As your children begin to learn letter- and word-formation in school, they’ll likely have homework that focuses on this as well! Handwriting can be an extremely tricky task to master, which can make it even more aversive for your child to practice. Whether your child is just beginning to learn pre-writing lines or working on…
What to Expect and How Physical Therapy Can Help As a parent, hearing that your baby can benefit from helmet therapy may seem scary. This is an intervention used more and more often for young children who were born with or have developed an asymmetrical head shape as an infant. Just as older children may…
If your child uses an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) device, chances are you have heard about the importance of modeling. Modeling, aided language stimulation (ALS), natural aided language, aided language modeling and partner augmented input (PAI) all refer to the same thing: providing the AAC user with language models using their communication device. Think…
Halloween is around the corner and we have three fun and festive crafts that focus heavily on fine motor development and sensory play! Each of these crafts has an emphasis on development of pincer grasp, tripod grasp, and index finger isolation. Explore touch senses and messy play with glue, paint, and tissue paper to promote sensory integration all while making something festive or the whole…
It is an exciting time for a parent to hear their child say their first word, no matter when that happens! As a speech-language pathologist, we often have caregivers state that their young child uses words but that they are using the same word for so many different things. Something heard quite often is “He…
We have eight senses (touch, taste, smell, sight, auditory, vestibular, interception, and proprioception). Our proprioceptive system provides feedback through our muscles and joints to figure out where our body is in space. Some proprioceptive activities are also referred as “heavy work” activities. Examples of Heavy Work Activities Heavy work activities add resistance during pulling or…
Purchased a body sock or plan to make one with some stretchy lycra fabric? This article has some great ideas on how to implement its use for your sensory-seeking child! First to check: the body sock should be about the same height as your child, or even a little smaller. You want your child to…
Hopping on one foot is a tricky skill to learn. A child has to first be able to balance on one foot but also be able to jump. In typical development, a child learns to stand on one foot and balance independently for up to 4 seconds by age 2 ½! Hopping forward with ease…
– From the Perspective of a Pediatric Physical Therapist – There are many opinions out there about the “dos” and “don’ts” of sleep training and sleep options for infants. A common trend nowadays is to consider a restrictive sleep suit, such as the popular marketed ones that are slightly weighted, to help baby transition out…
