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Homemade: Salt Art

28/9/2014

6 Comments

 
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Beautiful coloured salt art ... the perfect homemade craft for your kids these school holidays!  You probably have what you need to create this in your house already!

What do you need?
  • salt
  • chalk
  • bottle
  • funnel
  • A4 paper (one for each colour used)


We used a plastic bottle but you could use a glass jar. Try something small to start with.  The funnel is not essential but helpful!  You may also like to use a tray to "contain" the salt.
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What do you need to do?
1. Fold the paper into half. Press down on the fold.
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2. Pour some salt onto the paper.
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3. Choose a chalk colour.
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4. Colour in the salt using the chalk.
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5. Place the funnel in the bottle. Use the fold in the paper to help pour the coloured salt into your bottle.
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6. Repeat all the steps again for each colour you choose to create your salt art bottle.   
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This was a fun activity that produced a lovely result.  Mr 4 and Miss 7 worked together to do this activity (as I only had one bottle).  They both admire it now each time that walk by and are proud of what they have made together.  I gave Mr 4 smaller quantities of the salt than Miss 7.  They both did well to keep the salt on the kitchen bench top but you may want to consider using a tray during colouring if you are concerned about more salt ending up on the floor than in the bottle.

Here are some of the fine motor benefits of this activity:-
* bilateral coordination with folding and pressing the paper,
* hand strength with colouring in,
* eye/hand coordination with colouring in and pouring the salt, and
* grasp and manipulation of the chalk.

This was a really easy activity to set up and do together (appealing to both my school-age child and my preschool-age child). Of course you don't have to put your salt into a bottle.  You could pour it into a tray for rainbow sensory play... although I would recommend it for kids over 3 years of age as you wouldn't want your kids to consume this salt!

Have you tried salt art?
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Special Note: Thank you for your support of Your Kids OT since I began just 8 months ago in February 2014!  I have been producing new content three times a week during these 8 months.  I use my own photographs and write/produce/edit all the work done on this website. I have decided to reduce the number of articles I produce to twice a week and will review this again in the coming months. 

Please continue to follow Your Kids OT on Facebook and Pinterest as I love to share content by other fantastic bloggers as well as other insights I find along the way.


I also love to hear from you! So comment below or on FB and let me know what you like about Your Kids OT! Which days of the week do you like to read this blog?


Thanks again!
6 Comments

Book Review: Follow the Line to School.

25/9/2014

0 Comments

 
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Do you have a child starting big school next year? or did they just start (for my northern hemisphere readers)?

"Follow the Line to School" by Laura Ljungkvist is a clever picture book for kids.  It encourages your child to journey through the book by following the line (which can be traced with their finger).  The line travels around letters and pictures on each page to lead you to different aspects of school life including the classroom, the library, the playground, etc.
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Starting school can be daunting for kids.  A new environment with new faces and new expectations. Reading books such as this one can help your child to prepare for school by becoming familiar with what they might see there.

Follow the Line to school is full of fantastic pictures and a few questions on each page to prompt discussion with your child about the school environment.  Along the way, you may also identify colours and letters, count objects and of course follow the line.  These are great "school readiness" skills to encourage.  

This book also encourages a number of visual perceptual skills such as eye-hand coordination, visual scanning, figure ground and discrimination skills.  

I would highly recommend this book and others in the "Follow the Line" series! They make a great gift too.  "Follow the Line to school" is available from the Book Depository.

Is your child looking forward to starting big school?
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I did not receive remuneration for this review.  All opinions and comments made are my own. 
This post contains some affiliate links with The Book Depository who offer free delivery worldwide.
Thank you for your support of Your Kids OT.
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Think, Draw and Write

23/9/2014

0 Comments

 
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Are you looking for some simple writing prompts?  Here are some excellent resources that I have in the Your Kids OT shop.  Each page encourages your child to think, draw and to write.  There is a small picture on each page with a question to prompt imagination.  Prompting questions include "What is mum cooking for dinner?"  

There are currently 13 different writing prompts available including areas of interest such as aeroplanes, beach, breakfast, bus ride, clown tricks, dinner, fairy wish, helicopter rescue, ladder, pirate, stuck cat, triceratops and a wizard wish. You may purchase them individually or as a special bundle (always cheaper to buy in bulk).  Find these worksheets at the Your Kids OT Shop. 

If you find these resources useful let your friends and colleagues know!  Please do not make copies of the resources to share as your support of Your Kids OT assists me to continue this website and blog.

Thank you!
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Don't forget to check out other popular products at the Your Kids OT shop!
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Pencil Grasp Reference Sheet
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Sensory Diet Activity Reference Sheet
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Fluency Patterns
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Lowercase letter roads
0 Comments

Fly me up high...homemade paper plane target.

