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Month: September 2017

How to Teach Cursive Handwriting

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You may have heard on our social media channels or via our newsletter that we have an exciting new series planned here on The OT Toolbox. Over the next month, you will find strategies, tools, and tips to teach cursive handwriting. 



This cursive writing series is designed to provide many different ideas for helping kids learn cursive writing for the first time or to address problems like cursive writing legibility.

Many times parents and teachers struggle with how to teach cursive handwriting. These cursive tips, cursive writing tools, and handwriting activities will help kids learn to write in cursive.



Cursive writing is being taught in the schools less than before. Teachers struggle to find time within their busy day to focus on the pre-writing exercises needed for cursive writing. Many times, teachers and entire school districts don’t have a specific cursive writing curriculum to follow. 


This means teachers across the hall from one another in the same building can be instructing students in very different ways. Some kids in the same school district may have more practice that other kids. 


When those students age into older grades, some will be able to write with more legibility and a better base of cursive handwriting knowledge than others.


Other schools have completely eliminated cursive writing. What may happen then is that parents instruct their children at home or not at all.


For other children who struggle with printed work or who present with handwriting problems in general, cursive writing is a strategy for legibility.  For the child who struggles with dysgraphia, the fluid motion and reduced pencil movements of cursive can help with legibility.


For all of these reasons, we wanted to share an intense look at cursive writing.


Watch the video below.  You may have seen it floating around on Facebook. But if not, check it out. Cursive handwriting, and teaching the art of cursive is very needed in our kids today!

 

Over the next 31 days, you’ll find writing exercises, tricks, strategies, and activities designed to teach cursive handwriting.


Be sure to stop back to this page each day over the month of October. We will add a link to each cursive writing tool here. When the month is over, you’ll have all of these cursive writing strategies in one place. Bookmark or Pin this page so you don’t lose it and can come back to the cursive writing tools over the next month.


This cursive writing series will work similarly to our previous 31 day series on handwriting.


One tip about this month’s series on cursive handwriting: This series is not intended to be completed in 31 days. Cursive writing involves pre-writing practice, instruction to ensure proper formation, and practice. It’s important to ensure carryover of skills by coming back to practice proper motor plans for legibility and success.

This 31 day series will go through all of the steps of learning cursive writing and teachers, therapists, and parents will love these handwriting strategies to teach cursive handwriting.

How to Teach Cursive Handwriting

31 Days of Cursive Handwriting:
    
    




 
    
 


more cursive handwriting tips:

Cursive writing tools to buy (Click on the image to find out more):
Affiliate links are included in this post. 
Kids will love these cursive writing tips and handwriting ideas to learn cursive handwriting.
Try this 31 day cursive writing series to teach kids to learn cursive. Therapists and teachers can use these handwriting tips, cursive writing tools, and cursive strategies to teach cursive handwriting.

How to teach cursive writing with tips, strategies, ideas, and research

Squirrel Brain Breaks

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squirrel brain breaks for a squirrel themed activity for kids

We’ve been sharing a bunch of brain break ideas here on The OT Toolbox recently. You may have seen our recent Best Brain Breaks on YouTube post or some printable brain break activities like the themed activities including these apple themed brain breaks, and bear brain breaks.

Each of these links includes a free printable sheet so you can grab and use these brain break ideas over and over again. Scroll on down and you’ll find a few more printable sheet ideas to incorporate movement into learning and play with special themes.

Use the squirrel brain breaks with a squirrel and acorn theme or with Fall occupational therapy activities this time of year.

Squirrel Brain Breaks

Movement breaks have been shown to improve academic achievements, attention, and more. They are a great self regulation strategy to support self regulation needs. Plus, this activity is perfect for individual needs, a sensory break, transition, in therapy sessions. And, brain breaks like the squirrel themed movements below can be used as self regulation group activities, too.

They would make a great class activity after coming in from recess or during afternoon classwork.

