Adrian Polidano

Grandview Kids Director of Clinical Services, Leslie Suite, commemorates National Therapeutic Recreation Month.

Grandview Kids Therapeutic Recreation outdoor play group.

I would like to take a moment to recognize the Grandview Kids Therapeutic Recreation team, as February is National Therapeutic Recreation Month. The Therapeutic Recreation team has taken on adversity over the last year with commendable poise.

Recreation Therapists (RTs) at Grandview Kids work with children, youth and families to improve physical, emotional and cognitive well-being through activity-based interventions. RT sessions can take place 1:1 or in group settings, virtually or in-person. RTs use play, recreation participation and leisure activities to support overall physical and mental health.

Normally, the Therapeutic Recreation (TR) staff offers a variety of social group activities. Some of these activities include preschool play groups, swimming lessons, Tae-Kwon-Do classes, physical literacy groups, Parasport programs and several more. Running these activities was a large part of the program’s day-to-day regimen and it is clear that families deeply miss this aspect of TR.

It is no secret that getting to work with clients, in groups, face-to-face, has always been at the core of the work RTs do. However, like everyone in 2020, the TR staff had to adjust to the new normal. They have recently expanded their team and were able to quickly adapt, beginning to offer tele-practice social groups, and continuing to offer 1:1 in-person sessions for clients who were unable to participate virtually. The TR team has worked determinedly to develop new games and activities to adhere to the new COVID protocols and parameters. Their work does not go unnoticed, as the time RTs dedicated to adapting their programs and creating new activities has only improved the day-to-day lives of the children and youth they serve.

Thank you, to all of our RTs, for all that you do to help make Grandview Kids a welcoming environment and an adaptable point-of-care for all families and caregivers who visit us.

To learn more about what Recreation Therapy looks like at Grandview Kids, click here.

To learn more about the Canadian organizations that are supporting TR Awareness Month, please visit the links provided below:

Sincerely,

Leslie Suite, Director of Clinical Services

Playing with your child is a great way to foster early language development! Try these strategies during play time with your preschooler:

Let your child pick the activity/toy they want to play with. This could be blocks, toy food, balls, cars, colouring—whatever they are excited about! Remember that your child, like us, will communicate about the things he or she is interested in.
Then watch to see HOW your child plays. Maybe they want to stack blocks or line them up, put food in the cart or serve it to guests, toss a ball back and forth or throw it in a basket, send cars down a track or launch them off a cliff, colour a picture with crayons or scribble on the white board. There are so many ways to play!
Join the play by playing like a child and getting your own toys.
Sometimes children are protective of ‘their stuff’ and won’t let you touch their toys. It’s OK to play side by side with your own set of materials and not touch theirs. A great way to join the play is by getting a similar toy to your child’s. It’s okay if it’s not exactly the same! For example, if your child is playing with a baby, grab a stuffed animal! Try to sit on your child’s level and be face to face. This will make it easier for them to look at you and to include you in their play. Copy how your child plays! For example, if your child is building a tower, build a tower too! If they’re lining up their toys, do the same!
As you play together, try to model functional vocabulary that matches the play, including fun words and sound effects. Some of the words you use could be “open”, “more”, “go”, “stop”, “in”, “out”, “up”, “down”, “mine”, “wee”, “boom”, “pop”.
Listen for any attempts your child makes to copy your words. Don’t worry if their words aren’t clear! Watch to see if your child uses a gesture such as pointing. If they do, interpret these non-verbal messages. Interpreting means that we say what your child would say if they could say it, by using simple words from your child’s perspective. Just take your best guess! Remember this may mean that you have to think like a toddler. They may be trying to say action words or fun words, not just nouns (i.e., bounce and throw versus ball).
Try to reduce your questions and make more comments. For example, instead of saying, “are you playing with the baby?” you could say, “your baby is so hungry! Drink milk baby!” Your child is more likely to imitate your statements than reply to your questions.
Don’t forget to slow down and pause. Children need more time to process and react.

Remember that preschoolers have short attention spans! Be open to the play changing after a few turns and follow your child’s lead! Most importantly have fun together!

