Children with dyslexia often have motion-processing disorders and may have an overlapping diagnosis of Developmental Coordination Disorder. It is important to understand how the brain and body work together to support reading skill development in order to make sure that you are engaging a child with dyslexia in activities that are going to support development…
Rethinking Sensory Diets for Teens
Sensory Diets are often recommended to help students maintain optimal regulation and attention in the school setting when children are in preschool and elementary school. As children age, their interests and social awareness evolve. This also means that sometimes, what started out as a solid and supportive plan initiated at a child’s PPT meeting becomes…
The Case for Gross Motor Centers for Preschool Classrooms
By Rachel Butler, COTA/L More and more research is being published that shows the benefits of movement for learning. As a result, elementary school teachers are incorporating movement breaks into their schedules and some middle schools are bringing back recess. Preschool children seem to be constantly moving, so why incorporate more movement into their classrooms? …
Sight Word Scavenger Hunt
Supplies: Play Dough Sticky Notes Writing Utensil Set-Up Prior to Child Engagement: Adult writes 5-10 sight words on sticky notes and hides the sticky notes around the room Adult sets a ball of play-dough next to a writing utensil on a non-stick floor or table Procedure: Child looks for one sight word tag. Depending on…
Letter Bead Sight Words
Supplies Letter bead (Beads in shape of letters, NOT painted or printed on bead) Yarn to thread beads onto Towel or scarf to cover lenght of yarn White board, black board, or paper Dryer erase marker, or appropriate writing implement Procedure 1. Adult sets up sight words on yarn, tying knots appropriatly to prevent movement…
Painting with Bubbles
Supplies Bubble solution (about 1 cup) 1-2 ts each of red, yellow, and blue paint Bubble wand (we used glitter bug, but you can choose your favoirte) 3 bowls to hold bubble solution/paint Paint brushes or spoons to mix paint and bubble solution Mulitple peices of large paper (we used 17” x11”, but you…
Managing screen time in a digital world
Media is taking over our lives. As parents, we need to learn how to create balance for our family, especially if our children have sensory and learning needs.
Rainbow Foam
Supplies 1 can of shaving cream Yellow, blue, and red food coloring 1 large cookie sheet Access to a sink nearby Paper towels or hand towel Procedure Have the child fill a cookie sheet with shaving cream from left to right and top to bottom to reinforce tracking for reading and writing. With the child’s…
Surviving Snows Days as a working mom of a child with special needs
How many 6 am calls have you gotten from school so far? You know, the one that throws off your entire day if you are a working parent? The one that leaves you either frantically rescheduling your appointments for the day or calling every babysitter on your list? Yes, I am talking about a SNOW…
Fine Motor Valentine’s Day Soap Craft
Supplies 1 bar of soap (we used Dove for sensitive skin) 1 box grater with removable lid 1 bowl to hold grated soap 1 tablespoon of warm water 1 medium sized cutting board 1 cookie cutter (approximately 2”x 2” works well) 1 spatula Procedure 1.Set up the grater so that child will pull the…
