In addition to keeping us alive, breathing is the power source of our voice. Effective breathing facilitates clear speech sound production, adequate loudness of voice, quality of voice, and endurance when speaking. When we do not breathe effectively, the loudness and quality of our voice deteriorates, making it difficult for us to be understood. Shortness of breath is usually due to an underlying medical condition and may or may not be optimally managed. So, how does shortness of breath affect voice?

Affects of Shortness of Breath on Voice

Shortness of breath results in a quieter voice, limits sentence length, changes the flow and rhythm of speech, and can result in a change in vocal quality such as hoarseness.

The most effective breathing to support voice is diaphragmatic breathing. This is same as belly breathing. Diaphragmatic breathing improves our voice by allowing us to inhale more air and control the air we exhale using diaphragm muscles rather than throat muscles. Diaphragmatic breathing allows us to reduce vocal strain and speak with more relaxed muscles of our throat and vocal cords.

Basic Steps for Diaphragmatic Breathing

1. Sit or lie flat in a comfortable position.
2. Relax your shoulders by rolling them down and away from your ears.
3. Place one hand on your chest and one hand over your navel.
4. Breathe in through your nose. You should feel your stomach moving outward while your chest remains relatively still.
5. Purse your lips and exhale slowly for about the same amount of time as in step 4.
6. Repeat these steps.
7. If you start while lying flat, try to complete the same steps sitting up, then when standing. When standing, back up against a wall. This will help keep your back straight and your head and neck over your spine.

As with learning any new skill, it may take practice to breath effectively.  But the result will be a stronger clearer voice.

Fine motor skills development in pediatrics is a crucial aspect of a child’s overall growth. Fine motor skills are honed through play as children engage in a wide range of activities that involve intricate hand and finger movements. Through play, children have the opportunity to refine their fine motor skills, which involve coordination and dexterity. Engaging in activities such as building with small blocks, threading beads onto a string, cutting with scissors, and drawing or coloring not only encourages creativity and imagination but also fosters the development of precise hand movements and hand-eye coordination.

These playful experiences provide children with the chance to strengthen their ability to grasp, manipulate, and control objects, laying a solid foundation for tasks that require intricate hand movements, such as writing, drawing, and performing everyday activities independently. But, how do I know what my kid should be able to do?

Fine Motor Skills by Age

Age Range	Activities
0 to 6 months	– Grasping something with both hands (3 months) – Grasping something with one full hand (5 months)
6 to 12 months	– Pinching things with their thumb and one other finger – Transferring objects from one hand to the other – Picking up and dropping toys and putting them in their mouth
1 to 2 years	– Stacking three small blocks – Turning knobs – Beginning self-feeding with utensils – Turning a few pages of a book at a time
2 to 3 years	– Turning single pages of a book – Holding a crayon with their thumb and first two fingers (not a fist) – Making small cuts with scissors – Rolling, squeezing, and pulling putty
3 to 4 years	– Stacking a tower of nine small blocks – Drawing copies of circles – Using their non-dominant hand to assist and stabilize objects while using them
4 to 5 years	– Cutting continuously with scissors on a line – Printing their name and numbers 1 through 5 – Dressing and undressing without help
5 to 6 years	– Cutting out simple shapes with scissors – Coloring within the lines – Using a three-fingered grasp of a pencil
6 to 7 years	– Tying shoelaces by themselves – Writing consistently on lines – Writing most numbers and letters correctly

Despite being aware of what activities to do, children may still be struggling to meet these milestones. An occupational therapist can further assess and develop a plan to address fine motor skills for children to be successful in their everyday lives. Check out MomLovesBest for more information regarding fine motor skills and various activities to explore.

Crawling, once considered a key developmental milestone in early childhood, is no longer universally regarded as essential for typical development. Experts now understand that each child’s motor skills progress at their own pace, and while crawling plays a role in strengthening coordination and muscle control, many children may skip this stage entirely without experiencing any developmental delays. Some children move directly to scooting or walking. However, physical and occupational therapists feel that crawling is still important.

Physical and occupational therapists often emphasize the importance of crawling in child development due to its wide-ranging benefits. Crawling plays a crucial role in building strength, coordination and brain development. And while some kids can skip crawling without any issues, others may be more affected. Things like strength and movement symmetry can be impacted, especially for kids that only scoot on their bottom.

What are the Benefits of Crawling?

