Welcome to the seventh edition of Tips For Growing! These blog posts will focus on important clinical topics that are regularly encountered when working with children. We hope these seeds of information will help with the most important job there is . . . helping children grow. Today’s "Tips For Growing" is the second of two parts that will focus on types of visual perception, symptoms of deficiencies, and resources to help address difficulties in these areas.  >> Visual Perceptual Areas will include: Visual Discrimination, Visual Memory, Visual Scanning & Visual Tracking ..read more

We have a fun way to celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday and work on fine motor skills, bilateral coordination skills, hand strengthening, eye-hand coordination, and praxis!  Materials Needed: Template - Find here!  2 Pipe cleaners Beads Tape Directions:  1. Print template on cardstock. Find template here!  2. Cut out card. 3. Punch a hole in each circle (4). Tip = Fold paper slightly at each circle to punch using a hole punch. 4. Laminate for durability. 5. Cut two pipe cleaners in half, creating 4 equal pipe cleaners. 6. Take a pipe cleaner and press one end into ..read more

Topic: Visual Schedules Welcome to the fifth edition of Tips For Growing! These blog posts will focus on important clinical topics that are regularly encountered when working with children. We hope these seeds of information will help with the most important job there is . . . helping children grow.   Today’s "Tips For Growing" will focus on the use of visual supports and highlight the highly effective and low prep Visual Schedule Resources we have for use in Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Physical Therapy. We have done the work for you! Visual supports a ..read more

Fall is here! For many of you that means chilly weather, colorful falling leaves, and apples to pick!  Tools to Grow is excited to highlight 20 fun-filled autumn themed resources and activities. Some of these activities are meant for the outdoors. For those of you without autumn weather, many of these activities can be completed indoors. Families and therapists can enjoy these activities with the special children in their lives!   Acorn Collecting:  You will need a spoon and small bucket or bowl. Look around your yard, neighborhood, or a nearby park for acorns. Once found, bend ..read more

Are you looking for a fun way to teach and encourage children to develop muscle strength, balance, and overall body strength? Are you looking for tools to teach and encourage children to stretch out their bodies to promote increased range of motion? We have exactly what you need! Topic: Strengthening Exercises and Range of Motion/Stretches   Welcome to the fourth edition of Tips For Growing! These blog posts will focus on important clinical topics that are regularly encountered when working with children. We hope these seeds of information will help with the most important job there ..read more

Are you looking for a fun, simple, and motivating intervention tool to use addressing handwriting?  If so, we have a practical and effective tool for you! This blog will explore Tools to Grow, Inc.'s "Printing Power Squad" Handwriting Program, a convenient and appealing way to promote handwriting rules and printing practice! Kids will want to be a Printing Superhero and follow all the Handwriting Rules! Much of a student's school day is consumed by handwriting.  There are many skills a child utilizes during handwriting. This includes fine motor skills, visual perceptual ski ..read more

We have the PERFECT solution for all Occupational Therapists, Physical Therapists, and Speech-Language Pathologists to conquer the 2022/2023 School Year …. the Ultimate Digital Therapy Planner!    To find the 2022/2023 Therapy Planner: From the Home Page: Click --> Caseload Management  Sort by category -->The Ultimate Therapy Planner    Personalize and Customize Your 2022/2023 Therapy Planner with the Following Digital Interactive Tools:   Therapy Planner Cover Pages & Binder Spines: This FREE digital resource is the perfect solu ..read more

This edition of "Tips For Growing" will focus on the types of bilateral coordination, foundations of bilateral coordination, and highlight our NEW Bilateral Coordination Exercise resources!   Bilateral Coordination    Bilateral Coordination refers to a child’s ability to control both sides of their body in an organized manner. Optimal bilateral coordination requires communication or integration between both sides of the brain. The development of ideal fine motor, gross motor, and adaptive daily living skills requires intact bilateral coordination.   Types of Bilateral ..read more

  Welcome to the second edition of Tips For Growing! These blogs will focus on important clinical topics that are regularly encountered when working with children. We hope these seeds of information will help with the most important job there is…helping children grow. Topic: Emotional Intelligence   Emotional intelligence is defined as the ability to identify, understand, and manage one’s emotions. This includes expressing emotions in a healthy manner. People with strong emotional intelligence also understand the emotions of others. This allows for the possibility to develop empathet ..read more

Welcome to our initial edition of Tips For Growing! These blogs will focus on important clinical topics that are regularly encountered when working with children. We hope these seeds of information will help with the most important job there is…helping children grow.   Topic: Response to Occupational Therapy Interventions & Consulting In a School Based Setting Since the 1975 passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), students with disabilities in the United States must have access to Occupational Therapy if needed to benefit from special education. In 2004, the ..read more