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Gross Motor and Fine Motor Activity Using Colored Dot Stickers

I am not sure why but I just LOVE colored dot stickers.  They are cheap and versatile for all sorts of activities that combine movement with learning.  Here is my latest idea using these awesome stickers: 1.  Write some numbers on colored dot stickers.  For this example, I wrote the numbers 1-4 twice.  Draw matching […]

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4 FREE Valentine’s Day Printables for OT and PT

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!!!!

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Using Whole Body Movement to Help with Knowledge Retention

At the University of Arizona there is the Embodied Games for Learning Lab.  The lab is creating games for K-12 classrooms that include movement with learning.  The researchers have found that students retain information better when they use their whole body to learn the information.One of the lead researchers, Mina Johnson-Glenberg, states that “Our controlled […]

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Physical Activity and Academic Attainment in Adolescents

The British Journal of Sports Medicine published research on physical activity using accelerometers on 4755 participants (45% male) who were 11 years old.  The data was then linked with nationally administered school tests in the United Kingdom in English, Math and Science at ages 11, 13 and 16.The results indicated the following: percentage of time […]

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Poor Motor Performance Linked to Poor Academic Skills

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 […]

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Fit Kids and Higher Test Scores

Yet again, more research to support that children who are fit perform better in school.  The Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness has published research on 312, 6th through 8th grade students, from Michigan.  The researchers gathered data on the students body fat, muscular strength, flexibility and endurance. These fitness scores were then compared […]

Sitting Upright Helps with Learning

Many times pediatric therapists recommend environmental modifications to help children sit up on their own or to sit with an upright posture.  Whether it be a “Bumbo™”  or “Tumble Form” type seat for babies or an adapted chair for older children, therapists know that by providing proper seating the child is better prepared to free up […]