How your classroom displays may contribute to sensory overload
Red Robin Therapy Blog
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3y ago
It's the standard in every classroom -  brightly coloured, diverse and interesting displays of children's work on each wall. I know...my mum was a teacher, and she spent ages planning topics, updating and refreshing her displays. Nothing much seems to have changed since my mum's day...every classroom I've been in recently has been the same. One was particularly well-decorated. The curtains over huge windows had large geometric shapes on them, there were things suspended from the ceiling, and I couldn't even find the door handle, there was so much stuck to the door!  While ..read more
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Technology and play...why we need a balance
Red Robin Therapy Blog
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3y ago
It's the summer holidays and our focus this month is play. But what do we mean by play? And why is a a balance of play activities needed? Play allows children to have fun, learn, explore, problem solve, and build social relationships. Increasingly children's 'play' consists of a high level of electronic devices and/or computer games. While I'm not knocking this (in moderation), i do believe that too much electronic time erodes into the rich variety of play opportunities that children need to become rounded, competent individuals.  This article by Cris Rowan (OT) is probably more one-side ..read more
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Red Robin Therapy...one year on in pictures
Red Robin Therapy Blog
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3y ago
It's really hard to believe that Red Robin Therapy has been going for a WHOLE year! It'd definitely true that time flies when you're having fun. Here's my year in pictures showing my significant moments, personally and professionally. July 2017 Andrew at Just Active Gym listened to my arguments for a dedicated group for children with co-ordination disorder or ASD, and Active Robins began. One year on, we still have some of the original group attending! August 2017 I worked with LEDCom and completed my business plan, got flyers and business cards made, my website and social ..read more
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Fine motor skills...and why we may need to work on gross motor skills first
Red Robin Therapy Blog
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3y ago
So, your child writes like a spider has crawled across the page, they complain of a sore hand, fiddle for ages with buttons or zips, and think that excessive force compensates for anything requiring careful construction - that's before losing patience and destroying everything they've made so far. Sound familiar? It's a common issue for children with co-ordination difficulties. Time to work on those fine motor skills, right? Well, maybe not so fast. The quality of our fine motor skills are dependent on the quality of our gross motor (large movement) skills, and if we haven't achieved a good e ..read more
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Are you a pain in the butt?
Red Robin Therapy Blog
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3y ago
I'm pretty sure that all OTs set out on their career paths full of ambition and desire to do the absolute best for those  in their care. They believe they can make a difference to quality of life, independence and participation -  regardless of the client group they ultimately specialise with. This is certainly true for me, working with children and their families. For most of us however, at some point along the way we come to realise that doing the absolute best for our clients costs money, and most of the organisations we work within cannot meet all of the costs all of the time. S ..read more
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Painkillers, pregnancy and CP
Red Robin Therapy Blog
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3y ago
A few weeks ago, I came across a report about research into the use of painkillers in pregnancy and an association with cerebral palsy. I said I would try to get my hands on the research article and give my take on it. So, here it is. ​Background CP affects approximately two in every 1000 children and is the most common condition causing movement difficulties. The inference is (and rightly so) that any knowledge which might reduce or eradicate CP has to be a good thing.  Previous research The authors of this study acknowledge that no research study is perfect in design, but they point ou ..read more
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The weightlifting granny...
Red Robin Therapy Blog
by
3y ago
This still makes me laugh. Me? Lifting weights?! Well, yes, it's true. I started in June 2016. But I had an absolute fear of the gym - what if I can't do it? What if people laugh? What if I hurt myself? After all, starting out as a 40-something granny I was no spring chicken! But neither was I totally decrepit, so I went along to Argos and bought a set of weights, a bar and dumbbells, and after about four weeks of being afraid to start, I eventually got stuck in to Joe Wicks' 12 week Shift, Shape and Sustain programme in my garage, living room or wherever no-one was likely to see me. I had to ..read more
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From OT to animals...
Red Robin Therapy Blog
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3y ago
How's your donkeys these days? A question asked of me reasonably frequently, particularly by those who knew me before my 'farm days', and still find it hilarious! Here are my donkeys - I took this picture of Bea (short for Beatrice, in the distance) and Georgie (short for Georgina, who's ears we are looking through) and while I'd like to take credit for this artistic shot, the truth is, I had no choice in the matter!  When Georgie sees me coming, she races over for a cuddle, and leans heavily against me. Bea keeps her distance, getting closer on her own terms. We've grown pretty comfor ..read more
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New beginnings...
Red Robin Therapy Blog
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3y ago
People often ask why would an occupational therapist with an established role in a reputable company, a worry-free regular income, a pension, private health care insurance, and many travel opportunities, up sticks and start her own business? And actually, when put like that, it does seem crazy - my practical self still gives off to me! The truth is, I'd always thought I'd like to run my own business, but for many years, I didn't really feel confident enough - my critical self told me I hadn't enough OT experience, practical resources, or business acumen - and I believed it. I'm not sure ..read more
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I am an occupational therapist
Red Robin Therapy Blog
by
3y ago
So, here I am at Red Robin HQ (does that make it the Robin's Nest?), writing my first blog, and apparently stating the obvious. To explain, November 6-12 2017 is OT week, and these words are this year's theme. The challenge is for each OT to introduce themselves to those they work with, and highlight the unique benefits of the profession. Who wouldn't blog about that?! I've been an OT for nearly 24 years, and have worked with children for 23 of those. To be honest, I didn't intend to work with children, but had poorly researched a job I applied for (I got better at research as the years went ..read more
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