A recent study published in Food Quality and Preference looked at the effects of background noise on food preference. Forty eight adult volunteers were exposed to a variety of background white noise via headphones and different types of food simultaneously. The results indicated that the louder the white noise the less the volunteers could taste different flavors such as salty or sweet. The sense of crunchiness of a food increased with the increase in white noise. In addition, the researchers found that if the subjects enjoyed the type of music they listened to while eating they enjoyed the food more.
Makes me wonder what effects white noise and music has on children who have sensory issues with food or picky eaters?
The Gesell Institute for Human Development has performed an 18 month long study on how childhood development in 2010 relates to Gesell’s observations published in 1925, 1940 and after his death by his colleagues in 1964 and 1979. Interestingly, not much has changed through all the years. Some experts are concluding that even though the educational system has increased the academic vigor of young children the age at which children reach cognitive milestones have remained stable. Ninety two examiners assessed 1287 children (3-6 years old) from 23 states using 19 tasks. The research indicated that through the years the children develop skills at the same time. For example, the fact that a child can draw a triangle at age 5 1/2 or that a 4 year old can count four pennies has not changed through the years.
This study should help educators to realize that they can slow down. Take the time to allow preschoolers and kindergartners ample amounts of free play, motor time and imaginative play.
My one question is why are more and more children being referred for occupational and physical therapy then?
Here are some economical ways to provide tactile cues on paper for children. By providing these cues children receive extra input to stay between the lines. They are an excellent way to adapt activities for children with visual impairments as well. Of course, raised line paper can be purchased at speciality therapy shops but here are some simple ideas:
1. Glue: Apply glue to the lines and let dry for 24 hours. Color the glue to provide an additional highlight on the line.
2. Puffy Paint: Purchase puffy paint to apply to the lines. Try making index cards with sight words or letters on them. Apply the puffy paint to add dimension.
3. Wax String (aka “Wikki Stix”): Put wax string sticks along the lines. These are great because they are reusable.
4. Cardboard Stencils: Make your own cardboard stencils. Cut out the space where you want the child to stay between the lines. For example, cut out one inch blocks to stay in between one inch height writing paper.
5. Rubber Bands: If you need an adaptation in a hurry, put a lined worksheet on a clipboard and wrap rubber bands around the board to write between the bands.
6. Embossing: Use an embossing tool or sewing wheel on the back side of paper to make raised lines on card stock paper.
7. Fun Foam: Cut out thin strips for lines or shapes of fun foam. The child can trace around the foam shapes.
8. Flour and Water: Combine flour and water to make a thin paste. Put it in a plastic bag with the corner of the bag snipped off. Pipe the flour paste onto the lines. Let dry 24 hours. You can add food coloring for visual cues.
Can anyone else add to the list?
Wax String Activities: Over 50 wax string activity pages
If you are working with children to increase their activity levels or to reduce obesity, take the time to check out My Fitness Pal. This is a free, fun tool that calculates how many calories you burn doing many different tasks. You pick the activity, put in your weight and for how long you did the activity. It quickly calculates how many calories you burned. It includes so many different physical activities including Wii games, popular fitness programs and different types of yoga. Did you know that sitting down while ice fishing burns a few more calories than Wii bowling??? Check it out at MyFitnessPal.com.
Here is an idea … start a contest among different classrooms or grade levels. Who can burn the most calories? The kids and teachers can keep track of all their activity and add up calories burned over a certain time period. At the end, the winning class can get a reward of bonus recess time.
Clinical Rehabilitation published research on the effects of botox A in the calf muscles of children with cerebral palsy. A literature review revealed that botox was effective at:
improving calf muscle tone at 1 month and 3 months
improving passive range of motion at 1 month and 3 months
improving gait speed for 4 months
improving Gross Motor Function Measure scores for 2 months.
These improvements were seen when studies were done comparing botox injections with non-sham controls.
Reference: Yun Hyung Koog, Byung-II Min Effects of botulinum toxin A on calf muscles in children with cerebral palsy: a systematic review Clin Rehabil August 2010 vol. 24 no. 8 685-700
In the school setting, teachers discuss various learning styles of students. There are three main types of learning styles:
1. Auditory learner – learns best by using sense of hearing 2. Visual Learner – learns best by sense of vision 3. Kinesthetic/ Tactile Learner – learns best by doing or touching
More teachers are now accommodating students and presenting new material in various ways to help all students learn more efficiently. Teachers can offer choices regarding different ways to complete assignments that allow students the freedom to utilize their own learning styles. When determining a students learning style, a teacher looks at the students strengths. How do they learn best – auditory input, visual input or tactile input?
Is is starting to sound familiar? When determining if a student has sensory processing disorder, pediatric therapists look at auditory, visual and kinesthetic input and output. When an pediatric therapist evaluates a student for sensory processing disorder typically weaknesses are determined. For example, “this student is a sensory seeker constantly looking for movement opportunities”. Pediatric therapists can also look at students in a different manner with regards to learning styles and offer suggestions to the teachers in a language that they can fully understand. Therefore in addition to offering treatment strategies to address the students core sensory issues try:
1. offering recommendations on how to present academic material to the sensory seeking student for that student may be an excellent kinestethic/ tactile learner
2. providing the teacher with a list of methods or activities that may make it easier for the student to learn a new concept.
3. following up on recommendations – did the student perform better on as assignment when there was a kinesthetic approach to the task?
4. offering suggestions with a universal design approach to teaching to benefit all students in the classroom.
Modifications and Interventions for School :
Reproducible reporting forms with hundreds of suggested interventions
Behavioral and Brain Functions, an open source journal, recently published research on the effects of white noise on 51 school aged children. The results indicated that playing white noise during school helped to significantly improve the attention spans of normally inattentive students. On the other hand, the students who were normally attentive showed a significant decline in memory abilities as the white noise was turned up. The researchers recommend that cognitive performance can be improved in inattentive children with the use of background white noise.
Reference: Goran B. W. Soderlund, Sverker Sikstrom, Jan M. Loftesnes, Edmund J. Sonuga-Barke The effects of background white noise on memory performance in inattentive school children Behavioral and Brain Functions 2010, 6:55 (29 September 2010)
A recent study in Brain Research studied forty-nine, 9 and 10 year old children. MRI measurements were taken comparing the brains of fit and unfit children. The results indicated increased volume of the hippocampus by 12% in the fit children. In addition, the fit children performed better on relational memory (the ability to remember and integrate various types of information).
Reference: Yates, Diana. Child’s Brain Development is Linked to Physical Fitness. Retrieved from the web on 10/5/2010 at http://news.illinois.edu/news/10/0915_brain_development_and_fitness_art_kramer.html
