Where Play is FUNctional
How could you get any more OT than mixing an oral motor, ADL, and fine motor activity into one. I found these build your own straws called Pipeline at Bed Bath and Beyond, and just had to try them. They seem to be the same thing as the Strawz that I found on Amazon too…. [Continue Reading]
Drinking from a straw can be a challenge for some kids, and it can be a scary thing for those who don’t know what to do or expect. An OT friend of mine named Sharon mentioned that she and the kids love to use the Got Milk Magic Flavored Straws when working on straw drinking…. [Continue Reading]
We made some men out of marshmallows and toothpicks, and they were delicious. We used multiple sizes of marshmallows for the different parts, and connected the parts with toothpicks. Some of these men were looking very funny, but they all tasted good in the end. This is a fun food play activity to combine food… [Continue Reading]
Spreading can be a challenge for many kids, so here is a fun activity that helps practice. You use a pine cone and attach a wire or string to the top of it so that you can hang it once it is finished. You then spread peanut butter all over the pine cone. It can… [Continue Reading]
I am seeing a little girl who enjoys eating, but she does not yet move her tongue to the side (tongue lateralization) in order to move her food around in her mouth. I will often use vibration in the mouth to stimulate more tongue and cheek movement. Sometimes I will have parents get a baby… [Continue Reading]
Cutting with a knife and fork is more difficult than many people realize. It requires good knife grip and positioning, which involves motor planning. You must also exert the right amount of pressure on the knife, which involves sensory perception. Good toys for working on cutting with a knife are those Wooden Cutting food toys… [Continue Reading]
I have been an Occupational Therapist since 1991. I started out doing skilled nursing for 6 months, then moved on to pediatrics. In pediatrics I have worked in a clinic setting, inpatient rehab and acute, ICU, early intervention, and school district. My goal with this website is that I can help stimulate creativity and information sharing. As a therapist, I am always creating new things to use in therapy or adapting things. I love sharing my projects and solutions. I started this … [Read More...]
