Moving into a new home can be tough on everyone, children and adults alike. But kids on the autism spectrum can have an especially difficult time coping with the change in routine and environment. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to ease...
Non-perishable items we are collecting:• Stuffing• Corn and green beans• Mashed potatoes• Potatoes Au Gratin• Cranberry sauce• Cookie mix• Biscuit mix• Pancake mix• Syrup• Macaroni and cheese• Simple card games – Uno, Phase Ten, Skipbo Raffle entry rules:• Every non-perishable item donated, or every...
Fine Motor Skill is the coordination of small muscles, in movements —usually involving the synchronization of hands and fingers — with the eyes. The complex levels of manual dexterity that humans exhibit can be attributed to and demonstrated in tasks controlled by the nervous...
1. Scavenger Hunt Join us for a scavenger hunt! Click here for a list of items to look for. 2. Search Alternative Print and create your own search die! Place different color dots on each side that will indicate the color of the item...
1. Common Calming or Regrouping Strategies: Deep Breathing Big pillow/stuffed animal hugs Quiet, calm, cozy place (like a homemade tent) Sensory fidgets Slowly counting to 10 Get a drink of water Click here for a set of free visual strategy cards with alternative actions...
Sensory related gifts for movement and touch input: Play-doh Moon sand Water beads Floam Teeter Poppee Sit and spin Therapy ball to bounce on/roll over body Bean bag chair for deep pressure Fine motor related gifts to work on grasp and strength: Snap pegs/peg...
As a PT, These are a few of my favorite things!!! Pewi ybike push and ride; great for pushing or riding on. Wheels pivot to turn creating greater ease for mobility on a bike Gymnic Rody Horse is an inflatable and colorful animal to...
5 exercises you can complete on a pillow or Dyna Disc 1. Lunges (works on strengthen and stability) put one foot on disc/pillow and step opposite foot back in to lunge position, then bend both knees. Keep knees from going over toes. 2. Abs...
Free Weight Exercises 1. “Suitcase Walks” – Holding a dumbbell in the right or left hand, walk tandem (heel-toe) attempting to hold the trunk upright and not leaning over. 2. Standing Marches holding a dumbbell in one hand – Holding a dumbbell in...
Scooters are a fun way to put a new spin on exercise. They can be purchased at many online stores and local retailers. Adding a scooter to your exercise routine is a great way to mix things up, or it may be what you...
Stability Ball: 1. Sit-ups 2. Ball Walk Outs 3. Seated Posture 4. V-ups 5. Bird Dog on Ball
Fun and and easy sensory activities for each system: 1. Auditory System: Play a “guess the sound” game – Listen to common environmental and animal sounds and try to guess what makes the sound. 2. Olfactory System: Make smelling tubes with spices or oils...
5 Exercises to do with a Soccer Ball/Basketball 1. Sit Ups- Get a partner and sit facing each other. Person holding the ball lays down and does a sit up, as they come up pass the ball to your partner and they repeat. 2....
Make Jumping Fun! 1. Tug of War: Grab a friend and get tugging… try pulling backwards, forwards, with only one hand or hopping on one foot! 2. Walk the Line: Lay the rope on the ground and try to follow its path. A straight...
Stretchy Fun! 1) sidestepping with the band tied around your legs, move the band from ankles to above your knees to change the resistance 2) marching and high stepping across the room with the band tied around your legs 3) place the band inside a...
Bubble workout 1. Kicking bubbles in the air to encourage the child to stand on one leg for better balance 2. Stomping on bubbles to encourage child to stand on one leg for better balance and ability to bring knee to chest for improving...
One piece of equipment. 5 ways to use it! 1. swimming (lay on belly and alternate arms and legs let swimming ) to work on back strength and core stability 2. doing steps ups onto BOSU (step up with R foot, then L foot,...
Big Time School Stressor Believe it or not, lunchtime at school can be one of the most stressful times of the day for children as well as one of the most stressful events for parents to plan. Parents often struggle with what they can...