21/9/2014

2 Comments

 
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We still haven't had enough of paper planes at YKOT headquarters.  Now we have a target for aiming our planes and it is a game too!

Did you build the acrobatic plane that was featured here recently?  If you didn't, click here for a link to that post with step by step photographic instructions. 


This homemade paper plane target was inspired by a Pinterest photo posted by Sewing Mama Rae Anna, who made one for her son's birthday party.  

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What do you need?
  • Paper
  • Texta (or any marker)
  • Template for drawing circles (we used plates and bowls)
  • Scissors
  • Masking tape



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What do you need to do?
1. Trace around bowls and plates to form circles. We assigned points to the different holes.
2. Cut out the inside of the circles. 
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3. Hang your paper on a doorway with masking tape.  You are ready to fly. 
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Tracing and cutting are both activities that encourage bilateral coordination of hands.  One hand (usually the non-dominant) needs to stabilise the paper and the other hand (usually the dominant) needs to use the implement (ie. texta or scissors).  

Mr 4 continues to need help to trace around the object without swapping hands. He had difficulty cutting the circle out.  Miss 7 also had a little bit of difficulty cutting out the circles because she couldn't be as neat as she had anticipated. 

Both were keen to fly their paper planes into the targets.  It was harder than they thought so the marker placed on the ground moved closer and closer to the target.  Miss 7 was keen to make it competitive with a tally of points.

This is a fun extension activity for those who love paper planes.  It is perfect for indoors when the outdoors just aren't so inviting or a perfect way to spend the school holidays!  

If your child doesn't enjoy planes maybe you could scrunch up newspaper to throw or throw something light like pom poms at the target?

Do you think your kids will like this target?  Don't forget to "pin it" for the next rainy day!

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Enjoy this homemade activity? Try these too...
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Come Fly with Me
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Coloured Shape Path
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This little light of mine
2 Comments

Freebie Friday #5: Printable Games

18/9/2014

0 Comments

 
Welcome to Freebie Friday #5... Printable Games!  A few months ago I had a series of Freebie Fridays (see below for links) found on the web.  I will periodically put together another set of freebies as I collate good ones!

Today, you will find some great paper based games that you can play with your kids (especially your bigger kids). 

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I have to start with some games that I have featured previously at Your Kids OT.  Did you read about these games?
Your Kids OT: Tapatan
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Your Kids OT: Rainbow I-Spy
Your Kids OT :Lego Challenges
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And here are some more by other clever people on the web...
Therapy Fun Zone: Paper Battleship, Cootie Catchers etc.
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A mom with a lesson plan: Lego game
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Picklebums: Catch a bug game
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Pre-K pages: Environmental Print Bingo
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The Notebooking Fairy: Game Board templates (also great to use a motivators in therapy)
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First Grade Garden: Mr Potato Head maths roll
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Here are the previous Freebie Fridays in case you missed them!
  • Freebie Friday #1: Pre-Writing Printables
  • Freebie Friday #2: Cutting
  • Freebie Friday #3: Drawing
  • Freebie Friday #4: Visual Motor Skills


These printable games will keep your kids busy during the school holidays!  Stay safe if you are travelling!

What is your favourite website for freebie printables? Let me know!
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0 Comments

Spiced Playdough!

17/9/2014

1 Comment

 
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Have you tried adding spices to your playdough? Our sense of smell can be so strong, guiding whether you like something or not.  Adding spices to your playdough can really create a great multi-sensory experience for you and your child. 

My original {FREE} playdough recipe that I published here a few months ago has been downloaded more than 100 times on "Teachers Pay Teachers".  You can also get it from the YKOT Shop here.  It uses boiling water rather than cooking the playdough and it works!

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Instead of adding food colouring this time we added spices (add a generous amount).  Mr 4 and I chose smoked praprika and cinnamon.  

Mr Potato Head came to play when the playdough was made.  Mr 4 loves this activity and it is a fun way to use your spiced playdough.  For more playdough activity ideas refer to this article.

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Have you made spiced playdough? Let me know if you do!
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1 Comment

Writing with a clock face?

13/9/2014

1 Comment

 
Have you ever considered using a clock face to teach handwriting?  Well I have to say that this was introduced to me when my daughter started school.  

Miss 7 has been learning handwriting using the Spalding Method when she started Kindergarten. The font that she has learnt has letters formed with circles and straight lines, similar to the ball and stick font {if you are familiar with that font}.  The Spalding Method uses a clock face to assist children to identify starting points and endpoints.
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If your child attends a NSW public school then they will be learning NSW Foundation Font.  The letters formed are very different to the Spalding Method I have just mentioned, with letters forming eclipses rather than circles and lines being on a slight slant.  
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NSW Foundation Font: small letters, tall letters and tail letters written on Earth Paper.
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Regardless of the font your child is learning, a clock face can be invaluable in teaching starting points. 

