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 Slime!
Everyone LOVES slime! Slime is great for sensory, especially the tactile or touch sense. Kids all over enjoy making and playing with slime. We know that following a recipe and planning the outcome helps children to develop executive function skills. What are they? read my earlier blog post if you are looking for more information […]
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 […]
Auditory Processing Disorder 101
Auditory processing disorders are often misdiagnosed or masked as other things. Sometimes, people think kids aren’t paying attention or are daydreaming. In fact, it can take the brain some extra time to process the information coming through the auditory system. What are some signs of auditory processing disorder or APD? Is your child easily distracted […]
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 […]
Fourth of July Tips for Kids
Summer is in full force and we have tips for kids who may struggle with sensory processing. The 4th of July is here. Nothing like a holiday to bring family and friends together – this year is extra special because many virus restrictions are being lifted. Since we all feel like celebrating, I thought I’d […]
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 […]
A to Z Nature Scavenger Hunt for Kids
Why doesn’t love a scavenger hunt? Let’s talk about research…The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) is an excellent website for information on the importance of play in kids. Here’s the link to a document specifically discussing recess. This article, The Investigation of Outdoor Play,’ is from 2004, yet emphasizes the benefits […]
7 Tips for Children Who FEAR Loud Noises
Imagine the sound of your mother’s voice….. What memories, thoughts, emotions does that bring up? How about the sound of popping popcorn? Does that make you think of movies, circus, carnival? Think of the sound of nails on a chalkboard. How about the sound of a bee buzzing near your head? Each sound evokes feelings within […]
5 New Year Resolution Ideas for Kids
Wow, the power of a visual is never more influential than watching the year change. If you’re in the US, you may watch a ball drop on the larger than life 2020 display in Times Square. The feelings are powerful as the end of a chapter in our lives ends and refreshes as the page […]