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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
One of the questions you ask most often is about helpful apps for kids with autism. Thanks to Autism Parenting Magazine, we have our favorite apps in one infographic! Looking for information about math for kids with autism? Check out our post with tips here. Need help with sensory and behavior trouble with kids? Here’s […]
Did you know that some students do not develop a hand preference until kindergarten or at 5 or 6 years old? When students write with their left hand, they should not be discouraged from doing so. They do not choose their left hand in the same way that you didn’t choose to use your right […]
Back to school comes with mixed emotions. We want our children to have a super year as they grow and learn. As a parent of children with special needs, back to school brings both excitement and anxiety We purchase books, uniforms, shoes, and backpacks but wonder how our children will transition to a new […]
The end of the year is almost here! We know how hard teachers work to teach our children. Deciding how to show our appreciation can be tough……..should we buy a gift card or present? Well, worry no more! Here are some handmade gifts teachers will LOVE! Photo Credit: Crayon Jar Teacher Gift by Nest Full […]
Therapists need to become culturally sensitive. This post contains tips and many resources for therapists in all settings. Understanding your own bias and beliefs is the first step.
Handwriting is so important to each of us. Our signature marks our unique impression of agreement or approval on a document. There have been many arguments lately on whether to teach our children the skill of cursive handwriting. While many feel it’s not necessary, others say that the skill is critical to for building brain […]
Potty training brings feelings of excitement as kids love doing things on their own and feel like a ‘big boy or girl.’ For children with special needs, learning independence with daily living skills is often difficult. Meeting developmental milestones can be delayed and parents often become worried and frustrated. As a pediatric OT, I’m […]