20 summer fun activities for kids with and without special needs. Work on fine motor, gross motor, sensory, letters, scissors/cutting, and more with the tips in this post by The Pocket Occupational Therapist
It’s Raining Cats and Dogs! Idioms or phrases that cannot be understood through their literal meaning can be rather confusing for students with language difficulties. Teaching children and students common idioms can help them navigate verbal communication with adults and peers as well as improve their writing skills. My sons had SUCH a difficult time […]
Sit Still and Pay Attention! How many times have we heard this in our lives? I know my generation was expected to sit without fidgeting or moving during learning activities. If we didn’t, there was punishment or reprimand. Unfortunately, things are changing and research has shown that movement and brain breaks should be built into […]
What are pre-writing skills and why does my child need them? Babies are born with hands that are curled up and only reflexively grasp their caregiver’s finger. Through practice and play they quickly learn that their actions cause their toy to light up or their body to move around in space. The hands become stronger […]
OT is BOOMING! We are in demand and are showing our unique value. Occupational therapy is growing by leaps and bounds and it’s a beautiful thing! As an educator, I see how excited students are about entering OT. There’s also no shortage of children awaiting much-needed services. Therapists show how beautiful it is to use […]
Cool TWEEZERs are Tuesday’s TOY of the Week! Fine motor skills are important, but we cannot start to practice cutting until a child’s hand is ready. Instead, we use play-based activities to build muscle memory and coordination needed for future functional use in school and life. One of the most fun activities for kids […]
HAPPY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH! OT Month is a time to reflect and celebrate the unique value of our profession. There’s so much to learn and share when it comes to our work in all settings! We can even start community programs and work in telehealth! Here are 5 Tips to help celebrate OT Month this […]
SUMMER is here! Most families look forward to summer’s relaxation and lazy days. However, the lack of routine and structure can evoke great stress for families of children with special needs. School routines are predictable and provide consistency and the transition to summer may be a difficult one. In addition, the skills your child […]
Many children struggle with difficulties in writing and math. When a child is smart and has a high IQ, struggling with something that comes so simply for other students in the class often leads to anxiety and low self-esteem. As with most learning disorders or learning disabilities, symptoms emerge at different times and […]
Interoception is known as the eighth sense. What is it and how does it affect the occupation of kids? Here’s a section from an article in Frontiers of Psychology: “While interoception is a term that has gained and still is gaining popularity in the academic literature since the start of the millennium, consensus on […]
