SOAP AND BUBBLES
Healthy Positioning
Rub a Dub Dub… DON’T Slip in the Tub
Bath time can be a very enjoyable time for children with their rub dub dub duck and bubbles. Yet, for some parents this could not be the case. Some parents might find bath time challenging and here’s why?! Some parents might feel anxious holding their babies and afraid that the baby might slip since babies have slippery skin and add to that some soap!
As for toddler parents, they may often struggle with making sure their children are safe yet clean in a reasonable amount of time. Toddlers can be hyperactive and can’t hold still during a bath since they are curious, they want to discover, move around, and explore which can be hazardous in a slippery environment such as a soapy tub.
To make this time easier for the parents and safer for the child, good positioning is required.
What position is the best for you and your child during bath time and how to keep your child safe during this activity is what we here at ONESTI can assist you with.
Eye Hand Coordination
Bursting Bubbles
Reach for the soap, turn on the faucet, squeeze the needed amount of shampoo out of the bottle, all these actions need coordination between our hand’s movement and what our eyes are seeing.
Eye-hand coordination is when we unite our visual and motor skills, allowing for the hand to be guided by the visual stimulation our eyes receive.
If you find your toddler is struggling to reach his yellow duck in the moving water, or pouring the shower gel directly on his sponge, these may be signs of poor hand-eye coordination.
And no it’s not because of poor vision or lack of motor skills, hand-eye coordination can work poorly even with a 20/20 vision and our motor control skills work properly. It is possible for someone with perfect vision to have hand-eye coordination problems that will only be apparent when they have to use both the visual and motor systems together.
Bath time offers a fun opportunity for children to practice hand-eye coordination tasks, such as gathering the fluffy foam from the water surface and reshape it into different creative characters, squeezing the loofah and watching it make more foam, rubbing their feet or hands with the sponge and waiting for their toes or fingers to reappear through the foam.
Yet, if you observe that your child is struggling with such tasks, then reach out to ONESTI professionals to find out why.
Sensory Intolerance
Foam Festival
Washing hair without crying, holding still till the end when cleaning body with loofah or washcloth, tolerating tilting head to the back to rinse hair without losing balance, choosing shampoo or body gel based on its smell, all these are sensory stimuli your child is exposed to during bath time. In order for your child to get into the bathtub without resistance or throwing a tantrum, and for this routine to be a fun bubbly experience, your child should have an acceptable level of tolerance towards all these stimuli.
Language Skills
Bloop bloop
Remember language development starts with understanding words. This routine activity gives you the opportunity to help your child learn the names of different bath items (towel, faucet, soap, shampoo.. ) or the names of different body parts. You can also use this routine to teach your child what each item is used for (shampoo for the hair, body lotion on the body). You can use bath time to know if your child has a good number of vocabulary words stored! How to do that? Say and OBSERVE! When you say, “we are gonna wash our hands now”. Your child should give you his hand. When you give him the sponge and say, “rub your tummy”. Your child should rub his tummy with the sponge.
Around 18 months your child can understand around 100 words which he can point at. He would also be able to point to body parts. When you ask your child: ”where is your head? He should be able to point to his head. He should be able to name familiar bath items. When you ask where is the shampoo? He should be able to point to the bottle. He should also be able to follow one part directions. If you put shampoo in his palms and ask him to rub his head. He should start washing his hair.
If your child is 18 months old and is not able to point to a few body parts when you ask, to name familiar bath items, follow simple directions, these examples could raise some red flags that may be of concern. It is advisable that you learn more about your child’s language development and what is expected for his age by filling ONESTI’s developmental screening checklist and talking to our professionals.
Between 12 and 18 months a child uses a lot of new words, they can name a person or label an object like shampoo, duck, sponge, soap… and use 2 -3 words together. During bathing your child can learn and use action verbs such as rub, pour, dry, etc. So for example: “when you give him the sponge and ask him what do we do with the sponge? He should be able to say: “rub foot” or “rub hands”. Or you could say; “ we washed our hair with shampoo, what are we going to do now? And your baby could say: “pour water”.
If your child is around 2 years old and still answers your question with one word, or has a limited number of vocabulary, this could raise some red flags that may be of concern. It is advisable that you learn more about your child’s language development and what is expected for his age by filling ONESTI’s developmental screening checklist and talking to our professionals.
Bath time is also a great opportunity to learn pretend play such as giving the bath to his favorite toy. Don’t forget to take turns doing all those actions, you will be helping your child learn another meaningful skill!
Remember a child who has difficulty expressing needs or has too few vocabulary words to express what s/he wants, will be prone to get frustrated and develop behavior problems more than other children.
