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

Joint Compressions for Calming

April 15, 2016 by Amy Smith

Calming sensory activity to help your child calm down whenever they feel anxious or nervous. Works great before bedtime, school, and unfamiliar situations.

Are you looking for a quick, free, and effective way to help your child feel more organized, calm, and better suited to handle life's stressors? Try using joint compressions! What … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: Calming activity, child's behavior, proprioception, sensory regulation activities

Watch TV Smarter

April 10, 2016 by Amy Smith

Unfortunately, kids are watching too much TV, so learn to watch it smarter with these tips and techniques!

Watch TV Smarter? What?? Please don't confuse the title with the idea that TV may really make your child smarter. Yes, there are some educational shows that do contain some learning … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: seated positioning, video games, Watching TV

Why You Should Break Crayons (On Purpose)

April 5, 2016 by Amy Smith

Learn how to improve kid's pencil grasp through this simple tip about broken crayons. Try out this easy idea.

Have you ever heard your child say, "I'm not using that crayon, its broken!"? Maybe you agreed with the child and thought to yourself that it would be best to de-clutter the crayon box … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Handwriting Help, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: fine motor activities, handwriting, pencil grasp, pincer grasp

Calming “Cookie Dough”

April 4, 2016 by Amy Smith

This sensory activity calms kids and adults down when feeling anxious or hyperactive. It is perfect for those with sensory issues, autism, SPD, anxiety disorders,ADHD, and ADD.

You probably don't associate the word "calming" with cookie dough, but after you try this activity, you will see why this "cookie dough" is very calming indeed.  This activity works … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: Calming activity, deep pressure, proprioception, sensory activities

Super Easy Binder Slantboards

April 2, 2016 by Amy Smith

Slantboards are excellent tools that teachers or occupational therapists often use in schools to help children's hands and wrists to get into a better position for writing which helps … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Handwriting Help, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: handwriting help, school, weak hands, wrist positioning, writing tools

Improve Word Spacing Issues

March 21, 2016 by Amy Smith

Do you ever see your child's paper come home from school with all of the letters smashed together like one gigantic, run on word? Or are the letters and words stretched out really far … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Handwriting Help, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: fine motor activities, handwriting, visual motor skills, Visual perceptual skills

Sensory Tactile Boards

March 17, 2016 by Amy Smith

Learn how to make a sensory tactile board with various textures to help your child calm or soothe themselves

Sensory tactile boards provide a sensory experience for your child that may help to calm or soothe them when feeling anxious, or could arouse them when feeling sluggish through the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: fine motor activities, sensory regulation activities

DIY Easy To Open Clothespins

March 9, 2016 by Amy Smith

Children and adults with weak hands or fine motor skills will benefit from using these easy to open, modified clothespins for things like crafts to laundry. Find out how to make them here!

Clothespins are great for so many more reasons than just hanging up clothes! They can be turned into fun tools that help children develop hand strength, especially in developing their … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Handwriting Help, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: fine motor skills, pincer grasp, special needs modifications, weak hands

How to Keep Writing on the Lines

March 7, 2016 by Amy Smith

Learn how to write in the lines without practicing more pencil-paper writing with these fun, hands-on methods designed to keep kids' attention and interest.

If you have noticed that your child's handwriting doesn't stay in the lines, then this article is a must read for you.  As an occupational therapist, I am frequently asked to evaluate … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Handwriting Help, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: fine motor skills, handwriting skills, keeping letters on the lines

Identify Your Sensory Speed With a Self-Odometer

March 5, 2016 by Amy Smith

Identify your sensory speed with a self-odometer which communicates how your child is feeling without needing to talk or verbally communicate.

For a lot of kids, communicating how they are feeling, especially when they feel out of control is very difficult. Frustration on both the part of the child and parent/teacher only … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Sensory Regulation, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: activities to help regulate sensory behaviors, sensory activities, sensory regulation

Turning Pages Made Easier

February 27, 2016 by Amy Smith

Simple tip on how to turn pages in a book easier. It's perfect for people with arthritis, cerebral palsy, hand weakness, and other special needs.

Is your child or student having difficulty manipulating their hands and fingers in order to separate and turn pages in books? Here is a valuable therapist's trick that is a cheap and … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Fine Motor Activities, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: fine motor activities, page turners, turning book pages, weak hands

What is “W-Sitting”?

February 21, 2016 by Amy Smith

Learn what "w sitting" is and how you can promote better seating postures for your child and to develop stronger core and back muscles

What is W-Sitting? You may have heard the term "w-sitting" before and not known exactly what it means. "W-sitting" refers to the "W" shape that a child's legs look when he is sitting … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Gross Motor Activities, Therapist's Tips Tagged With: posture, seated positioning, seated posture, W Sitting

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