Squirrel brain breaks might include:

  • Scamper across the room like a squirrel
  • Race around a tree trunk
  • Reach up high for an acorn
  • Walk with your knees bent like a squirrel
  • Bend and pretend to dig to bury a nut

 

squirrel brain breaks for a squirrel themed activity for kids

Squirrel brain breaks for a brain break themed activity that promotes movement for kids in the classroom or home this Fall while improving focus and attention through movement.
 

Today, you’ll find squirrel brain break ideas to use during the Autumn months when the leaves are falling and squirrels are running around finding and hiding acorns and other nuts to stock up for the winter.

Many times, the Fall months mean squirrel and leaf books and learning in the classroom or at home. These squirrel brain breaks can be the perfect accompaniment for a Fall theme.

Affiliate links are included in this post.

We read the children’s book, Scaredy Squirrel by and were inspired to come up with squirrel themed brain breaks to go along with the book.

Print the Squirrel Brain Breaks and use them today. Don’t forget to read the book, too!

 

Squirrel Brain Breaks – Ideas for the Classroom

One of the Squirrel Brain Breaks on the printable sheet includes the action song,
I’m an Acorn Small and Round”. It’s one of our favorite songs to sing during the autumn months. This action song is a fun one!

 

Squirrel and Acorn Themed Activities

Other squirrel and acorn activities we have here on The OT Toolbox include: 

  • Use real acorns to manipulate with tongs or tweezers
  • Play the Sneaky, Snacky Squirrel game– Enhance executive functioning skills visual attention, visual memory, strategic thinking, hand-eye coordination, and fine motor skills through this captivating and fast-paced kids’ board game.
  • Paint acorns and then sort the colorful acorns into containers
  • Read the book, Scaredy Squirrel  and make a squirrel craft.
  • Follow directions with the song, I’m an Acorn Small and Round (see below). This is a great gross motor activity.
  • Cut out paper acorns from brown construction paper.

 

Squirrel Activities

Squirrel brain breaks for a brain break themed activity that promotes movement for kids in the classroom or home this Fall while improving focus and attention through movement.

 

https://www.theottoolbox.com/2017/09/apple-theme-brain-breaks.html

 

One fun Fall brain break that goes with the squirrel theme is a little song and dance about being an acorn.

Lyrics to I’m an Acorn Small and Round

I’m an acorn, small and round (hold hands into a small ball)
Lying on the cold, cold ground (Lay down on the floor)
Everybody steps on me (Stomp foot)
That is why I’m cracked you see (Hold hands above eyes like binoculars)

[Chorus]
I’m a nut! (Dance)
(Click, click with tongue)
I’m a nut! (Dance)
(Click, click with tongue)
I’m a nut I’m a nut I’m a nut (Dance)
(Click, click with tongue)

Free Squirrel Brain Breaks

Want to print off the squirrel brain break cards to use in the classroom or therapy sessions? Enter your email address into the form below.

This resource is also available inside The OT Toolbox Member’s Club. We have a whole theme with squirrel and acorn activities to use in squirrel themed therapy sessions this Fall season.

Free Squirrel Brain Breaks

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    Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

    Best Brain Breaks Videos on YouTube

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    Teachers are sometimes looking for movement and activity videos that they can use in the classroom. They may need movement ideas for throughout the day when kids need a brain break or they may want to start the day with a movement activity. Other times, kids need a movement “wake up” midway through the day when they are feeling and acting sluggish or even a little high energy. Maybe students need to get their bodies moving before a test and the perfect brain break for kids is just the ticket. Or, maybe teachers are looking for a way to get the kids moving during indoor recess time. Maybe you are a parent who is looking for ways to get the kids moving on a rainy day.

    Below, you’ll find some great brain break videos on YouTube. These are videos that can be pulled up on a smartboard in the classroom. 

    Some of these YouTube Brain Break videos would work for middle school brain breaks, too.

    Brain Break Videos on YouTube

    The best brain break videos on YouTube can be used for classroom brain break needs, indoor movement and gross motor skills, circle time, indoor recess, or rainy days.
     

