Three playing cards in a row. Can you name all 3 with these clues?
Ace of Diamonds, King of Hearts, Two of Spades.
Due to vacations, sleepovers, and the unstructured nature of no school, daily routines are often disrupted over the summer months. A consistent daily routine for kids is critical to them learning responsibility, time management, and so they get a good sleep. Therefore, in September it is important to re-establish what morning, after-school and bedtime time should look like.
Use our customizable free printable to help kids stay on track each day in the morning, after-school and before bed! Be sure to review this with the kids before implementing, confirm the expectations, and get their commitment. You’ll be well on your way to creating a less stressful and more organized home!
For more helpful tools for children and adults visit our Printable Resources Page.
Online security experts recommend creating strong passwords with a mix of special characters, numbers and letters which are different for each application you use. However, remembering one simple password is often hard enough! Especially for applications you don’t use often, it is recommended you keep a log of each password so you can easily retrieve it when needed. This is particularly helpful for seniors, or anyone dealing with cognitive issues, who may have difficulty remembering passwords, or have trusted family members and/or caregivers who may need access to these.
Use our printable Password Keeper to record these important online passwords and user names, and keep it in a safe place for future use.
For more helpful tools please visit our Printable Resources Page.
Julie Entwistle, MBA, BHSc (OT), BSc (Health / Gerontology)
I always love a good book, but have never been one for those fiction novels complete with wizards, sorcerers, love affairs and who-done-it (and some have all four!). So, the books I read are ones that teach me something, help me to grow personally, or at the least are readable one slow chapter at a time to encourage reflection.
This summer, I have enjoyed reading Enabling Positive Change – Coaching Conversations in Occupational Therapy by Pentland, Isaacs-Young, Gash and Heinz. By way of background, I have always found coaching fascinating. My first experience with a business / life coach was probably 10 years ago when I was looking for some guidance and insight on how to run my business better. A few years later I connected with a different coach who helped me confirm that the path I was on (I had doubts) and allowed me to realize that I was exactly where I wanted to be. Then, as my business grew and I felt isolated as an owner, I participated in more of a group coaching process that helped me for several years to build business confidence, to make some great decisions and all of this helped me to take my business to the next level. Most recently, my business partner and I worked with an amazing coach who facilitated very deep conversations about where we are at, where we are going, and what we are truly trying to create – with insight on how to get there.
In reflecting on my experience with coaching further, I now understand that it really is a form of “occupational therapy” for people with desires and wants to do, manage, or live differently or better. So, with this insight I was thrilled to see the combination of these two concepts: coaching and occupational therapy in Enabling Positive Change: Coaching Conversations in Occupational Therapy.
The book is chaptered by Occupational Therapists all over the world that use a coaching approach in their practice, and each chapter speaks to how coaching adds immense value to the OT profession. The book first describes the coaching process, relates this to OT theory, practice and research, uses case and client examples to show the reader what coaching really looks like. Then, it moves to worldly examples of OT and coaching that speak to the core of the OT profession and those of us that practice it. I particularly enjoyed OT’s personal accounts of using coaching and OT to help them in their own journey, but to also assist clients with many aspects of returning to function: managing chronic pain, going back to work, helping children and their families, facilitating groups, improving mental health, getting discharged from hospital, navigating the insurance process, and developing new programs to name a few. My favorite chapters, however (as these speak to my phase of life), were the chapters on coaching and mid-life, coaching executives and professionals, and using coaching to prevent burnout of health professionals (like OT’s!). The book concludes with two very helpful sections about coaching education and training for OT’s, and the future possibilities for coaching and OT.
Honestly this book has a chapter for every OT at every stage and phase of career and really life. While I have always had an interest in coaching, this book has heightened my awareness as to why I have always found it personally helpful, and has also inspired me to look at coaching and coaching training more seriously as the next stage for me in my journey as an OT. I recommend this as a “must read” for OT’s all over the globe.
When you need me, you throw me out. But when you no longer need me, you bring me back in. What am I?
An anchor.
Packing your child’s lunch can seem like a daunting, never ending task, but with a little prep work you can suffer short term pain for long term gain! With just over 10 days left before the big day, try some of these tips and recipes care of The Organized Housewife for lunches and snacks you can make ahead and freeze, which can save you some early morning stress in September and beyond.
The Organized Housewife: 50+ Freezer friendly lunch box food ideas
As it’s back to school time we wanted to shed some light on the awesome work Occupational Therapists do to help children succeed in the school system. From helping with IEP’s, to modifying the classroom environment, an Occupational Therapist can help to enhance the learning experience based on the individual needs of the child they are working with. Learn more about how OT’s help kids in schools in the following care of the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists.
Back to school is just a few weeks away. Check out our helpful infographic aimed at giving parents, teachers, and even kids some proactive strategies they can use to manage this transition as smoothly, productively, and as positively as possible.
Solve the following:
1. Think Twice About It
2. Walk on Water
3. Space Invaders
4. You Are Always on my Mind
5. Keep on Smiling
6. It Doesn’t Add Up
No matter your age, whether you are starting school for the first time, returning to the same school, moving up to middle or high school, moving away to university or going back to school after years in the workforce, the words “Back to school” can bring on both excitement and anxiety. Many feel excited for the opportunities and experiences that may come, however, many also feel frightened and anxious over what lies ahead. For children with special needs any transition can be difficult, and parents and caregivers often find “back to school” one of the most difficult.
The following article published by Care.com discusses the some great strategies for helping plan for and make the transition of “back to school” as pleasant as possible for children with special needs.
Care.com: Easing the Back-to-School Transition for Kids with Special Needs