What do we know? Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) is a disorder of motor skills or coordination. Some children and teens have both problems. These problems are often noticed in a child’s early school years. Some children struggle with school tasks such as using scissors, or printing. Others have difficulty with coordination in gym class or playing on the playground at recess. DCD is a developmental disorder, not simply a delay. Motor skills can improve with therapy, but the struggle to develop skills or coordination is often lifelong. Currently, approximately 5-6% of school age children have DCD. What are the symptoms[Read more...]
Dogs are great additions to many families. They provide companionship, and are often soothing and calming to children who are upset. Children with autism and other special needs often form strong, loving bonds with the family dog. What we know about dog bites: Recently, The American Society for Reconstructive Microsurgery, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the U.S. Postal Service, veterinarians and other organizations have come together to educate the public that dog bites are a serious health issue and are avoidable. The facts are significant: Dog bite injuries are reported to be the 11th leading cause of nonfatal injury[Read more...]
What is Speech and Language? Speech is the use of language to communicate, or express ourselves. Language is used to express ideas and needs in an organized way. It can be spoken, written, sung or expressed using gestures (such as sign language). The important foundations of language develop in the first three to five years of life. Language development involves both cognitive learning, and motor skill. We use a lot of muscles in our face and mouth to produce speech. The CanChild Centre for Child Disability Research outlines the ways in which language development can be delayed: • Semantics[Read more...]
We’ve all heard someone talk about dehydration, but what is it exactly? By definition, dehydration is when our bodies lose more water than we are taking in. Our bodies are made of up to 75% water, so it’s natural to lose water everyday: through breathing, sweating, urine and stool. But when we lose too much water, our bodies don’t like it, we get all out of balance, or dehydrated. Infants and children are more likely to become dehydrated because of their smaller body weights, they get diarrhea more frequently and from the high turnover of water and electrolytes. So what[Read more...]
