Synopses & Reviews
All of us have had a sensory issue at one time or another. Maybe it’s your neighbor’s dog barking that bothers you or you can’t stand the texture of cottage cheese. Does it make you crazy to have a hat on your head? Do you avoid the mall at peak shopping times so you don’t have to be around crowds of people? These are common things that as adults we adapt to or avoid without giving them a second thought. What about your children’s sensory sensitivities? What if you could make parenting easier and more fun by taking your child’s senses into consideration? Imagine the possibilities because you can!A child’s sensory system affects their ability to learn, play, socialize and function. Maybe a child isn’t able to sit still in class because his shirt tag is bothering him. Or a child isn’t able to play with other children because his balance is off and other kids make him feel unstable and dizzy. Maybe your child isn’t just a picky eater – it could be that his sensory system needs some special guidance and adjusting. And with so much technology and choices of games out there, which ones are beneficial for your children to play? Britt Collins, M.S., OTR/L and Jackie Linder-Olson – an occupational therapist and parent team – have organized and combined parenting information along with sensory integration methods, tips and solutions. We’ve done our work, now it’s your turn! We’ve made it easy and fun and will help you avoid a lot of unnecessary battles between you and your child. It’s amazing how quickly our children adapt and the little adjustments that can make our days smoother. Who knew that our sensory systems affect every aspect of our lives? We all do now. Beginning with the age of five, Britt and Jackie walk parents through everyday situations and duties all the way through your child’s elementary years. They explain the underlying reasons beneath your child’s negative behaviors and the often simple fixes (sometimes not so easy, but steps that will lead you towards success). Parenting can be less stressful when you’re not struggling with your child’s sensory systems. A child won’t outgrow auditory processing issues or tactile defensiveness without addressing the child’s needs. Working together, you will find that parenting can be more enjoyable if you address or avoid certain sensory situations or prepare for them accordingly. We’re here to help every step of the way!
Synopsis
A child's sensory system affects their ability to learn, play, socialize and function. Maybe a child isn't able to sit still in class because his shirt tag is bothering him. Or a child isn't able to play with other children because his balance is off and other kids make him feel unstable and dizzy. Beginning with the age of five, Britt and Jackie walk parents through everyday situations and duties all the way through your child's elementary years. They explain the underlying reasons beneath your child's negative behaviors and the often simple fixes (sometimes not so easy, but steps that will lead you towards success). Parenting can be less stressful when you're not struggling with your child's sensory systems.
Synopsis
All of us have had a sensory issue at one time or another. Maybe it's your neighbor's dog barking that bothers you or you can't stand the texture of cottage cheese. Does it make you crazy to have a hat on your head? Do you avoid the mall at peak shopping times so you don't have to be around crowds of people? These are common things that as adults we adapt to or avoid without giving them a second thought. What about your children's sensory sensitivities? What if you could make parenting easier and more fun by taking your child's senses into consideration? Imagine the possibilities because you can A child's sensory system affects their ability to learn, play, socialize and function. Maybe a child isn't able to sit still in class because his shirt tag is bothering him. Or a child isn't able to play with other children because his balance is off and other kids make him feel unstable and dizzy. Maybe your child isn't just a picky eater, it could be that his sensory system needs some special guidance and adjusting. And with so much technology and choices of games out there, which ones are beneficial for your children to play? Britt Collins, M.S., OTR/L and Jackie Linder-Olson, an occupational therapist and parent team have organized and combined parenting information along with sensory integration methods, tips and solutions. We've done our work, now it's your turn We've made it easy and fun and will help you avoid a lot of unnecessary battles between you and your child. It's amazing how quickly our children adapt and the little adjustments that can make our days smoother. Who knew that our sensory systems affect every aspect of our lives? We all do now. Beginning with the age of five, Britt and Jackie walk parents through everyday situations and duties all the way through your child's elementary years. They explain the underlying reasons beneath your child's negative behaviors and the often simple fixes (sometimes not so easy, but steps that will lead you towards success). Parenting can be less stressful when you're not struggling with your child's sensory systems. A child won't outgrow auditory processing issues or tactile defensiveness without addressing the child's needs. Working together, you will find that parenting can be more enjoyable if you address or avoid certain sensory situations or prepare for them accordingly. We're here to help every step of the way
About the Author
