Month: April 2018

When Should You Begin To Teach Handwriting? (You May be Surprised!)

Many formal handwriting programs begin at 4 years of age.  Handwriting Without Tears, Fundations, and others begin with children tracing letters and quickly progress to writing.  But the foundational skills for handwriting actually begin early.  Before your child’s first birthday.  Yes, that early.  And, believe it or not, that is when you could be teaching…… Continue reading When Should You Begin To Teach Handwriting? (You May be Surprised!)

Help Your Child Develop Self-Regulation With Happiest Toddler On The Block

  Children start learning self-regulation early.  Most kids eventually become reasonably skilled at it, given some help from loving adults.  The problem is they don’t learn it quickly.  Self-regulation takes a long time to become established in the slowly-developing brain of a young child.  While you are scooping up the puddle of Jell-O that used…… Continue reading Help Your Child Develop Self-Regulation With Happiest Toddler On The Block

Can You K-Tape Kids With Ehlers-Danlos and Other Connective Tissue Disorders?

The short answer:  some of these kids, some of the time. The long answer:  To use K-tape effectively, you need to understand the mechanics of tape on the skin and underlying tissues, how connective tissue disorders disrupt skin healing, how to minimize skin shear and inflammation, and that only using one type of tape may…… Continue reading Can You K-Tape Kids With Ehlers-Danlos and Other Connective Tissue Disorders?

Use The Fast Food Rule For Better Attunement With Your Child

What’s attunement?  The physical and emotional connection that a healthy parent makes with their upset child that brings them both back into a calm and balanced state.  Why is it important?  Because without attunement you don’t have healthy attachment, and attachment is the foundation for a healthy emotional and interpersonal life.  Attunement and attachment are…… Continue reading Use The Fast Food Rule For Better Attunement With Your Child

Improving Daily Life Skills for Kids With Special Needs

  Therapro, the terrific source for a lot of handy therapy equipment and especially for items that help kids with sensory processing issues, has posted another piece from me on ADLs.  Take a look: What Helps Special Needs Kids Tolerate Grooming and Hygiene? “Activities of Daily Living” don’t have the cache’ of kineseotaping or therapeutic listening,…… Continue reading Improving Daily Life Skills for Kids With Special Needs

Which Improves Pencil Grasp Best: A Pencil Grip Or A Thicker Pencil?

    As a pediatric occupational therapist, I am often asked to weigh in on this debate.  Not often enough, it seems.  There are a lot of kids out there using pencils with wonky grasp patterns because no one has made an effort to improve the way they hold a pencil, or they doubt that…… Continue reading Which Improves Pencil Grasp Best: A Pencil Grip Or A Thicker Pencil?

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