

    

A New Blog About OT, Parenthood, Child Development, and All Things Related

Welcome!  Thank you for visiting Child and Parent Occupational Wellness.  This site serves to be a resource and discussion area for parents, families, and professionals who are interested in topics related to overall family health and wellness and more specifically parent-child occupations.  As an occupational therapist who works with children and families, I hope to be able to supply helpful information for parents and children of all abilities. My aim is for this blog to be both personal and professional by bringing forth some of my own observations and experiences in my daily life as a woman engaged in the "occupation" of motherhood, as well as providing information on different topics related to family life, parenthood and child development.  I look forward to your feedback as the site develops!