Adrian Polidano

It’s been nearly two weeks since schools closed and the uncertainty of the unknown continues to create a great sense of discomfort in our lives. Grandview Kids Social Worker Stephanie Kirwin has some thoughts to share in hopes of helping to manage the stress you are feeling.

You may be finding some days more challenging than others to manage the stress you are feeling, to stay positive and optimistic. This is okay. It is okay to feel sad and angry, to feel stressed and worried. Let yourself be present with those feelings. Letting yourself feel and be with your thoughts, away from social media and distractions can be very therapeutic and healthy. It helps you to move through them.

Things to think about (from the Canadian Psychological Association):

“People are strong and resilient, and generally have the skills they need to cope with the stressors they will face in a lifetime.
Not everyone reacts to the same event in the same way and not everyone shows their distress in the same way.
The ways in which children and communities cope and react to a stressor are influenced by how they see parents, caregivers and community leaders cope and react.”

Strategies that might help:

Stay informed and regularly disconnect from news stories; try to only check for updates 1-2 times a day
Try to keep some sort of routine and structure in your day, such as getting yourself and kids dressed, sitting for meals as a family
Build some scheduled activities in your day, outdoor time, yoga or dance videos with the kids
Go outside and pay attention to all your senses: feeling the sun on your face, watching the tops of trees move in the wind, smelling the coming of spring
Try to let go of things you can’t control and focus on the things you can control such as practicing safe hand hygiene and physical distancing with your family, reminding yourself that you are doing something
Reach out for help. On days when worried thoughts become difficult to manage, reach out to those you trust or a mental health professional. This is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength.

Information adapted from the following websites, view for further reading:
https://cpa.ca/new-covid-19-factsheet/
https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief

Dear Grandview Community,

We continue to find ways in which to connect with you and work remotely during these uncertain times.

Thank you for doing your part to maintain physical distancing.

For those of you who are self-isolating at home, thank you for your vigilance. Many Grandview families have the added stress of caring for medically complex children and we know how much they need all of us to do our part to keep ALL kids healthy and safe.

Daily across social media sites, multiple tools, and resources are being posted offering online learning and supports for kids and families.

We know that for many Grandview families many of these resources are not accessible or appropriate.

We also know that many parents are stressed trying to fit in “school work “ and therapy in addition to working as essential services, working from home, managing care routines and responding to new behaviours that may be arising with all of this disruption.

It is okay to not be on top of all of this. It is okay to feel overwhelmed and scared. It is okay to not be okay right now.

It is one of the reasons we will be reaching out to you in many ways to check in.

Grandview is working to share resources meant for kids with communication, physical and developmental needs.

We also want to share resources for parents and caregivers to support your self-care as a healthy YOU is critical for your child right now.

Here is a great parent/caregiver website we really like.
https://ontariocaregiver.ca/find-support/peer-support/?fbclid=IwAR2rBaSQHla36MkqEMg2SWOnkSwrceBcbpktmIQvTG80TZuvw22XuhHn9Po

You can also try the Care Mongers COVID-19 Response Phone Line at 1-888-573-0982 if you need help or are isolated during the pandemic.

In addition, the Grandview Online Parent Support (OPS) Facebook page is a tremendous parent resource for Grandview families. If you are not already a member here is how to sign up: Please visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/Grandview.OPS/ and click join. Then check your Facebook Messenger for some identifying questions or email andrea.belanger@grandviewkids.ca with your child’s name or client ID and your Facebook profile name so your information can be verified.

We will continue to reach out to you and do everything we can to help.

You are in my thoughts and the thoughts of the entire team at Grandview

With care,
Lorraine

Physical activity is good for your body and mind. With recreation programs cancelled amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Grandview Kids Physical Literacy Coordinator, Natalyn, has some great ways to help get your family active and keep spirits up!

You can go for a walk, get outside in your backyard, or set up some relay races, play the V-up challenge or create obstacle courses indoors, just remember social distancing.

How to set up a relay race:

A relay race is a racing competition where each member of a team completes parts of the course.

You can line up two rows of cans or bottles on your floor, space them out 2 feet apart, creating two parallel lines (try and keep as much space as possible between the two lines to encourage social distancing). At one end of each of the lines place a bin of toys/stuffed animals. Each child starts the race at the opposite end. The children crawl over the cans/bottles, grab a stuff animal/toy and zig-zag (running or crawling) back to the other end, drop their toy, and return to get another. Repeat until all items have been moved from the bin.

How to set up the V-up challenge:

Have your child lay on their back with an empty bin on the floor above their head, place stuffed animals are their feet. Have your child grab their stuffed toy with their feet and drop it in the bin above their head (creating a V-up motion with their legs). Repeat until all stuffed animals are in the bin.

How to make the obstacle course:

You can stack up cushions to make hurdles, make agility pathways by taping lines on the floor, and include stations like jumping jacks and bean bag toss. You can even use hula hoops or empty laundry baskets as targets and rolled up socks as bean bags.

Fundamental movement skills like jumping, throwing, and catching are very important for the physical development of a child. It’s incredibly important to keep kids active all year round, even if that means taking a bit of extra effort during these self-isolating times with your family.

