Check out these 10 swimming tips for sensory kids and kids who are reluctant to get into the water. If you have a typically functioning sensory system, transitioning between one environment and another is probably pretty simple. You can move from being indoors to outdoors without much thought or awareness of the changes in the way the air feels or smells, or the difference between the surfaces you may be walking on. A child, or adult, with sensory processing issues may have an entirely different experience. As soon as a door opens from the house to the outdoor space, they may ... Read More about Swimming Tips for Sensory Kids & Reluctant Swimmers
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Simple Core Strengthening With a Playground Ball
These simple core strengthening ideas use a simple prop that almost everyone has on hand! When you think of kids and their favorite toys, what is the most universal one that comes to mind? A ball, of course!Balls can be used indoors or out, they can be dribbled, bounced, tossed, kicked or caught, and they can be large or small. One thing is for sure, kids love balls! And, guess what? So do pediatric physical and occupational therapists! Why? Because they are the perfect props for promoting a ton of developmental skills for kids.One of the most important aspects of child development ... Read More about Simple Core Strengthening With a Playground Ball
Keeping Kids Calm: The Best Calming Movement Ideas
These easy activities all use repetitive, rhythmic movement to provide gentle stimulation to the vestibular system, which can help keep kids calm. A few weeks ago, I shared one of my all-time favorite simple calming sensory tricks that I use with kids in my therapy practice on a daily basis. That trick was so easy and effective that it made me think of another one of my tried and true favorite calming strategies for kids: repetitive, rhythmic movement.Think of all of the ways we use to soothe a crying infant. We swaddle them, we sing to them, we shush them and, last but not least…we ... Read More about Keeping Kids Calm: The Best Calming Movement Ideas
10 Calming Techniques and Transition Strategies for Kids
Today, we’re taking a closer look at calming techniques and transition strategies that can help prevent tantrums in kids. Want more ideas for how to work on easing self-regulation struggles? Read below to download the Self-Regulation Games & Activities Printable! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. If you’ve worked with kids for awhile, you know all about transitions and transition strategies and calming techniques during transitions...those little magic tricks that creative teachers, therapists, caregivers, and others have invented to help prevent tantrums ... Read More about 10 Calming Techniques and Transition Strategies for Kids
Printable Pack: Hallway Games for Waiting!
Waiting time doesn’t have to be wasted time! Try these 10 Printable Hallway Games and you'll be able to use waiting time in the hallway to build motor and self-regulation skills! It might be one of the most challenging parts of the school day - standing in the hallway with a big group of kids...waiting. Waiting for the bathroom, waiting to go into the gym, waiting for the bus. Almost all kids have trouble with waiting and walking in line at one time or another. It requires attention, patience and self-regulation, which don’t always come easily to preschoolers, primary schoolers, and ... Read More about Printable Pack: Hallway Games for Waiting!
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
50 Sensory Ideas for Small Spaces
Check out some of our best sensory ideas for small spaces! From movement activities, to tactile activities, to visual activities, and more! *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. If you’re reading this post, you may be a school-based therapist working in a cramped storage closet or a tiny corner of the hallway.Or maybe you’re a teacher who knows how important it is to get those kiddos up and moving...but you have no space to do it.Maybe you’re a parent whose little one craves movement and other sensory input, but you just don’t have the room for lots of equipment ... Read More about 50 Sensory Ideas for Small Spaces
15 Tips for Picky Eaters
Do you know kids who are picky eaters? You've come to the right place! Here are some of our favorite tips for conquering picky eating! This post contains affiliate links. Read more. This post is part of a year-long series with 9 other awesome pediatric therapy bloggers about the Functional Skills of Childhood! Last month, we took a closer look at sensory strategies for sleep. Be sure to check out what our other therapist friends had to say about all of the skills involved in personal care! This summer, I spent 3 days with two of my favorite therapy friends at the Ohio ... Read More about 15 Tips for Picky Eaters