As a physical therapist, I am always asked this question by parents. Then as a parent myself, I wondered the same thing. When it comes to your own child, you never quite know how to help exactly. For me, I have the training and knowledge to rely on. I can easily look into books or the latest research and figure things out. But why aren't parents afforded this same information? Why can't a parent easily access this information when a therapist is not available? That is when I thought about starting this blog to help families when the therapist is not around. 

SO YOU'RE JUST GIVING THE INFORMATION AWAY FOR FREE??? 

Sure! Why not? It is like reading the ingredients label on a can of soup before actually making the purchase. You may not like chickpeas in your soup or you prefer chicken broth over vegetable broth. The thing is: you want to know what your options are before making a hardcore decision.

A physical therapist has the ability to weed through all the information and direct you toward pertinent, relevant information that works. So, I am basically doing the work for you: providing you with a clean database of RELIABLE information.

So stay tuned!! More information is to come. If you would like information on a specific topic, shoot me an email! I won't bite! 

There is a saying that is often told to children: "Do as I say, not as I do." Pretty confusing if you ask me! If we lead by example, our children will do what we want! In that same aspect, I want my families to be able to continue through the week with therapy activities that I have shown them. Having a paper handout will help you remember WHAT activities; but, VIDEO will always help with the HOW! 

So I did some digging and looking for ANYTHING that would work. Knowing how to cut through the "junk" of a Google search really helped (thank you Mrs. Saulsberry, 12th grade English!). Lucky for you, you wont have to waste a bunch of time that you don't already have. I found gold! 

I present to you:

"Pediatric Physical Therapy Exercises"

Forewarning: this is NOT my own work. I happened to come across a few of her videos when looking for specific activities. Then, I learned that she has a WHOLE channel on YouTube and a website with pretty interesting information. Amy Sturkey, PT is her name and she has over 30 years of pediatric PT experience. I find her information very useful for families so I figured I'd share the wealth!

On her channel, she has over 100 video demonstrations. She even has some playlists separated by diagnosis (i.e. Down Syndrome, Autism) or skill area (ex. balance). As a physical therapist, I can see the unprecedented value in Dr. Sturkey's videos. She has already done what I wanted to do. I do plan to have my own library of videos but until then...

Follow the link below to visit Amy Sturkey's YouTube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC92IEyS9B4SJus40LWwBjeg/featured 

Shoes for Beginner Walkers

Most babies begin taking steps around their first birthday. Some begin around 8-9 months old and some begin around 18-24 months old. No matter the age, the child needs the right type of shoes. You always hear of "hard bottom" shoes and think of the white shoe with the brown bottom. It hurts like crazy to get kicked with it!

But what exactly are hard bottom shoes??

Hard bottom shoes are shoes that we typically wear to walk outdoors - sneakers, tennis shoes, running shoes, etc. These can be found in any store that sell infant shoes. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS take your child to the store to try on the shoes. Make sure the shoe is not too tight around the toes or the middle of the foot. A good rule of thumb: keep one finger size space between the toes and the toe-end of the shoe. Your child needs room inside the shoe for the foot to move properly while walking. (My daughter took her first steps in a pair of Sperry's.)

The age-old walking shoe is typically too big for a child to wear when they are learning to stand and walk. The begin at a size 3 and typically run big. They cause more harm than good in this instance. Find a shoe that fits YOUR child best!

On the other hand......

Soft bottom shoes are typically called "crib shoes." They are for decoration when the child is not yet standing or walking. These shoes have cloth-like bottoms instead of rubber or foam soles. They may provide some sort of traction for a beginner walker but gives little to no support for the bottom of the foot. (Think about you wearing thick socks to walk over rough, jagged rocks. Extreme, but you get the idea.)

The BEST option in my opinion ----> BAREFOOT! You may notice how your child balls up the toes or constantly rolls the ankles in and out. This is your child's way of learning to balance and use those foot muscles. This is absolutely normal. It is better to let your child to continue to walk barefoot for 2-4 weeks after learning to walk. After that, try shoes. Your child may seem worse walking with shoes on BUT they are learning to adjust those same balance skills they just learned 2-4 weeks ago.

Shoes for Orthotics

When you find out that your child needs AFOs (ankle foot orthotics), you simply agree and have the deed completed. Once the child has the orthotics, you were probably given a pair of shoes to go with it. I have noticed that these shoes are designed to fit the width of the orthotics BUT they are bulky and too hard for the child to walk in. Do you remember WHY the PT recommended AFOs? Because the child has TROUBLE walking.....Now the child has to wear bulky/clunky shoes that are too big and too heavy for the child to walk!

On Pinterest, I came across a pin about Billy shoes that zip around the toes to make the shoes easy to put on. AND - these shoes are not clunky and chunky like the shoes from the orthotist. (I am in no way degrading the expertise of the orthotist. I am simply helping parents find better options than what is being presented.)

From that pin came many more about shoes for AFOs as well as shoes for children with skinny feet. Feel free to check back for any updates for links to shoes for AFOs and for different types of ankle/foot support.

Billy shoes are lightweight and zip around the entire front of the shoe - https://billyfootwear.com/ 

This blog lists a variety of shoes compatible for AFOs by age.