     

    Brain Breaks for kids

    Brain breaks are considered fun for the brain, AND a great way to shift gears. Check out the videos below for ways to add movement activities to the classroom.

    But first, if you are looking for some printable brain break ideas, here are some of our favorites:
    Apple Theme Brain Breaks
    Farm Theme Brain Breaks
    Bear Brain Breaks
    Squirrel Theme Brain Breaks

    On to the brain break videos.  Try these videos to get the whole classroom up and moving!


    Move and Freeze Song 


    Shake Your Sillies Out


    Count to 100 with Exercise


    I Am a Gummy Bear


    I’m Gonna Catch You


    Frozen Themed Yoga


    The Sid Shuffle – Ice Age: Continental Drift


    Trolls: Can’t Stop The Feeling | GoNoodle


    I Get Loose – Koo Koo Kanga Roo | GoNoodle


    Move To Learn Fitness Break!


    Move to Learn Pre K Counting


    Going On a Bear Hunt with Dr. Jean


    Dr. Jean’s Banana Dance – (aka The Guacamole Song) – Dr. Jean’s Banana Dance


    If You’re a Kid (Dance Around!) (song for kids about following directions)


    Brain Breaks | Following Directions | Physical Education | Get Up To Get Down | Jack Hartmann


    Letters of the Alphabet | Capital Letters | Uppercase Letters | Alphabet Workout | Jack Hartmann


    Letters of the Alphabet | Lower Case Letter Formation | Alphabet Workout | Jack Hartmann


    Hand Clapping Game “Bim Bum”


    Classroom Yoga (Classroom Physical Activity Breaks)


    Yoga for Kids – Children’s Yoga – Brain Breaks – Kids Songs by The Learning Station

    The best brain break videos on YouTube can be used for classroom brain break needs, indoor movement and gross motor skills, circle time, indoor recess, or rainy days.

    Handwriting Accommodation Ideas

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    Many times kids who struggle with handwriting just need some accommodations in order to complete written work in a legible and efficient manner. The strategies listed below are handwriting accommodations that can be used in a variety of classroom settings or in homeschool. The compilation of instructional ideas and accommodations below are able to be used by therapist and teachers with kids who struggle with handwriting. Handwriting accommodations can be used across throughout the school day or in individual situations. You may have seen a previous post here on The OT Toolbox on Handwriting Accommodations for the Classroom. As you know, sometimes a strategy will work for a child’s particular needs and other times that idea will work for a short time. Sometimes you need to keep trying. Below, you will find MORE handwriting accommodation ideas for kids. 



    Looking for more info on handwriting? Start here, at our handwriting help page.



    Use these handwriting accommodation ideas to help kids with handwriting difficulties to write more legibly using alternate ideas that change how a student completes written work based on their needs.

    Related Read: Try these handwriting accommodation strategies to address a variety of handwriting challenges. 



    Handwriting Accommodation Ideas



    1. Fill-in-the-blank worksheets can be used in place of written responses.
    2. Use adapted handwriting paper such as stop go paper. Here are free adapted paper sources from around the internet.
    3. Practice handwriting by using color changeable markers to address letter formation and motor planning needed for letters. 
    4. Use manipulatives such as magnets to write answers to problems and written responses. 
    5. Use a dry erase marker and whiteboard for written responses. 
    6. Students can write using large graph paper with boxes for individual letters. 
    7. Try using a sensory or writing tray for students to respond to multiple choice problems by forming letter responses in the sensory tray.
    8. Use a sheet of sandpaper under written work for feedback in letter formation in line awareness. 
    9. Use the computer for spelling tests and vocabulary tests. 
    10. Stamp answers to spelling tests or multiple choice tests using letter stamps.
    11. Provide adapted spelling test and vocabulary test using multiple choice problems where students can correct the can choose the correct answer by circling a letter. 
    12. Use a highlighter for tests and worksheets where students can highlight the correct answer. 
    13. Use a apps which can adapt worksheets into tablet form. Answers or responses can then be typed onto the tablet.
    14. Explore several different pencil grips and pencil types to reduce the amount of pressure a student requires when writing. 
    15. Add a red or green dot to margins to help students identify starting and stopping points for writing. 
    16. Allow extra time for written responses.
    17. use a handheld recorder to copy notes in older grades. 
    18. Trial use of a gel pen.


