For children with special needs, playing with toys can be a unique experience. Adaptive toys allow children with developmental issues to learn important tools such as hand eye coordination. These special toys can be as simple as a cup holder or joy-stick affair that serves as a wheelchair trainer, but can make a meaningful impact in the learning experience of children with special needs.

You may think of your local library as only a place for books, but thanks to the efforts of our local librarians at the Palm Harbor Library, adaptive toys are an option for families too. Our local Palm Harbor Library is one of only two libraries in the state of Florida that lend interactive toys for children with special needs. The library calls them Tools and Toys to Go and the toys are collected through an adaptive toy collection each year.

For families, therapists, and teachers, this program is a godsend. The cost of these toys make them difficult to purchase individually, which is why the library program is the perfect solution for this community. As your local pediatric dentist, we’re proud to work with our special needs patients each and every day. We are supportive of the adaptive toy collection at our local library, which is why our staff donates to this program rather than exchanging gifts each year.

For families looking to get involved with the adaptive toy collection, we will have a “giving tree” in our lobby. You can help in one of two ways:

1. Make a cash donation to the library at our front desk
2. Choose a toy from our “giving tree” and bring it here unwrapped by December 31st.

For more information about the program please visit: http://www.tbnweekly.com/content_articles/071113_phb-01.txt

As your Palm Harbor pediatric dentist, our staff is educated, experienced, and compassionate when it comes to the care of our special needs children. Children of all ages with special health care needs absolutely require comprehensive preventative dental care, which is why our staff is proud to have the tools and knowledge to care for each of our patients’ individual needs.

This year marks the 32nd Annual Festival of Trees event hosted by the Arc Tampa Bay Foundation. As your local Palm Harbor pediatric dentist, we’re participating this year by donating a tree to be on display at this year’s event. Our office is beginning to decorate our tree called “AllI Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth!” You can find our tree on display November 18th through the 20th at The Long Center.

For more information please visit: http://thearctbfoundation.org/events/32nd-annual-festival-of-trees/

With the holidays around the corner, chances are your family will be eating more sweets and your kids are probably excited about getting to eat their fair share of sugar at this year’s family party or school event. Even though the holidays are often accompanied by soda, candy, cookies, and cake, there are plenty of ways to help protect your little one’s teeth without missing out on the fun! Here are some tips to keep in mind for this holiday season:

• Be sure that your kids brush shortly after eating a sugary snack. By rinsing and brushing, this will help to wash away sugar and acids that could cause damage to their teeth.
• Incorporate your dessert into your holiday meals. By eating sweets at the same time as a balanced meal, it helps to neutralize acids and displace some of that sugar.
• Make toothbrushing fun for your kiddos by celebrating with holiday toothbrushes or colored floss. By making good oral hygiene habits enjoyable for your kids, you’ll be encouraging a lifetime of healthy smiles.

If your little ones are hoping for their two front teeth this Christmas, be sure to teach them the importance of good dental habits all year round. From Thanksgiving to New Year’s and every holiday in between, don’t forget to give your teeth the gift of some TLC this holiday season!