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Physical Therapy Interventions and Developmental Coordination Disorder

The Journal of Motor Learning and Development published a review to identify the types of interventions in physical therapy contexts used in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and whether these interventions are effective.  The systemic search revealed 29 articles of moderate to good quality to analyze.  The results indicated that: task-oriented approaches as well […]

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Research Review on Handwriting Instruction

Educational Psychology Review published a research review on handwriting instruction.  A meta-analysis was completed on experimental intervention studies with K-12 students to determine if teaching handwriting enhanced legibility and fluency and resulted in better writing performance.  The results indicated the following: when compared to no instruction or non-handwriting instructional conditions, teaching handwriting resulted in statistically […]

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Cut, Sequence, Paste and Draw Penguin

Here is a penguin activity that includes scissor skills, sequencing, motor planning, visual motor skills and following directions!  All on one piece of paper (translation: NO PREP activity).  This penguin activity is from the Cut, Sequence, Paste and Draw – Arctic Animals.   Print out this activity and the child can cut, sequence, paste and […]

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Occupational and Physical Therapists Have Special Gifts

Ever notice how as pediatric occupational therapists and physical therapists, we observe children through a different lens than most?  You may see and analyze a child’s actions very differently than the teacher in the room or the parent at home.  This observational skill seems to improve vastly when you become a parent yourself and watch […]

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Self Regulation Skills and Developmental Coordination Disorder

The Journal of Physical and Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics published observational research on self regulation skills and developmental coordination disorder (DCD).  The study included 15 children, with and without DCD and examined the differences in children’s use of self-regulatory and metacognitive skill during motor learning.  The self regulatory behavior of the participants was observed using […]

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Ultimate Visual Motor Challenge

Here is a FREE ultimate visual motor challenge with two difficulty levels.  Can you copy the lines and shapes exactly onto the blank grid? The color version is slightly easier than the black and white version.  The colors are easier to distinguish differences but you must match each color to the correct line and shape […]

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Work Station, Positioning and Keyboarding Skills

Young children and students continue to spend more and more time keyboarding for written expression.  Whether it be at home before children are school aged or sitting long hours typing away throughout a child’s educational career or even as adults, the work station must be set up efficiently to allow for proper positioning while keyboarding. […]