Heart Month: Understanding Heart Disease Risk in Children with Special Needs

February’s Heart Month is a reminder that heart health matters at every age—including childhood. For families of children with special needs, understanding cardiovascular risks can be especially important. Certain genetic, developmental, or medical conditions may increase the likelihood of heart disease, making early awareness and proactive care essential.

Why Some Children Face Higher Risk

Some conditions that affect growth, metabolism, muscle tone, or overall development can also influence heart health. For example:

• Genetic syndromes may be associated with congenital heart defects or structural differences in the heart.
• Neuromuscular conditions can affect how efficiently the heart and lungs work together.
• Metabolic or endocrine disorders may contribute to higher cholesterol, blood pressure, or weight challenges.
• Limited mobility can reduce cardiovascular fitness over time.

Not every child with special needs will experience heart issues, but understanding potential risks helps families and providers stay ahead of concerns.

Supporting Heart Health Every Day

Small, consistent habits can make a meaningful difference:

• Encourage movement in ways that feel accessible. Adaptive physical activities—like water play, supported stretching, or short movement breaks—can help strengthen the heart without overwhelming the child.

• Prioritize balanced nutrition. Simple, heart‑healthy choices such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins support long‑term wellness.
• Monitor key health indicators. Regular checkups allow providers to track blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol when appropriate.

Partnering With Healthcare Providers

Children with special needs often see multiple specialists, which creates a valuable opportunity for coordinated care. Families can:

• Share updates about energy levels, breathing, or changes in activity tolerance.
• Ask whether additional heart screenings are recommended based on their child’s diagnosis.
• Discuss medications, as some treatments may influence heart rate or blood pressure.

A Heart‑Centered Approach to Care

Heart Month is a chance to celebrate the strength, resilience, and individuality of children with special needs. By staying informed and working closely with healthcare teams, families can support both everyday well‑being and long‑term heart health.

Together, we can help every child grow with confidence, comfort, and a healthy heart.

Dental Care for Children with Special Needs

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month—a perfect moment to spotlight the importance of oral health for children with special needs. Every child deserves a healthy smile, yet sensory sensitivities, medical conditions, or motor challenges can make dental care feel overwhelming for families. With the right strategies and support, daily routines and dental visits can become far more comfortable and successful.

Building Comfort at Home

• Create predictable routines. Brushing at the same time each day helps reduce anxiety and builds familiarity.
• Use adaptive tools. Options like angled toothbrushes, silicone finger brushes, or electric brushes with softer vibrations can make brushing easier and more tolerable.
• Take it step by step. Some children benefit from practicing one part of the routine at a time—holding the toothbrush, touching it to their lips, then gradually brushing.
• Make it visual. Picture schedules, timers, or social stories can help children understand what to expect.

Preparing for Dental Visits

• Choose a dentist experienced with special needs care. Many pediatric dentists receive additional training in behavior guidance, sensory accommodations, and communication strategies.
• Ask about pre‑visit supports. Office tours, meet‑and‑greets, or “practice visits” can help children feel more at ease.
• Share what works. Let the dental team know about your child’s communication style, sensory preferences, and calming strategies.

Creating Positive Experiences

A supportive environment—both at home and in the dental office—can transform oral care from a stressful task into a confidence‑building routine. Small steps, patience, and collaboration go a long way in helping children with special needs maintain healthy teeth and gums.

This month, let’s celebrate every child’s smile and continue working together to make dental care accessible, comfortable, and empowering for all.

What’s happening?

Weather closures

Just a reminder that there are times we may be closed due to bad weather or the possibility of bad weather. Because we rent space from Bio Gymnastics, we close if they close. We make these decisions based on many factors including the fact that our students and staff come from all over the area and while you may not be affected by the weather, others are. We strive to keep all of our families and staff safe. If a class is missed due to a weather closure, we will schedule makeup classes. If you have not scheduled a makeup class, please contact us at out phone number by text and provide your availability to schedule. We strive to schedule makeups within a few weeks but they are good for 3 months so don’t fret if we have not been able to schedule right away.

Cold & Flu Season Reminder

As we move through cold and flu season, it’s especially important to keep our exercise classes healthy and safe for everyone. Please help us reduce the spread of illness by practicing good hygiene habits at home and during class. Encourage frequent handwashing, cover coughs and sneezes, and remind children to avoid touching their faces when possible.

If your child is showing signs of illness—such as fever, cough, sore throat, vomiting, or general discomfort—please keep them home until they are fully recovered. Rest is important for healing, and staying home helps protect other children, families, and staff.

Thank you for helping us maintain a healthy environment where all children can participate comfortably and safely.

Exercise of the Month: Animal Walks

Animal Walks are a playful, imaginative way to help children with special needs build strength, balance, and body awareness. By pretending to move like different animals, kids get a full‑body workout without it feeling like exercise. This makes Animal Walks an excellent choice for families, therapists, and educators looking to add movement into daily routines.

Why Animal Walks Work

Animal Walks support a wide range of developmental needs:

• Core strength and stability Many movements require children to hold their bodies up against gravity, strengthening the core and improving posture.
• Motor planning and coordination Mimicking animals encourages kids to think about how their bodies move and sequence steps.
• Sensory input Heavy‑work movements like crawling or stomping provide calming proprioceptive input.
• Creativity and engagement Kids stay motivated when exercise feels like play.

Try These Kid‑Friendly Animal Walks

• Bear Walk Hands and feet on the floor, hips up, walking forward like a big, lumbering bear. Great for upper‑body strength.
• Crab Walk Sitting with hands behind and lifting the hips off the ground to “scuttle” sideways. Builds arm and core strength.
• Frog Jumps Squatting low and leaping forward. Helps with leg strength and balance.
• Penguin Shuffle Arms at sides, small steps forward. Perfect for practicing controlled movement.
• Giraffe Stretch Reaching arms high overhead and taking slow, tall steps. Encourages stretching and body awareness.

Tips for Success

• Keep it short and fun. A few minutes at a time works well for many children.
• Use visuals or demonstrations. Pictures or modeling the movement can help kids understand what to do.
• Offer choices. Let children pick their favorite animals to increase motivation.
• Adapt as needed. Movements can be done seated, supported, or at a slower pace depending on the child’s abilities.

Recipe:  Tahini-Yogurt Dip

Ingredients:

• • 2 tablespoons tahini (see Tip)
  • 1 tablespoon lemon juice, plus more to taste
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup low-fat plain Greek yogurt
  • ¼ cup chopped fresh cilantro

Directions:

1. Combine tahini, lemon juice, garlic and salt in a small bowl and mix until smooth. Mix in yogurt and cilantro and stir well to combine (see Tip). Add more lemon juice, if desired. Transfer to a bowl to serve.
2. Tip: If the tahini is very thick, you can use a food processor to help blend the dip. Place all ingredients except cilantro in the food processor and process until smooth. Add cilantro and pulse until well mixed, about 20 seconds.
3. Serve with a variety of vegetables for dipping.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 88; Fat 5g; Carbs 4g; Protein 7g.