The SMILE Center

Learn about Torticollis with us for PT Month!

Let’s have fun moving our bodies at home! These are great activities to do in the comfort of your indoor space. They include how to prepare your body’s systems that are responsible for sensory and spatial awareness, as well as strength, balance, and coordination activities. And a few extra fun ones!

Happy PT Month! Have you ever wondered what a physical therapist does differently from an occupational therapist, and how their roles adapt in different environments? Take a peak here and find out! (Fun fact: Our SMILE PTs say pediatric physical therapists have the most fun ) We are so happy to be a part of your lives and include you in this month of PT sharing and learning!

October is PT Month! Please join us in celebrating our amazing PTs this month and stay tuned for more posts related to the work we do every day :). Happy PT month!!

Vertical surfaces such as chalkboards can be great for working on shoulder girdle control and stability. This kiddo is using a fisted grasp to "paint" with water on a chalkboard. This grasp pattern usually emerges between 12-15 months old. Following a fisted grasp, a digital pronate grasp will begin to develop (~2 years old), where a child's thumb, and first finger (palm down) face the writing/drawing surface. Children may then begin to develop a quadruped grasp, using the t...ips of all 5 fingers to stabilize the writing utensil. Last but not least, children develop a tripod grasp (~3-4 years old). The child holds the writing tool with the tips of their thumb and index finger, with the tool resting on the side of their middle finger (learning to separate the first three fingers from the ring and pinky fingers). As this grasp becomes more mature, the child develops greater control of the musculature in the hand in order to isolate tiny muscles, allowing for more refined dexterity and control with their writing implement by 5-6 years old. #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration

Have you ever seen your child in this 'W' sitting position? Children with low muscle tone, hypermobility, or decreased balance and trunk control are more likely to use 'W' sitting as their primary sitting posture. W-sitting becomes habitual because it provides a large, stable base so children can use their hands freely while playing without disrupting their balance (I.e. without activating core muscles while engaging in play). 'W' sitting may resolve on its own as your child ...grows and develops stronger abdominal control, however, persistent 'W' sitting can cause orthopedic issues such as tightness or contractures in leg muscles, delays in bilateral coordination and fine motor development, core muscle weakness and trunk instability, and in-toeing gait (aka: "pigeon toe" walking). Exercises we might use in PT are bridges, superman, and trunk rotation to strengthen the core and help the child establish greater abdominal control. Aside from exercise, It is important to correct and prevent 'W' sitting postures by offering alternative sitting positions such as long sitting, long sitting with one leg bent, or modifying seating arrangements by providing a stool or chair to sit on. Consistency and awareness helps in breaking this habit! Make sure your child knows what the other options are so they can choose a comfortable alternative that supports their alignment and development. If you observe your child in 'W' sitting often or if your child expresses that certain activities are difficult, or alternative sitting positions are uncomfortable, there might be an underlying challenge with core strength, instability, or decreased postural awareness that requires further evaluation and intervention. #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration

Let's get creative! Use common household items to create fine motor activities for your kiddos at home. Sort through your recyclables for plastic bottles like this one for endless creativity and fun! Turn your water bottle into a very hungry animal who loves to eat cotton balls, pom poms, or cheerios! A child typically develops a pincer grasp between 9-10 months old. Manipulating small objects and placing them through a small hole or slot helps to encourage children to use t...heir pincer grasp (using their thumb and pointer finger) for grasping, fine motor, and visual motor skill development. #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration

For children with feeding disorders, the earliest goals of feeding therapy may not start with eating. Kay Toomey, PhD, who developed the SOS Approach to Feeding, outlines the Six Steps to Eating a New Food (Spoiler: the road to eating something new can be a lot more complicated than you might think!) Hats off to all of our families in feeding therapy, doing their best and braving every step of this pyramid, every day, at least 3x per day! #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossm...otor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration See more

POP! This classic summer activity is so versatile and OT/PT approved! Practice filling water balloons up for some fine motor development and motor planning, carry the filled up balloons in a bucket or basket for some heavy work, and tie in some running/target practice on Mom and Dad or siblings for some vestibular visual input. Water play makes for a tactile experience, too. Stomp to pop, play catch, and if your kiddo is a little older see if they can help you tie the knot when you fill them up. Have fun!