First, crawling helps develop core strength and balance. As babies move on their hands and knees, they work various muscle groups, including the arms, shoulders, legs, and core. This physical strength is important for future activities like walking, running, and climbing. In addition, the movement helps babies improve their balance and stability as they learn to distribute their weight between their hands and knees. It also promotes weight shift to the side, allowing a baby to use each side of their body efficiently.

Crawling also promotes coordination and motor skills. When a baby crawls, they use a “cross-lateral” movement, meaning the opposite arm and leg move together. This motion helps the brain connect both sides of the body, improving coordination. This type of movement also encourages hand-eye coordination. This is essential for tasks like writing, playing sports, and even driving in the future.

Another key benefit of crawling is the stimulation it provides to the brain. It activates areas of the brain responsible for spatial awareness and problem-solving. Babies learn to judge distances, navigate obstacles, and explore their surroundings, all of which contribute to cognitive development.

Occupational therapists also recognize that crawling is important for sensory processing. The pressure babies feel on their hands, knees, and feet helps develop their sense of touch and body awareness. This sensory input is critical for children to understand where their body is in space and how to move it effectively.

Crawling is a foundational activity that helps develop strength, coordination, and sensory awareness that therapists feel are still important for a child’s overall development. Here are some activities you can do with your child at home.

From the earliest stages of infancy to the formative years of toddlerhood, stacking blocks represents more than just a playful activity. It serves as a cornerstone in the developmental journey of children, offering insights into their cognitive, motor, and social growth. So, let’s explore the fascinating milestones associated with stacking blocks and why they matter in childhood development.

Early Foundations: Exploring Shapes and Textures

Firstly, for infants and young toddlers, stacking blocks begin as a sensory exploration:

• Grasping and Manipulation: Initially, infants grasp blocks to explore their textures, shapes, and sizes, developing fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
• Cause and Effect: Knocking down stacked blocks introduces basic concepts of cause and effect, stimulating curiosity and early problem-solving skills.

Cognitive Milestones: Spatial Awareness

Then, as children progress, this activity evolves into a more intentional cognitive challenge:

• Spatial Skills: Arranging blocks to fit together requires spatial reasoning and understanding of shapes, sizes, and dimensions.
• Planning and Sequencing: Building taller structures involves planning and sequencing actions, promoting logical thinking and concentration.

Stacking Blocks Helps Motor Development

Stacking blocks is a tactile experience that refines motor skills, fine-tuning coordination and control:

• Precision and Control: Balancing blocks and carefully placing them enhance fine motor skills, fostering dexterity and finger strength.
• Hand-Eye Coordination: Aligning blocks and stacking them vertically improves hand-eye coordination and spatial precision.

Social and Emotional Growth: Collaboration and Persistence

In addition to cognitive and motor skills, block play encourages social interactions and emotional development:

• Collaborative Play: Sharing blocks and building together fosters teamwork, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Persistence and Resilience: Overcoming challenges, such as unstable structures or collapsed towers, teaches patience, perseverance, and emotional resilience.

Milestones for Stacking Blocks

• Infancy (0-12 months): Grasping and exploring blocks, beginning to knock down stacked towers.
• Early Toddlerhood (12-24 months): Experimenting with stacking blocks vertically, developing basic building skills.
• Late Toddlerhood (24-36 months): Building taller structures, sorting blocks by size or color, and engaging in more complex imaginative play.

Encouraging Block Play: Tips for Parents and Caregivers

• Provide Varied Blocks: Offer blocks of different shapes, sizes, and textures to stimulate exploration and creativity.
• Join in the Play: Participate in block play to model skills, encourage interaction, and celebrate achievements.
• Create Safe Spaces: Ensure a safe environment for stacking and building activities, allowing children to explore and experiment without constraints.

Stacking blocks is not merely a pastime but a pivotal developmental milestone that supports children’s cognitive, motor, social, and emotional growth. Therefore, as they engage in block play, children hone essential skills that lay the foundation for future learning and problem-solving abilities. Finally, by recognizing the significance of stacking blocks in childhood development and nurturing these skills through play, parents and caregivers empower children to explore, create, and thrive in a world of endless possibilities.

In an era dominated by screens and structured activities, the simple act of outdoor play holds profound importance for children’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being. From exploring nature’s wonders to engaging in imaginative games, outdoor play enriches their lives in ways that indoor environments cannot replicate. Let’s delve into the invaluable benefits of encouraging children to spend more time outdoors.

