Family Life

Therapists Weigh in on Weighted Blankets

December 6, 2018 No Comments Admin

An extra cozy blanket to snuggle under sounds particularly enticing this time of year. And in recent years, there’s been a particular type of blanket that has seen a surge in its sales: the weighted blanket. Weighted blankets are a useful invention and we do recommend them to particular clients. But weighted blankets do come with certain precautions, and it seems the general public may not always be aware of this.

If you aren’t familiar with them, here’s a little background info. Weighted blankets are just that- blankets filled with material such as plastic pellets to intentionally make them heavier. They come in a range of weights from as little as 5 pounds up to 25 pounds and come in a variety of colors, shapes, and sizes. They are marketed to children, adults, and even pets. Websites and advertisements tout their benefits for anxiety, ADHD, insomnia, and restless sleep. The weight is designed to produce a calming effect- like a hug.

The Simple Trick That Can Quadruple Your Kid’s Vegetable Intake

January 6, 2018 No Comments Annie Burdine, RD, CSP, LDN

The New Year is upon us and healthy eating is suddenly on our minds. Parents everywhere are looking to rid the house of the last bits of Christmas cookies, candy canes, and gingerbread house fragments. It’s time to put away the holiday comfort foods and exchange them for some healthier family fare. But there’s just one problem….the kids. If your kids are anything like mine, nutritious foods (specifically vegetables) are not often on their top ten lists. Some days they gobble up their greens without question, but many days the vegetables on their plates get ignored, at best.

5 Ways to Help Kids Give Back This Holiday Season (and Always!)

November 17, 2017 No Comments Annie Burdine, RD, CSP, LDN

We’re going to take a little break from our regularly scheduled programming and talk about something that is near and dear to my heart: being a blessing to those around us who may be in need. And as a healthcare professional, this is a situation I encounter with regularity. As a parent, I want to teach my children the importance of caring for those around them, whether physically, emotionally, or socially. I imagine you do too. But the path to achieving this goal can be vague. I have seen this question come up on the Facebook groups I am a part of several times already in the past week or two. “How can I teach my child to give back this holiday season?”. It’s a great question. And while the answer can be complicated, I do believe that it is also much more attainable than we make it.

Here’s a list of 5 ways we can bring the spirit of giving into our homes and hearts this holiday season:

What Every Parent Needs to Know about Baby Feeding

September 1, 2017 No Comments Annie Burdine, RD, CSP, LDN

Having a baby comes with all sorts of unfamiliar (and often overwhelming) territory. Sleep schedules, diaper changes, feedings, and more. But in both my personal and professional experience, there is one milestone that seems to leave the vast majority of parents feeling uncertain and often even confused. I’m talking about feeding your baby, specifically starting them on solids. (Yes, breastfeeding and bottle feeding have their own set of challenges, but I’ll save that for another post).

Summer Screen Time Slow Down

July 21, 2017 No Comments Annie Burdine, RD, CSP, LDN

A few weeks back, we shared a post about why believe children should have boundaries with screen time. We gave you some of the reasoning behind our recommendations, but today we wanted to share some practical tips for making this recommendation a reality. Because we are parents too.

Why Your Speech Therapist Won’t Stop Talking About Screen Time

May 22, 2017 No Comments Annie Burdine, RD, CSP, LDN

If you’ve been in our waiting room recently, you’ve probably noticed our bulletin board about screen time guidelines for kids. And if you’ve been in one of our therapy sessions lately, you’ve likely heard one of your therapists talk about this same issue. It’s something that comes up a lot here at Advent. Why? Because we are convinced that it matters. And we are convinced that there are very real risks to overuse of screen time, especially in very young children. Stay with me here. I am not out to add to your parenting challenges. Trust me. I am a parent too. But I am here to call out the cultural norm and help us navigate a media-heavy society responsibly (and equip our children to do the same). So let’s start with the obvious question:

The Family Meal (The Best Form of Therapy)

March 31, 2017 No Comments Annie Burdine, RD, CSP, LDN

Here at Advent, we are big believers in the power of family meals. We know schedules get messy, and family members all like different foods. And we won’t deny that it can just be flat out hard to coordinate everyone sitting down at the same time. But we absolutely believe it is worth all the effort. We aren’t just saying it because it sounds nice, or to make parents feel guilty. We are saying it because there is actual hard evidence that shows the undeniable value of family meal time. Regular family meals can enhance a child’s vocabulary (even more than reading books!). They can also decrease a child’s risk for obesity and lead to higher fruit and vegetable intake. And my personal favorite on the list: a better parent-child relationship. Because who doesn’t want that?!?

Why I Stopped Giving Presents on Christmas

December 21, 2016 No Comments Annie Burdine, RD, CSP, LDN

Every holiday season parents ask me, as their child’s therapist, to give gift recommendations for their child. I struggle with this question because I truly believe there is only one answer: “Have a fun and relaxing day hugging, laughing, crying over the beautiful mess of family togetherness.” As for specific toy recommendations, I will address that in another post; but today, I wanted to share my family’s Christmas story to help you understand my perspective.

Advent Therapy

Category: Family Life