Touchpoint Service
For children living with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, the early years can bring extra challenges and having the right support can make a real difference. That’s why Shine created the Touchpoint service.
Shine’s Touchpoint service is proactive, therapy-led and designed especially for our Little Stars aged 0 to 2 years. Led by Shine’s Specialist Occupational Therapist and Specialist Physiotherapist team. Our Touchpoint service offers expert guidance and reassurance at key stages of your child’s development.
Our Touchpoint sessions are designed to complement NHS therapy services and are offered at 3, 7, 12 and 24 months. These supportive drop-in Zoom sessions help families understand their child’s development while offering a safe space to ask questions and discuss any concerns along the way.
Child development involves three elements, including sensory, physical, learning and understanding, and spina bifida or hydrocephalus can have an impact on these. It is important to remember all three of these elements when supporting your child as they grow.
Sessions cover a range of topics, including:
- Sensory processing
- Sleep
- Feeding
- Tummy time
- Rolling
- Messy play
- Early mobility and independence
- How to access specialist equipment, including wheelchairs, mobility aids and seating support, where appropriate.
Shine’s specialist team can provide additional condition-specific advice, guidance, and reassurance tailored to your child’s needs.
Video resources
Below you can find our video resources to support your child’s development, use these alongside our drop-in Touchpoint sessions.
We know that meeting milestones can look slightly different for children with spina bifida and hydrocephalus, that’s why we have created these useful videos to help you practice key skills including tips on tummy time and how to make it work for you and your child, how to practice rolling, moving from lying to sitting, practical tips about positioning, supported kneeling, learning to sit, playing with hands and feet and sensory brushing.
Developing these skills takes time, practice and patience, and each of these skills builds on the next stage of development. The key is little and often, and making it fun for you and your child.
Tummy time – Simple everyday ideas
Encouraging rolling – Helping your child build strength
From lying to sitting – Helping your child with the next stage
Supported seating – Tips for everyday positioning
Supported kneeling – Building strength through play
Learning to sit - Helping your child to play and move
Exploring legs and feet - Helping your child build body awareness
Sensory processing – Brushing explained
You can also read our guide to sensory brushing here.
Book your Touchpoint session
If you haven’t already, book your touchpoint session. We can’t wait to meet you.
Here are some other useful links
Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust have easy to understand information and videos, including practical advice on sensory regulation strategies:
Humber Teaching NHS Foundation Trust (1) and East London NHS Foundation Trust (2), both have some great sensory play ideas:
East London NHS Foundation Trust have ideas for selective eaters:
If you are worried about delayed speech, Speech & Language UK have some helpful resources:
For any other questions or concerns, please do contact us.