As a pediatric occupational therapist, I often encounter parents, educators, and caregivers who struggle to understand the difference between what is developmentally appropriate and what is academically appropriate for children. In today’s fast-paced, achievement-driven society, there is a growing emphasis on academic milestones at younger ages, often at the expense of a child’s natural developmentalContinue reading “The Difference Between Developmentally Appropriate and Academically Appropriate: A Pediatric Occupational Therapist’s Perspective”
Tag Archives: school
10 Tips For What To Do When Your Child Has BIG Feelings
If you are a parent, you are probably no stranger to “big feelings” from your child. They aren’t called the terrible twos and the teen years for no reason. But even children who are not 2 years old or a teenager can have big feelings. Sometimes, it can seem that our children always have bigContinue reading “10 Tips For What To Do When Your Child Has BIG Feelings”
School-Based Vs. Medically-Based Occupational Therapy. What’s the Difference?
I frequently get asked the question “What’s the difference between school-based and medically-based occupational therapy?”. Working in schools, sometimes there is confusion with staff and parents between what a school-based OT should be addressing vs what is considered medically-based OT. Whether you are a school-based OT or a medically-based OT, parent, teacher or caregiver, theContinue reading “School-Based Vs. Medically-Based Occupational Therapy. What’s the Difference?”
A Summer Refresh
If you are a school-based clinician your summer has either begun or is about to begin. I don’t know about you, but summer is always bittersweet. I miss my students and families but also look forward to the break. The end of the school year is always busy and even 21 years into my careerContinue reading “A Summer Refresh”
5 Fun Summer Activities to Improve Your Child’s Fine and Visual Motor Skills
Summer is a great time to engage in fun activities with your child while also improving their fine and visual motor skills. Here are 5 fun summer activities to improve your child’s fine and visual motor skills. Incorporating these five activities into your child’s summer routine can help improve their fine and visual motor skillsContinue reading “5 Fun Summer Activities to Improve Your Child’s Fine and Visual Motor Skills”
Discharging Students from School-Based Occupational Therapy Services: A Guide for Parents and Educators
As a parent or educator, it can be challenging to navigate the process of discharging a student from school-based occupational therapy services. Discharging a student from occupational therapy services can be a positive outcome, indicating that the student has made significant progress in achieving their goals. In this blog post, I will discuss what theContinue reading “Discharging Students from School-Based Occupational Therapy Services: A Guide for Parents and Educators”
What is School-Based Occupational Therapy?
Have you ever wondered, “What is school-based occupational therapy?” or have you ever wondered “What makes school-based OT different than other OT services?” In this blog post, I will explore the purpose of school-based OT, its benefits, and the process of receiving this type of occupational therapy. School-Based occupational therapy focuses on helping students developContinue reading “What is School-Based Occupational Therapy?”
Overcoming Handwriting Difficulties in High School: Tips and Strategies
High school students are constantly required to write essays, take notes, and complete assignments by hand. However, for some, handwriting can be a challenging task. Whether it’s due to a learning disability or poor fine motor skills, struggling with handwriting can negatively impact academic success. I am frequently asked about how to help high schoolContinue reading “Overcoming Handwriting Difficulties in High School: Tips and Strategies”
Developing Self-Regulation Skills in Young Children
As parents and caregivers, one of our key responsibilities is to help young children develop self-regulation skills. Self-regulation refers to a child’s ability to manage their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in response to different situations. It is an essential skill for success in school, relationships, and life in general. Parents frequently ask me what theyContinue reading “Developing Self-Regulation Skills in Young Children”
The Teacher, The Classroom, and The Occupational Therapist
An occupational therapist walks into a teacher’s classroom…….Sounds like the beginning of a great story if you ask me! I’ve been a school-based occupational therapist for over 20 years. I’ve seen it all, I’ve heard it all, and I’ve done it all, and as teachers know, some of it I wish I hadn’t seen heard,Continue reading “The Teacher, The Classroom, and The Occupational Therapist”