OT HOMEWORK GRID

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Should kids do homework?

A great debate in our schools and our society.

Some believe strongly in the need to develop habits for studying and working at home.  Some believe strongly that school is for academic learning and home is for "being a kid".

Some schools have introduced an "opt in/opt out" option. 

What is your opinion about homework?

As an occupational therapist, I understand the need to practice skills.  When I see a child once a week for a short period of time, I know that my effectiveness is in the carryover of what we are working on together ....  in their every day lives.  A frustration is when parents rely on me to "fix" their kids (although they might not use that word). 

Ideally, I see myself as a coach who may provide an insight into why a child is doing something the way they are, offer some tips and tricks to help with the problem, help show the child and others ways to improve (compensate or modify activities) but then rely on the rest of the team (parents, teachers and child) to practice or also come up with new ways to help address the same goals.

On the other hand, I also understand the frustration of parents who find "homework" challenging to complete.  Life is busy and kids with special needs seem to have a lot of extra work that needs to be done (in addition to regular school work). 

This year, I've introduced my version of an opt in/opt out homework grid for my occupational therapy kids. The grid outlines five common areas most of my OT school age kids are working towards achieving.  These are core muscle strength, bilateral coordination, hand strength, pincer grasp and letter formation.  The examples of homework should be easy for families to incorporate into their daily lives and require little to no set up or extra equipment.  I include an introductory letter to parents explaining the grid and the target areas.

I recently shared this homework grid with my IG followers.  I ran a poll asking if I should share my OT homework grid here! The result was a resounding "YES" that people wanted to get a copy of this homework grid! Thanks for everyone who participated in the poll.

So true to my word, here it is!

I've taken off my signature from the "parent letter" so that you can add your name to it but I ask that you keep my "Your Kids OT" name on it before making copies.

To get your copy of the OT HOMEWORK GRID,  just subscribe below.  You will also be the first to know about other resources I create. (Current subscribers will only be on the list once)...

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If you do use this homework grid, I would love to hear your feedback! Why not give me that feedback/review on the Your Kids OT Facebook page?! I always love to hear from my readers!

What is your opinion about homework?

Cindy is a registered Occupational Therapist practising in Sydney Australia.  She has two young children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT. 

Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

The information on this site is general in nature. 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.

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