Read about how and why fidget toys for kids work and learn how to make some super simple fidget toys using balloons and other supplies you have on hand! Many kids (and adults) have a strong need to fidget with objects in order to pay attention and remain calm and focused. Some research indicates that fidgeting may be related to increased attention as well as retention of information. And this is consistent with the anecdotal evidence we see every [Continue Reading]
10 Fun Ways to Play & Learn With Dot Markers
Dot markers are one of our all-time favorite therapy supplies! There are so many fun ways to use them to promote fine motor and visual motor skills! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. If you’re a teacher or therapist, you probably have a set of dot markers somewhere in your stash of supplies. If you don’t, you definitely want to pick up a pack of them ASAP. And if you do have them but haven’t used them in awhile [Continue Reading]
Felt Flower Craft for Kids
If you’re looking for a simple and fun flower craft for kids, this is the project for you! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. We love this cute and easy flower craft for working on bilateral coordination and clothing fasteners (buttoning)! For kids who are just learning how to button (or who are struggling with getting the hang of clothing fasteners), this is a great way to practice and ease the challenge a little bit by using a [Continue Reading]
Group Facilitation Tips for School Therapists
These tips and strategies for group facilitation will come in handy for any pediatric therapist who is working with groups of kids during treatment sessions. As a new school-based therapist, I had plenty of questions for my boss, other therapists, and the teachers I worked with. But I spent most of my time questioning myself. Was I writing good goals? Were my evals okay? Were my treatments effective? Would I ever feel confident and comfortable in this job? I felt [Continue Reading]
DIY Calm Down Kit
These are our favorite ideas to add into a calm down kit for kids – what else would you add? This post contains affiliate links. Read more. Recently at The Treehouse, we’ve worked with several kiddos who often become overstimulated and overwhelmed during our play groups. During our groups, kids move through all different kinds of play-based activities – some quieter seated activities and some more active movement activities. For many of our kids who have behavior challenges, who struggle [Continue Reading]
Fine Motor Patterning Holiday Game for Kids
Looking for fun holiday games for kids? We’ve got you covered with these free printable block pattern cards! It’s that time of year! Santa’s elves are working tirelessly to finish making, wrapping and shuffling all of this year’s gifts into his sleigh. Last week, we inspired some gross motor movement with our present stacking Christmas game. It was perfect for promoting core strength, balance, and social skills. We thought we would just continue on the present theme so you [Continue Reading]
Basic Drawings for Kids & Why Drawing Matters
These templates offer some basic drawings for kids so they can get the practice and exposure they need to feel more confident and creative with drawing! At the beginning of this school year, our school-based therapy team met to discuss what supports we could put into place for our kindergarteners who were struggling in some developmental skill areas, but had not yet been formally identified by the team as needing services. As we made our way through the list [Continue Reading]
50+ Hands On Learning Activities for under $50
Check out how we shopped for and prepped more than 50 hands-on learning activities for less than $50 and packaged it up with Playful Learning Lab for Kids to make the best teacher or therapist gift ever! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. We just finished up almost a year of hard work on our book, Playful Learning Lab for Kids. And as soon as we had the beautiful final copies in our hands, it occurred to me that [Continue Reading]
Heavy Work Ideas for School
These heavy work ideas for school are the perfect way to help promote calmer, more organized behavior for kids. *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. These days, it’s not uncommon for teachers to encounter kids who can’t sit still, kids who can’t attend, or kids who can’t regulate their behaviors. In fact, many of the teachers we work with tell us that sometimes it seems like they have entire classrooms full of kids who need constant redirection to stay [Continue Reading]