Winter 2022 Newsletter
Clinic Closures
Our clinic will be closed on November 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving, December 26 in observance of Christmas Day, and January 2 in observance of New Year’s Day.
Like and Follow us on Facebook
Like and follow our Facebook page for important updates such as weather closures, fun photos of therapy in action, announcements about upcoming events and community activities, and useful information about topics related to speech and occupational therapy. We are also now on Instagram! Find us on Instagram at @metrotherapymn
“Are you just going to play?”
This is a common question we get from caregivers of young children just starting in therapy. The answer is yes, we ARE going to play, but we are not JUST playing! For children, play is not a distraction from learning—play IS learning! Children learn and build skills through multisensory, context-rich experiences. Here is an example: In speech therapy you may see a clinician playing with a farm set with a young child. While we play here are the many skills we may be targeting: turn taking, interactive play, imitating actions, following directions, understanding spatial concepts (in, under, behind), expanding vocabulary (animal names, action words), imitating sounds (moo, baa), combining words (cow go, eat hay), and more! Targeting skills through play builds neural connections, promotes positive relationships, and provides meaningful context. Play is the best way for kids to learn! Please always feel free to ask your therapist questions about how your child’s specific goals are being targeted through play.
Winter Wonderland
We will be celebrating the winter season with winter wonderland theme weeks from December 12-January 13. Themes will include hot chocolate, snowflakes, snowmen, winter animals, and winter gear. We can’t wait to have SNOW much fun with you!
Insurance changes for the new year
If you have new insurance information for the new year, please provide that to our front office as soon as possible. Also, please keep in mind that with deductibles resetting, your payment responsibility may change. Questions about coverage with your specific policy should be directed to your insurance company. If you have questions about your bill, please contact our billing office, Great Lakes Medical Billing at 877-692-5484.
Sick Policy
A quick reminder, to prevent the spread of illness, please keep your child home from therapy if they are unwell. Children must stay home if they have had a fever, vomiting, or diarrhea within the past 24 hours. Apart from these symptoms, if your child seems too unwell to fully participate, please call to reschedule your appointment. Therapy is hard work and it is difficult for kids to get the most out of their sessions if they don’t feel well. Please contact us as soon as possible if you are need to change to teletherapy or cancel/reschedule sessions due to illness.
Winter Weather
If winter weather makes travel unsafe, we may shift sessions to teletherapy when possible. Our Facebook page will have up-to-date information about any weather-related changes or cancelations. You will also receive text messages if we are changing appointments.