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A Complete Guide to School Day Functions for Kids
A child has a huge job as he manages a day at school. The classroom includes distractions, multi-step directions, multi-sensory challenges and many tasks that require fine motor skills, gross motor skills, transitions, and appropriate positioning. This month’s post in the Functional Skills for Kids series is all about the important tasks that happens during…
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Anxiety and Sensory-Based Coping Skills for Kids
Sensory based coping skills is an effective way to help kids deal with feelings of anxiety. There is a reason that most of us deal with an uncomfortable situation by cracking our knuckles or cope with anger by punching a pillow. Sensory based anxiety coping strategies can help kids deal with stress and feelings of…
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Simple Trick to Teach Kids to Cut with Scissors
When you teach kids to cut with scissors, it can be quite difficult. There are many “parts” to scissor skills and cutting out a shape. Holding the scissors correctly, extending the wrist, grasping and turning the paper, opening and closing the scissors with precision, cutting along the line, and using graded cuts to stop and…
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Bedtime Tooth Brushing Visual Schedule
Getting four kids tucked into bed is a nightly circus. There are lost toothbrushes, smears of toothpaste, pajama shenanigans, and one last bounce on the beds. Then, it’s lights out and always a few calls for one last hug from mom or dad. But one thing that helps with my kids is to have…
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Cursive Letter Order Handout
Get the cursive handwriting letter order sheet here. Print it out for handing out to parents, other therapists, or to use in an Occupational Therapy home exercise program or education. We do love to share creative ways to teach cursive letters and letter order is just a starting point when parents or teachers are…
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Fine Motor Pinball Machine: Kiwi Crate Review
Have you ever noticed that when kids need to work on certain skills in order to improve handwriting or improve their ability to manage zippers or button their own coat, they don’t want to practice? When kids need a little extra fine motorskill development, it can be a struggle to get them to work on…
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Attention and Behavior Problems Considerations in the Community
Children with attention or behavior difficulties can flounder when they are out in the community. There are so many unknowns when a child steps out of his front door and into an unpredictable environment that is the community. A child has typical routines in his home or classroom. He has predictable and familiar habits in…
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Sponge Tangrams
Tangrams are a fun and easy way to work on visual perception and visual motor integration skills through play. These sponge tangrams are a quick DIY activity that kids will love. The whole project will cost you $1, making it a creative and frugal way to play while sneaking in therapeutic and developmental skills. Tangram activities have a component that builds skills…
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Map Skills Game for Building Spatial Concepts
This map skills game for spatial concepts uses the ability to integrate spatial relations with what the eyes see with motor skills, or eye-hand coordination. It’s a fun map activity for occupational therapy or play! Similarly, a drawing mind map incorporates spatial awareness on paper with complex thoughts and ideas, just like using a map…
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Fun Things to Do in Pittsburgh
I stepped into the backyard. There were hockey sticks strewn about the driveway, shoes in the grass (must they ALWAYS take off their shoes when they are outside??), and a baby doll stroller hanging from a tree. The kids are on summer vacation and our lawn shows it. Besides the toy tornado that has…