    What are some handwriting accommodations that you have seen in place to meet specific handwriting needs? Let us know in the Sweet Ideas for Handwriting Help Facebook group.


    Here are some creative ways to work on handwriting needs.  Click on the link or the image to find out more:


    Writing too dark or too light.  Line awareness and spatial awareness without handwriting DIY slant board  Spatial awareness in handwriting






    Handwriting accomodations for addressing handwriting needs

    Pre-Writing Activity Leaf Theme

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    Handwriting and the visual motor skills needed for writing letters and numbers happens long before a child writes the alphabet.  There is a developmental progression of skills that a child must master before they are able to write A-Z. Pre-writing skills and pre-writing lines are just one of the skills that occur before a child writes or copies letters. The prewriting activity below is just one way to help children work on and develop the skills they need to accurately write letters on their own.

    Pre-writing activity for helping kids develop the skills needed for pre-writing lines and handwriting using fall leaves

    Pre-Writing Lines Activity 

    Working on the skills needed to write letters and numbers involve the development of pencil control, visual motor skills, and visual perception.  You can read more about the developmental progression of pre-writing lines as well as a free printable that lists out pre-writing lines as they typically develop here on The OT Toolbox. 
    This post on our Facebook page shows development of pre-writing lines and shapes by age. 
    The pre-writing lines activity described below is just one way to help kids develop these skills, while working on abilities such as crossing midline and fine motor skills needed for handwriting.

    Pre-Writing Activity Leaf Theme

    You’ll need just a few items for this pre-writing activity:
    Affiliate links are included in this post.
    Leaves (Try to find smaller sized leaves to boost fine motor skills. We used leaves that had already changed colors on our burning bush.)
    Permanent marker

    Pre-writing activity for helping kids develop the skills needed for pre-writing lines and handwriting using fall leaves

    To do this activity, simply draw one pre-writing line or shape on each piece of paper.

    Use a glue stick to trace lines and work on pre-writing skills with this pre-writing lines activity for kids.

    Pre-writing activity for helping kids develop the skills needed for pre-writing lines and handwriting using fall leaves

    Then, ask your child or student to trace over the line with a glue stick.  A purple colored glue stick helps kids to see where they have traced the line. Be careful to provided assistance with this part of the activity if needed. The glue stick uses very little resistance when swiped on the paper. Kids can easily draw the glue line off of the stimulus line.

    Then, kids can place leaves right on the glue line and sharpie line.  Ask them to gently press the leaf down, using finger isolation and separation of the two sides of the hand.

    Pre-writing activity for helping kids develop the skills needed for pre-writing lines and handwriting using fall leaves

    Leaf Theme Fine Motor Activity

    This is a great activity to incorporate fine motor skills. Show your child or student how to pick leaves from a branch.  This allows children to strengthen the intrinsic muscles of their hand while working on bilateral coordination, graded grasp, pincer grasp, and an open thumb web space.
    Don’t have small leaves in your area? No problem! Use paper cut outs by punching leaf shaped paper using this leaf hole punch. Allow the kids to punch the holes to boost hand strength.

    This leaf themed activity goes along perfectly with the popular children’s book, Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf by Lois Ehlert. Read the book and work on pre-writing lines with this leaf themed pre-writing activity!
    Red Leaf Yellow Leaf is this week’s book in the Virtual Book Club for Kids series.  Check out the ideas below to find leaf themed movement, play, development, and learning ideas:

    Use these fall leaves activities to help kids learn and develop skills like fine motor skills, gross motor skills, scissor skills, handwriting, and more using leaves.

