Occupational Therapy

The Art of Making Friends: Kid Edition

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

Humans are social creatures. For that reason alone, the way we engage and connect with others in different social contexts is an important occupation in everyday life. In occupational therapy, social participation refers to meaningful interactions with others in ways that foster emotional growth and confidence. For kids, it shows up in how they play with peers, take part in school and group activities, and how they form and maintain friendships.

Social skills span a wide and nuanced range of abilities that are a fundamental component of social participation. When it comes to friendships, they hinge on a set of social-emotional traits that help kids connect, resolve conflict, and build trust over time. These include:

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Article Review: Kids are Losing their Fine Motor Skills – and Screens Might Be to Blame

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

We’re always on the lookout for OT articles in the mainstream. Earlier this year, one finally presented itself from National Geographic: Kids are losing fine motor skills – and screens might be to blame. (This is a paid article.)

Lots of clickbait going on here, sadly. In our TL:DR world, one could easily surmise once again that screens are the bane of our existence and they’re turning our kids inadequate. And according to the article’s 1,300 comments on Instagram, it’s ABSOLUTELY true and we parents should be ashamed of ourselves!!!

Does this really paint the whole picture? No.
Does it lazily blame screens, and then by extension, parents? Yes.

Here’s our quick article review:

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The Sheep, the Wolf, and the Sheepdog: Kids and Peers

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

There are three types of people in this world: sheep, wolves, and sheepdogs. – Wayne Kyle, American Sniper

My husband has used this analogy to explain certain types of people to our son ever since he was little. Granted, it is an oversimplified explanation of human nature, but it gets the point across. In our version of the metaphor, sheep are those who cannot defend themselves when harm comes their way, wolves take advantage of their vulnerability, and the sheepdog stands up and protects the sheep. It’s a visual way to tell him to be a decent human and not be a d*ck.

 While our son has long understood this concept, it’s becoming harder for him to follow. In fact, it feels like he’s exhibiting more wolf-like behavior these days. Turns out the shift between sheepdog and wolf mirrors the growing complexity of his social circle and how kids his age are dealing with the next level of social skills and challenges.

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Stars, Stripes, and Self-Regulation: Strategies for the 4th of July

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

The Fourth of July is one of my family’s favorite holidays. It’s an all-day event full of festivities, fireworks, and our favorite people. But don’t get it twisted, it can be the ultimate endurance test for kids and that all has to do with their sensory threshold.

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Smart Summer: Reducing Summer Slide

| Mary Stoffel, MOT, OTR/L

It’s the last week of school!!! We’ve been making plans all season to make it an enjoyable and fun summer, but we’re also plotting ways to reduce that summer slide. So here’s a collection of books, apps, and activities to keep kiddos (ages 3-10) sharp for the next school year.

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