May 2019
Featured Blog Post
Sensory Strategies for the Grocery Store

Is grocery shopping with your child a challenge?  With so many products competing for the shopper's attention, the grocery store is a full-on assault of color, noise, and confusion. It can be a challenge for kids with sensory issues to navigate this environment. 

In recent years, grocery pickup and delivery have become available, and for parents who are able to plan ahead and take advantage of these options, they can be a lifesaver. Eventually, though, you end up back at the store, and sometimes with a kid in tow whose brain can't quite take it all in. In this month's featured blog post, Kid's Creek Therapy occupational therapists Carolyn Miller and Victoria Wood share some tips to make your grocery shopping trips a little easier.
2019 Summer Camps and Clubs

Once again, Kid's Creek will offer summer camps! Planned camps and dates are as follows.

Summer Fun Camp
June 3-7
9:30am - 12:00pm

This camp is sure to have your child playing, laughing, creating, and longing to come back the next day. Each day offers a different theme with organized and fun activities. Children must be able to function with minimum to moderate assistance in a small group setting.  Ages 2-4. Cost: $300 (includes all activities, supplies, and snacks)

Disney Princess Camp
June 3-7
9:30am-12:00pm
Make a wish and come join us for all things "princess" for this fun and interactive camp! We'll do princess crafts, make princess snacks, and play games! All princesses are encouraged to dress up and attend. 
Ages 5-9. 
Cost: $300

Leaders in Training
Two Sessions Offered: June 10-14 and July 8-12
9:30am-1:00pm
Come and be a part of a camp like no other! Develop life skills and leadership skills at our unique and exciting camp! Our LITs will have the opportunity to gain real life experience by learning work skills at our neighborhood Kroger grocery store and work on developing leadership skills and life skills with our Kid's Creek therapists. Social skills/interactions with friends, functional life skills, and a "lunch bunch" are all part of this experience.  Ages 13+. Cost: $350

PROMPT and Play
June 17-21
9:30-11:00am
This intensive group speech therapy camp utilizes the PROMPT facilitation technique. This camp is appropriate for a variety of diagnoses including apraxia, dysarthria and autism spectrum. Children must be minimally able to imitate speech sounds and be able to function with minimum to moderate assistance in a small group setting. Limited to 4 participants per session.  Ages 4-7. Cost: $400

The Friendship Club
A Social Skills Camp
Two Sessions Offered: June 17-21 and July 29- Aug 1
9:30am-12:00pm
In this fun and interactive camp, our friends will learn how to read facial expressions and nonverbal cues, how to recognize social cues about when to join in groups, how to make and keep friends, how to best cooperate and study feelings, and how to express feelings appropriately. Friendship Club friends will also participate in role-playing, games, brainstorming, decision making, activities that promote empathy and self-control, and more. 
Ages 8-11. 
Cost: $300

Food Explorers
A Multi-Disciplinary Sensory Camp for Picky and Problem Eaters
June 24-28
11:00am - 1:00pm
Are you up a creek about what to feed your picky eater? Find help at the Food Explorers Camp!  Using the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach to Feeding, kids will experience and interact with food together. A fun and playful camp, we make experiencing food a positive interaction! The camp is run by therapists who are trained in The SOS Approach, an evidenced-based program proven to be effective in expanding the food repertoires of picky eaters and problem feeders.  Ages 4-6.  Cost: $400

Sew Much Fun!
July 15-19
9:30am-12:00pm
Come join us for a week of creativity and fun through sewing, art, and math! This camp will engage the mind and reinforce hand-eye coordination through hand sewing. Campers will learn basic hand sewing and art skills to be able to create their own quilt squares while using 4th-6th grade math principles. From there, campers will be guided in ways to create their own hand sewing masterpieces whether pillows, bags, animal friends, or wall hangings. Every camper will leave with something they have created. This camp is not just for girls - boys love the ability to create with their hands, too! Campers will need to have a sense of safety awareness, basic scissor skills, and be trustworthy with a dull needle.  Ages 8-13. Cost: $300

Avengers Super Heroes and Social Skills
July 22-27
9:30am-12:00pm
Calling all super heroes! We are forming an Avengers alliance to explore social skills. Join us as we journey through some amazing sensory and social adventures! An exciting camp experience focusing on sensory processing activities and social skills training.  Ages 8-11.  Cost: $300

Visit our Summer Camps page for more details on camp opportunities for 2019. 
May is Better Hearing and Speech Month!

