Handwriting is an incredibly complex skill. Many times, the difficulties might get overlooked. Here is a list of what an occupational therapist might observe or assess during a routine handwriting assessment: Posture at Tabletop: A therapist might help you ensure that the child is sitting 90-90-90 positioning with feet flat on the floor or a flat surface (i.e. a stool, a box, large books, etc.) and the hips appropriately positioned. This is optimal positioning and can help assist with compensating for some core strength deficits as core strength can directly impact handwriting (see below). C ..read more

Most caregivers would tell you that their biggest goal is to raise happy and healthy children. Simple, right? In a world often filled with uncertainty and instability, this can sometimes feel like a feat within itself. As adults, we often face our own struggles and find it difficult to be happy and healthy so how on earth are we supposed to help our children feel something that at times feels unattainable for ourselves?! The biggest piece of the puzzle we call life is how do we find empowerment ..read more

Make Your Own Sensory Bag Ellisa Baker, OTR/L Looking for some sensory suggestions “On the GO” this summer? Ms. Ellisa put together some great suggestions so you can make your own On the Go Sensory Bag, to meet a variety of sensory needs! The post ON THE GO SENSORY BAG appeared first on Child's Play Therapy Center ..read more

With the recent release of the CDC’s new developmental milestones, there has been a lot of buzz about how to interpret and use these new recommendations. As parents and practitioners, our ultimate goal is to do what is best for our children, but sometimes it is hard to know exactly what that is when information seems to be conflicting, confusing, or even controversial.  Here are some important things to know about these new guidelines. In theory, the goal of this new information is to encourage early identification of delays in communication, physical, cognitive, and social/emotional deve ..read more

If you have been around OT for any period of time, you may have heard your child’s therapist talk about visual motor skills and include activities within their session to strengthen these skills, but visual skills go much further than just the eyes! I would like to provide you with a quick rundown of a variety of visual skills needed for effective handwriting or independent self-dressing skills and how they might impact your child’s daily life!   Visual discrimination: Recognizing the similarities and differences between objects, shapes, size, color, and patterns. This skill is important ..read more

Minimal pairs are words that differ by only 1 phoneme (sip dip).​ It is a quick way of helping your child break the habit of substituting 1 sound for another sound.​ The goal of using minimal pairs is to help your child understand how they say the word determines the meaning.  ​ Ask your speech therapist for minimal pair resources!​ -Shelley Zepp,SLP The post Minimal Pairs appeared first on Child's Play Therapy Center ..read more

We are all waiting for the sunshine and warmer days ahead to give our kids the benefits of playing outside. Until then, you may be wondering how to fill the time indoors on weekends or between school and bedtime. Let’s look at some options to help give kids the sensory experiences they crave without having to brave the cold or rainy outdoors. · Obstacle Course: This is a great way to get their bodies moving. Items like chairs, quilts, cushions, and pillows can be used to build the course. Also, having your child help create the course to work on planning and problem solving is great, too. Pre ..read more

We created this social story to help families who have chosen to have their child vaccinated.  This is not intended to imply what choice a family should or should not make for their child.  As always, we encourage you to talk with your child’s pediatrician about what is right for them.  If the vaccine is right for your child, we hope you find this social story helpful in preparing your child for their vaccine. Please click the link below to access the story. Covid Social Story The post Getting My COVID-19 Vaccine! appeared first on Child's Play Therapy Center ..read more

‘Tis the season for Fall festivals, class parties, fun costumes and trick or treating with friends and family! The air is filled with excited chatter and yummy smells. Streets are lined with lights, pumpkins, and friendly or spooky sights! It is a fun time of year for families, but the Fall/Halloween season can also bring its fair share of hurdles: changes in routine, potential for overwhelming sensory and social scenarios… No need to panic! Here are a few tips to help prepare your family for a fun start to the season, no matter your child’s unique needs ..read more

As we have all learned over the past year of social distancing, relationships with other people are incredibly important. This is even more true for our children and teens. From day one, we all start building attachments with those around us: caregivers, family, friends, etc. Those relationships help us to learn about ourselves and the world around us. John Bowlby (1969) described the need for attachment as an instinct that is innate in all of us. Healthy attachment promotes our social/emotional development, but can also be linked to all facets of development. These re ..read more