Contributing to a healthy and successful school year… 1. Load heavy items closer to the body/back of pack 2. Disperse items throughout compartments within backpack to spread weight 3. Use both straps and tighten so pack is close to your body 4. Carry lunchbox...
No-Drip Strawberry Lemonade Popsicles, by Dominique Walker, MACCCSLP This is a fun project with minimal ingredients required. If you’re sensitive to red dye or avoiding added sugars, you can substitute a different flavor of gelatin dessert, use sugar-free gelatin, or use water instead of...
Strengthen your back to carry your backpack 1: Strengthen your abdominals by performing crunches, 3 sets of 10 repetitions. If it seems that you need a challenge, perform them on an exercise ball or do bicycle crunches. To do a bicycle crunch lay on...
Using the right backpack the right way matters! 1: Pick a backpack that has 2 padded straps that go over your shoulders. The wider the straps the better to give you more support. Wear both straps to create more equal weight distribution. 2: Pick...
5 Keys to SPEAKING Up! Age Appropriateness There is a range of “typical” for speech sound and expressive language for children. While it may seem like other children are more or less expressive, it is important you try not to compare your child...
The Key to Better Listening Good listening is important in all environments, including home, school, and at extracurricular activities. Below are some suggestions parents, teachers, and other adults can make that are easy to implement and that will help support your child’s listening. Reduce...
Keys to Socialization and Sharing 1. Teach Kids to Be Good Listeners Teach kids “Whole Body Listening” so that they are good conversational partners. This involves what their hands, mouths, eyes, etc are doing while listening. Using visuals like ones in this Erica Bohrer’s...
1. Know what sounds can cause damage to your hearing A very loud sound, such as a gunshot or jet engine at takeoff, heard even for a millisecond can damage your hearing permanently. Sounds louder than 85 decibels, like crowded sporting events, power tools,...
5 Screen Time Tips for Parents of Toddlers – full article
Did you know that November is Prematurity Awareness Month? Being a mom of two boys born prematurely, this topic hits more closely home. A premature infant is defined as a baby born before 37 weeks. The earlier the birth occurred, the likelihood that more...
Learning Daily – Click Here
If you find our bridge is out please follow the detour: detour map
3 Reasons why you should teach your child to JUMP!!! 3 Reasons to Jump – Click Here
Summertime, and the livin’ is easy! The fish-shaped crackers are jumping, and the weather is fine. Here is a craft that can help you incorporate the sunshine coming in through the window with the skills we practice in speech and language therapy, including choice-making,...
OT Springtime Activities
Positive Steps Therapy, Bulter facility director and physical therapist, Jenna Reeder has been invited to be part of the Clinical Advisory Committee for the Three Rivers Academic Consortium. The Three Rivers Academic Consortium is a group of 15 physical therapy and physical therapy assistant schools...
This Valentine’s Day is the perfect time to get your kids in the kitchen for an easy-to-do treat, after all, the holiday is on the weekend this year! Not only can this treat by gluten free, if you choose, but it also can be...
Dealing with Sensory Meltdowns Over the Holidays By Sarah Rossman, Occupational Therapist Adapted from “5 tips to reduce sensory meltdowns during the holidays,” by Heather Greutman (2013, December 17). Children with sensory processing difficulties are often overwhelmed during the holiday season. There...
Congratulations to our beautiful Gibsonia Facility Director / OT. Wishing you a lifetime of happiness!
The idea of getting babies on their tummy for play is not a new concept to physical and occupational therapists who work with children in infant programs. Yet it seems that , we parents, continue to struggle with increasing the time our children...
From: The Limping Chicken Deaf news and deaf blogs from the UK! Lays eggs every weekday Click here for article
Our physical therapists, Kylee Gnesda, is running the Pittsburgh half marathon on May 3rd, this year to support the Genre’s Kids with Cancer Fund. Please join us in supporting her efforts. Genre’s Kids with Cancer Fund Click here for more information and/or to donate...
