This post is part of a mini blog series documenting four weeks of Constraint-induced Movement Therapy (CIMT).
One thing my daughter really enjoys is eating! Thankfully she eats a variety of solid foods, from fruits and veggies to meats, pastas and legumes. For the most part, everything she eats is either a homemade puree of some sort, or straightforward cut-up fruit, such as raspberries, blueberries and bananas. I had not yet let her try the store-bought, dissolvable rice crackers that seem to be very popular with babies and kids these days.
I was all for it when Ruth suggested we try using the rice crackers as a Constraint-induced Movement Therapy activity. Today, Ruth has brought in a few packages. The crackers are long and the texture makes them easy to grip. They are a smashing success! My daughter likes the taste and she repeatedly brings the cracker to her mouth.
A video of my daughter feeding herself with her left hand
More CIMT activities to encourage hand movement
The CIMT team hand plenty other fun activities planned for the day. Here are just some of them.
Teaching cause and effect with the dog house game
Before handing my daughter the toy bone to drop in the dog house, we quietly hold it in front of her to ensure she has a chance to look at it due to her Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI).
Encouraging bimanual hand activity
Another cuddle session with the office dog
Cindy has a deep interest in Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) and is currently studying Early Childhood Education. She focuses most of her time on her energetic daughter: playing, cuddling and helping to make her world visually accessible. Cindy holds a degree in Marketing and has worked in the not-for-profit sector for many years.