Good Health News • Winter • 2012
Good Health News WINTER • 2012 Volume 5 Number 7
In This Issue Preparing for the holidays ................................................... Page 1 Our top picks for the upcoming holiday season ................................................... Page 2 Special Needs: Sleep Habits Workshop — Jan 26th ................................................... Page 2 Tips on Purchasing Toys for Children with Special Needs ................................................... Page 3 Check out our new video channel and watch our patients succeed! ................................................... Page 4
Preparing for the holidays With the holiday season just around the corner, Health in Motion director Natan Gendelman gives his advice and wishes for the new year.
Good morning everyone! As we eagerly await for the first snowfall of the year, it's time once again to prepare for the joy and laughter that the holidays bring. With the year winding to a close, the winter season is a great time to catch up with old friends and family. All of us at Health in Motion are wishing a happy and healthy holiday season for you and your loved ones. To make the most of the season, here are some great tips for staying well during this jolly time of year: Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. With the onset of the holidays come a wide assortment of holiday treats, specialty dishes and delicious meals wherever you go. As delicious as they may be, it's important to enjoy things in moderation in order to maintain balance in your lifestyle. What we consume has a big effect on our bodies and how they are able to function, so take the time to eat a healthy and balanced diet whenever possible. Having plenty of fresh, locally sourced produce is your best choice, as it helps to regulate your body's circadian rhythm while providing it with essential nutrients. Get lots of sunshine and fresh air. If you think about your lifestyle, we spend most of our day within an enclosed space, whether it's the office, car and/ or home. We recommend that you take the time to go outside and enjoy the fresh air regardless of the weather. Not only will you be able to get out of these enclosed environments, you will also be increasing the exchange of nutrients that occurs in your body. Sleep well. In addition to eating well and getting plenty of fresh air, it is also important to get enough sleep. With all the hustle and bustle that comes with the holiday rush, make sure you maintain a schedule and keep good sleeping habits so that you can wake up refreshed and ready to enjoy the merriment with your loved ones. If you have any questions, feel free to email me at natan@healthrehab.ca. Keep active, stay well and take the time to visit your family and friends. Share some laughs and good times along the way. Overall, I would like to wish you a wonderful holiday season, and I'll see you in the new year!
Health in Motion Rehabilitation (416) 250-1904 www.healthinmotionrehab.com
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Good Health News • Winter • 2012
General Health
Our top picks for the upcoming holiday season For more info, visit foodland.on.gov.ca. As the holiday season approaches, so do plans for get-togethers with family and friends. Here are some of our favourite winter picks to inspire your next holiday dinner party menu. Pears. This relative of the rose often makes a great impression during holiday get-togethers. A good source of Vitamin C, potassium and folacin, pears taste great fresh, caramelized and poached, or baked into an assortment of holiday pies and treats that are sure to impress. Potatoes. Rich in Vitamin C, folacin and a good source of fibre, this versatile root vegetable can be cubed and oven-roasted with olive oil for a show-stopping, easy side dish that's sure to be a crowd pleaser. Carrots. A good source of Vitamin A, folacin and fibre, carrots make a great addition to your holiday spread. They taste great when roasted, mixed into soups and stews, and added to delicious and filling pot pies.
Special needs: sleep habits workshop Please join us on: Saturday January 26th 2013, 11-12:30pm Where: Bathurst Medical Building, 4256 Bathurst St. Suite 204 Toronto, ON M6H 5Y8 For: Parents of kids with CP, stroke, brain injury and developmental delay Join us for an informative workshop where we will discuss f actors influencing sleep, ways to improve your child’s resting schedule, and its impact on development. Please RSVP at (416) 250-1904 or at healthinmotion@bellnet.ca. Thanks, and we hope to see you there!
Health in Motion Rehabilitation (416) 250-1904 www.healthinmotionrehab.com
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Good Health News • Winter • 2012
w w w.e n a b l e d k i d s . c a
Tips on Purchasing Toys for Children with Special Needs
In certain cases,
toys can be helpful tools to help a child learn and develop. To help you with choosing toys that suit your child’s needs and skill level, here are a few key tips to guide your search. Speak with the child’s doctor or physical therapist to see what he or she recommends. He or she sees many other patients and has likely seen other patients that are very similar to your child in regards to abilities and specific special needs in question. Toys and activities that were successful for the other children will likely be successful with your child. Keep it fun. By definition, toys are supposed to be fun, so parents should not lose sight of that primary objective. Parents are inundated with toy commercials that promote the next big thing and instantly grab a child’s interest. They may not provide much value beyond the initial interest, but they can certainly be a positive factor in socialization with peers. Promote those interests so your child notices the commonality between him or her and other children rather than the differences. No matter what the disability may be, no child wants to only have “special needs” toys. Toys also need to be functional and within a child’s ability level. Find toys that provide children with special needs an opportunity for skill development. It should offer a challenge without becoming frustrating. For example, a child with underdeveloped muscles can benefit from a lightweight ball that is designed to be easy to throw and catch. The child still has a challenge, but it also allows for fun and gross motor development.
Offer a mix of objectives. The last thing any parent wants is for a child to feel discouraged, so it is important to offer toys with a variety of open and closed ended objectives. Toys with open-ended objectives, such as a colorful set of building blocks, take away any risk of failure while building fine motor skills. Toys with definite solutions, such as puzzles, help children develop problem-solving skills while also boosting a child’s sense of accomplishment when he or she achieves the objective. What are your experiences with purchasing toys for your child? Share your own tips and advice below!
Check out these other great articles from our blog! A Parent's Role in the Development of a Child Bedwetting and Special Needs Children Canadian Special Needs Funding Resources
Health in Motion Rehabilitation (416) 250-1904 www.healthinmotionrehab.com
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Good Health News • Winter • 2012
LIFE program
Check out our new video channel and watch our patients succeed!
WINTER 2012 MINI PROGRAM WHO: For patients living in the GTA ATTEND: 2-3x a week, 2-3 hours per day
MAXI PROGRAM WHO: For international patients ATTEND: 5x a week, 3-5 hours per day for a minimum of 4 weeks
Visit healthinmotionrehab.com for more info a nd our schedule availability. Health in Motion Rehabilitation 4256 Bathurst Street, Suite 204 Toronto, ON M6H 5Y8 @: healthinmotion@bellnet.ca tel: (416) 250-1904
“We entered this programme on a recommendation from a friend so I already had an idea of what to expect but half way through the 4 weeks it is exceeding all my expectations. Natan is amazing with Finn, he knows exactly what to do with him & how to handle him. It’s not just about Finn doing 2 hours of work a day, it’s a whole life change which he patiently explains to me every day. His approach makes absolute sense but yet is different to what anyone else is doing out there. He works extremely hard with Finn, never loses his cool but knows when to push him and when to encourage him. Already I am seeing a huge improvement with Finn and he is delighted with all the new things he is learning to do. For the first time since Finn has been diagnosed I am excited about what he is going to achieve." Claire Dempsey, Ireland
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-The Health in Motion Team
Health in Motion Rehabilitation (416) 250-1904 www.healthinmotionrehab.com
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