Pixie Cubes are a Great Activity for Visual Perceptual Skills

Pixy Cubes is a great game for children ages 6 and up that addresses a variety of skills, including visual perception. It includes 16 colorful geometrically patterned cubes that can be arranged into different mosaic designs and design cards with patterns to copy.  They are available on Amazon.

Click HERE to read my full review of this game on the PediaStaff Website.

Shrimp Cocktail Game is a Wonderful Addition to Your Therapy Toolbox!

Last week I sat down with two of my students who have visual perceptual processing problems and played a game of Shrimp Cocktail. We all had a blast! Little did the students know, they were working on a variety of skills, including the ability to respond quickly, visually scan, categorize, and discriminate! The adorable shrimp on the cards can share up to 4 traits: size, origin, color, and/or quantity. The first player to find a match and squeezes a squeaky starfish gets to keep the matching cards. At the end of the game, the player with the most cards wins! This game has so many therapeutic benefits and is a must have for every therapist’s toolbox! It's available on Amazon.

Enter the Tummy Time Contest Sponsored by Pathways Awareness!

Pathways Awareness is holding a tummy time photo contest on Facebook, so get your camera out and snap a shot of your little one having fun during tummy time! Pathways is a non-profit educational foundation that uses research and multimedia to promote the health and development of all children.
The organization "strives to empower health professionals and parents with knowledge of the benefit of early detection and intervention for children’s sensory, motor, and communication development."

So click HERE to enter the tummy time contest, and be sure to visit Pathways.org for a variety of amazing educational resources, tools, and links for parents and health care professionals.

Aimee’s Babies First Year Milestones DVD: A Wonderful Resource

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How can parents play an important role in fostering their baby’s overall development? By understanding early infant growth and development! However, most parents are extremely busy and don’t have the time to read a textbook on infant development. Fortunately, parents can pop in Aimee’s Babies First Year Milestones DVD for a wealth of information on infant development.

This DVD is wonderful resource for parents who want to promote their little one’s social, emotional, and physical development. It includes important information about your child's sensory motor development and milestones during the first year of life, as well as a variety of activities that will help baby meet those important milestones. To give your child the best possible start in life, get this amazing resource.

Click HERE to visit Aimee’s Babies website and order the DVD.

For a chance to win an Amee’s Babies First Year Milestones DVD, like my Facebook page (upper right corner of this page) and sign up for my newsletter by clicking HERE.

No More Sticky Fingers from Bubbles!

Here is a little tip that I'm happy to share. Many kiddos that I see for OT love bubbles, but in the past, I  avoided pulling them out because my fingers would get sticky from reaching into the bottle for the wand. (Yes...I have sensory issues!) One day my bubbles were sitting next to a roll of Duct tape and I had a thought. I cut a piece of tape about 3-inches long and stuck another narrow strip to the back of that piece. (See photo)

I attached the Duct tape to my bottle of bubbles and voila!...a handy holder for my bubble wand. No more sticky fingers! :)

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Video for Teaching Shoe Tying

Tying shoes is a challenging skill that requires motor planning and dexterity.  A child should be independent with shoe tying by 7 years of age, but many children master this skill much earlier. When teaching shoe tying, it's a good idea to practice with a shoe that is placed just in front of the child, either on the floor or a table (rather than on their foot).  Here is a video of one strategy that I frequently use with kids.

Remember, the best way to develop fluency with shoe tying is to practice, practice, practice!


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I Can Spell My Name!

Do you have a students who is learning to spell her name? This is a fun activity that is easy to create. Using a large, simple font (I like 72 Cambria or Chalkboard), type the child's name and print it out on white paper or card stock. You can begin with just the first name and progress to first and last name. Cut around the letters making small squares and laminate them. I frequently use the self adhesive laminate sheets available on Amazon.  Cut out a rectangular piece of black poster board (make sure the child's name fits on the poster board) and laminate it as well. Use sticky-back velcro dots to attach each letter to the piece of poster board. (See photos below).

Mix the letters up and place them in front of the student. You may want to start with a field of two or three letters. Ask the child, "What letter comes first in your name?" The child should choose the correct letter and Velcro it to the first spot on the poster board. Provide cues and modeling if necessary. Continue with the activity until the child has fully spelled her name.

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