Challenging Behaviors
Although bath time may be relaxing for some children and fun for others– there are many kids who go running in the opposite direction when they hear the word “bath time.”
So, if your little one has to be chased down to get into the bathtub or if your child keeps crying during this routine, and no matter what the reasons behind this are, challenging behaviors should be dealt with in a very calm and comfortable way for both parents and children.
Our behavior specialists at Onesti will help you know the reason behind your child’s challenging behavior and help you identify your child’s fears and challenges in case they are there! In addition to that, Onesti’s behavior specialists will empower you with the evidence based strategies and techniques in order to know how to deal with every challenging behavior you face with your child throughout your daily routines.
How Can ONESTI Help You
ONESTI will help you learn more about your child’s sensory preferences and how you can adapt the environment during bath time to suit his sensory needs. Our
“Senses in harmony” program will provide you with individualized sensory exercises to decrease discomfort, increase his sensory tolerance level, and enjoy bath time with a splash.
If your child is struggling in becoming independent during bath time, and it’s difficult for him to do it on his own and always asking for your help, fill ONESTI’s “Independent Me” checklist and learn more about the reasons why he’s finding this transition to independency difficult. Whether it is related to delay in certain skill areas, or it has to do with sensory intolerances or it is just about a challenging behavior that has been reinforced. Our “Independent Me” program will provide you with strategies to develop your child’s prerequisite skills that will allow him to perform every routine. The program will offer guidelines to any necessary adaptations to make every routine easier to complete on his own.
Grasping & Eye Hand Coordination
Twist and Squeeze
Can you believe that brushing teeth begins even before your child gets his first tooth! Yes, that is correct, you should make sure to clean your child’s gums and tongue after every meal even if it’s only milk. Wrapping your finger with gauze and gently scrubbing prevents the growth of oral fungus. As your child’s first tooth starts showing, you should make sure to clean it with a soft toothbrush with bristles that are suitable for his little new tooth. When your child begins to finger feed himself, you should know that he’s also ready to brush his own teeth with your help. He should be able to hold the toothbrush with the palm of his hand and bring it to his mouth. Even though the strokes will not be as coordinated to clean his teeth properly, that’s when you can offer to help. As he grows, he will be better able to clean and need less help. But that’s not all, at around 3 years, he should be able to turn on and off the water faucet, open and close the tooth paste, but he might need a bit of help in filling the cup of water to gurgle.
Yet, if you observe that your child is struggling with any of the tasks explained above, then reach out to Onesti professionals to find out why.
Healthy Positioning
Step Up and Smile
When your child begins to stand, you should know that it’s time to get a stepping stool! You will know which stool is right for him, by following some guidelines. First, when standing on the stool, his body should be close to the sink. Second, when standing on the stool, the sink should be at the height of his lower chest. Third, he should be able to easily reach the faucet when he extends his hand. Although he can brush his teeth without looking, it is better if there is a mirror where he can see his reflection and flaunt the results of his efforts shining in front of the mirror!
To know which position is best for your child at every age, and more about specification for finding the right stepping stool, and if any adaptations are needed during this activity, reach out to ONESTI’s professionals.
Sensory Tolerance
Fruity Fresh
If you find that your child is screaming and running away every time you announce that it’s time to brush his teeth, or he pulls away as you are approaching him with the toothbrush, and/or experiences a gag reflex by coughing and seeming to want to throw up, then it’s time to watch out for sensory difficulties. Your child may be having difficulty tolerating the texture of the brush bristles touching his inner cheeks, tongue, and/or gums, or feeling discomfort with texture, taste, or smell of the toothpaste.
Language Skills
Routine activities help children connect language to the world around them. Some routines have A special language that goes along with them – e.g. When a parent takes the toothbrush and puts the toothpaste on it, both the child and the parent share a mutual focus or a common interest. If the parent then says, “let’s put the toothpaste on the brush”, grabbing each named object this allows the child to begin to attach each word to the corresponding object. In this brief interaction, the shared activity provides the foundation for understanding
Challenging Behaviors
Some kids may be interested and excited about choosing their toothbrush design or their favorite toothpaste flavor and find this daily routine fun. On the other hand, we might observe huge tantrums because we asked our child to brush his/her teeth.
So, if your little one is giving you a hard time every time they’re asked to brush their teeth or if your child keeps crying during this routine, and no matter what the reasons behind this are, challenging behaviors should be dealt with in a very calm and comfortable way for both parents and children.
Our behavior specialists at Onesti will help you know the reason behind your child’s challenging behavior and help you identify your child’s challenges in case they are there! In addition to that, Onesti’s behavior specialists will empower you with the evidence based strategies and techniques in order to know how to deal with every challenging behavior you face with your child throughout your daily routines.