    Spell Your Name With Leaves   Clare’s Little Tots
    Leaf Measurement and Sorting Activity  Inspiration Laboratories
    Fall Sensory Bin  The Moments at Home
    Foil Leaf Preschool Art  Preschool Powol Packets
    Handprint Art Messy Little Monster
    Nature Color Hunt  My Bored Toddler
    Salt Painting – Artsy Momma
    Leaf Printing   CrArty Kids
    Fall Color Leaf Viewer  JDaniel4’s Mom
    Lines and Watercolor Fall Leaves  Views From a Step Stool
    Fall Leaf Color Stomp  Toddler Approved
    Fall Leaf Shape Match  Teach Beside Me

    Pre-writing activity for helping kids develop the skills needed for pre-writing lines and handwriting using fall leaves
    Here are more LEAF ACTIVITIES that you will love:

    Fine Motor Bin Rotation System

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    Quiet bins are a tool that can be used in the classroom or at home. Many people use quiet bins as a way to hold an organized fine motor activities, visual motor activities, and other activities for kids. Many times teachers are looking for a center activity that can be used with a small group in the classroom that students can do individually or as a small group.  Fine Motor Bins or quiet bins can be used to address certain needs or learning objectives while the teacher is working with another small group of kids.  Below, you’ll find ideas to set up and organize a fine motor bin rotation system in schools.
     
    So often teachers asked therapist for ideas that work on school learning objectives while incorporating fine motor skills or visual perception skills that are needed for handwriting and reading. Busy boxes and quiet bins are one way to address this need. Therapists can create bins that address many different underlying skill areas. 

    Fine Motor center ideas for a fine motor bin rotation system in the school classroom, therapy clinic, or home.

     

    Fine Motor Bin Rotation System

    Affiliate links are included in this post. 

    Try using these quiet bin ideas to incorporate goal areas for one or many students in the classroom. Many times, therapists are trying to meet the needs of one student in a push-in model of school-based therapy while encouraging development of fine motor skills of the whole classroom. A therapist that is pushing into the classroom can address specific needs while encouraging development that other kids need to progress on as well.

    Fine Motor center ideas for a fine motor bin rotation system in the school classroom, therapy clinic, or home.

    How to set up a fine motor bin rotation system

    Quiet beans can be used in the classroom in several different ways. Try using these ideas to set up a quiet bin or fine motor bins for the classroom or home:
     
    • Use plastic bands like shoe boxes from the dollar store, cardboard shoe boxes that parents can send in, gallon size storage freezer bags, or other reusable type of box or bags.
    • Each fine motor bin can be set up with a specific theme or activity.
    • Consider making a quiet bin that works on specific fine motor skills like tripod grasp, open thumb seb space, intrinsic hand strength, or finger isolation.
    • Incorporate learning objectives such as math, color matching, English language arts tasks, or math skill areas into fine motor bins by attaching numbers, words, or symbols to pipe cleaners or clothes pins.

     

    Rotating fine motor bins in the classroom

    One way that teachers can use these quiet bins is by having an area in the classroom where they can easily and quickly grab a bin and set up a small group of students. 

     

    If the occupational therapist has a storage room available, quiet bins can be set up on shelves with a check out type of system. Teachers can then go to the storage area grab one or several quiet bins, mark their name on a check out sheet, and use those quite bins in their classroom for a week or longer. They can then return the quiet bins and check out additional quiet bins as needed. 
     
    Another idea for therapist to set up a quiet been system is to use a rolling cart. This is great for the therapist that doesn’t have a storage area or a space in the school available for hauling fine motor bins around the school. If a therapist has set up fine motor bin activities using gallon size storage bags, a rolling cart would be a nice way to keep these tidy and organized so that all teachers can easily sort through and grab the storage bins that they need. 
     
    Therapists can educate teachers and personnel about the rotation system as well as the underlying fine motor skill areas that each activity bin promote. 

