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The Inspired Treehouse

Growing healthy bodies and minds through play!

A Surprising Cause of Attention Problems in Kids

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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

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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

Inclusion: How to Provide Therapy Services in the Classroom

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From a therapy standpoint, inclusion means “pushing into” classrooms to deliver services rather than pulling kids out for therapy sessions.One thing I’ve learned about inclusion during my years as a school based occupational therapist...it can be tricky. Another thing I’ve learned?  It’s totally worth it. Side note - the info in this post isn't just for OTs! If you're a PT or SLP who is interested in exploring what it's like to push into the classroom, this post is for you too! *This post contains affiliate links.  Read more. I grew up with a sibling with significant special needs ... Read More about Inclusion: How to Provide Therapy Services in the Classroom

CHILD DEVELOPMENT FEATURED POST: SUPPORTING SELF-REGULATION

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We couldn't be more excited to be featuring this post written by our good friend, Lindsey Lieneck from Yogapeutics.  Lindsey is a fellow occupational therapist and child development expert who has combined her OT education and training with her love of yoga (she's a certified yoga instructor) to create the awesomeness that is Yogapeutics - an aerial yoga studio for kids with a focus on "allowing kids to thrive in school and life" through mindfulness and sensory strategies.  Yep, you read that right...aerial yoga!  Awesome, right?  Trust us, you'll want to see it for yourself, so be sure to ... Read More about CHILD DEVELOPMENT FEATURED POST: SUPPORTING SELF-REGULATION

Paying Attention: 30 Sensory Strategies

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These days, it’s not uncommon to hear about kids who have difficulty with paying attention.  They can’t sit still, they can’t keep their eyes on what they’re doing, or they miss important instructions and details.Scroll down and fill out the form to grab the free printable! Sensory Processing and Attention Our sensory systems help keep our bodies and minds at an optimal state of alertness and arousal for any given situation.  Calm enough to listen, attend, work, and engage but not so calm that we’re falling asleep.  Alert enough that we can take in the information in our ... Read More about Paying Attention: 30 Sensory Strategies

Are Activity Trackers for Kids Worth It?

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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 your daily activity levels.Kids are beginning to catch onto the activity tracker craze as well!  I even use them in my ... Read More about Are Activity Trackers for Kids Worth It?

Hand Dominance Development

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Hand dominance development simply refers to the fact that most children gravitate toward one hand or the other as their “strong” hand - the hand that is better at performing complex tasks like handwriting, picking up small objects, or using a fork or a spoon.Try spreading jelly on a piece of toast using the “wrong” hand and you’ll see what hand dominance is all about. *This post contains affiliate links.  Read more. Hand Dominance Development: Will They be a “lefty” or a “righty”? The all-important question of hand dominance comes up a lot in my occupational therapy practice, ... Read More about Hand Dominance Development

The Most Common Developmental Red Flags for Infants

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Learn about some  common developmental red flags for infants that we use to identify developmental delays and other problems. If there’s one thing we’re sure of (as moms and as professionals), it’s that child development and developmental milestones don’t always unfold in a perfect, linear way. There is a range of what’s considered “typical” development and all kids develop at their own pace.While this is true, there are certain markers or developmental red flags that we therapists might notice that can point to possible developmental concerns that may warrant a ... Read More about The Most Common Developmental Red Flags for Infants

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