Resilience and Flexibility in Occupational Therapy
By Christine Yen, Department Head, Occupational Therapy
Originally published in Parkside’s 2020-2021 Annual Report.
The global pandemic has certainly taught all of us resilience and flexibility. This year, children had to wear masks, shift between virtual and in-person learning, negotiate friendships from a distance, and navigate a new world of rules and restrictions. They also processed complex feelings about an uncertain and unpredictable future. We in the OT department have been very proud of our students for their adaptability and good cheer throughout the year. We have worked very hard to offer support and guidance as students managed the many challenges.
We recognize how tough it has been for families to postpone so many of the rituals and traditions of childhood, such as playdates, sleepovers, after-school activities, and camp. So, as COVID cases lessened in New York City and hope for a renewed sense of normalcy appeared on the horizon, our department wanted to offer the children the joys of a more traditional camp experience this summer.
When we pitched the idea of summer appointments organized around camp-like projects, Leslie and Albina offered their full support. We worked together as a department to brainstorm themes we remembered fondly from our childhood camp experiences: friendship crafts, tie-dye, the gentle competition of Olympics, and nature appreciation lessons. We then organized sessions in the OT room around a weekly structure. We incorporated students’ personal goals into the activities and tried to build a spirit of collaboration and a carefree summer atmosphere. During the first week, Friendship Week, the kids made friendship bracelets and practiced mindful acts of kindness during their school day. Depending on their age and interest, they chose to learn how to weave complex bracelets, bead, or braid. All of the options provided the opportunity to build visual motor skills, and the finished product was a beautiful creation they each gave to a friend. During Tie-Dye Week, a solid hit, the kids chose from three different design patterns and exercised their hand muscles to twist the fabric, secure rubber bands, and squeeze dye onto their shirts, masks, and bandanas. We were excited to see the students wearing their beautiful handmade products with pride! We then planned an Olympic theme, emphasizing perseverance, movement, working toward a goal, and cheering on our teammates.
In the words of one student after participating in finger Olympics, “I liked it because I was having fun!” Other students wholeheartedly agreed; one said, “This is a so much fun appointment!” Another declared when crafting an Olympic ring chain, “This is so cool!” For our final week, we celebrated nature with seashell painting and a food craft, Dirt Cups. When we asked our students to choose their favorite activities in OT this summer, they genuinely couldn’t decide. One said, “I loved them all!”
When we think of summer camp, we think of growth experiences that challenge and inspire us, friendships built on shared time together while working toward a common mission and purpose, and an environment of joy, creativity, and playfulness. This past summer, we hope that our appointments offered a brief respite from the external stresses and helped foster a strong sense of community and optimism.