Is it more valuable to have a quick win or long term success? As a parent of a child with sensory, learning, or attention difficulties, sometimes it’s easy to go for the quick wins and immediate rewards. The marketing world tells us that is exactly what we need. Post a cute picture and get…
Crack Nuts to Improve Fine Motor Skills
Use these Tools to Strengthen Little Hands and Improve Coordination this Holiday Season At the holidays, many families have nuts set out with the appetizers. The Nutcracker Toy Soldier has become a Christmas icon. But in addition to this decorative soldier, there are a variety of fun nutcrackers that children can experiment with during the holidays. …
Give the Gift of Calm: Tools and Tricks for Self Regulation
As information about sensory differences and strategies such as mindfulness, meditation, yoga, and breathing have become more mainstream, items that OTs have used with kids for years to improve self- regulation are readily available for purchase. Here is a list of recommended items focusing on Rhythm, Pressure, and Respiration, the key components of RESTORING activities….
Teaching that one child that keeps you up at night through movement
Photo: LA Johnson/NPR Everyone has that one child….. I recently spoke at a preschool teacher’s conference. I was excited to hear their questions about how to support children with sensory differences in the classroom. As I was listening to their questions and stories, I started seeing a pattern. Everyone has that ONE child that stands out…
Preparing for Peaceful Mealtimes
Tips for Peaceful Family Mealtimes Tip One: Never force your child to eat or clean their plate, bargain, punish, threaten, reward, coax, negotiate, or strongly encourage your child to eat. By doing this, you are setting yourself up for a show down with your child and making extra work for yourself. Tip Two: Ignore refusals,…
4 Tips to Survive Thanksgiving with a Picky Eater
Thanksgiving is next week, and if you have a picky eater you may be feeling a little uneasy. While for most, it is a day of family and fun; for the parent of a picky eater, coupling battles over food with the pressure of onlooking family can be almost too much to bear. Fear not!…
Toddlers Accessing Smart Devices
How “Smart” is it?— Does Media Effect our Children’s Development? With the holidays approaching, I find myself in the grocery more and more. As I was checking out one of my many trips, I noticed a toddler no more than 2 years old in the cart in front of me sitting quietly, entertaining herself by…
Halloween can be EXTRA SCARY for kids with food allergies… but YOU can help!
Imagine excitedly jumping into your favorite costume, rushing out to trick or treat with your friends, only to repeatedly pass on all of the treats while you watch your friend’s bag begin to break at the seams? Imagine the aching disappointment and embarrassment you might feel at the end of the night when you sheepishly…
