School may be out for the summer, but something that continues, no matter the season, is our kids’ therapies. Therapies, whether at school, home, or in a clinic, are an essential part of our kiddos’ growth and development, and can help them build social, cognitive, gross and fine motor, social, sensory processing, play, speech and language, emotional, academic, and other skills.
One way to help kids meet their goals and develop these skills is to make therapy, dare we say…fun?! Enter art and music! Incorporating fun and creative mediums like art and music into therapy can address goals that other therapies also address, but an advantage is that they’re engaging and fun. Drumming along to a favorite song or sticking hands in some clay? Yes, please! Most children are naturally creative, and when drawn in by art and music, may not even realize they are working on a goal! Art and music can also be great options for kids whose parents have tried other therapies without much luck.
Art? As therapy? YES! Using art in therapies such as occupational therapy can help our kiddos with things like self-regulation, sensory experiences, collaborative play, and more. Read more about all the ways art can support your child in our article Art in Therapy.
“Using art in therapy is all about working on visual motor, fine motor, gross motor, and general coordination skills in a subtle (and fun) way!” says Katie Krcal, MSOT, OTR/L, pediatric occupational therapist.
Can music therapy help our kiddos with building skills and working through issues that are causing them anxiety and stress? YES! Find out all the ways music therapy can support your kids, at home and at school, in our article Music Therapy 101.
“We always joke that [with] music, we’re tricking kiddos, “ says Angela Meier, MM, MT-BC. “So many kiddos love music. And so we get to work on these tasks that you may see other specialties and other therapists working on, but we are using music and using that modality. And for a lot of our kiddos, music is actually a strength.”
Many of these creative and fun therapies are often incorporated into occupational therapy (OT). OT encompasses a wide range of treatments and interventions (such as art!) to help people adapt to physical and neurological disabilities that affect their ability to go about their daily lives. Read more about OT and how it can help your child in our article What is Occupational Therapy for Kids? – OT 101.
Art and music are great ways to keep kids learning and having fun, but what else can we do to keep them engaged this summer? We got expert tips from an OT, SLP, and PT, who share lots of cheap and easy activities to keep kids engaged, progressing, and — most importantly — outside. Catch 25+ Activities to Keep Kids Moving & Learning All Summer!
One Undivided parent shared with their Navigator, “Undivided is an amazing resource for parents of children with disabilities. The Kickstart program gave me a fantastic preview of the wealth of resources and expertise they offer. My Navigator was incredibly helpful, providing me with great information on SDP, IHSS, and other general supports. Most notably, I was rather confused about the steps involved in transitioning to SDP via the Regional Center, but my Navigator provided great resources and timelines, uploading them to our family binder for easy reference. I’m really excited to join Undivided and have a partner to help me navigate the often confusing world of benefits and services for my child.”
Undivided Conversations: Art and Music in Therapy
Join us on Friday, July 12, at 12:00 p.m. PDT in an enlightening conversation about the power of art and music in therapy with experts Katie Krcal, MSOT, OTR/L, Aragna Ker, Adaptive Design Manager, John Mews, LMFT, NMT, and Angela Meier, MM, MT-BC. Learn how these creative therapies can enhance emotional regulation, social skills, overall well-being, and so much more! Tune in at noon on Friday for the stream on our Facebook page!
Event Recap: California Public Benefits Bootcamp
On June 27, we sat down with Undivided Public Benefits Specialist Lisa Concoff Kronbeck where she answered the question: what public benefits is your child eligible for? Lisa covered Regional Center, Medi-Cal, In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS), California Children’s Services (CCS), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and other government programs in California that help provide funding and care. In case you missed it or you’re ready for another watch to take notes, find the full recording and read the highlights in our article 5 California Public Benefits Your Child May Be Eligible For.
Office Hours with Adriana Roze
On Wednesday, July 24, 12:00-1:00 p.m. PT, Undivided Research Lead Adriana Roze will be available for Office Hours, where she’ll answer questions about working with Undivided’s research team to find your child a new provider, therapist, school, social-recreational class, or other program that meets your needs. Bi-weekly Office Hours are virtual Q&A sessions with experts that are open to Undivided members only, so if you’d like to attend, sign up here to begin your free Kickstart!
- Occupational therapy can enhance your child’s ability to participate in leisure activities and the other fun therapies in this newsletter. Learn more from OT Katie Krcal on our YouTube channel→
- Did you know Regional Center can help pay for social-rec and non-medical therapies? Learn more on our Instagram→
- Looking for recommendations about local providers? Find ideas from other parents in our private Facebook group→
- Do you have a therapy provider your child loves to work with? Give them a shoutout on our LinkedIn→
- Create a free Undivided account to bookmark resources, save articles, and curate your own learning library! Get started→
