“Community support continues to be everything,” says company CEO Lisa Radcliffe and the mother of two children with adaptive needs. "Our series has engaged parents nationwide who are sharing stories and connecting with us and our guests. We all benefit from this collaborative dialogue.”
BROOKLYN, N.Y. (PRWEB) April 13, 2020
Contact: Robin Waxenberg, robin@robwax.com, 917-301-1350
PUNKINFUTZ OFFERS PARENTS OF CHILDREN WITH ADAPTIVE NEEDS A SAFE HAVEN TO DISCUSS AND UNDERSTAND THE UNIQUE CHALLENGES OF COVID-19
New Week of “Wednesdays at Noon” on FACEBOOK:
Inspiring Experts & Parent Advocates to Provide Best Protocols & Personal Experiences
Additional Friday Sessions Have Been Added
PunkinFutz, the award winning company that makes sensory play products for children with adaptive needs, is providing resources for parents to help navigate the unique challenges they now face with work and children at home and in light of the international COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout April it is hosting weekly Wednesdays at Noon FACEBOOK discussion on timely topics, recommendations and best practices. It has also added Fridays at Four, designed for parent and child, together.
This week’s topic:
Noon Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 15, 2020
On-Line Occupational Therapy: Expert Advice for Making it Work
Occupational therapist Camille Crayton, OTR/L will provide tips for supporting your child’s occupational therapy needs while at home. Camille Crayton is a pediatric occupational therapist at a preschool in New York City, providing services for children ages 3-5. Camille is passionate about occupational therapy and committed to helping children meet their school related goals.
4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, April 17, 2020
Preparing to Learn: How to Use Relaxation and Focus to Your Advantage
Florencio Palomo is the Founder and Executive Director of "REACH swim academy," a learn-to-swim program that focuses on children of all abilities and needs located in the Bronx, NY. Florencio's career working with special needs children spans over 30 years, the last 25 in aquatics.
“Community support continues to be everything,” says company founder and CEO Lisa Radcliffe, “As the mother of two children with adaptive needs, I know how disruptive and overwhelming this is. Our series has engaged parents nationwide who are connecting with us, sharing their stories and seeking advice from our guests. We are so glad to be in contact with our community, offer valued insight and learn from each other. With uncertainty all around us, we all benefit from this collaborative dialogue.”
The virtual discussions include a broad range of timely topics, featuring parent advocates, educators, performing artists, occupational therapists, business leaders, health professionals and PunkinFutz staff, among others. Wednesdays at Noon conversations last 45 minutes, a shared ‘lunchtime,’ starting with a structured discussion based upon the announced topic, then providing opportunity for audience participation and questions. Sign language interpretation is provided, either real-time or within 48 hours, depending on the interpreter’s availability. Fridays at Four also last 45 minutes and feature activities parents and children can do together, including cooking, circus and relaxation exercises.
Please log onto: https://www.facebook.com/punkinfutz/ for each 45-minute session. Upcoming speakers, topics and dates are as follows:
Noon Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 22, 2020
Navigating the New Normal: Education Online
Noreen Cavanaugh, a seventeen-year West Hartford (CT) Public Schools veteran and 12-year kindergarten teacher at Duffy Elementary will help parents chart the current online education landscape and address time management, establishing daily at home school schedules and addressing behavioral changes in light of virtual classroom considerations.
4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, April 24, 2020
Creating Circus Routines At Home: Imaginative and Inspirational Play!
Lisa B. Lewis, Director of Events and Community Programs at the Big Apple Circus and co-founder of Super Scientific Circus, will provide colorful, creative and self-expressive routines children and families can do at home. Get ready to stretch, move, balance, coordinate and relieve energy with recommendations coming straight from the Big Top!
Noon Eastern Time, Wednesday, April 29, 2020
Making Lemonade from Lemons: It’s a Great Time to Start a New Business
Two Sparrows Learning Systems launched April 2017 by husband and wife team, Jason and Nancy Morris. Two Sparrows offers product development services as well as a line of early learning educational products. Nancy is a former special education teacher now assistant professor in higher education. Jason is an engineer with over 20 years in product design and development.
4:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Friday, May 1, 2020
Cooking with Culikid: Wacky Weekend Snacks
Kelley Bligh, LMSW, Executive Director of Culikid will be leading us through adaptive snack-making. Culikid is dedicated to providing healthy culinary programs for individuals with special needs. Through cooking, Culikids helps participants strengthen their social, independence, and fine motor skills while learning to eat healthy.
“We continue to plan ahead and identify individuals who can bring unique and valuable content to each discussion. We are so appreciative of their knowledge and recommendations. And, with the start of our Friday sessions we will be offer even more opportunity for parents and children to participate together. With children home for the foreseeable future we all need an outlet for our creativity and energy,” says Radcliffe. “In addition to our on-line discussions, we have a list of free resources available on our website. All of our activities/curriculum are available for free download. Finally, once we are able to ship again from Brooklyn, we will offer new PunkinFutz product bundles at wholesale prices to support the needs of families whose lives have been affected. We want to do everything we can to support our community.”
About PunkinFutz:
Launched in 2016, PunkinFutz uses universal design to create therapeutic play products for children with a broad range of physical, sensory, developmental and emotional needs. PunkinFutz products promote individual expression, creativity and imagination. All PunkinFutz original products are manufactured in the USA in supportive and adaptive workplaces using the highest quality materials and responsible sourcing. PunkinFutz has won eleven awards for its innovative products and is a member of the Toy Industry Association (TIA). Founder Lisa Radcliffe is a member of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) and Council for Exceptional Children. All PunkinFutz products meet ASTM F963 standards.