Did you know that having good motor skills may help with the reading skills in overweight boys? Researchers from the Journal of Sports Science examined the associations of cardiometabolic risk factors with academic achievement and whether motor performance, cardiorespiratory fitness, physical activity, or sedentary behavior effected these associations in 175 children who were 6 to […]
The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health published a research review on the relationship between motor proficiency, math, and reading in school-aged children and adolescents. Previous research indicated that there are positive associations between physical activity, cognition, and academic performance in children. This review investigated which factors influence the relationship between motor proficiency, math, […]
How to Increase Engagement in Motor Skill Stations Do you create motor skill stations to provide movement opportunities at your school? Do you struggle with what activities to use to increase engagement in motor skill stations? It can be difficult to create motor skill stations that students engage with long enough to make gains in motor skill […]
Need a quick game to rest and refresh your student’s brain? Try this Q and A Body Game: Purpose: Promote body awareness, motor skills and listening skills. Materials: none Activity: This can be played with one player or a group of children. The adult faces the group. Explain the directions of the game. The adult […]
Here are 4 free last minute printables for OT and PT to help celebrate Valentine’s Day. 1. Valentine’s Day Brain Break 2. Conversation Heart Clothes Pins 3. Multisensory Handwriting Freebie – Valentine’s Day 4. Valentine Pencil Critters to cut, fold and create. Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!!!!
Looking for research to justify school based physical or occupational therapy services during the early school years? Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise published research on 174 Finnish children grades 1-3 that investigated the relationship between cardiovascular fitness, motor skills and reading/arithmetic skills. The following results were reported: children who performed poorly in agility, speed […]
Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders published research on 233 children ages 14 to 49 months diagnosed with autism. The researchers examined the relationship of motor skills on the adaptive behavior composite, daily living, adaptive social and adaptive communicative skills while holding constant the age, non-verbal problem solving, and the severity of autism. The following results […]
Here is a free self assessment of skills form for students or clients. You can type any skill into the form and the children can circle whether they think the skill is easy or they need help with the skill. It will give you a general idea of the child’s perspective of his/her skills. Perhaps […]
Autism published research on the relationship between motor skills, emotional/behavioral disturbances and autism. The sample consisted of 22 children with Asperger’s disorder (AD), 23 children with high functioning autism (HFA), 8 children with low functioning autism (LFD) and 20 typically developing children. Two assessments were completed for each child: Movement Assessment Battery for Children to measure of […]
Another tip of the day for therapists… provide classrooms with folders that have activities to do when students are bored. If the students have completed their assignments or they have some free time, then they could independently go access a folder or list of activity ideas to keep them busy. For children who need visual […]