Physical Health and Development

Playing outside is synonymous with movement and physical activity, crucial for the healthy development of children’s bodies:

1. Physical Fitness: Running, jumping, climbing trees, and playing sports all contribute to cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, and coordination.
2. Vitamin D Absorption: Sunlight exposure enables the body to produce vitamin D, essential for bone health and overall immune function.
3. Sensory Stimulation: Exploring different textures, temperatures, and natural elements outdoors stimulates sensory development and enhances spatial awareness.

Outdoor Play Encourages Mental and Cognitive Growth

Beyond physical benefits, outdoor play nurtures children’s cognitive abilities and mental well-being:

1. Creativity and Imagination: Natural settings provide endless opportunities for imaginative play, fostering creativity and problem-solving skills.
2. Stress Reduction: Time spent in green spaces has been shown to reduce stress levels and improve mood, promoting emotional resilience.
3. Enhanced Concentration: Exposure to natural environments has a calming effect and can improve attention span and focus, benefiting academic performance.

Social Skills and Emotional Development

Playing outside offers a natural setting for children to interact with peers, siblings, and adults. This fosters essential social and emotional skills:

1. Teamwork and Communication: Collaborative play in outdoor settings encourages teamwork, negotiation, and effective communication skills.
2. Empathy and Emotional Regulation: Dealing with challenges, such as sharing toys or resolving conflicts, teaches empathy and emotional self-control.
3. Independence and Risk Management: Outdoor play allows children to assess risks, make decisions, and build confidence in their abilities to navigate unfamiliar or challenging situations.

Encouraging Outdoor Play in Today’s World

In a society increasingly dominated by technology and structured activities, it’s essential to prioritize and encourage outdoor play:

• Parental Support: Parents can model this by engaging with their children in nature-based activities and setting aside dedicated time for outdoor adventures.
• Safe and Accessible Environments: Creating safe outdoor spaces, whether in local parks, playgrounds, or backyard gardens, ensures children can explore freely and independently.
• Educational Opportunities: Incorporating outdoor learning experiences into school curricula promotes hands-on exploration and connects academic concepts with real-world phenomena.

The benefits of outdoor play extend far beyond physical exercise; they encompass holistic development across cognitive, social, and emotional domains. By fostering a love for nature and providing opportunities for unstructured play outside, we equip children with the skills and resilience needed to thrive in an increasingly complex world. Let’s embrace the transformative power of outdoor play as a cornerstone of childhood. Thus, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to grow, learn, and discover the wonders of the natural world.

Did you know that Play-Doh modeling compound started out as wallpaper cleaner? Joe McVicker learned from a teacher that kids usually found modeling clay too hard to manipulate. Discovering that the squishy cleaning product he manufactured could substitute, McVicker shipped some to the school. After teachers and kids raved, he offered to supply the product to all Cincinnati schools. More rave reviews followed. Let’s learn more about how Play-doh came to be and the many benefits play-doh offers.

McVicker showcased the modeling clay at a national education convention in 1955, and word spread. By 1956, the wallpaper cleaner had become Play-Doh. A year later, the manufacturer offered a softer Play-Doh in primary colors. Kids mixed these to make other colors, ending inevitably in brown. In the 1950’s children’s television show Captain Kangaroo endorsed Play-Doh and so did Miss Frances from Ding Dong School. In the 1980s, Play-Doh expanded its palette to eight colors.Today there are a wide variety of play sets available as well as the YouTube Play-Doh official channel. While Play-doh is a favorite activity for kids, there are also so many other benefits.

Benefits of Playing with Play-Doh

• Fine motor skill development
• Sensory development
• Bilateral coordination
• Creative development
• Eye hand coordination
• Self regulation tool
• Social skill development
• Learning skill development

While many of these are self-explanatory some may need a little explanation! For kids that are sensory seeking, play-doh offers heavy work for little hands. Play-doh is often accepted easier for those children that are sensitive or experience tactile defensiveness. Engaging with play-doh can provide a relaxing, calm time for kids that may be anxious or stressed and need a break from the noise and action. Play-doh can boost creativity! There is no right or wrong way for kids to use and expand their creative minds.

Play-doh can also help build life learning and social skills as kids work together to follow simple recipes, use kitchen tools, and learn about measurements to make home made play dough. Use it as a learning tool for children to form shapes, letters, and numbers. So go ahead and use play dough as a fun and simple way to target many areas of skill development. Don’t be afraid to let your inner child out as you join the fun! There are a ton of inspirational ideas and recipes that can be found online.