Written by: Kelly, Speech-Language Therapy Assistant

Written by by Grandview Kids Recreation Therapist, Alicia (Discipline Lead)

If your family values recreation and leisure activities, or you are looking for ways to get your children active, the registration fees can be daunting, especially if you have a child who may require variation or a number of children with varying interests and abilities. Check out this chart to see if you are eligible for funding support through private organizations or through your municipality. There are many options for families who qualify for low-income, and there are some that are based on diagnosis only, which may not require proof of low income/financial hardship.

If you are considering Jumpstart funding, but do not quite meet the cutoff, contact your municipal contact and explain your current circumstance to see if they are able to approve your application in person. This decision is made based on available funds and family-specific circumstances.

Contact your Recreation Therapist or Service Navigation if you have questions.

Written by Grandview Kids Recreation Therapist – Discipline Lead, Alicia

Keeping your kids active is getting increasingly difficult with the current closures and the dropping temperatures. Check out these indoor obstacle course ideas to set up a fun physical activity in your living room!

All courses are made using furniture or items you already have at home. You can set them up as a relay (have you/your children take turns completing the course, and then giving the next person a high five to indicate that it is their turn), or time yourselves to make it competitive. Use painters’ tape to make a line course indoors, the rules are you must keep both feet on a line at all times.

Downloadable Obstacle Course PDFs:

1. Obstacle Course – Indoor Download

2. Living Room Obstacle Course Download

3. Chalk Tape Obstacle Course Download

Written by Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann, Grandview Kids CEO

Yesterday, we witnessed history-in-the-making as Joe Biden was sworn in as the 46th President of the United States. In a lot of ways, this ceremony represented incredible hope for the future, after four tumultuous years – even to those of us in Canada. Many of our clients and their families, as well as our staff, have friends and loved ones living in America.

While watching the inauguration coverage, I was struck by some powerful moments, with lessons important to Grandview Kids and the people we serve.

Kamala Harris became the first woman to serve as Vice President, and the first person to do so of Black and South Asian decent. I am inspired that children of the world will look to these leaders as proof of their own potential. No matter your political persuasion, inspiring kids to dream big is worth celebrating.
Before the national anthem began, people in the audience were asked to “stand if you are able.” This seemingly innocuous introduction demonstrates inclusivity and accessibility in action. This is something we continue to advocate for at Grandview Kids, in service to the children and youth with disabilities who we support every day.
Amanda Gorman became the youngest poet ever to perform at a presidential inauguration, calling for “unity and togetherness” in her self-penned poem. It was a dictation commended by global dignitaries, leaders and activists. What you may not know is that Amanda overcame an audio processing disorder – a diagnosis shared by many Grandview Kids – in her quest to become a world-renowned storyteller. She is “living life to her full potential” – our vision for all Grandview Kids.
Prominent attendees, including Michelle Obama, Dr. Jill Biden, Hillary Clinton and Kamala Harris, donned purple outfits. Many have picked up on this. Whether intentional or not, purple is a symbolic colour. It represents royalty, heroism, the Suffragette movement and unity. Combining the Republican red and Democratic blue reveals a shade of purple; this subtle nod to bipartisanship reinforces the importance of kindness, respect, empathy and shared purpose – values we try to exemplify every day at Grandview Kids.

As we look ahead to consider what this leadership change means for our American neighbours,
and to the rest of the world, I am comforted by the tone of the ceremony. It set precedent for a
future, one where the potential and diversity of our community’s youngest members are realized
and amplified.

Welcome to the end of 2020! The focus this year has been on monitoring your family’s physical health and taking every precaution to protect it. Unfortunately, this means that we likely have been under a huge amount of stress. Safety measures and closures have resulted in the loss of many of the activities that help us unwind and connect with others. It is important to take some time at the end of the year to engage in activities that help us relax, reconnect, and recharge.

The Grandview Kids Therapeutic Recreation Team has put together a large Activity Package (31 pages!) for families to access throughout the Holidays and beyond! We hope that this package chock-full of activities helps keep your family busy and entertained.

Click the link below to download the package:

Grandview Kids Therapeutic Recreation Activity Package 2020 Download

Embracing hope through every challenge: Brock’s journey

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