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. *This post contains affiliate links. Read more. I grew up with a sibling with significant special needs what I remember most about her experience in school was her desperation to fit in, to be accepted, to be treated with respect, and to be given the same opportunities as her ... Read More about Inclusion: How to Provide OT Services in the Classroom
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MOVEMENT MONDAY: INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS WITH A GROSS MOTOR TWIST!
Last Monday, our Facebook page was full of fabulous gross motor indoor activities for kids that were shared by YOU! We loved your great ideas - keep them coming!! Did you have a nice Valentine's Day? We enjoyed some much needed relaxation and family time that included making heart sugar cookies! We have a fantastic family recipe for yummy sugar cookie dough that we whip up for every holiday. Family traditions rock! Before we share this week's Movement Monday activities, we wanted to make sure you saw our 9 Awesome Movement Songs for Kids from last week! Songs are awesome ... Read More about MOVEMENT MONDAY: INDOOR ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS WITH A GROSS MOTOR TWIST!
Expert Tips & Child Development Resources for Parents
These expert tips and child development resources for parents will give you ideas to support your kids health and well-being all year long! As moms and dads, we all share the same mission: to find the most effective ways to raise happy, healthy kids.But being a parent is tough. In this age of social media, it’s easy to get carried away, comparing yourself to others and wondering if you’re doing everything right. That’s why we’re here. We want to get back to the basics - to bring the focus back to simple, real life ideas from trusted child development experts.We’ve called on some ... Read More about Expert Tips & Child Development Resources for Parents
Christmas Activities for Kids: Gross Motor Bingo!
We love coming up with new and creative Christmas activities for kids! And we thought we could all use a little more movement during a long holiday break! Our Gross Motor Bingo for roadtrips was so popular that I decided it would be fun to come up with a version for Christmas that would keep kids occupied, give them an opportunity to move their bodies and introduce the idea of a little friendly competition! This gross motor activity can be done inside or outside as part of a team or individually. Encourage your kiddos to be creative as they come up with ways to complete each of the ... Read More about Christmas Activities for Kids: Gross Motor Bingo!
How to Teach Kids to Tie Shoes
Want to learn how to teach kids to tie shoes? Check out some of our favorite pediatric OT-approved methods! One of the most common child development questions we hear from parents and teachers is how to help kids learn how to tie their shoes! For some kids, this skill doesn’t come naturally and it’s easy to see why...just think of all the skills involved in tying your shoelaces! Fine motor skills, visual motor skills, attention span and patience, memory, and, of course, the motivation to want to be independent with this skill in the first place. Unfortunately, learning to tie ... Read More about How to Teach Kids to Tie Shoes
The Visual System
Learn more about the visual system and how our sense of sight can have a huge impact on functional performance during day-to-day activities. This post contains affiliate links. Read more. About Vision... The sensory organ of the visual system is the eye. The eye and the brain communicate and work together to help us interpret our physical surroundings using sight, or, what we see. This happens through interpretation of light.Light rays follow a path through many different structures of the eye, finally reaching the visual cortex in the brain. Here, the object is identified ... Read More about The Visual System
4th of July Activities: Firecracker Tag
Looking for fun 4th of July activities for kids? This fun firecracker tag game is perfect for working on social skills, self-regulation, motor skills and more! Tag games are always a hit when kids get together. Freeze tag, flashlight tag, ghosts in the graveyard, tour guide, etc. Tag is also a great game to promote developmental skills like balance, endurance, motor planning, motor control and proprioception. I thought it would be really fun to incorporate a game of tag into our 4th of July line-up. Activities with balloons are great for promoting all kinds of skills from gross ... Read More about 4th of July Activities: Firecracker Tag
4th of July Poem and Movement Activity for Kids
This poem and movement activity is a great way for everyone to experience fireworks, even if they’re a bit afraid of the real thing! I always remember being a little bit scared of the fireworks on the 4th of July when I was a kid. They always looked SO close, like they were just going to fall right down on your picnic blanket! And all of that loud booming and cracking - definitely scary for a little kid! Today's activity for kids is a great way for everyone to experience fireworks, even if they’re a bit afraid of the real thing - perfect for younger kids or kids who are sensitive to ... Read More about 4th of July Poem and Movement Activity for Kids