The Thrive Group

The Whole Self | The Whole Family

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Absent Minded Children- The Solution

Some of our children may be absent minded or have difficulty focusing causing many challenges to the child and those around him. Jake (see last blog post) had a hard time knowing he needed the bathroom because he was not aware of his own body and his surroundings.  Thankfully, though, there are activities that we can do to help them through it. By helping our children become more grounded in their bodies, they become aware of their surroundings and become more ‘with it’!

At The Thrive Group, one of the ways we help individuals become more attentive, is by using co-contraction activities. Co-contraction activities are when a child uses antagonistic muscle groups, namely the flexors and extensors, particularly of the trunk muscles.

See 3 different activities in the video below and see how we helped Jake become outwardly focused and get past the hurdle of toilet training (see part one in Vlog #1).

GETTING OUT OF YOUR BRAIN, AND INTO YOUR BODY (Part II):

Key points from this video:

  • Co-contracting. [0:24]
  • Exercise #1: Standing on the balance board by weight shifting to play puddy. [0:46]
  • Exercise #2: Standing on the spooner board while playing balloon-bop. [0:58]
  • Exercise #3: Sitting on the bolster swing while playing Spot-It. [1:04]
  • Having the right posture while doing co-contraction exercises. [1:09]
  • Why co-contraction exercises help a child become more alert. [1:27]
  • The benefits of a person who is properly aware of his/her surroundings. [1:36]
  • Jake’s progress! [2:00]

If your child seems to be absent-minded and stuck in his/her own body, we can help.
Contact Us for an Evaluation.

Absent Minded Children- The Problem

Children of all ages can be absent minded and it affects them in different ways, depending on their age and stage.

This first vlog highlights the challenging circumstance of a healthy 4 year old, Jake, still not toilet trained. After evaluating him in The Thrive Group clinic, we explored the factors that were affecting his late toilet training and came up with some surprising results.

GETTING OUT OF YOUR BRAIN, AND INTO YOUR BODY (Part I):

Key points from this video:

  • Nightmare scenario for Jake’s parents. [0:37]
  • The underlying challenge. [0:46]
  • Living in his head, what it means. [0:56]
  • Stuck in cognitive mode. [1:10]
  • Lack of respect for the body. [1:19]
  • What it may look like to parents, friends, and teachers.[1:27]

If your child seems to be absent-minded and stuck in his/her own body, we can help. Contact Us for an Evaluation.

Autism Blog Series 2: Activities and Tools in the Classroom

As some children develop and learn new skills, there can be challenges along the way. Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may especially face some of these challenges within the classroom environment. However, there are a few strategies that can be utilized in the classroom to help make these children feel more grounded and secure. This in turn may decrease stimming, reduce their anxiety, and increase their ability to focus on what is happening around them. [Read more…] about Autism Blog Series 2: Activities and Tools in the Classroom

Vlog: Activities to Increase Focus, Attention, and Learning in the Classroom

In this vlog, I demonstrate a breathing activity called “Nok ‘Em Down ‘N’ Roll ‘Em” that is directly from my book, The Parent-Child Dance. Breathing exercises and activities strengthen a child’s inner core and improve their quality of breathing by decreasing the tendency of shallow, rapid breathing from the belly. At the same time, these exercises often help regulate a child’s body systems by decreasing anxiety, improving hand-eye coordination, and increasing focus and concentration. They would be great for teachers to use in the classroom to promote focus, attention, and learning in their students.

For more ideas on breathing activities, please check out my previous vlog entry: For Teachers: Breathing Activities to Improve Behavior and Learning in Your Classroom.

For more ideas on other types of exercises and activities, please check out my book, The Parent-Child Dance.

Teaching Forgiveness to Youth

The other day, a sensitive and caring sophomore-year teenager I’m treating called me after school. She had hurt someone else’s feelings, and the other girl (a senior) became angry with her. The sophomore apologized, and the senior told her to “shove it.” She called me almost in tears, asking how else she should apologize to make sure she can fix her mistake. I asked how she apologized, and knowing her, she did it kindly, softly, and vulnerably. My response was that she can let go of the guilt she associated with what she did, forgive herself for the mistake, and allow the senior some time to heal. Forgiving herself also allowed her to forgive the senior who publicly embarrassed her.

When you or anyone else show compassion and/or forgiveness, it does not mean that you absolve the other person from wrongdoing. On the contrary, they are still held accountable for their actions. However, it’s important to note the difference between compassion and forgiveness. Forgiveness means letting go of the anger and resentment toward someone or something. Compassion is a frame of mind. It’s a mindset that all people express, even over a small painful moment, in order to be eased from their pain. [Read more…] about Teaching Forgiveness to Youth