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Dear Reader,

We are delighted to announce that our Social Skills and Gross Motor Groups for children with Down Syndrome are running again for the duration of the school term on Tuesday afternoons until Christmas.

The groups are designed and facilitated by Margaux Snyman, Senior Paediatric Occupational Therapist and Seamus O’Connor, Paediatric Fitness Instructor.

The main aims for these groups from a therapeutic, and health and fitness perspective are as follows:

-  Social interaction skills

-  Increased endurance and overall body strength

-  Core muscle tone

-  Gross motor skills

-  Making friends

-  Improving confidence in a fun environment

Looking forward to seeing you all again!

For further information please contact Karen O’Sullivan at Down Syndrome Cork on 021 4300444 or Alison at Stepping Ahead on 021 4304822.

Best of Luck in the Leaving Cert Results

TO ALL OUR CLIENTS AWAITING THE RESULTS 

OF THE LEAVING CERTIFICATE

BEST OF LUCK

FROM EVERYONE @ THE STEPPING AHEAD CLINIC

Starting Secondary School in September?....Get Set with our Secondary School Readiness Group!

Transitioning from primary school to secondary school is both an exciting and challenging time for many young teenagers. The aim of this group to help prepare your child for this transition and minimise any stress or anxiety your child may be feeling.

                 

The following areas will be addressed during this week long programme:

• Organisational skills in terms of:

-          Independently organising and remembering books & belongings

-          Time management (especially as regards timetables, extra subjects etc.)

-          Managing extra homework/subjects

-          Learning to study

-          Relaxation and balance (need for physical activity, socialising & sleep)

• Social skills in terms of:

-          Self Confidence

-          Making & Maintaining new friendships

-          Self-Assertiveness

-          Bullying

• Time for students discuss any other issues or concerns they may have

This group will run over one week Monday 20^th –  Friday 24^th August 2012 (inclusive), from 9am – 10.15 am daily.

The cost for the complete program will be €166. A deposit of €50 is required immediately to reserve a place as numbers are limited.

Please contact reception on 021-4304822 or email info@steppingaheadclinic.com for further information or to book your place.

We looking forward to seeing you.

Stepping Ahead Clinic is now on Twitter @SteppingAhead

Please follow us on Twitter for updates on new blogs, groups, summers camps and other developments in the Clinic.

                                   

  @SteppingAhead

OT Art Therapy Summer Camps & Workshops!!

Hi Everyone,

We are delighted to announce our first year of Summer Camps and Workshops!!!

These will take place in August and there is something for everyone, with the camps and workshops designed specifically for each age group. There is School Readiness for the little ones starting Primary School in September, Junior Summer Camps for the school aged children and Teen Fitness and Art Therapy for the teenagers.

Junior Summer Camps:

There are two age groups: 5-8 years and 8 – 12 years. The emphasis during these camps is on having FUN and engaging with peers, while improving motor coordination and self-esteem.  

The programme for the summer camps has been designed and will be co- facilitated by our Occupational Therapists & Fitness Instructor to ensure your child:

• Has FUN while participating in sensory-motor activities & interacting with their peers
• Develops social & play skills & self-confidence
• Improve gross motor coordination e.g. balance & ball skills
• Improve fine motor skills e.g. cutting, make ‘n’ do
• Opportunities to develop their sensory processing & increase body awareness

Each Summer Camp will be divided into two main parts daily. One section will focus more on fine motor activities such as make ‘n’ do, art work, cutting, play-dough, Theraputty, puzzles and group games to build confidence and increase social interaction. The other section is aimed at developing gross motor skills, coordination, motor planning, sensory processing and team work through activities including obstacles courses, swing work, ball games and many more! There will be a 20 minute break between sessions to allow the children have a snack and mix with their peers in a less structured manner.

Where: Stepping Ahead Clinic

When:  5 days from 13th – 17^th August 2012 inclusive

Time: 2pm – 5pm daily

Who: Maximum 16 children per group

Age:  5- 8 years &  8 – 12years

Cost: €250

Clothing & Snack: Please ensure your child wears comfortable clothing that doesn’t restrict or inhibit movement. Water and a light healthy snack are recommended as there will be a short break at approximately 3.15pm daily.
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School Readiness:

For the younger children aged 4-5 years who are starting primary school in September, there is the School Readiness group. This therapeutic group aims to support your child develop their school readiness skills including:

• Attention & Listening Skills
• Fine Motor Skills i.e. finger dexterity, strength & control needed especially for writing
• Visual Motor Integration skills essential to copy from the board
• Social Skills & Behaviour i.e. following directions, turn-taking, making friends

This is a therapeutic group which will be facilitated by 2-3 Occupational Therapists (depending on group numbers) to ensure each child has the necessary support they need to develop the skills listed above. One of the Occupational Therapists will be the group leader (to represent the class teacher) while the other two therapists will individually attend to each child to help them break the tasks down into manageable steps to achieve the end result. The fine motor (things we do with our hands) and gross motor (larger whole body movements e.g. jumping, running) activities will be sensory motor based to ensure a multi-sensory approach to learning.

