Kinetic Konnections December 2011: What do iPads and Lollipops have in common?
A Note from Cara
How fast the fall has flown, and we are nearly at year’s end. We are enjoying seeing clients for both sports and academic related skills this fall. We have much to share with and hope you will be able to take advantage of some of the opportunities.
• Staff Announcements: A big welcome to Leslie Teng, Physical Therapist and Kinetic Bridging specialist. She is seeing clients in Park Ridge on Tuesday afternoons. Becki Logan is now seeing clients in Chicago on Tuesday afternoons, and Ingris Paredes is now seeing clients in Northfield on Mondays in addition to Park Ridge on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.
• What do the iPad and Lollipops have in common? These are both two items we have found to be instrumental in our work with children and adults. Find out why and how we use them by reading more below…
• Cara Speaking at the Science and Arts Academy December 12th. “Defying Labels: Gifted and ADHD, Anxiety, Sensory Processing Disorder and Asperger’s” will look at typical traits associated with the gifted and an alternative way for understanding and accommodating your child. Details are below and on the Kinetic Konnections Facebook page.
• “I’ve got an iPad….Now What?” Sunday January 25th at 1:30pm presented by Jordan Sadler, SLP, and Tamara Kaldor, Developmental Therapist, at the Park Ridge office. See below for more info.
• Continuing Education Update: The Illinois Physical Therapy Association approved the Intrinsic Stability Courses for continuing education credits. The next set of courses kicks off in early February.
Above all, have a healthy and safe holiday season with our sincere thanks and appreciation for the opportunity to work together!
In health-
Cara Lindell
Founder of Kinetic Konnections®, and Kinetic Bridging®
Upcoming Events
• Science and Arts Academy hosts Cara Lindell speaking on “Defy Labels! Defying Labels such as Sensory Processing Disorder, ADHD, Anxiety and Asperger’s Syndrome” Monday December 12th from 8:30 to 10am.
Gifted are often defined their habits be they cute and defining, or quirky and debilitating. Understanding why these quirks enable the gifted student to function will allow you to develop better accommodative strategies. Cara Lindell will share her unique approach called Kinetic Bridging, which focuses on improving social, emotional, cognitive and physical performance by improving muscle stability and balance. Cara will offer insights gleaned from her work with many gifted students over the past 10 years as well as the latest research in brain-body links. Call the school at 847-827.7880 or check their website athttp://www.scienceandartsacademy.org for more information. There is no fee.
• Kinetic Konnections Resources will feature “I’ve Got and iPad…Now What?” on Sunday January 25th from 1:30-3:00pm at the Kinetic Konnections headquarters in Park Ridge. The development on Flummox and Friends, a project of Jordan Sadler and Christa Dahlstrom. Call 847-390-8348 to reserve your space.
Jordan Sadler, MS, CCC/SLP of Communication Therapy will demonstrate a range of high quality apps that can be used at home with kids who have challenges with articulation, expressive language, language comprehension, following routines, making transitions, and processing/expressing their emotions.
Tamara Kaldor, MS, MS, Developmental Therapist and Advocate of Chicago PLAY Project will discuss the iPad’s role in supporting children with learning challenges and developing their executive functioning skills.
• Intrinsic Stability Courses: Learn new assessment techniques to evaluate performance of your clients and patients. This four-part series of courses covers the science behind Intrinsic Stability, a four tier assessment protocol and application of Kinetic Bridging® to quickly improve stability. The course begins February. Contact Cara Lindell at 847.390.8348 orclindell@Kinetickonnections.com to receive a complete course brochure.
What do the iPad and Lollipops have in Common? By Cara Lindell, Founder
Two of the newest tools at Kinetic Konnections seem to have nothing in common—one is an old-fashioned treat and the other the latest in technology. We use them each with clients of all ages. Why? Read on….
The iPad is more than entertaining. It is a way for us to observe how a person best uses their body position and visual-motor system to play. Whether the focus is on achieving the next level in Angry Birds, dressing Barbie in Barbie Fashionistas, playing piano tunes in Play It Yourself or simply doodling in Doodle Buddy, we find our clients reveal the unique ways their bodies stabilize a visual-motor task.
In the process some very interesting things surface…feet and toes getting a workout with the eyes, kids postured in some very interesting sitting, standing or lying down contortions, and hand/finger use that is down-right awkward. These very real postures and interactions are how the body best supports the visual system function and unfortunately, the positions don’t work well in many work or school environments.
We are able to stabilize the inefficient components to this visual-motor function in real time, and are able to see improvements in real time. For all who have watched it is an amazing process!
Lollipop, Lollipop…. Other than as a treat for a wonderfully cooperative session, how do lollipops help us? Many of the children we see have unusual oral-motor function and/or habits. We find using the lollipops elicits stabilizing patterns where oral-motor function is optimum. However, most of the positions we find are not logistically conducive to eating. Might this explain why some of our younger clients never seem to sit down to eat? A good chance.
We use the lollipops to find additional positions revealing stability patterns in need of being connected. The developmental aspect to the licking is also significant. We are able to access pre-natal stability patterns that did not develop completely or are not isolated in function. When the stability of the oral-motor function improves we are hearing improvement in articulation developing during the session. Parents also report lessening of oral stim habits and increased willingness to eat textured foods.
Now if we could only land on the stability patterns which make us not want to eat….!
If you haven’t seen us in a while and you think the visual/oral stability linkages may pertain to you/your family member feel free to call to discuss. We find the changes are amazing and fast!