 
Each May, the American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA)  celebrates Better Hearing and Speech Month, providing an opportunity to raise awareness about communication disorders and the role of speech-language pathologists and audiologists in providing life-altering treatment for people. 

The early stages of communication disorders are easier to spot when you know the signs. Learn more at identifythesigns.org.

For more information about ASHA and Better Hearing and Speech Month, visit  www.asha.org .
Get to Know You: Margaret Isaacs

In Get to Know You, we're asking our staff a few questions to give our families a peek into who they are as people, not simply providers. This month's Get to Know You features Speech Therapist Margaret Isaacs.

Who is your hero?

My mom and dad who taught me how to live with grace a nd love towards others, to be strong in the Lord in good times and bad, to work hard no matter the task, and to be an independent thinker.

What is your favorite thing about your career?
The joy my kids have! I love that I get to laugh and celebrate with my kiddos and their families. It's a blessing and its humbling to be part of their lives for whatever time we walk together and to know I get to be a small part of their success in communicating. It brings joy to my heart to be able to help a child say "Mama" clearly for the first time or to see them sit down and play a board game and have a conversation with their peers without any help after we've worked on it for months.

What is your proudest accomplishment?
Being a mama! My sweet Samuel Murphy is the joy of my heart and I'm so thankful God gifted him to our family. Our little family has walked through prematurity and all the highs and lows that it entails and I am grateful for every day that we have together. My second proudest accomplishment? Being able to label all the different  "species" of construction vehicles: tracked diggers, excavators with drill, articulated hauler, compact digger, motor grader, road roller. #boymomwin

Have you ever had a nickname? What is it?
It's rare that I hear it now, but my sisters called me Margo sometimes when we were all growing up.

What three items would you take with you on a deserted island?
A Costco-sized bag of Boom Chicka Pop Sweet and Salty Kettle Corn, sunscreen, and a satellite phone so I can call someone to pick me up when I'm finished with my me-time and ready to come home.
Last Chance to Book Intensive Speech Programs for This Summer!

Kid's Creek Therapy is happy to offer Speech Connections, intensive speech therapy programs. Speech Connections programs are available for both current and new patients, and are a good option for families who live too far away from our office to schedule regular appointments. Learn more below and  visit our Intensive Program page  for downloadable brochures as well as information for Traveling Families.

May and June are now fully booked; July 15-19 and July 22-26 are the only remaining available weeks the summer. If these dates don't work for you, we are scheduling now for fall.

Apraxia Intensive Program
Our Apraxia Intensive Program uses evidence-based techniques in an individualized program to elicit correct speech production in children with childhood apraxia of speech. The program  is available in either one- or two-week sessions. All participants will receive a home program and a treatment summary at the completion of the session.

Call us at 770-888-5221 or inquire at the front desk for more information
about our Speech Connections program.

Scheduling Notes

Summer vacation is approaching quickly! Please be sure to let us know at the front desk if your summer schedule or planned travel will require you to make changes to your child's regular therapy schedule.
Please also note that Kid's Creek Therapy will be closed on Monday, May 27, for the Memorial Day holiday.
Help Spread the Word About Kid's Creek!
Over the years, many of you have referred friends and family members to Kid's Creek - THANK YOU! We are thrilled that you trust us to treat your children. Would you mind taking a few minutes to support us by leaving a review on one or more of the following sites? 

Click each link to go directly to the Kid's Creek listing!
WE LOVE REFERRALS!

Do you know a child who needs our help? Let their parents know that we offer  FREE CONSULTATIONS and SCREENINGS . Many people are looking for a speech, occupational, or physical therapist for their child, and want to find a place that not only produces results, but values both the child and his/her family.
 
To refer a friend, have them mention your name and we'll take care of the rest. Plus, you will receive a Starbucks gift card for our refer-a-friend award program! 

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