Why Do Some Children With Autism Toe Walk—and What Can Parents Do?

As April and Autism Awareness Month have come to a close, we’re highlighting the incredible work of MetroEHS Pediatric Therapy in Metro Detroit. With multiple locations and more on the way, MetroEHS is dedicated to helping families with children on the autism spectrum and those needing specialized therapy. Today, we’re focusing on a universal challenge for parents: potty training.

Joining us are Deanna Coker, a board-certified behavioral therapist analyst, and Kelly Johns, the director of physical therapy at MetroEHS. They share valuable insights on potty training, addressing common issues and providing practical solutions.

Recognizing Readiness for Potty Training

Kelly Johns emphasizes that recognizing when your child is ready for potty training is crucial. Key signs include:

- Extended Bladder Control: Holding their bladder overnight or for several consecutive hours.

- Interest in the Potty: Playing with their diaper, showing curiosity about the toilet, or performing a "potty dance."

- Communication: Telling you they need to go or showing signs they’re aware of their bodily functions.

Addressing Potty Training Challenges

Sometimes, despite a parent’s best efforts, potty training can hit a snag. Deanna Coker points out that issues such as regression, frequent nighttime accidents, or persistent constipation might indicate underlying problems like pelvic floor complications.

Assisting with Physiological Challenges

To support children struggling with potty training, Kelly recommends several strategies:

- Blowing Bubbles: This helps relax the pelvic floor. Encourage your child to blow bubbles while sitting on the toilet or during playtime.

- Using a Squatty Potty: This stool ensures a proper 90-degree angle, aiding in effective bowel movements.

- Belly Breathing: Teach your child to focus on their belly rising and falling, which can help with relaxation and control.

Effective Potty Training Methods

Deanna shares essential potty training tips:

1. Ditch the Diapers: Transition your child to underwear to help them feel the wetness of accidents.
2. Stay Hydrated: Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids to ensure they need to use the bathroom regularly.
3. Set a Schedule: Take your child to the potty every 20 minutes initially, allowing them to sit for a few minutes each time.
4. Positive Reinforcement: Use rewards like a sticker chart to celebrate successes. This visual progress tracker can be highly motivating for children.

Deanna shares a personal anecdote about using a princess-themed sticker chart for her daughter, highlighting how such simple tools can make the process enjoyable and rewarding for children.

MetroEHS Pediatric Therapy provides comprehensive support for various therapy needs, including ABA, speech, occupational, feeding, and physical therapies. With their expanding network of locations, they are readily accessible to families across Metro Detroit.

For more information or to find the nearest MetroEHS location, visit http://metroehs.com

**Thank you, Deanna and Kelly, for sharing your expertise and practical advice.** Potty training can be a daunting task, but with these tips, parents can navigate this essential milestone more effectively.

Brittany: Hello! My name is Brittany, I am the bilingual Speech Pathologist at Metro EHS in Sterling Heights and Detroit.

Mallory: Hi! My name is Mallory, and I work in the Human Resources Department at the administrative office in Plymouth.

B: And we are so excited to announce that MetroEHS now offers speech therapy in Spanish and English!

M: That’s great! We can service Metro Detroit kids in their native language! But Brittany, can you tell me how to know if my child needs speech therapy?

B: Sure! If you have concerns about the language or articulation development of your child, it is possible that he/she might benefit from speech therapy. For example, if your child cannot pronounce certain sounds, does not say a lot of words or combine words to form sentences, or if you cannot understand him/her, we can do an evaluation to see if he/she qualifies for speech therapy.

M: That sounds great! What happens next?

B: After the evaluation, if therapy is necessary, we are able to initiate therapy in English, Spanish, or both languages to help your child communicate with family, friends and all of the people in the child’s life using their preferred language.

M: So cool! Are any other therapies offered?

B: Of course! We also offer therapy for feeding difficulties, stuttering, problems with social language secondary to autism, and the use of augmentative and alternative communication for children who are not able to talk using verbalizations. Here at MetroEHS we also offer occupational and behavior therapy at all of our centers. We have a phenomenal team of therapists that provide individualized services for your child. And Mallory, you can assist Spanish-speaking families get started, right?