I use a clock face in conjunction with other techniques when teaching letter formation.  Did you read my previous post about "Letter Families"? {I'll wait while you take a quick detour}.....  "Magic C" letters are taught with a starting point at "1" when I'm working a child learning with NSW Foundation Font. {Note: In the Spalding Method Magic "C" letters are called "clock face letters" and start at "2"}. 

The child places their finger on "1" and traces around the clock (anticlockwise) to form a "c".  This helps the child to plan how to write this letter - finding a starting point, planning the direction to draw and where to finish the letter. They can also visualise what the letter may look like.  

It is helpful to use a multi-sensory approach too!  Bring in the playdough to form letters, trace it in a tray of rice or sand, draw it in the air, use pipe cleaners, etc.  

At first, you may place these tools directly on top of a  clock face picture {ie. place the playdough on "1" and form it into a "c"} and then over time a verbal reminder may be sufficient to help the student plan how to form a "c".   Use the same verbal prompt for a starting point at "1" when it comes to writing the letter.

Depending on your child, you may want to use the clock face for other letters as well. It can also be useful for teaching "e" starting at "9", "m, n, p, r" starting at 10.

What font do your kids learn at school?

Have you ever used a clock face to teach handwriting?  Try it today!

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1 Comment

Haven't had enough of Lego?  More games and activities!

10/9/2014

0 Comments

 
Another big thank you to those who participated in the Lego Challenges in the last few weeks!  Remember you can keep doing the challenges yourself with the free printable available from the Your Kids OT Shop! You could even add at timer element if you have a few friends over.

Here are some great LEGO games and activities that I have found on the web for you to enjoy...

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Kids Activities blog: Lego Matchbox Beds
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Kids Activities Blog: Homemade Lego Puzzle Book
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Fun at Home with Kids: DIY Lego kit and free printable activity cards.
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A mom with a lesson plan: Lego Game with free printable game board.
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Chickabug Blog: Lego Party Games
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One Perfect Day: Lego and Playdough Learning
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Hours of Lego fun here!  Which is your favourite?

Enjoy your weekend!
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0 Comments

Shhh...my first attempt at coloured pasta!

8/9/2014

0 Comments

 
Despite all the homemade craft you see on this site, I really can be quite lazy! I have never seen the need to colour rice or pasta.  In fact to make rice play more interesting, I have been inclined to just add brown rice and lentils and voila - textured "coloured" rice {hmmm... maybe a future post}.

Mr 4 falls into the category of "I'm-a-boy-and-I don't-really-want-to-do-fine-motor-activities-thank-you-very-much".  He will do something if I insist or when he sees his sister doing it but keeping his attention with this "not-my-preferred-activity" can be a challenge. Sigh!

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SO...when you need some colour in your life it is time to colour pasta {do you think someone could turn that into a song?}.  It wasn't as difficult or time consuming as I thought it might be.  Start by picking a warm day...it helps the pasta to dry faster!

What do you need?
  • dry uncooked pasta {I used penne and rigatoni}
  • food colouring
  • baking trays
  • baking paper
  • zip-lock sandwich-size bags
  • lots of sunshine!
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What do you need to do?
1. Place the pasta into a zip-lock bag.  Use a different bag for each intended colour.
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2. Add several squirts of food colouring into the bag of pasta.
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3. Seal the zip-lock on the bag and squish the pasta around until all pieces are covered with the food colouring.
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4. Repeat steps 2 & 3 until you have coloured each bag of pasta with the chosen colours.

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5. Lay out the pasta in a single layer onto the baking tray (lined with baking paper).  Leave to dry (length of time depends on the sun).
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6. Once dry, your pasta is ready for playing!

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How do you use this?
  • Colouring the pasta was an activity in itself.  As you can see by the photos, Mr 4 was very involved with all the steps.  He loved squishing the food colouring around to cover the pasta.
  • I set up the coloured pasta with several different strings.  I tied a piece of pasta to the ends of the string so that when Mr 4 started threading {lacing} the pasta didn't fall off the end.
  • Mr 4 also likes to sort the pasta into colours.  Help the matching by using containers of the same colour as the pasta.
  • The pasta becomes "pretend food" for cooking.
  • The blue pasta has been used in rice play {notice the textures in the rice} to add water for the dinosaurs.
  • Use the pasta with rice, playdough or kinetic sand.
WARNING - any necklaces or bracelets made must be worn by parent or therapist (or other) 
of child who has taken the trouble to make it!
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Have you coloured pasta before?  How do your kids like to play with coloured pasta?
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Note:  I am now on holidays and may be slow to respond to emails.  I'm hoping to post articles whilst I'm away but sometimes these things don't always work.  Thanks for your patience. Don't forget to check out the archives at www.yourkidsot.com. You can find articles grouped into categories for easy access!  Thanks for your support!
0 Comments

App Review: Dexteria Jr.

