Center for Pediatric Benefits To After School Activities

Center for Pediatric Benefits To After School Activities

Kids Health The Newsletter About Taking Care Of The Ones That Matter Most

Spring, 2018

“Keep Your Child Occupied After School Lets Out!” BENEFITS TO AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

In an ideal world, the school day would correspond precisely with the business world, and no parent would be stuck looking for transportation or childcare before and after school to fill the gap between the dismissal bell and the end of the work day. However, this is not the reality—a harsh truth that many parents don’t realize until they are faced with a huge predicament in the safety and well-being of their child, let alone the financial stability of their family. Too many business professionals have had to make the tough choice of bringing one parent out of the workforce, at least part-time, to accommodate the school schedule and to properly care for the kids. The idea is that in order to keep kids safe and to guarantee a promising future, having a parent at home after school is a must.

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Kids Health The Newsletter About Taking Care Of The Ones That Matter Most

Spring, 2018

“Your Children Can Make Better Choices After Classes!” BENEFITS TO AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

Inside:

• How To Prevent Caregiver Burnout

• Staff Spotlight

• Writing A Review Is Just A Click Away

Well, while having a stable household is incredibly important in a child’s life,havingaparentavailableat thedismissalbell isn’tactuallyasessential as it might have once been. After school activities are hugely influential in a child’s life, and are a great resource for parents who are in need of a safe and educational setting for their child during that afternoon gap before the work day is over. The Benefits of After School Activities After school activities provide students with an opportunity to engage in hobbies and extracurricular activities that they enjoy. These programs are a resource in which students can personalize their experience by gravitating towards their personal interests, developing skills that could become useful throughout their education and even into their career. Approximately 25 percent of school-aged children go home to an empty houseafterschool.Mostof thesechildrenwillengage in littleeducationally beneficial activities during this time, gravitating towards the television, online chat platforms, and video games rather than towards educational tools. After school activities provide a resource in which children can be supervised and guided towards making better choices with their time, developing new skills in an active environment rather than be home on their own. Organized activities can range to incorporate just about any activity you can imagine. While sports are some of the most common after school programs, there are plenty of options for the non-athletically inclined.

Trivia clubs, often called “Brain Brawl” clubs, build off of a sport-like atmosphere to make trivia competitive, while robotic clubs and even drone racing clubs have turned engineering into a competitive sport as well. Then there are the arts, which are increasingly being pushed out of the classroom as demands increase on assessment performance. After school activities provide a valuable space in which students can learn a new art, and be able to work with artistic equipment that perhaps they don’t have access to at home. Many after school programs incorporate aspects of photography, pottery and other 3d art development, and of course drawing and painting. The arts are a valuable asset in the educational process, and removing them from the classroom has been associated with decreased critical thinking skills and increased anxiety amongstudents.Providing these resourcesafterschoolcanhelpstudents to be more successful during the school day, while keeping them safe and on-track for personal academic success as they wait for their parents to complete their work day. Finally, after school programs provide a great resource for students who are in need of more focused attention from their teachers. After school tutoring programs are great for the tutors and the students being tutored, as it provides students with a chance to learn from one another and build their knowledge base by asking questions. However, after school tutoring must be sponsored and organized for it to take place in a safe environment, and so having a school-designed after school activity program is an absolute must for the safety and prosperity of the children.

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HOW TO PREVENT CAREGIVER BURNOUT

Taking care of a loved one is something many people are doing or will do at some point in their lives. If you are currently in the role of caregiver you know how stressful it can be. It’s imperative to take care of yourself both physically and emotionally. There are several things you can do to prevent caregiver burnout. 1. Seek Social Connections Socializing with friends is a great way to reduce the stress of care giving. Going out to dinner or indulging in a hobby together can relieve the tension in both your body and mind. According to AARP, socialization can help caregivers withstand a greater amount of adversity. Even getting away for a short amount of time just to take a brief walk and chat can make all the difference. 2. Engage in Simple Activities Everything from prayer to taking a long, relaxing shower can help ease tensions. Relieving your mind of stress and negative thoughts can go a long way toward calming your stress and feeling recharged. It’s also a good idea to engage in simple, mindless activities. Reading a book or watching a movie are excellent ways to unwind. 3. Exercise Regularly Stretching your muscles and raising your heart rate for a short amount of time is a good way to relieve stress and improve your overall health. Even moderate exercise can relieve stress. The Mayo Clinic reports that exercise is great for stress relief because it releases your body’s “feel good” neurotransmitters known as endorphins. Physical therapy can also relieve stress in your body and mind. A trained physical therapist can guide you through a variety of stress-relieving exercises.