M: Of course! We accept most insurances. I would be happy to answer any questions that families might have. Call our office to see if your child might benefit from speech therapy or other therapies in Spanish, English, or both languages. Our telephone number is 313-278-4601. We would love to talk to you!

Brittany: Hola! Me llamo Brittany y soy la terapeuta bilingue de habla en MetroEHS en Sterling Heights y Detroit.

Mallory: Hola! Me llamo Mallory y trabajo en el departamentro de recursos humanos en la oficina administrativa en Plymouth.

Brittany: Estamos emocionados de anunciar que MetroEHS ofrece la terapia de habla en ingles y espanol.

Mallory: Que excelente! Podemos proporcionar la terapia de habla a ninos en MetroDetroit en su idioma nativo. Brittany, me puedes explicar como saber si mi hijo necesita la terapia de habla.

Brittany: Por supuesto! Si tiene preocupaciones del desarrollo del lenguaje o de la articulacion de su hijo es posible que se beneficie de la terapia de habla. Por ejemplo,  si su hijo no puede pronunciar ciertos sonidos, no dice muchas palabras ni combina palabras para hacer oraciones, o si no le puede entender a su hijo, podemos hacer una evaluacion para ver si califica para la terapia de habla.

Mallory: Suena muy bien! Que pasara despues?

Brittany: Despues de la evaluacion, si las terapias son necesarias, podemos iniciar las terapias en ingles, espanol o ambos idimos para ayudar a hijo a comunicarse con la familia, los amigos y todas las personas en su vida usando su idioma preferido.

Mallory: Guau(wow)! Ofrecen otras terapias?

Brittany: Tambien ofrecemos terapias para dificultades con la alimentacion, el tartamudeo, problemas con el lenguje social secundario al autismo, y el uso de comunicacion aumentativa y alternativa para ninos que no puede hablar con verbalizaciones. En MetroEHS, ofrecemos la terapia ocupacional y la terapia de comportamiento (ABA). Tenemos un equipo fenomenal de terapeutas que proporcionan servicios individualizados para su hijo. Mallory, tu puedes ayudar a las familiar que hablar espanol en la oficina, verdad?

Mallory: Por supuesto! Aceptamos muchos seguros medicos. Yo estaria encantada de responder a cualquier pregunta que tenga. Llame nuesta oficina para ver si su hijo se podria beneficiar de la terapia de habla en espanol, ingles, o ambos idiomas. El numero de telefono de la oficina es 313-278-4601. Nos encantaria hablar con usted.

Play is crucial for children’s physical, social, emotional, and cognitive development. Through play, children learn important life skills such as problem-solving, creativity, social interaction, and self-regulation. Play allows children to explore their environment, experiment with different ideas, and express themselves in ways that are natural and meaningful to them.

Play can take many forms, including physical play, imaginative play, sensory play, and social play. Children learn best through play that is meaningful and engaging to them, so it is important for parents, caregivers, and educators to provide a variety of play opportunities that are tailored to a child’s individual needs and interests.

What is play?

Play includes fun activities enjoyed independently or with others. Play has no rules, and people make up their own games. Play can be inside or outside. It uses things around us, like balls and sticks. Playing helps us learn how to get along with others and think about new things.

Types of play:

• Social Play is when kids play together. For example, playing soccer.
• Symbolic Play is when you pretend. You can do this from 18 months to 5 years old.
• Practice Play is doing the same thing repeatedly to learn how to do it better. For example, you might practice throwing a ball.
• Sensorimotor Play is used by infants. This means that they use their senses and move around. An example of this is shaking a rattle.
• Constructive Play is when kids make something. For example, building with legos or painting with their fingers.    

Play helps a child…

• Build Imagination and Creativity
• Foster Cognitive Growth
• Improve Literacy
• Improve Emotional Well-Being
• Encourage Greater Independence

Play is not just a fun activity for children but a vital part of their development. Therefore, it is essential to support and encourage play in children and create a safe and stimulating environment for them to explore and learn.