May 1 is Global Developmental Delay Day

Global Developmental Delay (GDD) Awareness Day is a day to recognize children who may be delayed in reaching developmental milestones compared to other children their age. Developmental delay refers to when a child does not achieve developmental milestones within the expected time frame. These milestones can include areas such as motor skills, speech and language, cognitive abilities, social skills, and emotional regulation. It’s important to note that developmental delay can vary widely in severity and may affect one or multiple areas of development.

For example, a child might take longer than usual to start walking or speaking, which could indicate a delay. These delays can sometimes be temporary and improve with early intervention, while in other cases, they may be a sign of an underlying condition, such as a developmental disorder or medical issue.

If you’re concerned about developmental delay, early assessment and intervention are essential. Here are some helpful resources for developmental delays:

1. The Center for Parent Information and Resources offers guidance on developmental milestones, evaluations, and support for families.
2. The CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program provides free tools for tracking developmental milestones and engaging with healthcare providers.
3. The Georgia Council on Developmental Disabilities lists local services, including early intervention programs like “Babies Can’t Wait.”

May is National Asthma and Allergy Awareness

This designation helps shine a spotlight on these common conditions, spreading knowledge about prevention, management, and treatment. Allergies and asthma share some overlapping symptoms, but they also have distinct characteristics. Here’s a breakdown:

Symptoms of Allergies

Allergy symptoms depend on the allergen involved and can range from mild to severe. Common symptoms include:

• Sneezing, runny or stuffy nose.
• Itchy eyes, nose, or throat.
• Watery, red, or swollen eyes.
• Skin reactions like hives or eczema.
• Shortness of breath or wheezing (in severe cases).
• Digestive issues like nausea or diarrhea (with food allergies).

Severe allergic reactions, known as anaphylaxis, can cause life-threatening symptoms such as difficulty breathing, rapid pulse, and a drop in blood pressure

The most common asthma triggers include allergies, air pollution and other airborne irritants, other health conditions including respiratory infections, exercise or physical activity, weather and air temperature, strong emotions, and some medicines. Asthma triggers vary from person to person. Preventing allergies and asthma involves a combination of avoiding triggers, managing symptoms, and maintaining a healthy environment. Here are some key strategies:

1. Identify and Avoid Triggers:
   • Common triggers include pollen, dust mites, mold, pet dander, and smoke2.
   • Use air purifiers and keep windows closed during high pollen seasons.
2. Maintain a Clean Environment:
   • Regularly clean your home, especially carpets and bedding, to reduce allergens.
   • Use HEPA filters in vacuums and air conditioning systems.
3. Medication and Treatment:
   • Take prescribed medications, such as antihistamines or inhalers, as directed by your doctor.
   • Consider allergy shots if symptoms persist despite other treatments.
4. Healthy Lifestyle:
   • Exercise regularly to strengthen your lungs, but avoid outdoor activities during high-pollen days.
   • Follow an anti-inflammatory diet to support your immune system.
5. Monitor and Plan:
   • Keep track of symptoms and triggers in a diary to better understand patterns.
   • Work with your doctor to create an asthma or allergy management plan.

What’s happening?

Bio Ability Classes and Billing

The month of April found us running more smoothly with our new billing system in place and our wonderful partners being so accommodating for our classes. We have even been able to offer a group class for the first time in a long while.  The children are loving it and the staff are in their element.  We have even added a few new students since we moved and parents have been so wonderful with referring friends to Bio Ability.

Billing will now go out automatically on the 1st of each month. If there are any changes you wish to make to your schedule, please let us know as soon as possible but definitely before billing goes out so we can accommodate your new availability and make any necessary changes to the billing for your account. Please do not hesitate to call and leave a message or text our Bio Ability number or email dawn.koch@bio-ability.com with any questions.

Bio Ability New Home

We are on still looking for a new space for our new home.  We have looked at several locations in Cumming that are either too small, a bad traffic location, don’t have enough parking or are outside our budget.  We are trying to find our new location in Cumming within about a 10 mile radius of our old location if at all possible.  Please be on the lookout and let us know if you know of anywhere that is looking to rent out a big open space with at least two offices. Many of the locations are mostly offices and that does not work for us. We are looking for about 2000 sq ft. with a large open area of at least 1500 sq ft.

Summer Camps

We may offer summer camps at Bio Gymnastics since we have had several inquiries and no new location yet. If interested in summer camps, please email dawn.koch@bio-ability.com with what you are looking for as far as weeks and hours and I will let you know directly as we have more information.

Exercise of the Month: Functional Strength Exercises

Functional strength exercises are movements designed to improve your ability to perform everyday activities more efficiently and safely. These exercises target multiple muscle groups and mimic real-life movements, enhancing strength, balance, coordination, and flexibility.

Examples include:

• Squats (to improve sitting and standing motions)
• Deadlifts (to assist with lifting heavy objects off the ground)
• Lunges (to mimic walking or climbing stairs)
• Push-ups (to build upper-body strength for pushing activities)
• Planks (to strengthen your core for stability)

Grilled Beef & Vegetable Kebabs

Ingredients

• ¾ cup balsamic vinegar
• ¾ cup extra-virgin olive oil
• 2 tablespoons whole-grain mustard
• 1 tablespoon dried oregano
• 1 tablespoon dried rosemary
• 2 cloves garlic, sliced
• ½ teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon ground pepper
• 1 pound tri-tip sirloin steak, trimmed and cut into 32 chunks
• 16 button mushrooms
• 16 cherry tomatoes
• 1 small bell pepper (any color), cut into 16 pieces
• 16 (1 inch) chunks red onion

Directions

1.      Whisk vinegar, oil, mustard, oregano, rosemary, garlic, salt and pepper together in a small bowl.

2.      Skewer beef, mushrooms, tomatoes, bell pepper pieces and onion chunks, alternating evenly, on 8 metal or wooden skewers. Place the kebabs in a 9-by-13-inch baking dish and pour the marinade over them. Refrigerate (or store in a cooler packed with ice) for at least 2 hours and up to 8 hours.

3.      Preheat grill to medium-high. Remove the kebabs from the dish; discard the marinade. Grill the kebabs, turning once, to desired doneness, 6 to 8 minutes total. To grill over your campfire, hold the skewers over the flames (but do not let the flames touch the food), turning regularly, until the meat is cooked to your liking, about 15 minutes for medium.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size 2 kebabs; Calories 237; Fat 10g; Saturated fat 2g; Carbs 12g; Fiber 3g; Protein 25g.