How Can ONESTI Help You
ONESTI will help you learn more about your child’s sensory preferences and how you can adapt the sensory characteristics of everything related to brushing teeth to suit his sensory needs. Our “Senses in harmony “ program will provide you with individualized sensory exercises to decrease discomfort, increase sensory tolerance level, and complete this task in a minty fresh breeze.
If your child is struggling in becoming independent when brushing teeth, and it’s difficult for him to do it on his own and always asking for your help, fill ONESTI’s “Independent Me” checklist and learn more about the reasons why he’s finding this transition to independency difficult. Whether it is related to delay in certain skill areas, or it has to do with sensory intolerances or it is just about a challenging behavior that has been reinforced. Our “Independent Me” program will provide you with strategies to develop your child’s prerequisite skills that will allow him to perform every routine. The program will offer guidelines to any necessary adaptations to make every routine easier to complete on his own.
Grasping & Eye Hand Coordination
Hand me the Brush
It is fun for mommy and daddy to brush her/his little girl’s hair, braid it, put it up in a ponytail, and get creative with the hair do and the little clips and pins! Yet, by age 3, or when your little girl is beginning to help in washing her hair during the bath, she will also be ready to brush her hair on her own. There are many advanced skills needed for this activity, that’s why you should allow your little girl to practice brushing her own hair so she has the opportunity to develop all these skills. To brush her hair, your daughter needs to coordinate the movement of her shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers in both hands. The more the hair style is complicated, the more coordination needed. When she begins to practice this activity, seeing her reflection in the mirror is important. Not only to see her cute hairstyle but also to track her hand movement.
Yet, if you observe that your child is struggling with any of the tasks explained above, then reach out to ONESTI professionals to find out why.
Healthy Positioning
Vanity Fair
It doesn’t matter whether your little girl is sitting at her vanity in the bedroom, or standing on a stool is the bathroom during this activity. What matters is that her upper body, head, and neck are in an upright position to give her the needed stability as her hair is being tugged at.
To know which position is best for your child at every age, and more about specification for finding the right stepping stool, and if any adaptations are needed during this activity, reach out to ONESTI professionals.
Sensory Tolerance
Gentle Untangle
Sometimes hair brushing won’t be a fun experience for both parents and child. You find yourself running around the house chasing your child to comb/brush their hair. What you need to know is that sometimes there is a good reason for their escape. Some children have difficulty tolerating the brush/comb touching their scalp or the small tugs at their hair as it’s being combed/brushed. Your little girl might be irritated when her hair is being tied up with a scrunchy, or pinched with a clip and pins. This may be the result of difficulties you child is having in accepting the sensory stimuli related to this activity.
Language Skills
Given the structural nature of routines, specific vocabulary and language can often be repeated while doing a task. For example, when we brush our child’s hair, we can teach a word by repeating it in context, such as “comb”, “brush”, “straighten”, “tie”. You can use this daily activity to help your child understand routine instructions. By frequently labelling actions and items while performing the routines, children will learn the associated words, and begin to pick them up and use these words themselves! Always finish the routine on a positive note of encouragement, this will motivate you child’s participation the next time he has to brush his teeth.
Challenging Behaviors
Maybe you have never thought that combing hair is a routine where you might face challenging behavior with your child. There are some children that may have challenges with brushing their hair for different reasons. Some little ones associate it with a certain routine like having to go to school or daycare, which increases their anxiety. Other children might consider it overstimulating. Whatever the reason is, it can be very disruptive to your child’s routine, and anyone else in the home as well.
So, if you are facing a hard time brushing your little one’s hair; or if you feel your child is suffering during this daily routine , and no matter what the reasons behind this are, challenging behaviors should be dealt with in a very calm and comfortable way for both parents and children.
Our behavior specialists at Onesti will help you know the reason behind your child’s challenging behavior and help you identify your child’s challenges, in case they are there! In addition to that, Onesti’s behavior specialists will empower you with the evidence based strategies and techniques in order to know how to deal with every challenging behavior you face with your child throughout your daily routines.
How Can ONESTI Help You
ONESTI will help you learn more about your child’s sensory preferences, how you can adapt the sensory characteristics of everything related to brushing/combing hair, and adapt the techniques you are using to suit her/his sensory needs. Our “Senses in harmony “ program will provide you with individualized sensory exercises to decrease discomfort, increase sensory tolerance level, and complete this task in an easy-going style.