Where: Stepping Ahead Clinic

When:  5 days from 13th – 17^th August 2012 inclusive

Time: 10.00am – 11.30pm daily

Who: Maximum 6 - 8 children

Age: 4-5 years

Cost: €200

Clothing & Snack: Please ensure your child wears clothing that allows them to move and climb over things etc. comfortably and that can be laundered easily.  Water and a light healthy snack should be provided daily so your child can participate with their peers in developing appropriate skills for eating and break-time when in primary school.

To ensure the smooth running of the Junior Summer Camps and the School Readiness Group all children who wish to participate in these groups must have had an occupational therapy assessment completed previously and copies of the report must be made available to the Stepping Ahead Clinic before 6^th July 2012.
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Teen Fitness:

 This two day Training Camp is designed specifically for Teenagers aged between 13 – 16 years who want to:

• Learn about how their body works when playing sport
• Learn how you can train your body to perform better with exercise
• Practical classes to help you design your own individual exercise programme

This Training Camp will have both theory and practical classes, so the teenagers can learn how to implement the knowledge they have just learnt. Topics that will be presented and discussed include the human skeletal structure & bone density, posture, muscle groups & actions, building muscle and improving muscle tone, diet and different types of exercise & their specific use depending on the sport played.

The practical classes allow the teenager s to work together in a fun environment to design and implement individual exercise programmes to improve their physical performance whether this is specific to a sport, to manage weight or simply to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

Where: Stepping Ahead Clinic

When:  2 day Training Camps:  Group 1: 13th – 14^th August 2012, Group 2: 15^th- 16^th August 2012

Time: 09.30am – 12.30pm daily

Who: Maximum 8 teenagers per Training Camp

Age: 13-16 years

Cost: €60

Clothing & Snack: Please wear loose comfortable clothing and runners so you can participate in the practical classes. Water, a towel and a light healthy snack are also recommended.

All levels of ability welcome!!

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Art Therapy “Express Yourself”  Workshops:

Grace O Donoghue is running a week long group for teenagers aged 13-15 years, focusing on developing self-esteem and social engagement through creative expression via art. Participants will experience the many different materials and mediums used in art, but in a non-threatening and expressive capacity as opposed to working towards an end product.

No previous experience of art necessary!

Art Therapy involves a person doing any creative work in the presence of an Art Therapist and does not require them to be good at art.

Often times as teenagers’ life can be challenging with so many changes happening. This can lead to many different emotions that can be difficult to express and understand. It can be easier to express these thoughts or feelings through art.

The aim of this group workshop is to provide a means and safe space for teenagers to get to know themselves and express themselves confidently along with a small group of their peers.

Where: Stepping Ahead Clinic

When:  5 days from 13th – 17^th August 2012 inclusive

Time: 10.30am – 12.00pm daily

Who: Maximum 4 teenagers per workshop aged 13-15 years

Cost: €200 (includes all materials used)

Clothing: While most art materials are water soluble, please consider the type of clothing you wear as some fabrics can stain easier than others.

All levels of ability and experience welcome at both the Training Camp and Art Therapy Workshop!

Please contact Alison at reception to make a booking at 021-4304822 or info@steppingaheadclinic.com.

Looking forward to seeing you all!!

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School Visits

School Visits

At the Stepping  Ahead Clinic we work holistically towards children reaching their full potential.  As part of this holistic overview, the school often has an important role to play.  Our Occupational Therapists can conduct school visits upon request to visit your child’s school or school consultations, where school staff can meet with us here at the clinic.

What happens at a School Visit?

A school visit includes:
Travel time for the Therapist

·      A classroom observation of your child

·      A clinical interview with the Class Teacher, SNA and Resource Teacher

·      Education for school staff about your child’s condition

·      Techniques to use in the classroom setting

·      Sensory diet for movement breaks and / or resource hours

·      Skills based programmes for resource hours

·      Hand outs and further references

Your child does not have to be struggling or disruptive in school to warrant a school visit!

The point of a school visit is to provide support in order for the child to reach their full potential, it is not a service that is only to be used when a child or school is in crisis. 

A list of further services we provide when liaising with schools include:

• Individual Occupational Therapy sessions run in the school
• Occupational Therapy groups run in schools
• Classroom screenings / assessments
• Consultation and designing of sensory rooms