Modifications to the school environment can greatly benefit students with disabilities. School staff needs to teach students to be independent in making sure that modifications are in place in the learning environment. It is not our job to simple recommend modifications it is also our job as educators/therapists to ensure that the modifications are carried […]
Ingrid King, OT, has written research on a collaborative fine motor program for 5 year old children in New Zealand. A two phased mixed method design was utilized with 19 students in a 5 year old classroom (none of the students were receiving occupational therapy nor had a diagnosis). To measure changes in fine motor […]
Have you ever heard of Fitt’s Law? “Fitts’s Law allows to predict a time it takes a user to point at an object using a specific pointing device (such as a mouse, trackball, trackpad, or even a finger)”. At a website about Fitt’s Law – http://fww.few.vu.nl/hci/interactive/fitts/, you can collect data on how long it takes a […]
The Journal of Physical Therapy Science published research on the effects of the modulation of optic flow speed on gait parameters in children with hemiplegic cerebral palsy. Optic flow is the pattern of motion perceived at the retina, which specifies the direction of locomotion and provides vital feedback concerning an individual’s regulation of walking velocity. Gait analysis was completed […]
Ever have the blues at your job? Feeling like you are stuck in a rut? Here are 5 ways to snap out of a funk as a pediatric occupational or physical therapist: 1. Remember why you chose this profession – to help others. 2. Connect with other therapists to ask for help establish a […]
Make these mini sponge blocks to encourage strengthening in the fingers, visual spatial skills, visual motor skills and grading of movements. The bonus is that they are super light to carry around from school to school if you are a therapist who travels from school to school or a parent who needs to bring along […]
There are a few good apps that are free today, 2/28/14. Here they are: 1. Toca Boca Doctor: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/toca-doctor/id424209938?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4 – This is a great app for young children. It challenges visual perceptual skills, visual motor skills and eye hand coordination. It works well as a reward – complete a certain number of tasks and the child is rewarded with a mini […]
Here are a few ideas using calculator tape to practice visual motor skills and other developmental skills. By setting up various tasks, the child will have to cross midline, use both sides of the body, visually track the letters/numbers and use visual motor skills. Use some calculator tape to create a long line of letters, […]
Recent research explored the complex relationship between spelling and handwriting specifically that spelling ability influences handwriting ability. The participants (31 children with dyslexia and age matched and spelling-ability matched children) were assessed for execution speed and temporal characteristics of handwriting when completing sentence-copying tasks that were free from composing demands. In addition, the predictive value of […]
It can be difficult for some children to complete two tasks at one time (dual task conditions). In the school setting, the task of walking and carrying school supplies, lunch tray or textbooks is a common occurrence. Here is some recent research that was conducted to evaluate the effects of dual task constraints on walking and bimanual […]