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You are here: Home / Archives for Therapist's Tips

Make Time for a Child’s Rhyme

July 20, 2017 by Amy Smith

Find out the importance of rhyming for speech, reading, and writing. Plus, download the free printable for worksheet practice!

Generations ago, nursery rhymes were created to help young children develop their rhyming skills. Nursery rhymes have withstood the test of time because the ability to rhyme is an … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Therapist's Tips Tagged With: child development, learning activities, literacy games

Healthy Habits for Happy Kids

July 10, 2017 by Amy Smith

Learn the healthy habits for happy kids! Find out the daily activities you should be doing with your child to help them feel happy, healthy, and fulfilled!

The easy part about being a parent is knowing what we want for our kids..... things like happiness, health, and fulfillment (however we define that). The tough part is figuring out … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: behavior regulation, health, sensory regulation

Favorite Things Sensory Edition

May 29, 2017 by Amy Smith

Best sensory based therapy activities, products, and ideas for children from a pediatric occupational therapist

Favorite Things Sensory Edition As a pediatric occupational therapist, I am often asked to recommend equipment or activities that are the most beneficial for children. Because every … [Read more...]

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

Child’s Speech, Motor Skills Behind?

May 6, 2017 by Amy Smith

Worried about whether your child's speech or motor skills are behind? Find out about Enable My Child, an online pediatric therapy company that can help develop your child's skills.

Have you had that nagging feeling that something just "isn't right" with your child's motor or speech development? Is your child having difficult with things that others can do … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: developmental delays, online therapy

The Solution for Worried Parents

March 23, 2017 by Amy Smith

View the safety, location, and happenings of your child at all times when they are away with this GPS system from Angel Sense. It's perfect for children with special needs.

As parents, we are always worrying about our kids when they are away from us...... Are they safe? What are they doing? Where are they? Multiply those worries for parents of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: autism, parenting, special needs

Sensory Steam Roller

February 16, 2017 by Amy Smith

This DIY sensory steam roller is a convenient way to obtain sensory input to calm down. Can be done at home, school, or on the go. Find out how to make it here.

Sensory input is so vital to the emotional and behavioral regulation of kids and adults.  Think about big hugs, back massages, and shoulder rubs... all of these actions are relaxing … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: autism, calming activities, sensory

7 Uses for Left Over Candy

October 25, 2016 by Amy Smith

Transform left over candy from the holidays into motivating kids' games that improve fine motor and academic skills.

Think about all candy your child accumulates at parties surrounding birthdays, Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Easter. Yep, when you buy bulk candy the only … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: academic activities, fine motor activities, Holidays

Money Saving Therapy Swaps

September 13, 2016 by Amy Smith

Save money when purchasing pediatric therapy equipment with these tips from an occupational therapist!

There are several sensory tools or "tricks of the trade" that therapists often use to help kids succeed in the classroom and at home, including things like increasing attention span and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Handwriting Help, Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: academic activities, Saving money, sensory regulation activities

 Healthy Halloween Party Snacks

September 4, 2016 by Amy Smith

Halloween snacks that are healthy and festive and taste good "witch" are sure to be big a hit at the party !

Most kids love everything about Halloween... costumes (they always choose superhero capes), decorations, parties, games, and sweets. Between school parties, family and friend get … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Therapist's Tips Tagged With: Halloween ideas, healthy food, preschool

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

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

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

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

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

3 Games for Calmer Breathing

April 28, 2016 by Amy Smith

Sensory based calming breathing activity that helps relax kids while holding their attention with 3 fun games using straws

Breathing is one of the effective yet most often forgotten strategies to help regulate your sensory system. Most kids overlook breathing because, to be quite honest, breathing can be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: breathing games, Calming activity, child's behavior

Kid’s Trick for Putting Shoes on the Right Feet!

April 22, 2016 by Amy Smith

Kid's trick for getting your child to put their shoes on the right feet each time independently! Try it out, it's so simple!

Anyone with young children knows the struggle with kids who want to do 'everything' themselves, including putting their shoes on .... (and oftentimes, the wrong feet).  Yes, it is … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Therapist's Tips Tagged With: dressing, preschool, self-care skills, shoes, toddlers

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