Shoes for Skinny Feet

 Asics Kids can be found on https://www.amazon.com or https://www.asics.com 

• Gel Excite 6

• GT-1000 9 GS Running Shoes

• GT-1000 8 SP

I try to keep my families informed with the best, local resources for whatever their needs may be. Here you can find a list of my recommended providers, vendors, and websites that may be beneficial to you! Check back often for updates :).

12/15/2020

Are you in need of toys for your child???? Check out www.especialneeds.com <<<<click here to be directed to the webpage. They have a huge selection of items. Feel inspired to shop for items to fit all of your child's needs. Their prices are fairly decent, too, so you don't have to worry about breaking the bank. (You can also find the same or similar items on different websites. This one just has them all conveniently located in one spot !)  **I do NOT get any endorsements from this website. I just really like them!**

1/28/2021

Does you child have trouble kicking their two little legs together while crawling or standing, or even when trying to take a step?? Does your child "w" sit? An easy way to help your child get the right leg position is with motion blocking pants. Ok, sounds like a kind of restraint, right? Technically, it is. You are restraining their legs to stop excessive motion. But it does not stop the child from moving independently.

What I do for families (HUGE money saver!!) is use a small pair of pants that are not too stretchy and then pin the inner seams of the thighs together with 2-3 safety pins. The legs are free to move forward and backward. But, the motion of the legs going out to the slide (like in a split or to "w" sit) is limited.

Have your child wear the pants for 30-60 minutes at a time while you help the child crawl, sit, or walk to play.

Easy peasy!!!

Ok, while this is not PT related, it is definitely family-oriented.

I found myself trying to figure out things for my 2-year old daughter to do at home. While we are keeping her home ALL DAY LONG without much interaction with others (thanks COVID), she needs some learning tidbits through out the day. I attempted to make a learning binder to help guide us but.......epic fail! I completed 3 weeks worth, yes 3 sheets, before running out of ideas. So we turned to YouTube! (DISCLAIMER: she is not allowed to go on YouTube by herself. EVER. Either dad or I pick a show to watch with her.) 

While treating a patient, I noticed the older sibling (2 year old) was watching a circle time video. He was learning about days of the week, colors, numbers, shapes, the weather, and a host of other things mixed in the lesson. I found the YouTube channel (@monicajsutton) and loved it! She has over 100 circle time videos to date. Superstar dad found a circle time series that focuses on the alphabet and letter sounds (Oh My Glory). My daughter absolutely LOVES Ms. Monica and Ms. Katie. She now asks to watch either one throughout the day. She randomly repeats songs and learned information for the videos.

I would definitely recommend finding preschool learning series on YouTube to help keep your child on track in these uncertain times.

1-28-2021

Babies find the best way to get around on the floor. Some scoot on there bottoms while others bear walk on hands and feet. I have even seen some do combination moves with one knee up and one knee down! Babies are innovators when it comes to moving around. When you first notice that your baby is ready to move and is really trying to figure out, you often wonder how best you can help them. Here are a few quick tips to get you started:

• Follow their lead. Your baby knows what works best and has the ability to figure it out. You are there to help your baby complete the process. Your way may not be your baby's way so try not to force one method of moving because it is what you think is the right way. 

• Stay positive. Sometimes it can get frustrating when your baby is not "getting it" as quickly as you want them to. Always remember that their little brain is firing at lightning speed with every move they make. They are problem solving and trying to figure how to move their little arm or leg to get to a toy or object. Get down on their level and see what they see. It will help you figure out what they want and puts you in a better position to help.

• Small movements on repeat. Practicing one small movement over and over again helps your baby's brain develop a learning path for that movement. Doing this allows your baby to retain the movement pattern and be able to execute it without help. A simple rotation of the hip to move from sitting to hands and knees helps your baby learn a new multi-functional position. Doing the reverse to get back to sitting may not seem the same to your baby at first - because it not. The hip rotation changes direction to move from hands and knees to sitting. Focus on one movement at a time to keep you and your baby happy!

• Daily practice is key. Provide your baby with daily opportunities to learn to move independently. Placing your baby directly on the floor to play allows your baby to explore and learn. You may notice different things your baby is able to do or not do. You can step back and observe to best see how to help your baby. Give your baby at least 30-60 minutes of floor time without interrupting, meaning do not pick up or move your baby unless absolutely necessary. Feel free to engage in play on the floor with your baby using a few toys for stimulation.

2-23-2023

Most children in PT may need or have already had ankle orthotics. For my youngest patients (<3 years old), I recommend the Surestep brand of orthotics. Their design aligns with my way of practicing - offering assistance/input versus total restriction. They also have their own shoes! Surestep orthotics are not bulky or thick and rigid. Yet, they are sturdy enough to provide the right level of support for tiny feet. Check them out to see the options and modifications that can be added to most, if not all, of their orthotics. The website is very insightful and parent-firendly. :) **This is not a paid advertisement. I am only providing access to resources that are, in my opinion, helpful. Always contact your child's PT for assistance. If your child does not have PT and you think they may need orthotics, contact us!**

Link below:

https://surestep.net/