These fun obstacle course ideas are the perfect way to promote developmental skills while keeping kids engaged and interested! *We received complimentary Tumbl Trak products in exchange for this review. All opinions and views are our own. *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. You’re getting ready to set up an obstacle course for your kids at home, in your therapy room, or in the gym. You haul out the cones, slide the balance beam into place, stretch out your tunnel [Continue Reading]
Simple Squishy Ball Listening Activity
Looking for a fun and super simple listening game that targets body awareness and sequencing? This is the activity for you! This post contains affiliate links. Read more. Do you ever have those moments where you have just a few minutes of downtime to fill with a group of kids? Maybe your class is ready a few minutes early for dismissal. Or maybe you finish up a therapy session before time is up. Not everyone would know what to [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]
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]
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]
Wikki Stix: 12 Fun Ways to Play
Check out our favorite ways to play with this classic toy! This post contains affiliate links. Read more. There are a handful of toys and supplies that, as soon as I discover them, become instant staples in my day-to-day therapy practice. These materials are usually portable, multi-functional, and super appealing to kids. They’re things I can grab out of my therapy bag for a quick on-the-fly treatment session with a child, no matter how old they are or what skill [Continue Reading]