If you ask children what their favorite school subject is many will respond recess! Unfortunately, unstructured, free play for kids is becoming a thing of the past. Thirty to forty percent of elementary schools in the United States are eliminating, decreasing or considering eliminating recess. (1,2). Some schools are making these decisions due to increased […]
Many people say that handwriting instruction is no longer a necessity because of the prevalence in the use of gadgets that effectively replace our need to write using traditional writing tools. Dr. Beverly Moskowitz, OTR/L, creator of the Size Matters Handwriting Program, shares with us her thoughts and suggestions on why handwriting instruction is still […]
As technology and screens take a stronger hold on our children’s lives every day, it is important to analyze the relationship between screen time and fine motor skills in preschoolers. Teachers and therapists continue to report that when they observe young children, motor skill development is lacking. Some hypothesize that this is due to an […]
Do you see students struggling with handwriting skills on a daily basis? Maybe it is the increased use of technology at a younger age. Perhaps it is the lack of fine motor skill free play during childhood development. Or it even could be from a lack of muscle strength to produce legible writing. Regardless of […]
Visual scanning is basically the ability to find and search for information in your environment. The information could be letters on a page, headlines, people, or objects. Children need to search and compare what they are looking for as they scan the environment at school, and home. By practicing visual scanning activities, children may become […]
If you are a school-based therapist, teacher, or parent you may be looking for suggestions and tips for increasing engagement on the playground for students with autism. It can be a struggle for some students to participate on the playground if they have deficits in motor skills, social skills or sensory processing. Many times, professionals […]
The May 2019 FREE Digital Magazine from Your Therapy Source has been published. This 40 page PDF document can be downloaded for free at the end of the post. Table of Contents HOW TO DEAL WITH CHALLENGING BEHAVIORS IN PRESCHOOL LEARNING ON THE JOB AS A SCHOOL-BASED THERAPIST – 10 THINGS YOU DO NOT LEARN […]
Here are some super simple and silly drawing games for kids and adults to play. All you need is a pencil and paper. You can play with one person or a large group. Give everyone a pencil and paper. Start by drawing one object with your dominant hand. Now it is time to switch it […]
This fine motor skills game, Eat the Cheese, is super adorable and fun to get little fingers ready to pick up small objects. You can download it for free at the end of this post! How to Play the Fine Motor Skills Game Eat the Cheese requires very little preparation and the directions are simple. […]
Students can benefit from proprioceptive input and heavy work activities to help get the body in a ready to learn state. Proprioception is the ability of your muscles and joints to determine where they are in space. The proprioceptive nerve endings in the body provide us with the information of where our hands, arms, and […]