OuTcomes Therapy

Happy Mother's Day!

Today is Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day. To celebrate, let’s explore from self-care tips from Pixar characters.

Which one are you planning to do today?

Happy Mental Health Week in Saskatchewan! What are you planning to water this weekend?

Having a growth mindset challenges us to rise above negativity and limitation. It encourages perseverance in the face of failure, determination in the face of difficulty, and a focus on what is possible for us to achieve. Fostering a growth mindset is one of the most valuable attitudes we can nurture in our kids. All it takes are the right resources & tools. The following list of our favourite resources is a perfect place to start if you want to foster a growth mindset in your kids.

Christmas is all about spending time with family and making fun memories that will last a lifetimethis rings especially true when it comes to children. While there are plenty of ways of doing thisthink snow angels and sleddingthere are some days where indoor activities are the best option. Rather than sitting the kids down in front of holiday movie (although we love doing that too!), spread your love of DIY Christmas craft ideas by making a Christmas crafts with the help of the little ones.

Day 15! Half Way! Today we are sharing our Top 12 Gifts for Budding Scientists. For kids, discovery and play go hand in hand! Instead of some of the usual gifts, consider inspiring a love of science with chemical reactions that result in fake snow, "crime scene" investigations that lift stray fingerprints, solar panels that power race cars and bacteria colonies that materialize right before your eyes. ... This has all the makings of a merry season, doesn't it?

Just a little reminder.

Technically winter is right around the corner....but we all know that Canada is always a little ahead of the game when it comes to winter. While the dip in temperatures may tempt you to stay curled up inside with a cup of hot cocoa, we encourage you to lean toward your adventurous side and spend more days outdoors this season. After all, some of our best childhood memories involve participating in winter activities with friends and familyfrom sledding and snowball fights to winter crafts and games. What are your favourite family outdoor activities?

Day 14 - November 14th - Our Favourite Cause and Effect Toys Cause and effect toys teach children that their actions can cause something to happen. A rattle makes a sound when they shake it or a ball that falls through a hole after they push it down shows a child they can change something in their environment. ... Cause and effect play helps children develop curiosity, attention, and intentional play. Below are 18 different examples of toys that support the learning of cause and effect. Although the toys all look completely different, each one responds immediately once it is activated which shows a child that their actions can impact their environment. The list ends with our all-time favourite cause and effect toy - batteries not required. What are your favourite cause and effect toys and activities?

Proprioception is our positioning sense. It allows the body to plan and react so that we position our movements correctly and smoothly without needing to rely on our sense of vision. People use their sense of proprioception for most motor actions. We need our sense of proprioception to look where we are going when we walk, to pick up a glass of water, to walk in the sand, to wave hello, to avoid knocking into other people and the list goes on and on. A diminished sense of pr...oprioception can result in clumsiness, poor coordination, improper posture, using too much or too little force, decreased body awareness, motor planning deficits and more. What are your favourite proprioceptive activities, tools, or toys?

Day 13th - Friday, November 13th, 2020 - Our Top 15 Favourite Fine Motor Games and Activities Fine motor skills include the ability to make movements using the small muscles in our hands and wrists. Children use fine motor skills to do many school-related tasks. In fact, fine motor skills directly impact how well kids are able to learn and show what they know. For instance, kids need fine motor skills to circle an answer in a bubble on a test or write an essay or response.... The good news is that there are many games & activities you can do at home to help improve your child’s fine motor skills. The following are 15 of our favourite fine motor games and activities. Now, I know that lots of occupational therapists follow this page...so if you are an OT...I challenge you to list your absolute favourite fine motor game or activity...ready, set, go!

Day 12: November 12th, 2020 - Our Top 15 Favourite Sensory Toys Sensory toys are designed to stimulate a child's senses: sight, sound, touch, smell, taste, body position (proprioception), and movement (vestibular). Sensory toys are meant to help children engage with their environments so that they can learn and develop. ... It is a BIG misconception that these toys need to have bright, contrasting colours, be loud, or provide different textures. In actuality children often benefit from being in nature, from neutral colours, natural fibres and low stimulation environments. For this post, we challenged ourselves to focus on handmade sensory toys. Almost all of the items are from various stores on etsy.com. What are your favourite sensory toys? Do you prefer bright, colourful environments or more natural environments? We would love to hear your thoughts in the comments section below.

Day 11: Top Ten Favourite Gifts for Teenagers Ready to take on anything, teenagers are growing into their identities as young adults. They’re attuned to what’s happening around them & are ripe for new experiences & challenges. ... Teens also value their friendships more than ever. While teenagers are also exploring and wrestling with more serious adult themes, on the inside...they’re still kids at heart, & they find joy in the silly & the absurd. The following list provides some cool ideas for gifts for the teenagers on your list...well...we think they are cool ideas :) What are your go to gifts for teenagers?