Here's a super easy way to play with play dough that's the perfect addition to your list of fun fall activities for kids! Playing with play dough is one of my favorite fine motor activities to do with my kids at home and at school because there are millions of ways to make it new and exciting, just by adding novel objects or presenting it in a different way.I love the way other bloggers bring seasonal and natural objects into play dough play, like the Fall Play Dough Invitation to Play from Fantastic Fun and Learning.One afternoon, I was playing with play dough with my boys and we ... Read More about Fall Activities for Kids: Making an Impression
9 Must-Have Therapy Toys & Tools
These occupational therapy toys and physical therapy toys are all you need to create tons of fun and engaging activities for kids. There’s something magical about opening up your therapy bag at the start of a session — like a Mary Poppins bag - full of fun, movement, and skill-building opportunities. Whether you’re a school-based OT, a traveling PT, or an SLP who’s always on the go, having the right tools at your fingertips can make sessions more engaging, productive, and adaptable. The best therapy bag items are the ones that work across settings, target multiple skill areas, and ... Read More about 9 Must-Have Therapy Toys & Tools
Visual Memory Games
Here are fun and engaging visual memory games for kids with executive functioning challenges — perfect for therapists, parents, or teachers! Visual memory is the ability to remember or recall information that you have seen. As pediatric therapists, we often see that children who struggle with self-regulation also have difficulties with visual memory. Self-regulation is how a child manages their emotions, behavior, responses, and attention. If a child has difficulty with focusing or filtering outside distractions, it’s much more difficult for them to process and retain ... Read More about Visual Memory Games
What is Co Regulation?
If you live or work with children, you've likely learned all about self-regulation. But you may not be as familiar with the concept of co regulation. Read on to learn more and to download the free handout! While we often think of self-regulation as a skill (or set of skills) that a child demonstrates independently, the ability to self-regulate actually depends largely on guidance and positive interactions with caregivers and other adults in a child's life. Supportive interactions between a child and an adult allow the child to regulate their emotions, behavior, thoughts, and state of ... Read More about What is Co Regulation?
Friendship Bracelet Tutorials for Every Age!
This friendship bracelet tutorial has something for everyone! Download the free printable tutorials and start creating! Friendship bracelets are a timeless activity that many of us remember making and sharing with our friends. Colorful thread woven together in fun patterns, exchanged as tokens of connection and friendship? What could be more fun??But for occupational therapists, educators, and parents, friendship bracelets are more than just a cute little craft. They’re a hidden goldmine for supporting fine motor skills and other developmental skills too!Whether you’re working in a ... Read More about Friendship Bracelet Tutorials for Every Age!
Tactile Defensiveness
Learn more about "Tactile Defensiveness" or "Tactile Hypersensitivity" and how to support kids who struggle with tactile sensory experiences. Our sense of touch is one of the first sensory systems to develop when a child is growing in utero. And research shows that normal touch experiences between parents/caregivers and babies is extremely important for social, behavioral, motor, and cognitive development.Appropriate tactile and proprioceptive responses are crucial for the achievement of developmental milestones like walking, grasping, and social/communication skills.Click here to learn ... Read More about Tactile Defensiveness
How to Use a Kickboard: 10 Fun Ideas for Kids
Check out our best ideas for how to use a kickboard with kids to build strength and motor skills in the pool! Kids seem naturally drawn to water and, my kids especially, could spend hours and hours in a pool on a daily basis during the hot months of summer. My oldest has been a water lover since the age of two. Now, at 18 years old and headed to college, she has traded in her fins, paddles, snorkel and kickboard to coach the littlest swimmers on our local team. I asked her for some of her best tips and tricks for using a kickboard to help kids get stronger while having ... Read More about How to Use a Kickboard: 10 Fun Ideas for Kids
What is a Social Story? 8 Pro Tips!
What is a social story? Learn more below and find our best tips for making effective stories for the kids in your home, classroom, or therapy practice! Navigating social situations and daily routines can be tricky for kids, especially those with autism, ADHD, or other developmental differences. Social stories can help! What is a Social Story? A social story is a simple, engaging short story that can help children understand expectations and emotions and generate regulated responses in a variety of situations—whether it’s taking turns, handling big feelings, going to the doctor, or ... Read More about What is a Social Story? 8 Pro Tips!