Sign up now for the FREE Raising Toddlers Online Conference!Today, we’re here to make the case for recess! Learn 10 positive discipline strategies that are alternatives to removing recess as punishment for negative behavior. By now, most of you know that we’re big advocates of free play, movement, and sensory motor exploration here at The Inspired Treehouse. Sometimes it’s disheartening to see how infrequently kids are able to get up and move during the school day when our training and [Continue Reading]
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY: BEST APPS FOR KIDS
You probably already know how we feel about free play, recess, and the importance of unstructured motor experiences and sensory exploration for kids. So it might come as a bit of a surprise that I’m about write a post about screen time. But I can’t help sharing some of the the best apps for kids that I use to promote fine motor and visual motor skills and more! While we will always be huge advocates for active, unstructured play for kids, there is [Continue Reading]
Alternative Seating for the Classroom
Learn about alternative seating and how to use it in the classroom to promote attention, motor skills, and more! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. As pediatric occupational and physical therapists, we believe in the power of movement! We believe that if students have the opportunity to choose alternative seating options throughout their school day, their bodies (and minds) will be awake and ready to learn! That’s why we love our ebook – Wiggle Worms: A Guide to Alternative Seating [Continue Reading]
20 Awesome DIY Fidget Toys
These DIY fidget toys are the perfect way to support kids in the classroom without breaking the bank! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. One of the most challenging things about being a school-based therapist is that we’re often faced with very large caseloads and very limited resources. The good news is that, as therapists, we are trained to problem solve situations and use what we have on hand to conquer just about any roadblock. Therapists tend to be [Continue Reading]
School Bus Movement Rhyme
This free printable school bus movement rhyme is the perfect way to introduce young students to their classroom and new friends! Ask most preschoolers and kindergarteners what their favorite thing about school is and they’ll probably tell you…RIDING ON THE BUS! I know how excited my boys get when they see that big yellow bus come thundering down the street, so I came up with a little rhyme and movement activity for kids that can bring the fun of riding [Continue Reading]
What is Low Muscle Tone and How Can We Support Kids With LMT?
Learn more about low muscle tone (or hypotonia) and how you can support kids who have LMT. Have you ever heard a child described by a health care professional or even a parent as a “floppy baby?” The medical term for this is low muscle tone (LMT) or hypotonia. LMT can be diagnosed at birth or later in life. The cause can be identified as an issue with the neurological or muscular systems or the cause can be unrelated to [Continue Reading]
Amazon Prime Day Deals We’ll Be Watching For: Therapy Must-Haves!
It’s coming!! Amazon Prime Day deals are coming up on July 15 and 16, 2019 and we can’t wait! There are so many products that we have on our therapy wishlists that we’ll be watching on Prime Day to see if we can score a deal! Why is Amazon Prime a good idea for therapists and teachers? Before we go any further, I didn’t think this post would be complete without a quick “Ode to My Amazon Prime Membership”. Guys…I [Continue Reading]
Back to School Movement Scavenger Hunt for the Classroom!
This awesome Back to School Movement Scavenger Hunt for the Classroom will get kids acquainted with their classroom in a unique way! We’ve been working hard on an amazing new pack of products designed to inspire co-treatment ideas between therapists. More on that soon! In the meantime, we thought we’d give you a sneak peak into some of the great ideas that we have in store! Co-treatment is a great way to infuse the skill sets of all related therapy [Continue Reading]
Are Activity Trackers for Kids Worth It?
Wondering whether activity trackers for kids really live up to all the hype? Here’s what one pediatric physical therapist thinks… *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. How many of you have coveted a FitBit or a Garmin or even an Apple Watch to finally help get you into the best shape of your life? These wearable (and fashionable) activity trackers are so popular among adults. Some of you may even benefit from some major insurance perks just by logging [Continue Reading]