At The Inspired Treehouse, we believe that medical professionals aren’t the only ones who should know a thing or two about child development. The more parents, teachers, and caregivers know about promoting health and wellness in kids, the better off kids are! In our practice as pediatric therapists and in our interactions with other parents, we find that many parents, teachers, and caregivers have the same concerns about kids’ development and similar questions about what they can do to help kids achieve developmental milestones on time.
Our posts entitled “Tricks of the Trade” are features where we use our OT and PT minds to help readers conquer common developmental issues that come up for kids using simple strategies and activities. Browse through the list of developmental concerns and click through to find more information as well as practical tips, strategies, and activities you can try at home to address these areas.
Super Fingers: Developing an Efficient Grasp for Writing
This article takes a closer look at the different grasp patterns kids use in everyday life and provides fun activities, products, and toys that are great for working on kids’ grasping skills.
All By Myself: Kids and Clothing Fasteners
Wondering how to promote kids’ independence with clothing fasteners like buttons and zippers? This post is for you! You’ll find fun practice activities, ways to get little fingers prepared for buttoning and zipping, and useful tips and strategies.
What is Physical Therapy?
Want to know more about physical therapy? Lauren describes a day in the life of a pediatric physical therapist.
Making the Cut: 13 Ways to Teach Kids How to Use Scissors
Sometimes kids need a little extra push to learn how to cut with scissors. This post breaks scissor skills down, from the most basic introduction to more complex skills like cutting out shapes.
What Does “Sensory” Really Mean?
With all the buzz out there about sensory play and sensory activities for kids, we thought it would be helpful to give a brief overview of sensory processing, including some useful resources and basic suggestions for engaging your child in sensory activities.
Sensory Processing: 5 Things Occupational Therapists Want You to Know
A more in-depth look at sensory processing where our resident occupational therapists address some common misconceptions about sensory processing.
What’s Wrong With W-Sitting?
All kids have the potential to begin the W-sitting habit, with their bodies in a slumped or hunched position and their legs wide around their bottoms. If you look at them from above, their legs form the letter “W”. In this post, our physical therapist explains why this position can be problematic for anatomical and motor development in kids.
Sensory Processing: The Vestibular System
This post is all about the vestibular system – what is it, why is it important to growth and development, and what can you do to support it in your child. Learn about how this important sensory system helps us regulate balance and movement.
Sensory Processing: The Best Toys for Vestibular Development
The vestibular system has to do with balance and movement. This important sense is one of the foundations for healthy sensory processing allows us to maintain our balance and to experience gravitational security: confidence that we can maintain a position without falling. It allows us to move smoothly and efficiently. What better way to help kids develop their vestibular systems than by getting them up and moving with some of these great toys!
Core Strengthening Exercises for Kids
Core strengthening isn’t just for adults. Kids need to have a strong foundation of strength in the center of their bodies too. Check out some of our favorite moves for kids to get strong in their core!
Core Strengthening Toys for Kids
A collection of some of our favorite therapist-approved toys and games that help kids work on core strength and stability. They’ll be having so much fun, they won’t even realize they’re getting a workout!
Sensory Processing: The Tactile System
Our occupational therapists explain the Tactile System: what is it and why is it important for healthy child development?
Therapist-Approved Toys for Tactile Play
These are some of our favorite toys that we use regularly in our pediatric therapy practice and with our little ones at home to provide fun, playful exposure to tactile experiences.
Sensory Smart Sleep Tips for Kids
Learn about some simple sensory smart strategies that any parent can use to help calm a child at bedtime – because a well-rested kid is a happy kid!
Child Development: Toe Walking
Our pediatric physical therapist explores toe walking: What is it? What causes it? And how is it treated?
Child Development: Tummy Time
Learn more about this important part of a baby’s development and find lots of ways to make Tummy Time more fun for you and your child!
Promoting School Readiness All Summer Long
Check out these great ideas for keeping your child’s functional school skills up to par for the upcoming school year!
Sensory Processing: The Auditory System
Our pediatric occupational therapists explain the auditory system, discussing potential issues with this area of development and giving great suggestions for how to promote healthy development of this system.
Help Your Child Learn to Ride a Bike
Riding a bicycle can be an important right of passage for a child. Check out our expert tips for getting your little one up on two wheels!
6 Smart Ways to Get Kids Ready for School
Check out this roundup of our best suggestions for building functional school readiness skills. From dressing skills to handwriting, we’ve got you covered!