Tunnels are fun and versatile pieces of home equipment that keep kiddos on the move and interacting with you and their siblings! Set up beads and string, peg puzzles, or other fine motor activities on either side to create a mini obstacle course and strengthen fine motor skills. Log roll inside of the tunnel for some vestibular fun, or crawl through as part of an obstacle course to provide proprioceptive input through the arms, legs, and shoulders to improve body awareness, t...oo. #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration

We love a DIY sensory bin! Using Cheerios as the base engages all of our senses, encourages grasp development, and can double as a safe snack for little ones who like to explore small objects with their taste buds! This creative base along with large toys create a unique, safe, and delicious experience to explore through play. Toddler approved! #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration

Have you ever walked down the "teether" aisle of your local baby store? It's SO overwhelming. There are so many options and despite those adorable latte and avocado options, there are some "better" teething toys on the market. It's important for babies to feel sensory input all over their mouths, including way in the back. So many teethers out there are round and only allow babies to put them in the very front of their mouths. We love teethers that are long and stick-shap...e like the chewy tube (sold by Talk Tools) this cutie is using in the picture. Check it out! https://talktools.com/products/red-chewy-tube Here are some other great options, too! https://www.nuby.com//en/nananubs-banana-massaging-toothbr https://zoli-inc.com/collections/teethers/products/bunny-7 https://talktools.com//chew/products/super-red-chewy-tube #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration

Pretend play also known as imaginative or symbolic play is a great way to work on language and creativity! Pretend play encourages thinking, planning, decision making, and allows the child to drive and play out emotional themes. It is an easy and motivating way to target some of those wh questions as well! As parents, therapists, and educators, pretend play is not something we are taught how to do so here are some helpful tips to best support an interaction while keeping it... child-driven: Use first person responses (I think, maybe we should, I like, where should I) to fully immerse yourself and your character in play! It is also a nice way to work on natural conversation skills. You don’t see adults talking to each other in third person Increase comments, decrease questions to decrease language demands and help better expand play. Use Wow, that looks like a fire station instead of, close ended, Where is the fire station?. This allows the child to process and acknowledge the information, while still giving them a space to respond on their own terms. Create challenges your character is experiencing to work on problem solving as well as perspective taking. For example Oh man, I am really scared to go on that plane or something more concrete like I am stuck in the mud! What should I do to get out!? Work through these scenarios together remember no response is wrong or too silly! Always acknowledge their idea to continue to encourage their thinking. #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration

With a marked increase in screen-time over these last months, it's more important than ever to find ways to help our children foster their core strength and motor development. The core muscles are the muscles in the abdomen, back and pelvis that are responsible for working together to help stabilize and therefor allow for mobility of the distal extremities of the body. Try some of these indoor strengthening activities on a rainy day. The key to strengthening these muscles ...is first ensuring good alignment, and making exercise playful and fun! Here are some core strengthening exercises to help you get started; incorporate them into play for kids younger and older! Always make sure that when your child is completing any of these exercises, that he or she is breathing! Breath holding allows your child to compensate and not use the crucial muscles that these exercises target. #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration

Torticollis refers to a condition in which the muscles in the neck on one side or shorter or tighter than the other side, and the head and neck is rotated to the opposite side. Torticollis may vary in severity and may be due to a number of different reasons such as intubation in the NICU, preferred positioning of the infant; sleeping with the head always turned to one side, breast or bottle feeding on the same side, reflux, and more. It is usually identified with consistent... turning and tilting of the head. As shown in this picture, this baby’s head is tilted to the right and rotated left. Positional Torticollis is treatable by ensuring symmetrical sleeping, feeding, and play habits, as well as promoting tummy time. Prolonged untreated Torticollis may lead to muscular asymmetries in the body and vision asymmetries, due the preferential use of one side more than the other. In infants we always want to promote equal use of both sides so that babies are able to strengthen both sides equally and use both eyes together equally. Early assessment and intervention can make a substantial difference in treatment outcomes. #indooractivities #Sensorygym #Grossmotor #Finemotor #Parenting #Playtime #Earlyintervention #Playbasedlearning #Playmatters #Playathome #toddleractivities #preschoolactivities #babydevelopment #childdevelopment #sensoryskills #sensorybin #sensoryactivities #nyc #nyckids #longislandkids #newyorkbabies #feedingtherapy #toddlerfun #preschoolfun #pediatrictherapy #sensoryplay #sensory #sensorylearning #sensoryintegration