Holiday market brings shopping experience to youngsters in pediatric therapy
Buying gifts for others may be at the heart of what Dec. 25 represents, but the process of doing so can have its drawbacks.
“I don’t especially love shopping when it’s busy and crazy and loud,” physical therapist Rebecca Lipinski said.
Nor do many of the clients at her clinic, Justabout Pediatric Therapy in Peters Township.
To provide a less-hectic environment for the youngsters, she and the occupational, speech and physical therapists on her staff organized a weeklong sensory-friendly holiday market.
“We wanted to bring it to them so that they got the experience of shopping, and the benefits: thinking about others, paying for a gift and getting something in return, and then being able to give it on Christmas Day,” Lipinski said. “It was in a small space with therapists they know really well. So if we had a child with challenges and it was too overwhelming, we could take a break. We know how to work with them so that they get the most out of the activity.”
Among the shoppers was 6-year-old Hope, who expressed plenty of excitement while selecting gifts for her members of her family. Plus she chose one for herself that represents an oldie, but goodie.
“I want Charlie Brown,” she said, pointing eagerly at a Charles Schulz Peanuts book called, perhaps ironically, “Lucy Knows Best.”
But that came after the presents for family members: a makeup case and doll for Mommy and chocolate-covered marshmallows for Daddy. And actually, her first selection was for brother Eli.
“Don’t get him a dog toy,” Lipinski implored as Hope perused a table full of gifts for pets. “Please, don’t get him a dog toy!”
Hope giggled and instead picked a Pop It toy, a tray full of brightly colored silicone, similar to bubble wrap but reusable.
As a matter of fact, Hope doesn’t particularly care for dogs at this point in her life.
“But I like unicorns,” she said.
After getting gifts for everyone, she paid Lipinski and speech-language pathologist Jocelyn Hrapla with actual U.S. currency.
“We really wanted to make sure that they could bring cash and pay with cash, and they got a receipt to take home, to make it as realistic as possible,” Lipinski said. “We’re trying every year to add some more activities that are very lifelike, because we don’t want our kids to just sit in a room and do therapy. We want it to carry over into real-life experiences.”
Hope wrapped up her shopping experience by placing the presents into festive gift bags, as Lipinski handed her sheets of colorful tissue paper and told her:
“You know what you’re going to do with this, Hope, to make it fancy? You’ve got to scrunch it up. Can you scrunch it up?”
That she did, much to her merriment.
“Look. Now you can’t see the present,” Lipinski said. “It keeps it secret.”
With that, Hope was ready to put everything under the Christmas tree, except for “Lucy Knows Best,” which she wanted to enjoy a bit sooner.
“She does like to read, Miss Jocelyn,” Lipinski reported. “She’s in first grade and she’s a good reader, Mommy says.”
Along with the holiday market, Justabout Pediatric Therapy clients also are making holiday cards to send to veterans in the VA Pittsburgh Healthcare System.
“We have the philosophy that all kids can do something kind,” said Lipinski, a Peters Township resident who opened the clinic four years ago.
“It doesn’t matter what their level of ability is, but they can do something to show kindness toward somebody else, and to get the feedback of doing something nice.”