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Fine Motor Skill Level and Handwriting

A student recently did a research review on the influence of fine motor skills on handwriting.  Of the nine articles that could be included, 7 researched the relationship between fine motor skills and handwriting legibility and 4 studies investigated fine motor skills and handwriting speed.   The results indicated that children with poor handwriting received significantly […]

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Hippotherapy and Balance

Physical Therapy published research on the effects of hippotherapy on balance.  Sixteen children with documented balance problems participated in 45 minute hippotherapy sessions, 2 times per week for 6 weeks.  Following the intervention the participants exhibited a statistical difference on the Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS) on the Activities Scale for Kids—Performance (ASKp).  The researchers concluded […]

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Handwriting and Keyboarding Standards

Zaner-Bloser has proposed Written Language Production Standards for Handwriting and Keyboarding.   These standards offer developmentally appropriate, research–based indicators to integrate handwriting and keyboarding into the curriculum.  From the Zaner-Bloser website it states that the standards are: “research-based and includes basic letter formation and keyboarding indicators included in the Common Core State Standards for English […]

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Teaching Motor Skills

The development in children of fundamental motor skills such as ball handling and locomotor skills need to be learned, practiced and practiced some more.  A recent research review in Child: Care, Health and Development aimed to determine the effectiveness of motor skill interventions in children.  The results indicated the following: 1.  A significant positive effect […]

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Toothbrushing and Children with Significant Disabilities

Since occupational therapist’s may teach tooth brushing for self care here are two recent research studies of interest that were published: 1. The results from a study of 176 individuals (76 had spastic cerebral palsy and 89 had no neurological impairment) indicated that intellectual disability can be considered a contributing factor for the development of dental […]

Evaluating Interventions for Cerebral Palsy

Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology have made a free virtual issue entitled “Evaluating Interventions in Cerebral Palsy”. The editors selected relevant and contemporary papers on interventions for cerebral palsy. There is free access to full text articles on many topics including internet based physical activity interventions, constraint therapy, supported treadmill training, context therapy, bracing, taping […]

Clay Monsters

How cute are these little monsters?  Practice some fine motor skills and hand strengthening making these cuties.  All you need is creativity, imagination and some clay/theraputty, googly eyes and cut up pipe cleaners.  If you need more activities for clay check out these ebooks: Creative Clay Activities and Clay Play Mats. Like the monster theme?  […]