Turning Mealtime Battles into Playtime Fun: The Power of Play in Feeding Therapy Mealtimes can be a time for connection and nourishment for some families but for others, they can be a battle, filled with stress, tears, and power struggles. Mealtimes can be challenging when you are dealing with a child who has feeding difficulties.…
Tips and Tricks for Teaching Kids How to Tie Their Shoes Learning how to tie shoes is a key developmental milestone for children and an essential life skill. While Velcro shoes are widely available, mastering shoe tying remains important for overall fine motor development and independence. Occupational therapists often incorporate shoe tying into therapy sessions…
Inclusive & Adaptive Sports Opportunities for Kids in the Valley Participating in organized sports and activities is an excellent way for children to develop gross motor skills while staying active outside of Kids Place. Sports provide a variety of benefits, including improved strength, balance, coordination, cardiovascular fitness, confidence, and social skills, helping kids build friendships…
Did you know that a tongue tie can impact your child’s ability to eat, speak, and even sleep? According to the International Affiliation of Tongue-Tie Professionals (IATP), a tongue tie is “an embryological remnant of tissue in the midline between the undersurface of the tongue and the floor of the mouth that restricts normal tongue…
Everything You Need to Know About Retained Reflexes How Retained Reflexes Affect Learning and Development Primitive reflexes are controlled by the central nervous system and start developing in the womb. Reflexes play a key role in survival for infants, but they begin to disappear as your child begins mastering more complex motor skills. When these…
How to Support and Talk to Your Child Who Stutters As parents, it can be stressful not knowing how to support your child who stutters. Stuttering is a complex speech issue influenced by various factors, including environmental, emotional, and communicative dynamics. By understanding these factors and creating a supportive environment, you can help your child…
14 Gift Ideas to Promote Your Baby’s Development It’s that time of year to start shopping for your little ones! Are you looking for gift ideas to promote child development? Let us make it a little easier for you. Read on to to find the best gifts for gross motor skills, crawling, walking, endurance, and…
What is Sensory Integration? Sensory integration is the process where the nervous system organizes sensations from one’s body and from the external environment and makes it possible to use the body successfully in the environment. Children with sensory processing deficits may experience hindrances with their activities of daily living (ADLs) such as dressing, eating, socializing,…
Creative Uses for Halloween Candy: Fun Activities to Boost Your Child’s Skills After a big night of trick-or-treating, many parents wonder what to do with all the leftover candy. Instead of just eating it, try using it for fun activities that encourage the development of fine motor skills, visual processing, cognitive processing, and sensory exploration.…
Creative Ways to Enjoy Halloween Candy: Fun, Safe, and Skill-Building Tips for Parents Halloween often leaves kids with bags brimming with candy—but what’s a parent to do with all those sweets? While a bit of moderation goes a long way, here are some fun ideas to keep candy consumption in check while also building…
