3 New Leaf Play Ideas

Posted by on Nov 4, 2016 Fall in Minnesota means piles of crunchy leaves all around.  This year we have gotten lucky with an incredibly long and warm fall, so here are a few more play ideas to keep the kids busy.  Leaves make for many great activities, including motor and sensory play.  Here are 3 new ideas for you to try: 1. Make leaf people. Find a great leaf, glue it to paper, add googly eyes and draw in hands and...
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Everyday, Simple Idea #23: 5 Purse-sized Items to Entertain Your Child (Instead of Your Phone!)

Posted by on Jun 4, 2016 I am sharing some of the simple, daily things I do at home as a Mom that come from my occupational therapy background. #23.  5 Purse-sized Items to Entertain Your Child (Instead of Your Phone!) We have all been there- waiting in an office, a line, or a meeting with a squirmy child that needs something to keep their little hands busy and voice quiet for just a few more minutes.  I know how...
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How to Make an Easy and Quick Weighted Lap Pad at Home

Posted by on Apr 2, 2016 I decided to make a weighted lap pad for my sensory-seeking child.  The goal with a weighted lap pad is to give sensory input (deep pressure and proprioceptive input) that can help to increase body awareness, control, and attention to a seated task (like book reading, coloring, or puzzles).  As an occupational therapist, I have used lots of nice (and expensive) equipment bought from therapy...
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Easter Eggs! 5 Great Skills Kids Can Learn Through Playing with Easter Eggs

Posted by on Mar 20, 2016 In the next few weeks, many families are going to have a small mountain of Easter Eggs at home.  Those cheap, plastic, little eggs are one of my favorite play tools and occupational therapy tools for toddlers, preschoolers, and school-aged kids. 5 Great Skills Kids Can Learn Through Playing with Easter Eggs Bilateral Hand Skills- this means using two hands together at a task.  Easter Eggs are...
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10 Ways to Play in a Motor Room

Posted by on Feb 20, 2016 A play space is only a space.  It can lead children to play and learning opportunities, but the space itself is only an environment.  Parents can guide children and get more out of the play spaces through engagement techniques, such as small changes to the environment that spark ideas and activities for play. After a few months using our new motor room at home, I found that I needed to keep my...
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DIY- Making a Slant Board at Home

Posted by on Feb 10, 2016 Many children benefit from using a slant board when writing, both children learning to write and children who struggle with handwriting and posture skills. What is a slant board?   A slant board is an inclined writing surface. Why? The inclined position helps with 2 things: Wrist position- the incline puts the wrist in an extension posture (similar to using a vertical surface), which helps to...
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