When it comes to outdoor activities for kids, sometimes the good old classic games are still the best! Work in some gross motor fun tonight with one of these old school summer favorites! Check out these other awesome group games for kids! 1 || Kick the CanPlace an empty soda or other can in an open space. One child is “it.” All of the other children run and hide while the child counts to 30. The child who is “it” has to try to find the others and if they are found, they have to go to a designated “jail” area and wait. If another child who is hiding can ... Read More about 10 Classic Games for the Backyard
Printable Mazes for Kids: Fine Motor & Language Skills
We’re so excited to introduce a brand new printable resource that targets multiple skill areas in one fun and engaging activity! Our Printable Mazes for Kids are designed to support kids’ development in fine motor control, visual motor integration, cognitive processing, and language skills—all in one easy to use printable pack!Whether you’re a therapist, teacher, or parent, this activity is a simple and effective way to support a wide range of developmental goals. Plus, kids LOVE them because they don’t feel like work! What Are Fine Motor & Language Mazes? These aren’t your typical ... Read More about Printable Mazes for Kids: Fine Motor & Language Skills
How to Help Kids With Self-Regulation: 30 Games and Activities
How can you support the development of self-regulation in your child? Check out some of our best activities and ideas here! This post contains affiliate links. Read more. What is Self-Regulation? When we talk about self-regulation in kids, we’re referring to the ability to maintain an arousal level that is appropriate for any given situation. Self-regulation also involves having the ability to generate appropriate behavioral and sensory responses to the input in different situations and daily routines and the ability to demonstrate self control: to monitor and ... Read More about How to Help Kids With Self-Regulation: 30 Games and Activities
Child Behavior and Self-Regulation Red Flags
These child behavior and self-regulation red flags may indicate that a child needs extra help or support to manage behaviors and self-regulation. As pediatric OTs and PTs, we spend a lot of time supporting motor skills and functional independence with everyday tasks and routines. But we believe that a huge (and often neglected) part of our role is to help kids develop self-regulation skills. We're so invested in this topic, that we even wrote a whole book about it! If you're a parent or professional who lives or works with kids who struggle with self-regulation, you'll ... Read More about Child Behavior and Self-Regulation Red Flags
Toys and Games for Self-Regulation
Check out all of our favorite toys and games for self-regulation! These would be great gift ides for kids who are working on developing self control and regulation. *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. If you live or work with kids who have difficulty with self-regulation, you know how difficult it can be to provide practice with the exact skills they need most - impulse control, social emotional skills, motor control, attention, and more.These kids often resist participating in activities and often won’t engage in activities that challenge their ability to ... Read More about Toys and Games for Self-Regulation
10 Days to Conquer: Free mini workout to learn how to do A Somersault
Today's 10 Days to Conquer workout for kids is a fun one - kids will learn how to finally conquer a somersault! For some kids, mastering the simple little flip of a somersault comes naturally...and for other kids, it’s not so simple. In order to do a somersault, kids have to be comfortable with getting upside down and have to demonstrate enough core strength to keep their bodies tucked into a little ball.They also have to exert enough leg strength to push themselves off and get the momentum they need to make it all the way up and over!Finally, good balance helps them keep their bodies ... Read More about 10 Days to Conquer: Free mini workout to learn how to do A Somersault
A Surprising Cause of Attention Problems in Kids
It’s more and more common these days to hear about kids with attention problems - kids who can’t sit still, kids who can’t focus on their school work, and kids who are too distracted to carry out simple everyday tasks. We talk a lot here at The Inspired Treehouse about sensory processing needs and how they can impact kids’ ability to attend and function at school and at home. And there are also many children whose attention problems fall into the category of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. But there is one other surprising reason that many children are unable to attend to tasks ... Read More about A Surprising Cause of Attention Problems in Kids
Child Development: Helping Kids Learn To Climb Stairs Safely
One of the most common things I work on in my school-based therapy practice is helping kids learn to climb stairs. The majority of the kiddos in our school district live in single level homes or apartment buildings with elevators, so their exposure to climbing stairs is limited. When these children get into their educational environment and are confronted with a flight of steep, long stairs, sometimes they panic! You will see them going down one step at a time (not alternating), grasping the handrail with both hands, and even stepping sideways! YIKES!! When your child goes to school, he is ... Read More about Child Development: Helping Kids Learn To Climb Stairs Safely
