, , , ,

10 Tips to Teach Children Self Help Skills

Here are 10 tips to help teach children to be independent with self help skills and everyday routines: 1.  Make sure you have time to give the child your undivided attention when you are first teaching a new skill or routine.  Likewise, make sure that the child is paying attention when learning the skill.  Minimize […]

, , , ,

Yoga Cards – Downward Dog Pose

This Downward Dog Yoga Pose is a free sample from Yoga Cards. The purpose of the downward dog pose is to: 1.  improve balance. 2.  stretch the back and the hamstring muscles (back of the thighs). 3.  strengthen the shoulders, arms and the core muscles. 4.  stimulate the vestibular system with the inverted position of […]

Cognitive Orientation to Daily Occupational Performance Approach

Cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance or CO-OP is defined by Polatajko and Mandich as a  “a client-centred, performance based, problem solving approach that enables skill acquisition through a process of strategy use and guided discovery”.  CO-OP is an evidence based approach that has been successful for children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) and autism […]

, , ,

Implicit Versus Explicit Motor Learning in Boys with Autism

Research in Developmental Disabilities published an article comparing implicit versus explicit motor learning in 30 boys with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their age and IQ matched peers.  Each children participated in a serial reaction time task (SRTT).  The children were separated into different groups based on diagnosis and implicit or explicit learning for the […]

, , , , , ,

SNARC Effect and Motor Responses

Have you ever heard of the SNARC effect?  I had not, so when I read about it in a research article I decided to find out more information.  SNARC stands for spatial-numerical association of response codes.   The SNARC effect is when someone is presented with smaller numbers people respond faster with the left hand and when […]

, , , , ,

Self Regulation, Cognitive Abilities and Motor Disabilities

Research in Developmental Disabilities published research on secondary and post-secondary student with congenital motor disabilities.  By examining a task of throwing a ball at a target, data was collected on self-regulatory aspects (i.e., goal-setting, self-efficacy and self-evaluation). Participants were divided into four subgroups: 1.) normal cognitive development and mild physical disabilities 2.)normal cognitive development and […]

, , ,

If School Based Therapists Gave Themselves Stickers….

School based occupational, physical and speech therapists are frequently handing out stickers at the end of session for a job well done by a student.  What if one day we started giving stickers to each other for a reward.  What would yours say?  Share in the comments! Need rewards for your students instead of stickers? […]

, , , ,

Modifications/ Interventions to Help Children Sit Still in the Classroom

The Summer/Fall survey results have been posted.  Read all about the modifications and interventions that work best according to over 150 pediatric occupational and physical therapists to help students sit still in the classroom.  Based on 175 responses, the #1 intervention to help students sit still was having the teacher incorporate movement into lesson plans. […]

, , , , , , , ,

Visual Perceptual Printables for Thanksgiving – Freebie!

This freebie challenges visual perceptual skills with a Thanksgiving theme. Practice visual motor, visual discrimination, visual spatial, visual closure and overall visual perceptual skills with these printables.  Print off multiple copies for your students and your activities are ready to go for fine motor centers in the classroom, visual motor skill practice, special education classrooms, […]