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New School Year, New Students – Starts with Observation of Play Skills

Play for young children is crucial to healthy development. Pediatric therapists who work in early childhood education know the importance of play and how to use it to reach IEP goals that are set for specific children. When a child is evaluated for therapy services, the therapist observes the child in the classroom setting. Therapists […]

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Free Scheduling Cards for OT and PT

These are ready just in time for the start of the school year (or use them anytime you change your schedule to update everyone).  These scheduling cards are the size of business cards.  Use them to inform teachers, students and parents what day and time a student has therapy and to provide your contact information. […]

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Higher BMI Increases Asthma in Children

The University of Bristol conducted research on almost 5000 children at age 7.5 years old.  Using Mendelian randomization to look at changes in gene patterns they found a strong connection between asthma, BMI and body fat. Most significantly they found that the relative risk of asthma increased by 55 per cent for every extra unit […]

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Postural Stability and Cerebral Palsy

Pediatric Physical Therapy published research comparing postural stability during static upright standing between 45 children with cerebral palsy (CP) and 45 age-matched peers with typical development (TD) ages 5-12 years old. A posturography device was used for assessment. Postural stability was evaluated under 4 sensory conditions: eyes open and eyes closed on a firm surface; […]

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A Simple Toy

This is the second video this week I have seen that shows young children do not always need bells and whistles to entertain them.  Sometimes we work too hard as therapists, teachers and parents to make sure we have the latest and greatest toys to entertain our children. Confucius once said “Life is really simple, […]

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4 Free Summer Printables for Motor Skills

Need a summer motor activity in a hurry?  Check out these freebies: 1.  Watermelon Multisensory Handwriting Activity Page at https://www.yourtherapysource.com/mssummerfreebie.html 2.  Hand Out on Fun Physical Activities for the Summer at https://www.yourtherapysource.com/summerfree.html 3.  Summer Tic Tac Toe at https://www.yourtherapysource.com/summerfitnessfreebie.html 4.  Outdoor Bingo at https://www.yourtherapysource.com/fmsummerfree.html Happy Summer!

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Self Improvement to Help Achieve Goals

Here is a self improvement worksheet to complete to establish what steps need to be taken to achieve a goal.   I love any activity that requires the child (or an adult like myself) take ownership of how one can improve or reach a goal.  You can print this FREE worksheet with blank boxes to […]

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Your Opinions on the Effects of Tablet Use on the Overall Development of Young Children

We asked and 264 of you responded on what effects you think tablets and smartphones have on the overall development of young children.  Here are the highlights: 61% of the respondents were pediatric OTs. 53% of all respondents think that tablet/smartphone use delays social development in 0-5 year old children. 36% of all respondents think […]

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Lack of Sleep Increases Obesity and Body Fat in Children

Pediatrics has published a large study linking reduced sleep and childhood obesity.  The children who consistently received less than the recommended hours of sleep during infancy and early childhood had increases in both obesity and in adiposity or overall body fat at age 7. Insufficient sleep was defined as less than 12 hours per day from […]