4. Switch Your Routine Taking care of a loved one normally means sticking to a prescribed routine. Even though you may not be able to change the routine of the individual you’re caring for you can make changes in your own. Make positive lifestyle changes by improving the way you eat or taking the scenic route when running errands. The American Physical Therapy Association stresses lifestyle changes and how this can affect health. Whether it involves new social connections and activities, switching your routine, or engaging in exercise, it’s necessary to find productive methods of relieving stress. A physical therapist can provide exercises during a physical therapy appointment that can help ease tension and stress in your body. It’s imperative to take steps to prevent caregiver burnout so you can stay healthy as well as provide the best care possible for your loved one. centerforpediatrictherapies.com

Kerri Vipperman, MS, CCC-SLP SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGIST

Staff Spotlight

Kerri is a Speech-Language Pathologist with Center for Pediatric Therapies. Kerri works through Early Intervention to serve children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing in the Roanoke Valley. She has 30 years of experience working with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing. Her experience has been with children with a range of hearing losses; those using hearing aids or cochlear implants, and with various choices of communication options. In addition to being a fluent signer, Kerri has numerous continuing education hours in utilizing Listening and Spoken Language to facilitate communication in young children who have a hearing loss. Kerri graduated from James Madison University in 1984 withaB.S. in SpeechPathology andAudiology and received her M.S. degree from JMU in 1985 in Speech Pathology. Prior to working with Early Intervention through CPT, Kerri worked in the public school setting for 30 years. In addition to holding her Certificate of Clinical Competence from ASHA, Kerri is also a certified Early Intervention provider. Kerri resides in Roanoke, Virginia with her husband. She enjoys reading, time with family and friends and spending time with her son and daughter when they are home from college.

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Free ASL Classes: The Center for Pediatric

World Autism Awareness Day at the Danville Science Center The Center for Pediatric Therapies joins forces with the Danville Science Center to host World Autism Awareness Day on Monday, April 2nd from 11am to 2pm. Enjoy kid-friendly autism awareness crafts and activities provided by CPT, explore the Science Center’s interactive galleries, and take in a sensory friendly move at 12pm in the Digital Dome. Seating for the movie is limited to 100 people. RSVP to our Facebook event.

Zumba-thon for Autism Join us for our annual Zumba- thon for Autism! $10 suggested donation to the Autism Education Fund. Open to Y-members and non-members alike. The Zumba-thon will be led by Kristen Barker, Executive Director at the Center for Pediatric Therapies, along with other local Zumba instructors. RSVP to our Facebook event.

Wobble & Gobble Autism Awareness 5k Save the Date! November 10, 2018 at Anglers Park in Danville the Center for Pediatric Therapies has partnered with the Junior Wednesday Club to host the Wobble and Gobble Autism Awareness 5k. This new event will build on the wildly successful six-year history of the Dan River Autism Awareness 5k. Registration and details: www. wobblegobbleautism5k.com.

Therapies and Danville Parks & Recreation are teaming up to offer a FREE 4-week course on American Sign Language for Beginners. Classes will be held at the Ballou Park Rec Center in Danville. These beginner sign language classes will teach basic sign vocabulary including colors, foods, the alphabet, and other participant directed content. Teachers are Sarah Anne Rosner, MS, CF-SLP and Christina Brothers, MS, CF-SLP. Sarah Anne and Christina are both Speech- Language Pathologists at the Center for Pediatric Therapies in Danville. Contact Danville Parks & Recreation at 434-799-5216 to register.

WRITING A REVIEW IS JUST A CLICK AWAY!

Center for Pediatric Therapies values each of our patients and believes that every child is truly special. We invite you to share your child’s experience with CPT by leaving us a review on Facebook. Simply log onto Facebook, visit our page @centerforpediatrictherapies then click Reviews to tell people what you think. We’d love to hear how physical, occupational, and speech therapy have impacted your child’s life.

Review Us On Facebook Today!

“I love when my son’s PT comes for our home visits. She gives me good tips & for helping him especially since he has to wear braces for his legs & we take things step by step. I love it & with him I see more growth & he should be walking soon.” - RR, Parent of CPT child

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