SPED Strategies

Looking for information on how a little one moves from bottle to holding and using a knife and fork? This blog post covers newborn-6+ years and includes developmental milestones for each age and stage:
https://www.theottoolbox.com/development-of-bilateral-coordination-feeding-skills/

There can be a multitude of reasons why "behaviors" (or the physical, emotional, cognitive, verbal responses we see) occur in the preschool setting. Just some of the behavior triggers that lead to common issues in the preschool setting include these causes:

✨Having a new routine (changes at home, sleep changes, potty training, time change, or differing work schedules of parents are some examples)
✨Experiencing a change in home environment (a new baby added to the family, moving to a new home, or other home changes)
✨Not getting enough sleep
✨Too much screen time
✨Developmental changes occurring in the age range

Each of these experiences going on behind the scenes (plus many others!) can throw off a young child's ability to participate in school, social situations, and activities.

Here are 5 steps to creating a plan for managing tricky "behaviors" in the young child, while taking consideration of the whole "iceberg"!
https://www.theottoolbox.com/problem-preschool-behaviors/

This is a great read on the different types of memory if you have a few minutes: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2017.00438/full

Look familiar?

Here is more information on proprioception: https://www.theottoolbox.com/proprioception-sensory-activities/

Image from: https://www.instagram.com/theexpertally/

Rainbow letter beads. So many ways to use this tool:

⭕Thread onto pipe cleaners
⭕Press into play dough
⭕Spell words
⭕Match upper case/lower case
⭕Sort by tall letters/small letters/tail letters
⭕Roll a dice, grab that number of letters, write words that star with the letters you picked up
⭕Play I Spy and spell words with the beads on the table. Then write the word

How would you use the these fine motor/visual tool?

Amazon affiliate link available here: https://amzn.to/3DFhI6D

Bilateral coordination skills drive function.
Did you know there is a developmental sequence to using both hands in a coordinated manner that enable the three components of B Coordination (symmetrical movements, alternating movements, and dominant hand/supporting hand movements)?

Read about this developmental sequence here: https://www.theottoolbox.com/development-of-bilateral-coordination-feeding-skills/

And check out bilateral coordination activities and tools here:
https://www.theottoolbox.com/development-of-bilateral-coordination-feeding-skills/

Does your child struggle with following directions? Maybe she does the first step but then forgets what to do next. Following multi-step directions can be particularly challenging for children and teens who struggle with executive functions such as attention, planning, prioritizing, and working memory.

Here's an easy tip for giving directions that are more likely to stick.

Hold up a finger for each step of the directions and use words such as "first," "second," and "third." This helps to organize the steps in your child's mind. Ask your child to repeat the steps back to you while holding up fingers to count each step. The movement and repetition of the steps make them more likely to stick.

There are so many aspects of executive functioning skills at work when it comes to handwriting skills!

🧠attention
🎯focus
🕵️problem solving
🤪impulse control
❤️emotional control
✍organization
📅task initiation
📑prioritizing and planning
🔍self-awareness
‍💼working memory
🤔flexibility in thinking

This is just part of the bigger picture. Read more here: https://www.theottoolbox.com/handwriting-executive-function-skill-problems/

Balance skills are important skills for children to have as children must control and maintain multiple body positions in their daily life functions. They rely on balance for daily activities such as dressing, going to the toilet, navigating each environment, sitting to eat meals, and playing.

They need good balance to engage in sports and games that they play with others to be safe and minimize fatigue. Good balance skills also minimize injury as the child can more successfully utilize protective responses when needed.

⚖️When addressing balance skills, many times this also includes:
+gross motor coordination
+core strength
+vestibular input
+visual motor skills
+proprioceptive input
+other areas

In addition to these areas of consideration, there is also the functional aspect. In order to complete functional tasks throughout the day, or daily occupations, there needs to be movement, manipulation of objects, while maintaining or performing tasks with balance and coordination. So, addressing balance activities in therapy sessions are a win-win for the children and you as the therapy provider! 🤹🏽🤹🏽🤹🏽

In this blog post you'll learn the difference between static and dynamic balance, balance activities for toddlers, preschoolers, older children, top recommended OT/PT equipment to support this skill, and therapy tips! https://www.theottoolbox.com/balance-activities-for-kids/

These are the MOST popular pages on The OT Toolbox right now. And if there's one thing I've learned, it 's that if some readers need a specific tool, then there are many others in the same boat. Use these Biggest Therapy Tools in planning OT teletherapy sessions, aiding in distance learning, and addressing at-home needs:

Teletherapy activities- This post was recently updated to include a huge collection of activity ideas, making it a full-on telehealth activity hub, with ideas to address handwriting, executive functioning, craft ideas, and more. https://www.theottoolbox.com/teletherapy-activities-for-occupational-therapy/

Monthly Movement Activities- Add just one of these movement activities to home programs, or use the whole monthly list in your session planning. This should make teletherapy/virtual teaching/distance learning easier AND get the kiddos the movement they need. https://www.theottoolbox.com/monthly-movement-activities/

Free Visual Perception Packet- This is a FREE, 17-page handout packet to address areas such as visual discrimination, visual scanning, form constancy, etc. You'll have to enter your email to get it delivered to you. It's a good one to add to your toolbox! https://www.theottoolbox.com/free-visual-perception-packet/

Mindfulness videos on Youtube- Use these Youtube videos in your therapy planning, classroom lessons, or as movement breaks during school work at home. https://www.theottoolbox.com/mindfulness-for-kids-youtube-videos/

Activities to Help with Attention- The virtual therapy/classrooms are a TOUGH place to hold attention, right? Here are activities to help with attention and focus. https://www.theottoolbox.com/attention/

Zones of regulation activities- Take the Zones check-ins to hands-on. These ideas rock in the way of regulation and coping strategies. https://www.theottoolbox.com/zones-of-regulation-activities/

31 Days of OT Activities using free materials- Use household items to work on specific skills during OT sessions. https://www.theottoolbox.com/31-days-of-occupational-therapy-with/

31 Days of Learning using free materials- Work on time telling, math, sight words, writing, etc. using items found around the home. https://www.theottoolbox.com/31-days-of-learning-with-free-materials/

Visual Motor Skills- This mega-hub has activity ideas for addressing visual motor skills, coordination, motor planning, and all things vision via play. https://www.theottoolbox.com/visual-motor-skills/

ITEMS TO PUT IN YOUR CALM DOWN KIT FOR YOUR CHILD

If you are struggling to find ideas to put in your child's calm down box or kit, here are a few great ones...

https://www.andnextcomesl.com/2016/04/what-to-put-in-a-calm-down-kit-for-kids.html

7 Essential Motor Skills needed for a Child to Reach Academic Success - Integrated Learning Strategies 7 Essential Motor Skills needed for a Child to Reach Academic Success. The body is a tool to help the brain reach its highest learning potential.

What to watch for in your child as they develop pencil grip and grasp. Hint: These aren't the only 4. Check out the others...
https://ilslearningcorner.com/2016-11-hand-grip-weak-hands-weak-body-why-kids-and-millennials-are-losing-their-grip/