Pediatrics: Hippotherapy vs. Adaptive Riding by Justine Gonzales, OTR/L Kids Place Central Occupational Therapist The terms hippotherapy and adaptive riding (formally known as therapeutic riding) are commonly misused. While both approaches incorporate the benefits of riding a horse, there are various differences among the two. To ensure children are receiving the most appropriate horseback riding…
Midline Crossing Activities by Jessica Tallent, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist The midline is the term used to describe the invisible line at the middle of the body which goes from the head to the feet. When children participate in activities that require them to cross the midline, connections in the brain are…
Start Reading Early With Your Child Most people are familiar with the notion that reading to your child regularly is beneficial. But when should you start? Reading comprehension and the ability to follow along do not come until age 4 or 5 (depending on the child), but the value of guided reading can be seen…
Anxiety Concerns in Children Childhood – a time when one is carefree with no worries to keep them up at night. Unfortunately that is not the case for all children. Anxiety is thought to be a disorder that only affects adults, when in reality one can be diagnosed with a form of anxiety at the…
How to Create a Weighted Animal to Improve Calming Strategies by Thomas Stevens, OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist Deep pressure can be very calming for children who have a hard time with self-regulation and attention to tasks. For many kids, bear hugs, weighted blankets, or weighted vests are tools that get this type…
Maintaining Attention During Remote Learning By Kristi Knight, OTD/S Kids Place Student Occupational Therapist Online school can be hard for any child, especially if that child has a short attention span due to ADHD, developmental delay, or traumatic brain injury (TBI). Helping your child maintain focus on their schoolwork proves to be difficult for many…
Brain Breaks for Virtual Learning by Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist For families across Arizona, virtual learning is our children’s’ new way of life. A child’s main occupation is to learn through play and movement, which can be tricky during this time of online learning. Try some of these brain…
Using Your Backyard Wall to Improve Your Child’s Motor Coordination By: Kristen Henderson, M.S., OTR/L Kids Place West Pediatric Occupational Therapist At Kids Place, we are always looking for new activities to keep our patients moving and learning at home. The following activities will help to work on eye teaming, bilateral coordination, problem solving, frustration…
How to Improve a Child’s Body Awareness by Hannah Whitty, Occupational Therapy Student Children with poor body awareness have increased difficulty knowing where their body is in space. Body awareness is an essential skill needed for children to properly participate in everyday tasks. Without appropriate body awareness, a child is unable to safely navigate their…
My Child is Constantly Putting Things in His Mouth by Tracie Dahl, OTR/L Kids Place Central Pediatric Occupational Therapist You may have heard your child’s therapist talk about proprioception and the importance of providing proprioceptive input, but what is it? The proprioceptive system helps tell us about the movement and position of our joints and…
