Get a (Pencil) Grip! Does your child hold a pencil in an awkward manner? Does your child struggle with fatigue or pain with drawing, writing, or coloring activities? If so, you may be wondering: “Should I get a pencil grip for my child to help with their grasp on a pencil?” The short answer: maybe.…
The Sleepytime Struggle: 5 Sleep Tips for Children Sleep is a vital part of a child’s life to promote growth and development. Optimal sleep impacts a child’s readiness to participate in Activities of Daily Living (ADL). Oftentimes, a child will have difficulty with the skills of going to bed and getting enough sleep, resulting…
Are You Ready to Play? Impulse control is the ability to control oneself from engaging in behaviors that are often harmful to oneself or others. Having good impulse control is an important skill for individuals of all ages and for a variety of daily activities. What does poor impulse control, or lack of impulse control,…
8 Fun Handwriting Activities for Kids Summer is an opportune time to hone in your child’s handwriting skills. Handwriting can be a difficult skill for children to learn. If your child tends to have difficulty focusing during writing activities, try to switch up the activity. Here are fun activities to help your child stay engaged when…
10 Fun Summer Activities to Promote Child Development by Marisa Fiorentino, OTR/L Kids Place North Pediatric Occupational Therapist As summer rolls around, finding activities to keep your kids busy and entertained seems daunting. Luckily, there are hundreds of activities for your home that are both fun and help with various developmentally appropriate skills and occupations.…
It’s dinner time. You’re all eating around the table, and suddenly your child’s plate is almost empty! But alas… all of the food is still in their mouth, stuffed to the brim. How do you prevent an overstuffed mouth in your child? Read on to find out! What is Overstuffing? Overstuffing is when your child…
What is a Healthy Amount of Media Use for Your Child? Media, including TV, computers, smartphones, tablets and video games, can affect how your children learn, feel, think, and behave. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) encourages you to help your children develop healthy media use habits. “Nudges” to consider that help with healthy media…
My child qualifies for occupational therapy at school; should I stop coming to the clinic? NO! (Although this may vary based on family circumstances). A child is able to receive occupational therapy at school and in the clinic at the same time. This can actually be incredibly beneficial for the child, and we highly recommend…
A Guide to Understanding Pediatric Occupational Therapy Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) This is the primary focus of occupational therapists. We aim to help our clients become as independent as possible in areas of self-care including playing, dressing, bathing, grooming, eating, brushing teeth and cooking, to name a few. With children, we are often teaching…
What is Occupational Therapy? Celebrating OT Month By Jessica Tallent, OTR/L Kids Place Pediatric Occupational Therapist Since 1980, the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) has recognized April as occupational therapy month. But what exactly do occupational therapists, specifically pediatric occupational therapists, do? The World Federation of Occupational Therapy (OT) defines occupational therapy as a “client-centered…
