Play is an essential part of your child’s development. Giving children the opportunity to play allows them to develop a strong foundation in their communication skills, motor skills, cognitive skills, and social skills. Read more for tips on how to make the most of your child’s playtime!
Playtime is Essential Read More »
A new study done by The American Physical Therapy Association finds that exercise intervention is an effective way to reduce both the risk of falls and the number of falls among adults 65 and older.
Exercise interventions reduce the risk of falls by 30%, study shows! Read More »
My main question for you today is: what makes you MOVE? Did you know that the world’s major health organizations recommend that each of us engage in 300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week? That’s approximately 45 minutes per day! The recommendation minimum is of 150 minutes per week for cardiovascular and muscular
Let’s Move! Physical Activity and Health Read More »
With all of the technological advancements in our world, there is now an entire generation of kids who are growing up with smartphones, tablets, and other internet-enabled electronic devices. Kids seem to be glued to their devices and many have a very difficult time transitioning away from them. This has many parents wondering: what effect
With the warmer months here, it’s a great time to dust off your bike and helmet and take a ride. There are many benefits from bike riding including muscle and bone strengthening. Additionally, riding a bike increases endurance as well as coordination, visual scanning, self regulation, balance and not to mention it’s just a fun
The Importance of Bike Riding Read More »
Sometimes a change in routine can be exciting and fun. Other times, especially for children with sensory sensitivities associated with autism, ADHD, and sensory processing disorder, changes in a child’s routine can be upsetting and make it difficult for the child to maintain a sense of security. Routine disruption can even cause issues with self
The Importance of Routine Read More »
Below is a check-list of pre-handwriting skills needed before handwriting can occur: Fine motor strength (finger strength) Shoulder stability Upper body strength Core strength Crossing the midline Hand eye coordination Bilateral integration (using two hands) Visual perception Hand dominance Hand division (manipulate objects using 3 fingered grasp) Pencil grasp If you have concerns about your
Foundation needed for pre-handwriting skills Read More »
A common question that we are often asked is, “When should my child transition to purees or solid foods?” While the answer to that question can vary for each child and their special circumstances, there are some common foundation skills we look for before introducing foods. Does the child show interest in foods? A very
A therapist’s thoughts on… When to introduce foods. Read More »
Beyond staying warm in the winter, your Occupational Therapist cares about your child’s ability to zip and complete other fasteners for various reasons. Most children can get pants with elastic waists on themselves and pull a sweater or shirt over their heads, but the fine motor skills involved in zipping, snapping, and buttoning may be
Why OT’s care about: Buttoning and Zipping Read More »
Heavy work is any type of activity that pushes or pulls against the body. Heavy work activities can help kids with sensory processing issues feel centered. Heavy work engages a sense called proprioception, or body awareness. Who can benefit from heavy work activities? Everyone! Everyone needs heavy work activities to some extent. It’s mostly
What is Heavy Work? Read More »
