Clinton Township Newsletter

2 2 j u n e 2 0 2 4 W W W . C L I N T O N T W P N E W S L E T T E R . C O M Welcome to with Rachel Sprague * C linton ree Questions * This month, I went for an outdoor stroll with local Pediatric Occupational Therapist, Emily Bucher. You might have seen her, working with children in a home, a backyard, or a park near you. C3Q: What is a p e d i a t r i c occupational t h e r a p i s t ? What sort of work do you do, and what led you to this career? E B : I f o u n d this field when I was in middle s c h o o l , a n d I was on the job with my aunt who was a speech therapist at a summer camp called Camp Helping Hand in Westfield, where kids would come from all over the country because the camp offered speech, occupational, and physical therapy, and I fell in love with occupational therapy at 12 years old. I always had that in my mind as what I wanted my life to look like. Fast-forward, and I'm in the field! Pediatric Occupational Therapy can be summed up in a few ways: first, it's really about the actions of doing, being, and becoming a human. An occupation is something that takes up our time and has meaning, and that's different for every person. The number one occupation of a child is play, so I work on the skills that underlie the foundation of play. Those skills include everything from cognitive skills, fine motor skills, attention, interactions with others, emotional regulation, and a big part of my practice is also mental health and focusing on a child's confidence. I'm really honed in on what a child wants to do, what they need to do, and the skills we need to work on to make that possible. C3Q: I see that you are a "nature-based" occupational therapist....why outside? What are the benefits to this? EB: So I decided about a year ago to take my practice outdoors. Occupational Therapy is traditionally done in a clinic or inside, but there is a growing movement that acknowledges the need for free outdoor playtime for kids, which hones their skills and strengths and mental health. I'm personally drawn to the outdoors; it makes me feel grounded and creative, and I thought, "How can I bring what was so nurturing in my childhood to kids today, who are growing up in a more technological age?" Oftentimes, our sessions take place in backyards, parks, next to streams... it depends on the child. Many parents seek me out because they have tried conventional therapy, which is very adult-led, and it didn't work well for their child. I see ages 2-15, and sometimes my sessions are in the child's backyard, and I'm following their lead in terms on what they want to play, inserting activities that build skills. What looks like play on the surface-level works on so many skills beyond what meets the eye. Sometimes, children look to me for direction because they are not sure what to play, and I come with a plan in mind. This week, I had a lesson where we talked about trees, did a science experiment where we grew paper trees with crystals on them, and combined it with doing 'tree' yoga poses, and we read a story about trees and the human body which related breathing anatomy to tree branches. Sometimes there is a lot of structure and specific skills, and sometimes the child or the natural environment dictates what we do that day. In nature therapy, the number one thing it allows for is flexibility. Sometimes you show up to a session and it is too windy or rainy, and we have to pivot, and I teach the child that unforeseen things happen and we have to roll with it. It even teaches me to be more creative and to think on my feet. Sometimes we come across something unexpected and amazing. For example, the water levels were high a few weeks ago, and we talked about how our emotion levels can rise like rivers, and if there isn't a way to filter that out back to the ocean, that's when we feel overwhelmed or anxious; we took something out of the ordinary and applied it to our theme. Finding bear tracks on a walk together c a n i n s p i r e a w e , o r a safety conversation. Pretty much unless it is unsafe to be outdoors, (like wildfire smoke etc), I'm outside all season, even in the winter. The kids love it. C3Q: Many people are heading into the summer vacation season and getting outdoors more. Any universal tips for maximizing their mental health and time outdoors at whatever age? EB: A couple of my biggest things that I love to do, and small moments that put a lot of energy and tranquillity back into my week, are getting barefoot outside, and becoming aware of how that connection to the earth feels. I would recommend that people think about being intentional about the tasks during their day, and ask themselves if they can do it outdoors. Often I take my yoga practice outside, make time to walk outside, or do twenty minutes with my laptop outside. When life is busy, try to look up and notice what is around you. I love the activity (for any age) where you take a moment and use your five senses to notice what is around you at that moment; the smells, the tastes, the feel of wind on your arm, where the sun is in the sky, your shadow... it is about grounding yourself and rooting yourself in the present moment, instead of worrying about the past or the future, and a reminder that all we really have is right now. This exercise also helps reduce anxiety; if your thoughts are dwelling elsewhere in time, it reminds you that you are safe right now in the present moment. Getting outdoors can make you more mindful and attentive. I am outdoors in this area a lot, and there are so many wonderful places to explore... lavender farms, paddleboarding yoga, birding, family walks; finding community events that take you outside is amazing, Hunterdon Parks and Recreation has so many great offerings for all ages. There are some wonderful lesser-known parks and hikes as well, such as Sunnyside picnic area in Annandale, which is a lovely, quiet nook, or Pickell Park in Lebanon, which has sprawling paths that lead to open m e a d o w s a n d g r e a t v i e w s . M y f a v o r i t e local hike is the Milford Bluffs hike w h i c h o v e r l o o k s t h e D e l a w a r e a n d i s s o b e a u t i f u l ( y o u c a n find it on the AllTrails app). If I were to challenge everyone to try something this summer, it would be to try to find a pot and grow a plant or some produce; tending something that you can do outside for a few minutes and check on is very rewarding. C3Q: That is all fantastic advice, Emily, and I look forward to getting more intentional outside-time, personally. Do you have any special upcoming events, and where can people find you? E B : Y o u c a n r e a d m o r e o n m y w e b s i t e , n a t u r e n u r t u r e O T . c o m , o r c o n t a c t m e a t naturenurtureOT@gmail.com. I work with children with anxiety, autism, ADHD, and more. On June 1st, I am partnering up with Certified Fitness for Special Needs for a Mindful Meetup in Whitehouse Station. I'm also working with a local speech therapist and hosting free bilingual classes at Safe Harbor for the bilingual community. C3Q: Thank you Emily! Hope your summer is lovely, mindful, and full of wonderful noticings! n Rachel Sprague, a resident of Clinton Township, has a degree in journalism from Rutgers. With her husband Russell, Rachel is raising two young children in the Clinton Township School District. She thinks that Clinton Township is a delightful place to live.

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