There are numerous ways of keeping your children engaged and organized and their bodies receiving the sensory processing input they require. Chores are a great way to build fine motor skills and they’re ideal because kids understand purpose and routine. Plus, chores often involve whole-body movements, tactile perception, and fine motor skills that can be […]
Author: Danielle Shulman
Don’t Ignore OT During the Time of COVID-19
Amidst the pandemic, OT students and practitioners are facing unprecedented challenges that impact their mental health and psychosocial well-being. Not only this, but they might have been working on developmental issues before the pandemic, such as: Sensory processing Fine motor skills Handwriting Visual perception skills It’s important you don’t ignore pediatric occupational therapy during the […]
Using technology to help with fine motor skills, handwriting, and visual perceptual skills
Technology has become a staple in the daily lives of most people. From the cellphone in their pocket to the GPS in their car, it’s everywhere. This means that children are also exposed, sometimes more than parents might like, to the barrage of daily tech that is literally everywhere we look. But it doesn’t have […]
How to Make the Most of Online OT for Children
In-person pediatric occupational therapy (OT) is without a doubt an effective option to help your child with developmental issues. But if your child is not in a position to meet online, due to being immunocompromised for example, they can consider online OT, since it’s better than postponing your child’s needs for what may be many months or […]
Benefits of Online OT
We are finally seeing some light at the end of the COVID-19 pandemic tunnel. Lockdown restrictions are beginning to ease, promising a return to normal – eventually. In the meantime, maintaining regular therapy appointments is crucial to your child’s progress. Online occupational therapy is a highly effective way to continue your child’s therapy without risking […]
Understanding the Differences Between Positive and Negative Reinforcement
Parents often use both reinforcement and punishment as tools to modify their children’s behavior or to help when working to improve their developmental skills, like sensory processing or fine motor skills. The main purpose of both negative and positive reinforcement is to boost the rate of specific behavior, but they have various differences and similarities. […]
10 Common Objects to Help Your Child with Fine Motor Skills
Children develop fine motor skills at various rates. However, if your child is struggling with fine motor skills, they could have difficulties using their fingertips to move objects, grasping pencils or utensils and using scissors and other tools. Tying shoelaces could be a problem as well. If you want to help your child develop their […]
6 Tips to Help Manage Your Hyperactive Child’s Cabin Fever during COVID-19
While it can be a lot of fun to spend time with your child (or children) when they’re home, it can also be tiring. This is particularly true when you have a hyperactive child and limitations of what you can do outdoors – especially in light of the COVID-19 social distancing requirements. If you’re concerned […]
Keyboard Modifications to Help Children with Typing Skills
While schools are already integrating computers into their classroom curriculum and many teachers are doing a fine job teaching their students how to type effectively, many schools don’t still don’t consider ways to enhance their students’ typing skills. If your child is going to use the keyboard as a practical supplement or alternative to their […]
5 Fun Ways to Practice Handwriting This Spring
You want your child to practice handwriting. As difficult as it may be to find the time, handwriting practice is beneficial for various reasons. It helps strengthen fine motor skills and cognitive skills. It helps build up your child’s confidence down the road in their creative writing abilities. When you have your child spend less […]
Dyspraxia: Explained
Dyspraxia or also known as developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a condition that affects physical coordination and the ability to process motor tasks. If your child has dyspraxia, it could cause them to not perform as well as you’d expect in day-to-day activities for their age. They may also seem to move clumsily. It can […]
What Is Spatial Awareness and How to Help Your Child Develop It?
Visual perception skills allow your brain to make sense of what your eyes are looking at. It develops as children interact with the objects and people around them in increasingly complex ways. When your child can develop the skills to understand and express spatial skills, it’s the first step in them understanding spatial awareness and […]
What are Adaptive Crayons and How They Can Help Children with Sensory Processing Issues
All people have the inherent right to an education. And, all people no matter what their physical abilities and cognitive level, including children with sensory processing issues, have the right to participate in and experience educational activities in the same manner as their peers. It’s the job of professionals through pediatric occupational therapy and school […]
What You Should Know About Echolalia
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) may not only have trouble with fine motor skills, but they might even have the habit of echolalia. Echolalia is the act of copying what you’ve heard. Your child might copy words immediately after they hear them or they may use it later on after remembering something they previously […]
Activities for Isolating Finger Movements
Finger isolation is where your child can move each finger one at a time. Babies move their fingers all at the same time, however, as they develop, they start learning how to move each finger individually. Isolating finger movements is essential in the development of fine motor skills. Having this ability contributes to efficient typing […]
How to Help My Special Needs Child Adjust to Daycare
Transitions can be difficult for younger children, particularly those with sensory processing disorders or those not fond of change altogether. Transitioning into daycare is no exception. But, depending on your child and family situation, they might not have any problems with a new daycare situation. Even so, it’s a good idea to equip yourself with […]