-
Occupational Therapy in Schools
Occupational therapy in schools looks a lot different than it has in the past. With social distancing requirements, sanitizing needs, and changes to school schedules, therapists are looking for ways to meet the needs of their students. This year, school-based OT looks different than any other year, and occupational therapy activities will reflect those changes.…
-
How to Request an OT Evaluation at School
One question that comes up over and over again is how to get started with OT as a related service in the school environment. Parents of young children might see issues that their child struggles in and feel that an OT evaluation might be in order. But how do you get started with this process?…
-
Pipe Cleaner Bunny and Carrots
These pipe cleaner bunny crafts are a fun Easter craft that supports fine motor skills. We LOVED making these and then using them over and over again! With Easter being right around the corner, these pipe cleaner bunny crafts and pipe cleaner carrots are a great way to add fine motor skills to your Easter…
-
Oral Motor Exercises with a Cotton Ball Bunny
Working on oral motor exercises as a sensory processing strategy for self-regulation, or as an oral motor tool to address physical needs? Ok, so we made a cute little cotton ball bunny to use in an Easter sensory activity as a small world play area to work on fine motor skills with an Easter theme.…
-
Easter Activities
It’s that time again! Easter is around the corner and so you may be searching for a few Easter activities. These spring activities are ones that have a movement and play component so that kids build skills they need while celebrating the season. Below, you’ll find Easter ideas, Easter crafts, egg activities, songs, and bunny…
-
Coping Strategies for Kids
Whether it’s the classroom, home, or day to day life…coping strategies for kids are needed. Coping strategies are mechanisms or tools to adjust and respond to emotions, stressors, and unbalance so that one can function and complete daily occupations, or everyday tasks. Coping tools help to balance and regulate a person. Coping strategies can look…
-
Managing Resistance in Therapy
So often, we see a child of therapy evaluation and find a need for therapy intervention, but that’s where the resistance begins. Here we are talking how to manage resistance in therapy, and not only that; but how to engage with kids so that we get the truly motivated buy-in for engaging in occupational therapy…
-
Shamrock St. Patrick’s Day Balance Beam for Vestibular Sensory Input
This article on shamrock balance beam ideas was originally written in March 2016. We updated it in March 2024 and included new information on how to grade up or down a balance beam, and balance beam ideas for preschoolers and toddlers. This shamrock balance beam uses foam shamrocks we found at the dollar store. It’s…
-
Sensory Room Equipment (OT Recommendations)
Today’s post on sensory room equipment is part of a series focusing on sensory rooms. We are going to explore things to include when designing a sensory room in schools, especially for when grant money limits equipment selection. Other posts highlight the benefits of a sensory room, things to consider, sensory room rules, and building…
-
Baking Soda Paints
Many years ago (July 28, 2015 to be exact…this post has been updated!) we made this set of baking soda paints. It was a fun outdoor, creative painting activity and we painted on the driveway. I wanted to come back to this sensory painting idea again, because it’s such a fun way to be creative…
