• About
  • NEW Digital Handwriting Workshop
    • How to Teach Handwriting to Kids VIDEO
    • Printable Handwriting Handouts
    • Handwriting Letter Progression
  • SHOP
  • Want online therapy services?

Kids Play Smarter

Maximizing your child's play with purposeful activities

  • Fine Motor Activities
  • Gross Motor Activities
  • Handwriting Help
  • Sensory Regulation
  • Therapist’s Tips
You are here: Home / Archives for Amy Smith

10 Ways to Healthier Eating for Kids

August 28, 2016 by Amy Smith

Kids tips for learning how to eat healthy foods. Great for kids with sensory issues who may be adversive to certain foods.

Eating healthy isn't just beneficial for obvious health reasons, studies show that healthy eating improves mood, energy levels, frustration tolerance, and can decrease hyperactive … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: healthy behaviors, nutrition

Help! My Child Can’t Sit Still!

August 27, 2016 by Amy Smith

Do you have children or students who are constantly fidgeting in their seats at school or at home? The child knows that he should be sitting still, but chances are, there's something … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Handwriting Help, Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: attention difficulties, behavior problems, seating, sensory activities

Surprising Kid’s Products with Artificial Dyes

August 18, 2016 by Amy Smith

Most of us realize that artificial dyes are in a huge list of colorful junk foods such as M&M's, icing, soda pop, and Doritos.  But did you know that these same artificial dyes have … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Therapist's Tips Tagged With: artificial dyes, behavior problems, health

Academic Benefits of Playgrounds

August 11, 2016 by Amy Smith

Playgrounds offer academic benefits like improving handwriting and classroom performance.

We all know that playgrounds are amazing places for children to run around, get exercise, and play with their friends. But, did you know that when kids play on a playground, they are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities, Handwriting Help Tagged With: academic activities, learning activities, playgrounds

3 Moves that Boost Brain Power

August 6, 2016 by Amy Smith

We all could benefit from boosting our brain power, especially our kids.  There are LOTS of ways to boost brain power out there, but few are more convenient and as simple as these 3 … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: brain power, crossing midline, gross motor activities

You “Move” Tube

July 30, 2016 by Amy Smith

This "You Move Tube" game makes your child feel like they are on TV so search for an exercise channel and encourage your child to start moving! This game will be fun for all!

Watching TV is notorious for being a sedentary, thoughtless activity and unfortunately, many kids are watching way too much of it. Watching TV is even easier as internet channels like … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: exercise, learning activities, Watching TV

5 Hacks for Happier Homework

July 19, 2016 by Amy Smith

Is homework a dreaded deed each night at your home for both you and your child? Do you feel like you are constantly nagging at your child to "sit down and get to work"? If so, you are … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Handwriting Help, Sensory Regulation Tagged With: academic activities, homework help, school activities

Sensory Smart Treasure Hunt!

July 12, 2016 by Amy Smith

Reaching into a big bowl to find a "hidden treasure" is ever so tempting for many kids, so why not increase the educational value of this game so that it's a "sensory smart" treasure … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Sensory Regulation Tagged With: learning activities, sensory activities, tactile activities

Decrease anxiety with “Social Stories”

July 7, 2016 by Amy Smith

Just like many professional athletes devise a "game plan" to help them prepare for their sporting events, children can also benefit from "game plans" to help them with their events of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: behavior, sensory regulation activities, social stories

Drain Tub Time Troubles

June 29, 2016 by Amy Smith

What do you do when you child hates bathing, refuses to bathe, or throws a temper tantrums at bath time? There probably is a very valid reason why your child may hate bathing and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: bathing, self-care skills, sensory regulation

Finger Pinchin’ French Fries!

June 25, 2016 by Amy Smith

This game is sure to motivate even the most unmotivated child!! Kids love games that incorporate food, especially really enticing food like french fries! This french fry game develops … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: fine motor activities, hand stregthening, learning activities

Running Race Cars

June 17, 2016 by Amy Smith

Make exercising fun for your child by turning them into a running race car! This motivating game will surly get your child's engine running in full gear!

Start your engines.... ready, set, GO! Get your child's engine up and running with this adorable race car game. You probably know the importance of making sure your child gets enough … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: exercise, gross motor activities, preschool, race cars

Princess Counting Crowns

June 10, 2016 by Amy Smith

If your little one loves dressing up like a princess, then this is the activity for you! This princess counting crown combines the fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination, and visual … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: fine motor activities, math skills, princess activity, toddlers

Flying with a “sensory child”

June 6, 2016 by Amy Smith

Flying can be tough for anybody, with many people suffering from anxiety before and during a flight. Many people find that if they read some insider travel tips and try to regulate … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation Tagged With: child's behavior, Flying with child, sensory regulation activities

Top 10 Foods For Improving Fine Motor Skills

May 30, 2016 by Amy Smith

The ways to improve your child’s fine motor skills are really limitless, but finding methods that are both functional and motivating will yield the best results.   Using … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: fine motor activities, foods, hand strengthening

Surviving amusement parks with sensory sensitive kids

May 25, 2016 by Amy Smith

Festivals and amusement parks can be so much fun and something all children should get to experience.  They are places for creating memories, being carefree, and feeling a rush of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: Amusement parks, calming activities, sensory regulation activities, traveling

Multipurpose Dice Game

May 21, 2016 by Amy Smith

Are you looking for easy ways to sneak some more exercise and learning into your child's day? Look no further as this multipurpose dice game is a simple solution to get your child … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: gross motor games, learning games, sensory activities

Sloppy Handwriting? Check Your Posture!

May 10, 2016 by Amy Smith

Handwriting is complex process with lots of different variables that can impact how it looks. When a parent is looking for clues as to why a child's handwriting may be sloppy, one of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Handwriting Help, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: child's behavior, handwriting, school success, seating posture

Boost Your Math and Fine Motor Skills with Lollipops!

May 7, 2016 by Amy Smith

Finally, you can feel good about giving your kids lollipops!  This adorable game turns an old pool noodle into a kid favorite: big lollipops! Not only will the appearance of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities Tagged With: fine motor activities, kids games

5 Educational Spray Bottle Games

May 7, 2016 by Amy Smith

Improve your child's academic skills with letters, numbers, shapes, and words in these fun spray bottle games!

There seems to be some kind of fascination that kids have with spray bottles! What better way to sneak some educational value into an already motivating game than to incorporate … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Gross Motor Activities Tagged With: hand stregthening, learning activities, play, preschool

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • Next Page »

Welcome to Kids Play Smarter

Amy Smith I am an occupational therapist with over 10 years of experience working with children. I created this website to offer parents, teachers, and therapists FREE ideas, strategies, and activities that they can do with their children to improve their fine and gross motor skills, handwriting, academic learning, and regulate their sensory system all while "playing" (just playing smarter)! Read More…

Top Posts

Joint Compressions for Calming
How to Keep Writing on the Lines
Calming "Cookie Dough"
Improve Word Spacing Issues

Copyright © 2023 · Lifestyle Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in