Welcome, Parents!
Use these occupational therapy resources for parents to help kids thrive using OT home programs and therapist recommended tips and strategies for the home. This is your parent resource center for all things kids!
As parents, you know how demanding and challenging parenting can be. Children develop at such different rates and no one child is like any other. Sometimes, having a better idea of how a child develops, and having tools in your back pocket that meet specific needs in the family can make all the difference. Learning at home (and building essential skills) can use free materials or items typically found in the home. Let’s talk resources for parents!
Having a set of occupational therapy activities for the home can be pivotal in helping kids thrive as they get more practice and the family is fully “in” on achieving specific goals. This helps carryover of skills SO much easier for the child. On this page, you will find resources and tools to help kids thrive at home using OT home programs, tips and tools for achieving success with functional skills at home, and how to help kids succeed in developing skills.
Occupational therapists know all about connecting with parents and providing resources and tools to parents. Here, you will find ideas and activities that will help kids flourish! I’ve tried to put together items here that will meet the needs of parents. If you are looking for something specific, be sure to search in the search bar. You can also let me know if there is something specific you need. Chances, are, if you are looking for a certain item or information on a specific topic, than others are too!
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Tips for Parents
As a reminder, the information found on The OT Toolbox is not a means of intervention or a replacement for therapy. If you have any concerns about your child’s development, contact a local occupational therapist who can perform an individualized evaluation and interventions.
TIPS for parents to help your child thrive in teletherapy
With therapy sessions now moved to online settings, and children receiving teletherapy as their source for occupational therapy intervention, you may be wondering HOW to help your child thrive in virtual therapy sessions. Here are common teletherapy activities that can serve as a starting point. Remember that occupational teletherapy is a virtual version of face-to-face occupational therapy sessions.
Here are tips that can make occupational therapy teletherapy a success for your little one.
Common red flags parents MIGHT see
Parents are many times looking for “red flags” or an indication that their suspicions are correct about a concern with development or function. You will find resources here on many different topics relating to red flags.
Here are clothing sensitivity red flags, or things to consider when kids are irritated by or hate certain types of clothing or fabrics.
Here are pencil grasp red flags, or considerations when a child holds their pencil incorrectly or can’t seem to establish a functional pencil grasp.
Here are sensory processing red flags, or those gut feelings you have about sensory-related considerations you might have about your child.
Here is information on vision red flags and things you may be wondering about such as how vision might be impacting your child’s ability to read, learn, or catch a ball.
Here is information on hand dominance, ambidexterity, or mixed dominance and what to consider if your child uses both hands for things like writing, playing, or sports.
There are also resources for advocacy and for helping to explain things like sensory processing disorder to others.
Finally, you will find many activities and ideas for playing with kids, and fun ways to work on specific areas through play!
Advice for New parents
There are many resources and tips here on The OT Toolbox related to new parenting and strategies to help babies and toddlers thrive.
Here are 5 things that occupational therapists wish parents knew about pencil grasp.
Here are ways to encourage floor play with babies and toddlers and why this is such an important play activity for young children.
Here are learning and play ideas for babies and toddlers.
Toys like blocks can build so many skills. Here is more about child development and playing with blocks.
Parent Resources on child Development
Here are resources and tips related to child development. These are the very things that therapists wish parents knew.
Development of eye-hand coordination
Development of oral motor skills
Visual motor integration developmental milestones
Development of bilateral coordination and how this skill impacts feeding
Executive Functioning Skill development
Boost child development with rhyming games
Developmental progression of pre-writing lines
Parenting Books Recommended by Therapists
These are parenting books guided by development. They are book lists that build skills in children and are parenting resources to help kids thrive.
Executive functioning books for parents
Books about primitive reflexes
Kids crafts based on popular children’s books
Parent Toolbox
Parent Resource Hub
Use the activity ideas on these pages to address a variety of needs and developmental areas. Activities can be added to home programing. Consult with your chi;ds occupational therapist for intervention strategies. The activities, tips, and ideas on this site are not a replacement for therapy. They are only intended as educational.
Bilateral Coordination Activities
Occupational Therapy Activities