     

    Students will love the rotation system of quiet bins as well because they can try out a variety of different hands on activities with the new and fresh activities that they may not have experienced before. This can help them to grasp learning and play while working on underlying skill areas.
     
    Students can even be trained in using the fine motor bins to independently check out activities.

     

    Have you used quiet bins or fine motor bins to address skills like pencil grasp, cutting with scissors, clothing fastener management, or any other fine motor skill areas?
     
    Click on this video link to watch quiet been ideas that are set up real quick and can be used over and over again by many different students.

    Fine Motor center ideas for a fine motor bin rotation system in the school classroom, therapy clinic, or home.

    Visual Perception Apple Activity

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    During the fall months, apple activities are a fun way to sneak in skills like visual perception development or fine motor strengthening.  This visual perception apple activity promotes both of those areas in a fun and creative way.  We used recycled pouch bottle caps to make DIY stamps that fit in with an apple theme.  If you are looking for more visual perception activities, there are a bunch on the site.  Check out the additional ideas at the bottom of this post.

    The apple theme is perfect for the fall season and would fit in nicely with this apple theme gross motor activity.

    Visual perceptual skills are needed for so many skills! Handwriting, reading, writing, math, spelling, shoe tying, cutting with scissors…everything! You’ll find easy and fun ways to work on visual perceptual skills through play here. 

    Kids will love this visual perception apple activity using DIY apple stamps.

    Visual Perception Apple Activity

    This post contains affiliate links.
    You’ll need just a couple of materials for this idea:
    Scissors
    Applesauce pouches (Eat the applesauce and then wash and dry the lid!)
    Hot glue gun (I love this mini version for making quick projects like this one.)
    Paper
    Red paint

    This activity goes along with the popular children’s book, Ten Red Apples. Grab the book and do this developmental activity with the kiddos.  You’ll love all of the book activities that combine children’s books with activities to promote development of functional skills and underlying skill areas here on The OT Toolbox.

    Use DIY apple stamps to work on visual perception with an apple theme.
    To make the apple stamps:
    Cut the scrub pads into different shapes.  We made a square, circle, diamond, and heart.
    Make your own foam stamps to work on visual perception and fine motor skills.
    Use the hot glue gun to attach the shapes to the pouch lids. This is a job for an adult.

    Kids can work on visual perception and fine motor skills using DIY stamps with an apple theme.
    Once the foam shapes are attached and the glue is dry, you can start to work on those fine motor and visual perceptual skills.

    Use these DIY stamps to work on visual perception and fine motor skills with kids.
    This is a fun visual perception activity for kids to work on skills using DIY stamps.
    Pour a small amount of red paint onto scrap paper.  Kids can use the stamps to make different shapes by pressing the foam side into the paint and then pressing paint onto paper. There are several fine motor skills being addressed with these stamps:

    Apple Theme Fine Motor Activity

    Show your child how to hold the stamp using their thumb, pointer finger, and middle finger.  This positioning on the pouch cap encourages a tripod grasp and separation of the two sides of the hand.
    Ask the child to use the stamper with their dominant hand.  By holding the stamp with to paint, they are also developing and strengthening the arches of the hand.
    Additionally, the size of the stamp encourages an open thumb web space which is perfect for a functional pencil grasp during handwriting tasks.
    These stamps are quite the fine motor power tool!
    Apple stamps for helping kids work on visual perception and fine motor skills.

    Apple Stamps and Visual Perception Activity

    Next, kids can turn those shapes into apples by copying the different parts that make an apple.  We used black and green markers to add a stem and leaves to each apple shape.
    To encourage development of visual perceptual skills, show kids how to copy the stem and leaves. They can then copy those parts onto their apples.  Try adding one or two leaves or making the stems go into different directions or with different lengths to encourage visual memory, visual discrimination, and visual motor skills.
    Use these apple stamps to help kids improve visual perception and fine motor skills needed for handwriting, reading, and more.