If your child is struggling in becoming independent this routine, and it’s difficult for him to do it on his own and always asking for your help, fill ONESTI’s “Independent Me” checklist and learn more about the reasons why he’s finding this transition to independency difficult. Whether it is related to delay in certain skill areas, or it has to do with sensory intolerances or it is just about a challenging behavior that has been reinforced. Our “Independent Me” program will provide you with strategies to develop your child’s prerequisite skills that will allow him to perform every routine. The program will offer guidelines to any necessary adaptations to make every routine easier to complete on his own.
Healthy Positioning
I Can Reach
When your child begins to stand, you should know that it’s time to get a stepping stool! You will know which stool is right for him, by following some guidelines. First, when standing on the stool, his body should be close to the sink. Second, when standing on the stool, the sink should be at the height of his lower chest. Third, he should be able to easily reach the soap and the faucet when he extends his hand. Although he can wash his hands and face without looking but it is better if there is a mirror where he can see his reflection to make sure that there is no more foam on his face and that it is spanking clean and stain free.
To know which position is best for your child at every age, and more about specification for finding the right stepping stool, and if any adaptations are needed during this activity, reach out to ONESTI’s professionals.
Grasping & Eye Hand Coordination
Hold on to Slippery Soap
When your child begins to explore finger feeding, it’s also a good idea to begin exposing her to the routine activity of washing hands and face. She can explore the slippery feeling of soap between her fingers and on her cheeks. By the time she’s able to connect blocks, you will know that she will be able to begin washing herself with your help. She will gradually learn to use her vision with her hands in coordination which is a skill she will need to push the soap dispenser with one hand and collect the dropping soap with the other hand. To rub her hands together, whether with foam or with a bar of soap she will need to have developed good motor coordination. It’s also this coordination that is needed to collect water in her little hands to wash her face with. By the time she’s 3, she should be able to wash her hands and face independently with an acceptable level of cleanliness, so applaud the results and offer a hand.
If your child has had enough practice and yet you find that she is still struggling with any of the tasks explained above, it is advised that you reach out to ONESTI professionals to find out why.
Sensory Tolerance
Wash Me Tender
If you find that your child is uncomfortable, feeling irritated, and/or crying every time you wash her hands and/or her face, it is important to look into this matter. This behavior could be the result of irritation caused by one or more of the sensory characteristics of this routine. It may be the slippery feeling of soap, the temperature of the water, the texture of the towel, or an indication that your child may be sensitive to all these things touching her skin, or what is called tactile hypersensitivity.
Language Skills
Given the structural nature of routines, specific vocabulary and language can often be repeated while doing a task. For example, when you are washing your child’s hands or face, you can teach and repeat the word “soap”, “water”, “clean”, “open”, “close”. You can use this daily activity to help your child understand routine instructions. By frequently labelling actions and items while performing the routines, children will learn the associated words, and begin to pick them up and use these words themselves! In addition, this will help them follow simple directives because the repetitive nature of the activity will help them anticipate what is expected of them. Always finish the routine on a positive note of encouragement, this will motivate your child’s participation the next time it’s time to wash his hands or face. Remember a child who has difficulty expressing needs or has too few vocabulary words to express what s/he wants, will be prone to get frustrated and develop behavior problems more than other children.
Challenging Behaviors
Washing hands and face is one of the most important hygiene measures for preventing the spread of diseases. Yet, a lot of young children lack the understanding of germ transfer and refuse to give up the activity they are doing to go and wash up. Your child might engage in some challenging behaviors during this transition.
So, if your little one opposes or avoids this routine or is agitated and cries when washing hands and face, and no matter what the reasons behind this are, challenging behaviors should be dealt with in a very calm and comfortable way for both parents and children.
Our behavior specialists at Onesti will help you know the reasons behind your child’s challenging behavior and help you identify your child’s issues and challenges in case they are there! In addition to that, Onesti’s behavior specialists will empower you with the evidence based strategies and techniques in order to know how to deal with every challenging behavior you face with your child throughout your daily routines
How Can ONESTI Help You
ONESTI will help you learn more about your child’s sensory preferences, how you can adapt the sensory characteristics of everything related to washing hands and face, and adapt the techniques you are using to suit her/his sensory needs. Our “Senses in harmony “ program will provide you with individualized sensory exercises to decrease discomfort, increase sensory tolerance level, and complete this task in an easy-going style.
If your child is struggling in becoming independent during washing hands and face, and it’s difficult for him to do it on his own and always asking for your help, fill ONESTI’s “Independent Me” checklist and learn more about the reasons why he’s finding this transition to independency difficult. Whether it is related to delay in certain skill areas, or it has to do with sensory intolerances or it is just about a challenging behavior that has been reinforced. Our “Independent Me” program will provide you with strategies to develop your child’s prerequisite skills that will allow him to perform every routine. The program will offer guidelines to any necessary adaptations to make every routine easier to complete on his own.