Let your kids help with the building and everyone is sure to have fun!

For many teens across Durham Region, the recent PA Day meant extra time to sleep in, hang out with friends, or maybe play some sports or video games. For Grandview kid Kurt, 13, it meant testing out a dream job.

A plan was devised back in October at the Grandview Youth Advisory Committee’s Halloween event to have Kurt step in as CEO for the day; job shadowing Grandview Children’s Centre CEO Lorraine Sunstrum-Mann.

Diagnosed with hydrocephalus at birth, Kurt spent much of his childhood at Grandview, participating in physiotherapy and occupational therapy treatments. He also attended senior kindergarten at Grandview’s co-located educational partner, Campbell Children’s School. Needless to say, getting the chance to come back to Grandview as CEO was a “cool experience.”

During his time as boss, Kurt took part in meetings with Lorraine.

“There are so many people that Lorraine has to talk to, report to and talk about the centre with. She’s busy!” said Kurt.

One of the main highlights of his day was meeting with Grandview Kids and Campbell Children’s School’s Technology Lead Shaun Maddock and the Grandview robot Joy.

“I liked the fact that Joy can drive around,” Kurt explained. “I took Joy to see other kids and got her to talk to them and if they wanted her to dance, I’d make her dance.”

Kurt also attended the official opening of Lakeridge Health’s new 22-bed Mental Health Unit at the Ajax-Pickering Hospital, meeting the Minister of Health, The Minister of Finance and the President of the Treasury Board along with Durham MPP Lorne Coe and hospital dignitaries. Lorraine describe how heartwarming it was to watch the group treat Kurt as a VIP, going so far as introducing him to the crowd as a special guest.

Kurt made the most of his opportunity to speak to political leaders by advocating for Grandview.

“I told them the wait times are too long,” Kurt said. “They seemed to understand that there are many Grandview kids who need help.”

His time spent with Lorraine and at Grandview made Kurt more confident in choosing his future career.

“I know I want to do something with the community, helping people,” he said.

“Spending the day with Kurt was wonderful. What was supposed to be a rich day of learning for him turned out to be all about learning for me,” Lorraine explained. “Kurt impressed me with his curiosity about the work we do at Grandview and especially about why we do it. His excitement about helping other Grandview kids was touching and impressive.”

Does your Grandview kid have a dream job they’d like to give a try? Email communications@grandviewkids.ca

Daniella Altieri is not only a Grandview kid, she is a role model!

The former Campbell Children’s School student has been selected by Mattel Canada to be an official Barbie Role Model. The toymaker’s new collection of Barbie dolls is modeled after real-life, inspirational females.

Daniella, 15, has Cerebral Palsy and just like her Barbie doll, uses a wheelchair.

Grandview’s co-located educational partner Campbell Children’s School welcomed Daniella back to visit the kindergarten kids on December 10, 2019.

The students sat silently as they listened to Daniella share her story.

“I felt like I was about to cry,” Daniella said, recalling how excited the children were and how intently they listened to her every word. “They face me and were ready to listen and kept clapping. I felt so happy!”

Daniella’s journey to becoming a Barbie doll came with help from the Starlight Foundation. Daniella became connected with the organization when her wish to climb Banff, AB’s Sulpher Mountain was granted in 2014. Determined but unable to reach the top on her own, her father Roger carried her to the peak. The wish was life-changing for her and inspired her to stay connected with Starlight, helping to raise money for other kids to get their wishes granted. When Mattel reached out looking for a Role Model, it was a no-brainer for Starlight to suggest Daniella.

A high school student and athlete, Daniella plays sledge hockey and is part of a ski and snowboard club. She spoke to the students about believing in themselves and reaching their goals, no matter what.

“They can do anything, even with a disability. It can be hard but it won’t stop you from doing what you want. You are not alone. Even if you’re in a wheel chair, you can do anything. Don’t let it stop you.”

Daniella ended her presentation by giving four Barbie dolls to be shared between students in each class.

“I loved seeing the smiles on their faces when I handed out the Barbie’s,” explained Daniella. “When I made those kids happy, it felt really good.”

Grandview Kids welcomed three grade nine students to #TeamGrandview on November 6, 2019 for Take Your Kid to Work Day.

Ethan, Noah and Kyra joined their moms on the job to see what goes on at Grandview Children’s Centre. Ethan and Noah spent their day at the Oshawa headquarters, getting a chance to sit in on therapy appointments, spend time volunteering in the classes at Campbell Children’s School (Grandview’s co-located educational partner) and they were able to get their hands on some of the latest technology gadgets Grandview kids has to help children with physical, developmental and communication needs.

Kyra spent her day up in our north satellite in Port Perry. It is a smaller location but still busy and full of laughter and life like the other sites.

Reflecting on his time spent at Grandview, Ethan said he felt welcomed. “Everyone was very nice,” he explained. “It was cool to see Tulip the therapy pony and learn how to program the Campbell Children’s School iPal. I see how my mom loves going to work everyday!”

Noah commented on the skill set the staff had, noting “they all seemed to know what they were doing and how to do it.”

Thanks for joining us Ethan, Noah and Kyra! You are welcome back anytime.