    Visual Perception Apple Activities

    There are so many ways you can use these apple stamps to address visual perceptual skills!
    Make copying sheets where kids copy the apple shapes in the correct sequence to address visual memory.
    Make visual discrimination sheets where kids can identify the difference in shapes.
    Work on visual spatial relations by stamping apples in different positions on a page.  Kids can then tell where they see a specific shape in relation to another shape.
    Address visual discrimination by making an “I Spy” type of sheet.
    Work on form constancy by covering up part of an apple shape and asking kids to make the apple shape that matches that shape.

    Apple theme visual perception activity for kids
    How would you use these apple stamps to address visual perception?

    Kids love these visual perception apple activities that also work on fine motor skills
    These apple stamps is a fun apple activity to use in coordination with a book.  If you have been a reader of The OT Toolbox for long, you know that we love to combine favorite children’s books with developmental activities.  For this apple activity, we joined the bloggers in the Virtual Book Club for Kids group in creating an apple themed activity that fits with the book, 10 Red Apples by Pat Hutchins.
    We loved reading this book as we counted the apples on each page.  The book, Ten Red Apples is a fun way to address visual perceptual skills like visual discrimination, visual memory, and form constancy as each page contains the animals that eat an apple from the apple tree.  To address visual perceptual skills with this book, ask your child to scan the group of animals and pick out individual characters or animals on each page.  It’s a visual perceptual challenge that carries over to skills like reading and writing.

    For more creative ways to address visual perceptual needs, try some of these ideas by clicking on the images below.

    Looking for more ways to add apple themes into learning and play? Try these creative ideas from the Virtual Book Club for Kids team:

    Apple Tree Alphabet Letter Match  Still Playing School
    Apple Piece Names  Preschool Powol Packets
    Sea of Knowledge    Apple Addition within 5 Dough Strips
    Fingerprint Apple Counting Activity   Messy Little Monster
    Apple Math: Counting & Fractions   Teach Beside Me
    Red apple number bonds to 10   Rainy Day Mum
    Apple Tree Playdough  Clare’s Little Tots
    Apple picking sticky wall  Views from a Step stool
    Baked Apples  Witty Hoots
    Apple Stack Game and Snack  Toddler Approved
    Jumping Apple Seeds  JDaniel4’s Mom
    Apple Theme STEM Activity for Preschoolers  The Educators’ Spin On It
    Glitter Apple Stamping  My Bored Toddler
    Apple Tree Tracing Page
    Apple Farm Song with Movement  My Storytime Corner
    Ten Red Apples: Number Words Activities  Growing Book by Book
    Apple Tree Gross Motor Game  Inspiration Laboratories
    Apple Sewing  CrArty Kids

    Stability Bite Oral Motor Problems

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    You may have seen the series of oral motor posts here on The OT Toolbox. All of these oral motor issues and additional resources are described on this oral motor problem post where you can check out common oral motor issues that interfere with eating and drinking like jaw clenching, jaw instability, jaw clenching, exaggerated jaw movements, and jaw thrust. The information below is related to stability bite oral motor problems.
    Oral motor problems such as stability bite is an inefficient oral motor issue that interferes with eating, feeding, and brushing teeth. Occupational therapists and those who work with kids with oral motor challenges will find this helpful.

    Stability Bite Oral Motor Problems

    Start by reading more about development of oral motor skills.

    When presented with a spoon, fork, cup, or straw, the child exhibiting a stability bit tightly bites down in order to gain stability in a voluntary manner. They are able to voluntarily open their mouth unlike jaw closure.

    A stability bite occurs because of several reasons:

    • Low muscle tone
    • Poor posture
    • Fluctuations in muscle tone
    • Poor control of the jaw
    • Poor or inconsistent proprioceptive feedback from the jaw
    • Poor graded control of jaw movements
    • Lack of experience with biting and chewing exploration

    Feeding issues related to a stability bite

    • When kids present with stability bite, eating and drinking are not efficient.
    • Rhythmical eating and drinking can result.
    • It is possible for a pattern of internal jaw instability to develop with continued use of external stability that a stability bite provides.
    Oral motor problems such as stability bite is an inefficient oral motor issue that interferes with eating, feeding, and brushing teeth. Occupational therapists and those who work with kids with oral motor challenges will find this helpful.

