I believe from the bottom of my heart that school Occupational & Physical Therapists should NOT be Civil Service Employees. BUT, there are a LOT of very good things about taking a civil service position. There are different ways to work as an OTP or PT in a school district. Work as a contract employee, directly for the district, or somewhere in between. Learn more about how to get directly hired  here . In the USA, many school OTs (including myself) are hired under the Civil Service System. Being hired from the Civil Service list DOES NOT mean that you’re automatically in th ..read more

Potty training can be a challenge for parents, but it’s also an important part of childhood development. The normal struggle can be even more difficult when there are sensory processing issues. Recognizing that they need to go, wearing big girl or big boy underwear, and being able to use different toilets can all be impacted by sensory processing. Sensory Processing is a Natural Part of the Toileting Process A bathroom environment can be overstimulating to start with. We receive sensory information from our eyes, ears, skin, muscles, and joints. Our brain’s job is to organize the informati ..read more

Here are a few of my Favorite Things for 8-year-olds to help them learn, grow, and develop right on time! As an OT, I’m picky about my toys! I want to spend on things that have at least one developmental component.   Toys for Flexible Thinking Cribbage Minecraft Lego Swish Scrabble Pictionary Distraction Sushi Go! Dixit Spontuneous Sleeping Queens Dr. Eureka Ticket to Ride Quiddler IQ Focus Explore All of Miss Jaime's Favorite Things Click Here Spelling, Reading, and Language Development Monopoly Monopoly: Gamer Yahtzee Double ..read more

Here are a few of my Favorite Things for 6-year-olds to help them learn, grow, and develop right on time! As an OT, I’m picky about my toys! I want to spend on things that have at least one developmental component.   Toys for Flexible Thinking The Magic Labyrinth Spot It! Mad Dragon Memory Master Jenga Chess Explore All of Miss Jaime's Favorite Things Click Here Travel Games Hangman Tic Tac Toe Coloring & Activity Book Connect 4 The post Miss Jaime’s Favorite Things—for 6-Year-Olds appeared first on Miss Jaime, O.T ..read more

Here are a few of my Favorite Things for 4-year-olds to help them learn, grow, and develop right on time! As an OT, I’m picky about my toys! I want to spend on things that have at least one developmental component.     Toys that Require Eyes & Hands Simultaneously Perfection Lite Brite Bed Bugs Ring-A-Ding-Ding Robot Face Race Explore All of Miss Jaime's Favorite Things Click Here Quick Cups WHAC-a-MOLE Build or Boom Lego Visual Perception Toys I Spy Matching Letter Pancake Pile-Up! The post Miss Jaime’s Favorite Things—for 4-Yea ..read more

Sensory kids can be tricky.  Different kids can like or dislike different sensations. I like to recommend weighted things because I find that they can be calming and grounding for children who are sensory seeking, anxious, impulsive, or hyperactive. They can also be used as “heavy work” for kids who need to “wake up” or get moving. Picking out a gift can be so frustrating. This year I thought I’d make a quick list of my top favorite NEW sensory toys – ones that are unique and probably not already in your child’s toy box. Affiliate links have been included for your convenience. A Weigh ..read more

Here are a few of my Favorite Things for 5-year-olds to help them learn, grow, and develop right on time! As an OT, I’m picky about my toys! I want to spend on things that have at least one developmental component.   Fine Motor Toys that Engage 2 Hands (Bilateral Coordination) Legos Ring-A-Ding-Ding Game Color-recognition Matching Game No-waiting Matching Game Quick Cups Build or BOOM The Multi-Matrix Game for maximum brain development Catch the Match  Visual Perception Game Spelling, Reading, and Language Development Froggy Feeding Fun Activity ..read more

Here are a few of my Favorite Things for 7-year-olds to help them learn, grow, and develop right on time! As an OT, I’m picky about my toys! I want to spend on things that have at least one developmental component.   Eye Hand Coordination Loonacy matching card game BUILDZI by TENZI Mini MightMind No-waiting Matching Game SmartGames Day & Night Spot it! Perfection KerPlunk Connect4 Rush Hour Junior Traffic Jam Logic Game and STEM Toy K’nex Magna-Tiles UNO So many uses for UNO cards! Explore All of Miss Jaime's Favorite Things Cli ..read more

Here are a few of my Favorite Things for 3-year-olds to help them learn, grow, and develop right on time! As an OT, I’m picky about my toys! I want to spend on things that have at least one developmental component.     Toys that Engage 2 Hands (bilateral coordination) Lacing Beads Lace and Trace Nuts & Bolts Peg Mosiac Puzzles Stickers Putty and Play-doh Shape Puzzles Books for 3-Year-Olds Peek-a-Flap Dino – Peek and explore Search & Find books Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb – Board Book Option Hidden Pictures Lift-the-Flap Boo ..read more

I’m sure I don’t have to tell you how hyped kids get just before (or after) a school break, or just on a random Tuesday. And being a lifelong yoga lover + an occupational therapist, I love to combine yoga and fun! I’ve got 3 yoga games to share with you. They are easy to play, and simple instructions get the kids started very quickly. Get the handout below. Dicey Yoga All you need is a die to roll. The teacher can roll the die for the whole class, part of the class, or kids can roll for themselves. Either way, depending on the amount of time you select, the kids can do the yoga poses ..read more