Britt Collins’ professional experience and education: Since graduating from Colorado State University with a Masters Degree in Occupational Therapy, Britt has practiced in a variety of settings; including Sensory Integration clinics, schools, homes, rehabilitation, and skilled nursing facilities. Britt honed her Occupational Therapist skills at a pediatric clinic in Tarzana, California prior to working for Pedia Staff in the Battle Ground, Washington school district where she oversaw 2 elementary schools and the middle school and high school.Britt has mainly focused her career as an OT on Sensory Integration and how this affects children with various special needs, such as autism, ADHD, Sensory Dysfunction and more. She is a member of The American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and currently works with the Legacy Health System in Pediatric Rehabilitation and Inpatient Acute Pediatrics in Portland, Oregon.While working at a Pediatric Hospital, Britt continues her Occupational Therapy education. Most recently she completed a course in NICU and EI Feeding for Medically Fragile Children. Britt is focusing her energy on learning new techniques and types of therapy to increase her knowledge about occupational therapy, such as Hippotherapy (working with horses and children), medically fragile children in the acute phase of treatment, new evidence based practice research on sensory integration, animal-assisted therapy and much more. Jackie Linder-Olson’s professional and personal experience: Jackie Olson found out upon the birth of her child that “something was wrong” and has spent the last seven years learning about sensory processing disorders to help her son and other families. As a filmmaker who started her career at Miramax Films and then 20th Century Fox, she went freelance as in independent producer to be able to spend more time with her son and help him with his sensory needs (as well as an autism diagnosis). Upon celebrating the tremendous results that her son has had with Occupational Therapist, Britt Collins, Jackie decided to combine her career and passion for OT and created a DVD series to help other parents understand their children’s sensory needs. The results have been overwhelming and rewarding. Upon realizing that her son had sensory processing dysfunction, Jackie started facing her own sensory issues (mostly auditory) and has improved the quality of her own life.During the last two years, Jackie’s son has been mainstreamed into a standard public school system. In this time, Jackie has noticed that many of the typically developing children have sensory issues as well. Parents who watch their DVD series who have typical kids are applying the same information to their children and so the book about parenting was born.Additional information about the authors: Jackie and Britt are a successful team due to Britt’s knowledge working with kids and Jackie’s efforts with her own child and other parents. Britt is very technical and lists the facts, while Jackie translates this into a language parents can easily understand and utilize.Together, Jackie and Britt have recently founded the non-profit organization Special Needs United (specialneedsunited.org) which focuses on Occupational Therapy for lower income and Spanish speaking communities that might not have as much access to these benefits. Their overall plan is to develop occupational therapy products that they take to market to insure that the organization is not dependent on charitable donations alone.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1. The Great Sensory Parent Detective
A) Sensory Systems Instruction Manual
B) Sensory Checklist
C) The Eight Sensory Systems
D) SPD Defined and Explored
E) Talking to Your Child About SPD
Ch
ChChapter 2. Developmental Milestones
A) Developmental Milestones
B) Developmental Delays
Chapter 3. Engagement and Social Relationships
A) The importance of relationships
B) What studies are telling us
C) Social Skills
Chapter 4. Sensory Needs at School
A) Sensory Needs inside the Classroom
B) Recess, Lunchtime, and In Between Times
C) Anxiety, bullying, Playground Politics
D) Sensory Needs included in IEPS, 504 Plans
E) Homeschooling
Chapter 5. Sensory Needs at Home
A) Sensory Friendly Homes
B) Waking up, Going to bed and Everything In Between
C) Homework
D) Sensory Friendly Meals/ Special diets
Chapter 6. Sensory Needs in the World
A) After School Groups, Lessons, Sports
B) Sensory Needs and Anxiety (Defined and Explored)
C) Traveling
D) Where to go with your Sensory Sensitive
Chapter 7. Games
A) Play
B) Which games to play and why
Chapter 8. Sensory Seasons and Sensory Holidays
C) Winter months (January – March)
D) Spring is here (March – June)
E) Summertime (June – August)
F) Fall (September – December)
Chapter 9. Sensory Therapies
A) Sensory Activities: How To Help Your Child
B) Therapy Breakdown: OT, PT, SLP
C) Therapy Dogs
D) Aquatic Therapy, Music Therapy, Vision Therapy
Cranial Sacral Therapy, Celtic Art Therapy Q&A
E) Auditory Therapy and Integrated Listening Systems
F) Yoga
Chapter 10. SPD and Special Needs
A) SPD and Autism
B) SPD and ADHD
C) SPD and Special
References
Bonus Sections - Q&A with Experts
1. Marla Roth-Fisch, author Sensitive Sam, regarding talking to your child about SPD.
2. Susan Diamond, MA, CCC, author Social Rules for Kids, regarding social slang and what is important for your kids to know.
3. Aviva Weiss, MA, OTRL, owner Fun and Function regarding OT equipment in the classroom.
4. Stephen Castor, 3D expert, Rocket Science, regarding 3D televisions and 3D games. How they work and what to play.
5. Raven's Daughter, Celtic Art Therapy, exploring Celtic Art Therapy's role in anxiety and special needs.
6. Homeschool Friend
7. Sensory Season's Friend
8. Psychologist
9. SLP
10. Vision Therapist