    How to Teach Task Initiation

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    Task initiation is a powerful skill. The ability to tell oneself that a project or job needs to be started is a big part of getting anything done.  A bigger part of that is actually starting.  How many of us have to-do lists that are a mile long? Knowing a job needs done is part of it, but actually starting on that unappealing job is quite another!  


    For kids, task initiation can be overwhelming.  And, initiation is a skill that can become more difficult as children age.  Task initiation is a subset of executive functioning that enables us to perform and succeed.  Below is more information on task initiation related to children and playful ways to build this skill. (We’ve talked about task initiation here on the site before…Here are more ways to help kids with task initiation.)





    Task initiation is a subset of executive functioning that enables us to perform and succeed. Below is more information on task initiation related to children and playful ways to build this executive function skill.


    What is Task Initiation?



    Task initiation is an executive functioning skill.  It is influenced by other executive functions such as impulse control, perseverance, and cognitive flexibility.  Sustained attention and problem solving deeply impact task initiation.


    Task initiation is needed for so many areas of functioning. From starting homework to cleaning a bedroom, task initiation is needed to start big jobs. Task initiation is essential for making friends and trying new things. Sometimes, it can be overwhelming to see the big picture and break down big jobs into smaller pieces. Task initiation is part of that process, to first portion out pieces of a process and then start on those smaller action items.



    Task initiation requires a few key abilities:

    How to Teach Task Initiation

    Try some of these playful techniques for teaching task initiation.  The best part of these activities is that children and students will not realize they are “working” on developing a skill.  Many times, kids with executive functioning struggles know they have difficulties that impact their function.  It is important to discuss these needs and subsequent goal areas with kids, but constantly working on skills can have a negative and overwhelming impact on self-esteem.  Making interventions fun and creative can help!


    Planning and prioritization are executive functioning skills that are closely related to task initiation.


    Task initiation is a subset of executive functioning that enables us to perform and succeed. Below is more information on task initiation related to children and playful ways to build this executive function skill.


    Activities to Teach Task Initiation



    • Play follow the leader games.
    • Play a game of Simon Says.
    • Idea Storm- Brainstorm ideas for a day’s activity or a family project. Make goals together and break out the parts of the activity. Then, start together.
    • Create a Command Center for homework and family activities.
    • Play Red Light, Green Light.
    • Look for shapes in the clouds. Make up stories about the clouds then write them down. Pull out the story the next day and write more to the story.
    • Set up an invitation to create art station.
    • Create an invitation to write journaling center, complete with fun pens and paper, stationery, stickers, and highlighters. Try using the Impulse Control Journal.
    • Nature hunt creation- go on a walk through a park or the backyard.  Collect interesting pieces of nature and use what you found to create a collage.  Write a story based on the pieces you found. Make it a group activity for the whole family or classroom, with each person adding their piece.
    • Grocery store ideas- Pick a new fruit or vegetable and use it in a recipe. Look up new recipes and find one that looks interesting. Make it and eat together.
    What are your best tips for addressing task initiation?

    Task initiation is a subset of executive functioning that enables us to perform and succeed. Below is more information on task initiation related to children and playful ways to build this executive function skill.
    Some of these activities may be of interest:









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      Colleen Beck, OTR/L has been an occupational therapist since 2000, working in school-based, hand therapy, outpatient peds, EI, and SNF. Colleen created The OT Toolbox to inspire therapists, teachers, and parents with easy and fun tools to help children thrive. Read her story about going from an OT making $3/hour (after paying for kids’ childcare) to a full-time OT resource creator for millions of readers. Want to collaborate? Send an email to contact@theottoolbox.com.

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