Handwriting has been a long-debated subject, especially with the push to go paperless in school and use more online learning platforms like Google Classroom. Schools are always saying that they are looking for research-based interventions before implementing programs into the school curriculum. Yet, research shows without a doubt that handwriting is not just a skill…
Holiday Christmas Tree Craft
Fine motor crafts that work on scissor skills, using tape, and using two hands together are great for skill-building. But choosing a craft often depends on your child’s abilities. You don’t want to over help, but you do want to make sure that you know when to work on a step together (also known as…
Get off the screen and get moving with this Holiday Obstacle Course
Make sure to enjoy the holiday season with some fun activities that get kids off their screens, moving, and into the holiday spirit. These activities are easy and fun without costing a fortune. Get creative for kids who have sensory and motor difficulties or trouble completing multi step sequences. For example, using a gift or…
Need to Energize for the Holidays? Try these dances
Try this Energizing exercise sequence from Body Activated Learning These sequences are designed to connect children to their bodies without being overstimulating and leaving parents and teachers with even more wiggly children than before the “wiggle break”. This time of year we want to keep our kids alert and focused without expecting that they start…
Squishy Sensory Holiday Crafts
Whether your child loves to get messy making projects like slime and putting shaving cream on their skin in the bathtub or is the total opposite and doesn’t even want to touch sticky or slimy things, this craft is still for you! A kid that “loves mess” will have fun making these crafts. The kid…
Parents! Are you Dreading the Holiday Meltdown?
We’ve all been there, right? You are at a birthday party or a holiday party and your child has a meltdown. You eventually have to make the decision to pack your whole family and go home. If you are a parent of a child who gets easily overwhelmed in a busy and noisy environments where…
Do you have a Love – Hate Relationship with Technology?
As a parent, I struggle with the balance between technology and getting my child out, active and engaged. It seems like our children prefer iPads over hanging out with friends face to face or going out on a walk to explore. If you are a parent of a child with additional learning needs, is on…
Gift Ideas for a Sensational Cozy Corner
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. …
7 Classroom Ideas for Sensational Teachers
by Aubrey Schmalle OTR/L How important is it that my classroom is “sensory friendly” and digitally aware? Every year, there are many blog posts encouraging you to set-up a sensory friendly classroom. And some of you may be asking, why focus on this when the children in my classroom have so many different learning needs? …
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.
