These tips are a great start for kids who are just learning how to kick a ball! You have watched your baby rapidly progress through the stages of development from rolling to crawling, standing to walking, and running to jumping. Before you know it, and probably before you’re quite ready, your kiddo will be ready to be the next soccer star. You will start to notice her picking up her foot awkwardly to try to kick a ball as she [Continue Reading]
Alerting Sensory Input for Kids
These are some of our best ideas for providing alerting sensory input for kids! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. In our school-based therapy practice, hardly a day goes by without at least one parent or teacher asking us about calming sensory techniques, calming breathing techniques, and calming movement activities for kids. We definitely know that there is a huge need for these strategies and ideas for many kids in school settings. These ideas are perfect for kids [Continue Reading]
Volume Game for Kids
Check out this printable volume game for kids! It’s a great way to help kids learn to use an appropriate volume and tone of voice. This post contains affiliate links. Read more. Bringing kids’ awareness to how they can use their voices to create different volumes and styles of speaking is a great way to teach kids to regulate their volume levels and to use an appropriate voice for any given situation. I recently came up with this volume game [Continue Reading]
Swimming Tips for Sensory Kids & Reluctant Swimmers
Check out these 10 swimming tips for sensory kids and kids who are reluctant to get into the water. If you have a typically functioning sensory system, transitioning between one environment and another is probably pretty simple. You can move from being indoors to outdoors without much thought or awareness of the changes in the way the air feels or smells, or the difference between the surfaces you may be walking on. A child, or adult, with sensory processing issues [Continue Reading]
DIY Window Clings & Movement Game
Making these DIY window clings is a great fine motor activity for kids and playing with them can promote coordination, body awareness, and more! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. We love a good DIY project here at The Inspired Treehouse, especially one that’s cheap and easy! We think this one could be a really fun idea for an occupational or physical therapy session, or for a teacher to make and keep on hand in the classroom, or even [Continue Reading]
Hardware Store Finds: DIY Games & Activities for Kids!
These creative and budget-friendly DIY games and activities for kids are the perfect additions to this school year’s supply list! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. The final third of the summer is always a time for me to get organized for the upcoming school year. I compile my student folders, get my printable therapy planner all set up for the year, and take inventory of equipment. I also hunt for some cool new toys to add to my [Continue Reading]
Speech Development During Bath Time
Check out this speech-language pathologist’s favorite ideas for promoting speech development during bath time! I work full-time (plus some additional gigs during the school year) as a speech-language pathologist. Every summer I PROMISE myself that I’m going to have time for a little R&R, some home remodeling projects, and a new exercise plan… But somehow it just never happens. I’m not sure how I always end up so busy in the summer! Can you relate? If summer is flying [Continue Reading]
Beginner Cutting Skills for Toddlers and Young Kids
These simple beginner cutting skills are great for helping young kids and kids with fine motor delays to learn how to snip paper and move scissors across paper. *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. As a pediatric occupational therapist, when I first start teaching kids how to use scissors, I start with snipping – simply getting used to that motion of grasping, opening, and closing the scissors. But usually, it’s not enough to just have kids snip along [Continue Reading]
The Secret to Helping Kids Learn to Put On Shoes
Check out this occupational therapist’s secret to helping kids learn to put on shoes independently. *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. There are a handful of developmental concerns that parents and teachers come to me about time and time again. Some of the most common? Potty training, picky eating, handwriting, and hand strength. Another huge one is dressing skills – specifically, kids who can’t put on shoes on or tie their shoes independently. When Kids Can’t Put On [Continue Reading]