Side stepping ball drop is a fun activity to set up that encourages standing, side stepping, reaching, crossing midline, trunk rotation and wrist extension. You will need recycled cardboard tubes, tape, balls (that fit inside the tubes) and a bench. This idea is from Therapeutic Play Activities for Children. For set up, tape the recycled cardboard tubes along the wall near the back […]
The Your Therapy Source Digital Magazine February 2017 Issue 91 has been published. Read articles on: ACUTE EXERCISE AND EXECUTIVE FUNCTION IN CHILDREN PHYSICAL THERAPY INTERVENTIONS AND DEVELOPMENTAL COORDINATION DISORDER 15 FREE VISUAL SPATIAL PRINTABLES VISUAL MOTOR INTEGRATION SKILLS AND SPEECH SOUNDS AEROBIC EXERCISE IMPROVED SELF REGULATION AND BEHAVIOR EFFECTS OF TABLET USE ON FINE […]
This hand out includes 10 tips for helping children with cerebral palsy during playtime (download below). This printable tip sheet is from Therapeutic Play Activities for Children. All children learn through play and exploration. Playtime helps children to develop fine motor, gross motor, cognitive, emotional and communication skills. Children with cerebral palsy also enjoy and learn through […]
Do you lead or help teachers institute brain breaks in the classroom? Try following the same brain break routine every time to help children understand the expectations. This allows children to give their brains a well deserved break from learning and help them to process new information. An effective brain break routine may consist of: Deep […]
Frontiers in Psychology published research on the relationship between motor skills, cognitive function, and school performance in 45 students from 8 to 14 years of age. Each participant completed the following to assess different skill areas: 1) Touch Test Disc for motor skill coordination, 2) Shuttle Run Speed—running back and forth for agility, 3) Academic […]
The Journal of Spine Surgery published an open access review on the management of scoliosis in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Research indicates that 21-64% of children with CP develop scoliosis most likely to occurring before 10 years of age. In children with CP, scoliosis can progress beyond skeletal maturity which is different from idiopathic scoliosis. The […]
After reading a thought provoking blog post from Christopher Alterio,OTR, on Deconstructing the myth of clothing sensitivity as a ‘sensory processing disorder’, it really made me think about how we talk to parents as pediatric therapists. Not just about clothing sensitivity or other sensory sensitivities but about any concern that a parent comes to discuss with […]
The January 2017 Digital Magazine for Pediatric OTs and PTs has been published. It is jam packed with information on recent research, activity ideas, tips and more. View the Table of Contents for the Your Therapy Source Digital Magazine January 2017: 5 WAYS TO IMPROVE PRODUCTIVITY NECK AND TRUNK EXERCISES HELP WITH HAND FUNCTION AND VISUAL PERCEPTUAL […]
Winter Challenge is a fun, NO PREP, Winter themed activity to encourage fine motor, gross motor and visual motor skills. Just print the black and white page and complete each of the Winter themed challenges. Can you trace the ski tracks, draw snowflakes, walk backwards, pretend to ice skate, hold snow tube pose and finish […]
The Journal of Motor Learning and Development published a review to identify the types of interventions in physical therapy contexts used in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and whether these interventions are effective. The systemic search revealed 29 articles of moderate to good quality to analyze. The results indicated that: task-oriented approaches as well […]