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
5 Ways to Add Movement to Learning
Sit Still and Pay Attention! How many times have we heard this in our lives? I know my generation was expected to sit without fidgeting or moving during learning activities. If we didn’t, there was punishment or reprimand. Unfortunately, things are changing and research has shown that movement and brain breaks should be built into […]
5 Tips to Celebrate Occupational Therapy Month!
HAPPY OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY MONTH! OT Month is a time to reflect and celebrate the unique value of our profession. There’s so much to learn and share when it comes to our work in all settings! We can even start community programs and work in telehealth! Here are 5 Tips to help celebrate OT Month this […]
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 […]
What is Interoception?
Interoception is known as the eighth sense. What is it and how does it affect the occupation of kids? Here’s a section from an article in Frontiers of Psychology: “While interoception is a term that has gained and still is gaining popularity in the academic literature since the start of the millennium, consensus on its […]
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 […]
5 Tips to Build Kids’ Working Memory
Working Memory: Executive Function Skill Executive function difficulties commonly come along with (are co-morbid with) many disorders. What are executive function skills……Check out our earlier blog post here for 5 quick facts. Children who have been diagnosed with: ADHD, learning disabilities, autism, sensory, auditory, among many others experience dysfunction in working memory. What IS this […]
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 […]
How to Teach Cutting (With FREE Guide)
As a gift to our friends who subscribe to our blog, a FREE how-to-use scissors guide is provided at the bottom of this post! Thanks for reading, commenting, and SHARING. Children need to be proficient in scissors use in order to participate in school and leisure activities. The strong emphasis on hands-on learning is a […]
9 Tips For New Therapy Grads
Welcome to the world of Pediatric therapy! Overview: This post celebrates the excitement of starting out in your new career as a pediatric therapist (occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, or physical therapist). It shares 9 tips for new grads and also provides some resources to save for the future! You would be hard-pressed to find a […]