7/9/2014

0 Comments

 
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Dexteria Jr. - Fine Motor Skill Development for Toddlers & Preschoolers
By Binary Labs                        Cost $2.99 single user and $9.99 multi-user.
For iphone


For ipad
For ipad (Version allows multiple user reporting and tracking)
Dexteria Jr is one in a series of apps by Binlary Labs Inc, designed in collaboration with Occupational Therapists.
 
Dexteria Jr. includes hand and finger exercises that are designed to help develop fine motor skills and handwriting readiness. Dexteria Jr is designed with children 2-6 year olds in mind (ie. preschoolers), however I have found it great for older kids who are continuing to work on pre-writing skills such asfluency and pencil control.

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Dexteria Jr contains 3 main activities which contain various levels within each activity.  These activities are "Squish the Squash", "Trace and Erase" and "Pinch the Pepper".

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Squish the Squash requires the user to isolate their index finger to find the moving squash on the screen. As it progresses through the levels the number of squash increases and you are also required to press the same squash a few times in order to squish it away. 

The user is encouraged to tap the squash as fast as they can.  The repetitive tapping helps to develop fine motor finger control, finger isolation and strength.

Kids enjoy seeing the squash get flattened and disappear.  The animation is fun.

Trace and Erase is a series of paths that require fluent motion of the finger to draw. There are 29 levels with a progression from straight lines, diagonals, zig zags to more complicated paths with multiple turns.

At each level, the user needs to start at the green arrow and draw along the path to the star (ie. trace). The next step is to drag the eraser along the previously drawn path to reveal the ipad screen underneath (ie. erase).  When all the lines or paths have been erased then it is time to pull a funny face and have your photo taken.   Each time the photo is "distorted" like looking at those funny mirrors at amusement parks.  Kids really love this aspect of the app and it is a motivating factor in finishing the paths.

I like to encourage the use of a stylus with this app as I think you can achieve even more goals in a therapy session. You can encourage a dynamic pencil grasp, pencil control, eye-hand coordination and visual perceptual skills.  
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29 levels in Trace and Erase (from Dexteria Jr).
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Pinch the Pepper encourages the user to use their pincer grasp (ie. movement of the thumb and index finger together in a pinch) to remove the peppers.  As it gets harder the peppers are more numerous and move faster across the screen.  Yellow peppers are also to be avoided as they produce multiple red peppers if pinched by mistake.

Kids with weak hand muscles may tire of this activity. You can stop at any level at any time (as you can with the above two activities as well).  I find that the kids that I see for OT will not complete all the levels of all the activities in one sitting.  It can be time consuming and tiring.  I often set these as "homework" activities which can be completed through the week.

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Dexteria Jr. Activity Log
The reporting feature of the app allows parents, teachers and therapists to monitor your child's accuracy and speed in completing these activities. Each level is recorded and you may email the report to relevant others.  This is a handy feature where you may measure a child's progress over time or after a block of therapy.  




I would highly recommend this app for parents, teachers and therapists.  It targets fine motor and pre-writing skill development.  With the additional use of a stylus this app can be used well beyond the pre-school years that it was designed for.  I have found that I use this app the most often, in relation to the other Dexteria apps available. Whilst they have merit, this app has the fun, variety and skill focus that is of the most use to me as therapist.

Here is a video demonstrating the use of the app produced by the developers.  If you are receiving this post via email, you may need to click on the title of this post (which will take you to a live web page) before being able to view the video.

Have you tried Dexteria Jr.? What do your kids think of it?

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Note:  This app is not currently available for Android.  I noticed that the original Dexteria app is available for Android. Please contact the developer for information about this app becoming available for Android users.   


This article contains affiliate links.  I have not received remuneration for this article and all opinions are my own.
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    Hi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here.

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Disclaimer: The information on this site is general in nature and should be used for educational  and entertainment purposes. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions.  This blog does not replace formal therapeutic professional advice given by a health professional or medical practitioner.  Reviews and endorsements of products will only be made based on my expertise and personal opinion; and deemed worthy of such endorsement. The opinions shared in sponsored content will always be my own and not that of the advertising company or brand. Content, advertising space or posts will be clearly identified if paid, affiliated or sponsored.  Affiliate links may  be found throughout this website in advertising. This means that if you follow through with a purchase from these links, Your Kids OT will receive a percentage of the sale. Your Kids OT undertakes to meet the requirements of the "Social Media Policy" as published by Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA).  Further information about this policy can be found here.

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Hi, I'm Cindy and I am an Occupational Therapist. I enjoy working creatively with children to see them reach their potential. Read more about me here.

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