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Education Creates Accessibility, Opportunity for Occupational Therapy in Jamaica

September 15, 2022

In a constantly changing world, education is key to providing quality care and therapy. Smile a While Foundation is happy to announce the first professionals benefiting with training scholarships through our Interdisciplinary Team Training Series (ITTS).   Everyday, information and technology is changing. This makes the need for continuing education essential for occupational therapists to…

Self Determination: Boost Your Child’s Success With Simple Choices

August 18, 2022

Self determination can be easy to incorporate for a child of any ability. Read this article for more info on what self determination is and how you can start providing it to your child.   The ability to make a choice can act as a life-changing catalyst for children’s development. Studies show the more children…

Helping Your Child Grasp the Possibilities in Front of Them

June 14, 2022

  As babies develop and learn how to move their bodies, big muscles develop first and allow little ones to begin moving and cruising. Tiny muscles, such as those in the hands, take longer to develop and can be harder to attach to milestones for parents.  Grasp patterns are the coordinated movements the hand uses…

Therapeutic Benefits to Sensory Play

June 10, 2022

Sensory play offers the perfect setting for kids to explore and learn through play. Sensory play focuses on activities that engage your child’s senses, helping them develop language skills and motor skills. It also helps with cognitive growth, fosters social interactions and encourages experimentation.  Sensory play helps the brain develop nerve connections and encourages growth…

DIY Sensory Play: 5 Great Ideas for Homemade, Hands-on Play

January 17, 2022

During sensory play children use their senses to incorporate smell, touch, sound, vision, and movement. Play that has a multisensory experience is known to have a positive correlation with brain development in children. Bonus, since these are DIY activities they can each be customized to meet the preferences of your child. Starting at birth, children…

Occupational therapist working with small child

Nicola & Badrick

October 2, 2021

Nicola and her son Badrick live in St. Ann, Jamaica. Badrick was diagnosed with Infantile Spasms, also known as West syndrome. This condition causes a series of seizures and spasms that last only a few seconds but can happen one right after the other. Badrick also has developmental delays and cerebral palsy. He can’t walk.…