What's What & Who's Who...
News and information you don't want to miss!
What's new?
Ankle/Wrist Weights are finally here!
You can find them on the "weights" page.
New Cars lap pads can be found on the "weights" page.
We would like to add a PHOTO GALLERY to our site. If you have a picture of your child using our products, e-mail it to us at therapythreads@aol.com When we post your child's picture, we will only add the child's first name and no other information.
You can find them on the "weights" page.
New Cars lap pads can be found on the "weights" page.
We would like to add a PHOTO GALLERY to our site. If you have a picture of your child using our products, e-mail it to us at therapythreads@aol.com When we post your child's picture, we will only add the child's first name and no other information.
Faces of Hope is hiring!
Faces of Hope in Gallatin, TN is looking for an OT and an SLP to add to their staff. For more information, please call their Executive Director, Ms. Leslie Face, at 615-206-7958. You can also email her at leslie@facesofhopetn.com
Just FYI...
Laughter is the Best Medicine
ScienceDaily (Jan. 26, 2008) — Laughter is the best medicine. We’ve heard the expression time and again. For decades, researchers have explored how humor helps patients relieve stress and heal. Melissa B. Wanzer, EdD, professor of communication studies at Canisius College in Buffalo, NY, has taken it one step further, with her research on how humor helps medical professionals cope with their difficult jobs. She also looked at how humor affects the elderly and how it can increase communication in the workplace and in the classroom.
She wondered, how do health care providers care for terminally ill people and manage to come back to work each day? So she asked them, in large-scale studies. Their answer? Humor. Wanzer has found humor to be beneficial in other areas as well.
“If employees view their managers as humor-oriented, they also view them as more effective,” notes Wanzer. “Employees also reported higher job satisfaction when they worked for someone who was more humor-oriented and used humor effectively and appropriately.” Wanzer and her colleagues found that humor is an effective way to cope with on-the-job stress – again, when used appropriately.
Wanzer also recently collaborated on research that found aging adults who used humor more frequently reported greater coping efficacy, which led to greater life satisfaction. This was the third study she conducted, with three different populations, where the conclusion was the same.
But what if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly funny? Wanzer says that while you can’t change your personality, you can find ways to integrate humor into your day-to-day life and change your communication patterns.
“Self-disparaging humor, making fun of oneself, is a very effective form of humor communication, as long as it is not done excessively,” says Wanzer, who adds that telling jokes is just a small portion of humor communication.
“I also tell people to use what is around them; ‘props can be humorous too, so long as they are used appropriately and are not perceived as distracting.”
Wanzer teaches a course in “Constructive Uses of Humor,” at Canisius College, which always fills to capacity. Students are required to prepare and perform a stand-up routine in front of the class. But the class is not all fun and games. Students read through journal articles and interpret factual studies on humor. One such case involves Southwest Airlines’ strategic effort to integrate humor into the workplace, in order to create a positive environment for employees and customers.
Wanzer’s research also shows that students report learning more from teachers who use humor effectively.
“Regardless of the content, humor seems to be beneficial and productive,” says Wanzer about the importance of the constructive uses of humor. “It helps to get the point across in about in almost any situation.”
Wanzer’s findings have been published in multiple journals, including Communication Quarterly, Communication Research Reports, Communication Education, Health Communication and Journal of Health Communication.
January 2010 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124200913.htm>.
She wondered, how do health care providers care for terminally ill people and manage to come back to work each day? So she asked them, in large-scale studies. Their answer? Humor. Wanzer has found humor to be beneficial in other areas as well.
“If employees view their managers as humor-oriented, they also view them as more effective,” notes Wanzer. “Employees also reported higher job satisfaction when they worked for someone who was more humor-oriented and used humor effectively and appropriately.” Wanzer and her colleagues found that humor is an effective way to cope with on-the-job stress – again, when used appropriately.
Wanzer also recently collaborated on research that found aging adults who used humor more frequently reported greater coping efficacy, which led to greater life satisfaction. This was the third study she conducted, with three different populations, where the conclusion was the same.
But what if you don’t consider yourself to be particularly funny? Wanzer says that while you can’t change your personality, you can find ways to integrate humor into your day-to-day life and change your communication patterns.
“Self-disparaging humor, making fun of oneself, is a very effective form of humor communication, as long as it is not done excessively,” says Wanzer, who adds that telling jokes is just a small portion of humor communication.
“I also tell people to use what is around them; ‘props can be humorous too, so long as they are used appropriately and are not perceived as distracting.”
Wanzer teaches a course in “Constructive Uses of Humor,” at Canisius College, which always fills to capacity. Students are required to prepare and perform a stand-up routine in front of the class. But the class is not all fun and games. Students read through journal articles and interpret factual studies on humor. One such case involves Southwest Airlines’ strategic effort to integrate humor into the workplace, in order to create a positive environment for employees and customers.
Wanzer’s research also shows that students report learning more from teachers who use humor effectively.
“Regardless of the content, humor seems to be beneficial and productive,” says Wanzer about the importance of the constructive uses of humor. “It helps to get the point across in about in almost any situation.”
Wanzer’s findings have been published in multiple journals, including Communication Quarterly, Communication Research Reports, Communication Education, Health Communication and Journal of Health Communication.
January 2010 <http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/080124200913.htm>.
Tip of the Day: backpack guidelines
Here are a list of tips for preventing backpack pain and strain per the American Occupational Therapy Association:
• Load heaviest items closest to the child’s back, or the back of the pack.
• Arrange books and materials so they don’t slide around in the backpack.
• Adjust shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly on the child's back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles.
• Check what your child carries to school and brings home. Make sure the items are necessary to the day’s activities.
• On days the backpack is too loaded, your child can hand carry a book or other item.
• If the backpack is too heavy, consider using a book bag on wheels if your child’s school allows it.
• Load heaviest items closest to the child’s back, or the back of the pack.
• Arrange books and materials so they don’t slide around in the backpack.
• Adjust shoulder straps so that the pack fits snugly on the child's back. A pack that hangs loosely from the back can pull the child backwards and strain muscles.
• Check what your child carries to school and brings home. Make sure the items are necessary to the day’s activities.
• On days the backpack is too loaded, your child can hand carry a book or other item.
• If the backpack is too heavy, consider using a book bag on wheels if your child’s school allows it.
Therapy Threads in the news...
Therapy Threads was featured in the business section of the Gallatin News Examiner on August 12, 2009. We were honored to be chosen as "entreprenuer of the week." The reporter did a great job of showing our heart and why we do what we do!
We were also mentioned in the October issue of Sumner Parent Magazine in "the briefs" section under "the ticker."
You can see both publications HERE
We were also mentioned in the October issue of Sumner Parent Magazine in "the briefs" section under "the ticker."
You can see both publications HERE
Where we'll be this week...
No scheduled appearances at this time
Blog on Occupational Therapy topics:
We have started a blog to pass along OT information. This blog is designed to provide more information about OT, how to benefit from it, and tips on how to help your child at home. New topics will be posted every few weeks. Our first post was titled "What is OT anyway?" Great topic for anyone you know who might be just starting out on their journey with a special needs child. Our blog address is:
www.therapythreadsotinfo.blogspot.com
Newest posts: Fine Motor Skills Winter Activity!
www.therapythreadsotinfo.blogspot.com
Newest posts: Fine Motor Skills Winter Activity!
Funky Friends Factory
A big "thank you" to Funky Friends Factory! Pauline has graciously allowed me to use several of her patterns for our products. She has a fantastic web site with patterns for toys. You can check it out at www.funkyfriendsfactory.com