Today’s article is all about the Vestibular system – what is it, why is it important to growth and development, and what can you do to support its development in your child? THE VESTIBULAR SYSYTEM The vestibular system has to do with balance and movement and is centered in the inner ear. Each of us has […]
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When a child sits down to write at a desk, it can be easy for everything to go awry and messy, illegible handwriting to result. It might be poor carryover of handwriting skills, difficulty with letter formation, visual motor skills that are not up to par, or weak fine motor skills and pencil grasp struggles. […]
Just Stop Touching Everything! This is what I used to say to my daughter anytime we were in a store, at church, or anywhere else. She always had to be touching something. She would get warnings and then consequences because she just wouldn’t stop touching. In my mind, she was just disobeying me. Come to […]
Back when I was in school, I never thought about the developmental benefits of writing and working on the vertical surface of the chalkboard, but as a therapist, now I know that there are many! The occupational therapists I work with encourage children to work on vertical surfaces all the time and here’s why… 1 […]
Halloween parties, costumes, make-up, masks, trick-or-treating, and treats. This all sounds like fun to many children, but Halloween “fun” can be a sensory nightmare for children with sensory issues. Fortunately, there are ways to help make Halloween more enjoyable for the child who struggles with sensory issues. SPD For Halloween Tip 1 – Exposure to […]
Halloween can be incredibly hard for some children, even the ones that love it the most. This year, in preparation, I’ve decided to make these printable SPD Halloween cards for children that struggle with costumes and greetings. While I know these are not for every child, it can make or break the evening for children […]
Sensory Crash Pad Activities This article provides sensory crash pad activities to help kids with proprioception and calming. We’ve talked about the benefits of having a sensory crash pad in your home. Now it’s time to talk about what activities your child can do with a crash pad. Remember, the importance of having a sensory […]
We loved this teacher’s honest account of using flexible seating in her classroom. It isn’t as easy as it seems. Allowing our consultants, who have years of Sensory Integration specialization, to guide you through the process, takes the guess work out of flexible seating. Before you buy that discarded Rocket Ship seat….A cautionary tale […]
© Zoe Mailloux, OTD, OTR/L, FAOTA For some individuals, even slight changes in height or position create an extreme feeling of disorientation, fear and anxiety. It is probably very difficult for those of us who do not have this reaction to imagine what it must be like to experience these sensations. If you cannot trust […]
For decades, frustrated parents and teachers have barked at fidgety children with ADHD to “Sit still and concentrate!” But new research conducted at University of Central Florida (UCF) shows that if you want ADHD kids to learn, you have to let them squirm. The foot-tapping, leg-swinging and chair-scooting movements of children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder are actually […]