Community Education Talks

If you are located in southern Wisconsin, then you are lucky enough to be near the base of Strategies for Better Functioning, LLC. One of the services offered by Strategies for Better Functioning, LLC is Community Education Talks. These one hour presentations are on a variety of subjects relating to daily life skills. Do you have a concern for you or a loved one? Chances are you are not the only one. Give me a call and I will see what I can do to help you and your community!

The cost is $10 per person, with a minimal charge of $50.

"Sensory Processing Disorder"

Sensory integration is the brain's ability to take in information from our senses, organize it and make an appropriate response. If any part of this program is not quite right, the result can be seen as frustration, reactions that do not make sense, over-reactive or under-reactive, simple tasks turning into exhaustive situations. In this talk, you will get valuable information on:

►All 7 (yes, seven!) sensory systems.

►What are the 3 funamental senses?

►What is sensory integration?

►How does what we sense affect what we do?

►Why is my kid "hyper"?

►Why is brushing teeth so difficult?

►Why is my child a "bull in a china shop"?

►Sharing ideas on helping your child (and you!) cope.

"Picky Eaters"

Are you tired of mac'n'cheese and chicken fingers? You are not the only one. Eating is necessary for life. Eating with others should be sociable, relaxing and maybe even adventurous. Are your meals at home a source of high anxiety? This talk is on the complexities of eating and how the solutions for healthier and happier eating habits can be simple.

You will get valuable information on:

►Normal food progression for eating solid foods.

►Finger feeding vs. utensils

►Creating a calm, fun dining experience.

►Using young helping hands.

►Wacky snacks.

►Fun learning activities.

►Sharing ideas.

Learn the process, recipes, and other useful information to help your child to eat better. They are never too young or old to start good eating habits!

"An OT's Perspective of Behavior"

It's December already! How do you think Santa's naughty and nice list is shaping up for your children? Do they need some help to clinch the nice list? Help is here! The Free Community Education Talk this month is on Managing Your Child's Behavior, from the perspective of normal developmental expectations.

You will get valuable information on:

►Discipline. What is it anyway?

► General rules for behavior management.

► What to expect from your child.

►How to fit your child and needs into a plan.

►Helpful tips to keep in mind.

►Proper use of Time Outs.

You've probably read information and have been given lots of helpful (!?) suggestions from friends and family. I offer a new way to look at behavior, in the context of level of development. Sometimes we expect too much from our children, telling them to do something that they may not have the skill for. Sometimes we under-estimate what our children can do. In this case, the children may get bored and act out. They need the just right challenge to accomplish something and feel proud of themselves.

"Great Play"

We often talk about work versus play. Get the work done before you can play. Even your social status may be judged by how much you work versus how much you play. Some of these attitudes can trickle down to our children, particularly those preschool aged. As parents, we want to provide our children with everything we can to help them to succeed in life. We make a point of getting early learning activities, make sure the child can operate a computer mouse at a very young age, drill them with DVD's of language and math skills. You get the picture. Here is the problem with this picture:

PLAY IS THE CHILD'S WORK!

As a child

in his surrounding world, crutial skills are developing. Out of these basic skills grows ALL later learning. This includes

*motor skills,

*academic skills,

*social skills, even

*self-esteem.

As an occupational therapist who has worked in numerous schools in a variety of levels of economic communities, I have seen the adverse affects of "play deprived" young children. The economic status of the family does not necessarily determine the possible amount of "play deprivation".

Come learn how you can REALLY help prepare your child for the many challenges of life.

Let me know your questions or concerns. Contact info.

You don't live near Madison? Just have a question? Try the FREE simple solution hot line.

Jacobs Inventory of Functional Skills
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