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Sensory Meltdowns
Overcoming sensory meltdowns can be a real challenge. For parents in a household where sensory challenges are common, having an understanding of what’s really going on with self-regulation and sensory processing is even better. Today, I have information on sensory overload meltdowns as well as a powerful tool for addressing this sensory need in families,…
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Soap Shaving Bookmark Craft
This is a fun activity we did many years ago, and I keep coming back to it. Using soap shavings as a fine motor tool can open the door to motor planning, bilateral coordination, and functional experiences for kids. At The OT Toolbox, we believe in hands-on activities that promote fine motor skills, sensory exploration,…
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Music Bookmark Craft
This music bookmark craft uses an old sheet of music and is a fun easy cutting skills craft that kids can give as a gift or can use in their music books! We actually have another fun soap shaving bookmark craft too, if you would like to check out that craft that builds skills as…
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Visual Noise and Learning
In this post you will be discovering how to create a calm classroom, specifically tips to avoid the visual noise that distracts learning in the school environment. Classroom décor and organization can directly effect the engagement level of children in any classroom or learning space. When the environment is too visually stimulating, a student’s ability…
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Laundry Skills
Today, we have a great life skills activity: specifically, laundry skills! In this blog post, we are discussing the life skill of laundry. Washing and drying clothes is an independent living task that anyone who manages their activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living must learn. Getting dressed each day requires clean…
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Raccoon Craft for Math and Fine Motor
We made this racoon craft many moons ago, when my oldest was in second grade. She’s now a sophomore in high school, and I have to say that those years went by like a flash. This post was originally written in October, 2015 and I’m just updating it now with some tips about how to…
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Coin Activities for Kids
These coin activities are fun ways to develop fine motor skills AND functional money skills. The fact is that coin sorting activities and counting coins activities are functional…they are tasks kids need to develop for daily living skills. But, did you ever stop to think about the fine motor benefits of playing with coins? There…
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How to Support Sensory Needs in the Cafeteria
The cafeteria is a terrible place for people with sensory sensitivities. If you have ever joined your child for lunch at school, you will agree. Two hundred or more children, 1000 different smells, and the chaotic noise level do not create a great eating environment for anyone. In this post we will explore how to…
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What is Overstimulation Anxiety?
Do everyday environments like the grocery store, the mall, or your office leave you feeling anxious and stressed? Does the thought of going to these places that are highly overstimulating with sights, sounds, smell…and people… fill you with dread or a sense of anxiety? If you answered yes to both these questions, you might be suffering…
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Sensory Tooth Brushing Tips for Brushing Teeth
Is toothbrushing a nightmare in your house? Sensory related toothbrushing issues can be! Need some sensory tooth brushing tips? For individuals with sensory difficulties, toothbrushing challenges mean more than cavities, plaque build up, and gum sensitivities. Sensory toothbrushing issues can lead to meltdowns, anxiety, and daily struggles with nightly and morning routines. Does your child…
