20 (therapeutic) Summer Activities
20 summer fun activities for kids with and without special needs. Work on fine motor, gross motor, sensory, letters, scissors/cutting, and more with the tips in this post by The Pocket Occupational Therapist
Halloween Cupcakes
Halloween brings out the fun in us. Kids and grownups enjoy dressing up and decorating for fall. Working on life skills includes baking, shopping, and following directions. Making cupcakes is a yummy way to improve fine motor skills, creativity, and executive function. PLUS: While we are on the topic of eyeballs, here’s a link […]
Halloween Noodles Sensory Play
Halloween Noodles – Sensory Play! Halloween-themed noodles make OOEY GOOEY FUN for little fingers! This activity works in sensory, fine motor, and visual-motor skills. Searching for items within the noodles makes sensory play fun. This is a Halloween activity BUT feel free to change the color of the noodles (step 4) to ANY color. Instead […]
What Are Pre-Writing Skills?
What are pre-writing skills and why does my child need them? Babies are born with hands that are curled up and only reflexively grasp their caregiver’s finger. Through practice and play they quickly learn that their actions cause their toy to light up or their body to move around in space. The hands become stronger […]
Tuesday’s TOY of the Week – Tweezers
Cool TWEEZERs are Tuesday’s TOY of the Week! Fine motor skills are important, but we cannot start to practice cutting until a child’s hand is ready. Instead, we use play-based activities to build muscle memory and coordination needed for future functional use in school and life. One of the most fun activities for kids is […]
Fingerprint Farm Animals
Making fingerprints is not only a fun activity for little kids, but it also encourages the development of fine motor skills. Fingerprint farm animals are a fun way to teach children about animals, letters, and fine motor skills all at the same time! Kids will be delighted when their simple fingerprints can be transformed into […]
20 Summer FUN Ideas (OT Approved!)
SUMMER is here! Most families look forward to summer’s relaxation and lazy days. However, the lack of routine and structure can evoke great stress for families of children with special needs. School routines are predictable and provide consistency and the transition to summer may be a difficult one. In addition, the skills your child […]
Valentine Perler Bead Craft
I love crafts that help to build fine motor skills. This is an awesome activity that really builds skills such as following directions, strengthening hand muscles, and works on visual perception. Supplies Red, pink and white Perler beads Square plastic Perler bead pegboard Perler bead ironing paper Perler bead tweezers White card stock Pink and […]
SLIME for my Valentine!
It’s almost Valentine’s Day and we know you’re looking for fun and creative ideas. This is the PERFECT idea for teachers, therapists, and gifts for friends. Materials: 1 Container of red glitter glue ¾ and ⅔ cups very warm water separated 1 tsp. Borax 2 Mixing bowls Mixing Spoon Red glitter Small plastic containers with […]
Developmental Milestones
Developmental Milestones for Fine Motor, Gross Motor, and Speech For children ages one through age six. Remember that each child develops at his/her own pace and the information below is for informational purposes only. You are your child’s best advocate and know your child best. Let your pediatrician know if you have concerns about your […]