UPDATED 2023:VERSION 2 OF THE SCHOOL READINESS CHECKLIST NOW AVAILABLE!
As we begin term 4 of the Australian School term, some of you may be thinking about school readiness for 2015. Is my child ready for school? Is school ready for my child?
Whilst there are certain expectations for children beginning school, there is also a wide-range-of-normal! Children learn at their own pace and may begin school with various "school readiness" skills. School readiness may include social skills, language skills, emotional skills, concentration skills, visual-motor skills, pre-writing skills, self-care skills, fine and gross motor skills. If your child has difficulty with one or more of these areas of skill development, it does not mean that they are not ready for school. It may mean that they need some help ... including Occupational Therapy. I suggest looking at the overall picture of your child's development and speaking with your child's educator (if they attend preschool or child care). The following school readiness checklist is based on those "red flags" where referral to Occupational Therapy may assist your child in these months leading up to starting school. The questions here are based on various standardised assessments OTs use including The Miller Function & Participation Scales, The Peabody Developmental Motor Scales and the Beery VMI (Visual-Motor Integration). The checklist is not exhaustive and was developed to provide a snapshot of where you child is currently performing and what they may need help with completing. 
You can find a FREE printable copy of this checklist in the Your Kids OT shop. You are welcome to distribute it to parents and educational settings. OTs, please do not copy the content for professional use (ie. don't use the content and add your own logo).
If you complete this checklist and have concerns about your child's development, contact an Occupational Therapist for a comprehensive assessment. If you live or your child attends an educational setting in the Ryde LGA (Local Government Area), please contact me at cindy@yourkidsot.com or via the contacts pagehere for further information about direct therapy services. Do you have a child starting school in 2015? 
When did brushing teeth become so fun? Macleans have created this free app which features a "Nurdle" {A pea sized dab of toothpaste - who knew?"} to encourage your child to brush their teeth. This app has instructions on how to brush, a singing and dancing Nurdle, a 2 minute timer and a reward for finishing. Collect the rewards and use these in the shop to buy clothes and accessories for your "Nurdle". Macleans Nurdle Time will appeal to young children {approx 8 years and younger}. It includes visual instructions for brushing and star points to collect. This app allows for multiple players who can create their own profiles. Great for a family, although we tend to select one person's Nurdle in the morning and the other in the evening. This app has definitely been given the thumbs up by my Mr 3 and Miss 7. Mr 3 says "its funny" and Miss 7 says "its cool". They have always loved brushing their teeth, however this gives them additional instruction and sets the time. I think the app would be useful for a child to watch if a parent is brushing their child's teeth. Note: On speaking with a dentist friend, she suggested caution that the use of this type of app may be distracting. As a parent you are the best judge of how this may affect your child. I would suggest all young children require supervision if not assistance during teeth brushing. We don't use the app all the time but the kids enjoy it when we do. Does your child struggle with brushing their teeth? 
Disclosure: This is not a sponsored post.
Here is a quick and easy way to help your child who is learning to put their shoes on independently.
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AuthorHi, 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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About me
AuthorHi, 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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