Do you need quick and easy brain breaks for the classroom? You can download two FREE printables that are perfect for the classroom. These activities encourage self-regulation, body awareness, coordination, physical activity and balance all on one page. These freebies are from the complete Roll Some Fun digital download that includes 30 no-prep, boredom busting brain […]
Handwriting practice has diminished significantly over the several decades. Recently, more and more research indicates the importance of handwriting skills for literacy, working memory, orthographic processing and more. The Journal of Educational Psychology published research on the importance of handwriting for writing. Handwriting is very different from writing. In general, the act of handwriting involves […]
The statistics are frightening for the future health of our young people. While schools are fretting over academic achievement to increase brain power, physical inactivity in youth is on the rise. Think about your average elementary school students 30 years ago – many walked to school, had outdoor recess 2-3 times per day, walked home […]
Did you know that a student’s visual-spatial skills influence math skills? Visual-spatial skills provide us with the ability to visually perceive two or more objects in relation to each other and to yourself. Visual spatial relationships are important in everyday tasks. You need to interpret what it means to “stand first in a line”, “sit […]
A recent study in Disability and Rehabilitation examined physical activity and walking in children with cerebral palsy over time. The goal of the study was to create developmental trajectories for physical activity and walking performance for children with cerebral palsy. Methodology The study included 79 children with cerebral palsy (Gross Motor Functional Classification System – […]
There are many academic and personal behaviors necessary for student success that teachers instill in their students. Doing well in school is not all about good grades. Students need foundational skills in order to be successful students. Some examples are persistence, engagement, work habits, organizational skills, communication, collaboration, and self-regulation. Persistence Persistence is one of […]
As pediatric therapists, we often recommend that students work on vertical surfaces such as a wall, easel or slant board to encourage an increase in wrist extension, elbow and shoulder stability, and upright posture. By modifying the environment by moving tracing, copying, drawing, writing or play to vertical surfaces, you change the muscles that are […]
If you have children who participate in sports, you know how high the injury rate is today. Many youth start sport specialization at a very young age training in one sport throughout the year. Parents and athletes NEED prevent youth sports injuries by being educated on the current best practices. Research on How to Prevent […]
This sticker activity sheet for fine motor skill development is super cute, hand-drawn and you can download and print it for FREE! Do you need a new activity to engage students to work on the muscles and fine motor skills needed for handwriting? This fine motor development sticker challenge is perfect. The object of the […]
Recent research indicates that functional skills continue to improve throughout life with Down Syndrome. The American Journal of Medical Genetics published research examining the range of functional abilities found in people with Down syndrome in order to help parents and clinicians. Survey of Life with Down Syndrome A survey was conducted with 2658 parents from […]