Free App Today Alphabetical Order

This Alphabetical Order app is free today from ABCya.  You can find out more information here https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/alphabetical-order/id548411302.  It is only available on the iPad.  This app packs a lot of punch from an OT perspective.  It encourages visual motor skills, letter identification and cause and effect.  The app provides visual cues as well as auditory cues […]

Hole Punch Palooza

Check out the latest activity book – Hole Punch Palooza.  There are over 100 hole punch strips to encourage hand strengthening, handwriting, pre-writing, numbers, counting, visual discrimination and visual spatial skills.   You can download a free shape page of 8 hole punch strips at https://www.yourtherapysource.com/holepunch See picture below of shape page https://www.yourtherapysource.com/holepunch  

Happy Halloween! Free Last Minute Printables

Need some last minute ideas for Halloween?How about a door hanger to cut and paste?   Get it for free here https://www.yourtherapysource.com/fmhalloweenfree.html How about a clothes pin Halloween mat?  Print it for free here https://www.yourtherapysource.com/freehalloweenmat.html Go on a Halloween Handwriting Hunt.  Print it free here https://www.yourtherapysource.com/hwhuntshalloweenfree.html Finally, play this Halloween Group Game.  Find it here https://www.yourtherapysource.com/freehalloweengame.html […]

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Baby Oil and Cotton Swabs for Writing

Here is a fun, simple activity – painting, drawing and writing with baby oil.   Materials:  baby oil, small cup, cotton swabs, different types of paper and dotted shape cards from Alphabet, Number and Shape Cards –  https://www.yourtherapysource.com/alphacards.htmlPurpose:  To encourage prewriting skills, handwriting skills and drawing.  Promotes visual motor skills.Activity:  Just dip your cotton swab in […]

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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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Effect of Touch on Trunk Sway

Gait and Posture published some intriguing research on the effects of touch and trunk sway in a seated position.  There were 13 healthy, adult subjects who participated in the study.  Each participant performed a total of 12 trials of 60-seconds duration in a randomized order, combining the experimental conditions of no-touch, hand-touch (right index finger […]

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Ophthalmic Abnormalities and Developmental Coordination Disorder

Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology published research on ophthalmic abnormalities in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). A cross sectional data analysis was performed with a coordination test, handwriting test and activities of daily living test used to classify children as having developmental coordination disorder. Out of the 7154 children, 1.8% were classified as having […]

Calling All School Based OTs and PTs in the USA – Help Develop a New School Based Tool

Sue Cecere, PT, MHS and Jodie Williams, OTR/L, MHA work in the public school systems in the state of Maryland. They have developed the Determination of Relevant Therapy Tool (DRTT) to guide therapists when making IEP-driven frequency and intensity decisions. They are seeking current public school OTs and PTs from across the country to participate […]

Free Webcasts on Assistive Technology and Neurodevelopmental Disorders

Do you sometimes feel lost when it comes to assistive technology?  The UC Davis Mind Institute offers a collection of FREE webcasts that were previously recorded.  Check out the website.  There are various topics such as app recommendations for individuals with disabilities, SLP and OT collaboration and technology and autism.  These videos can be found […]