Looking back always helps with looking forward!
As 2022 draws to a close, I look back on the year. The first year back to complete face to face direct occupational therapy services post pandemic. The nasty virus continued to play havoc to attendance, although to-date I'm still a "no-vid". If you are new to Your Kids OT, you may not know that I'm an sole mobile private OT based in Sydney Australia. I find it hard to say "no" but I'm getting better at it. The year started with a very very very full client load which is always exciting, however it did mean that I need to balance this with my blog here at YKOT, social media, online shop and TPT. At one point, I was visiting 11 different schools, 2 preschools, a child care centre as well as several home visits weekly. You will find me almost daily uploading to Instagram which is now my preferred platform, where I have shared over 1700 posts in the last 8 years. I share candidly, the activities that I have been doing, what I've packed in my OT bag (which has become a popular weekly feature) and some behind the scenes things that I enjoy. Many of you like to know the real-me, popping into IG stories to see my dog, my baking, my scenic walks... and ideas that I've shared in my memories from the past. This newsletter and blog is a platform that I use to share more detail. I place my free and new printables here on the YKOT website so that there is a reference point. There are 31 freebies scattered here through blog posts and at the YKOT shop which continue to be very popular. Which is your favourite? Each year, I collaborate with other therapy bloggers or whilst I don't necessarily seek new opportunities, I've had the pleasure of trying a few new things over the last few years. In 2022, I was interviewed for A Current Affair (a Australian National News Program) to provide an OT opinion on risky play at playgrounds. The top 5 activities in 2022 voted by your views and likes on IG are: 5. Draw and Roll - Using a vertical whiteboard to draw a path and using squigz to work on wrist stregnth and fine motor skills. Read more HERE and HERE. 4. Balancing on Foot Pods - I like to look at "old" tools and try new things. Here I upturned the footpods to add more of a challenge to balance, adding pop tubes for motivation. Read more HERE. To increase the challenge, I added a "figure 8" between the legs for some children. Read more HERE. 3. Oral Motor Activities and Playdough - Breathing is an important tool for regulation. Here I used playdough and pom poms to create child-friendly oral motor activities. Reaad more HERE. 2. Therapeutic use of self - We can't escape the draw of games and apps on devices for our children. Here I used myself to engage a child with an activity with the inspiration coming from technology. I used my voice to increase in volume and this provided feedback to the child in an engaging way. The shape peg paper plate activity was intrinsically motivating for most but this addition of sound helped one child in particular to give it a go. Read/listen more HERE. 1. Peanut Ball Ring Game - By far the most popular activity of the year! A combination of gross motor skills, core muscle strength, shoulder stability, neck muscle strengthening, motor planning, sequencing, active listening, completing a multiple-step activity whilst providing an engaging activitiy for children! Read more HERE. Click the links above for a more detailed look at the activities or watch the video below for a summary! ​I love sharing my ideas with you here on this corner of the internet. I aim to be personable, relatable, practical with my (almost 25 years) experience evident in all that I do. This will no doubt mean that I share irregularly but I would rather not bombard you with emails for the sake of it. Your Kids OT is built on my reputation and I thank you for your ongoing support. (PS. If it is not for you, then I'm never offended if you unsubscribe.) I'm not here just for the numbers but honestly want to make a difference with what I do share. So, thank you again for those who have been around for a while and welcome to those who are new here! Looking forward to sharing more simple ways to make learning fun for your children in 2023. Happy New Year! ​ 
Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. ​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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​ Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/ ​  It wouldn't be Christmas over here at YOUR KIDS OT without a FREE PRINTABLE. I have to admit that I wasn't sure that I would get one out to you this year, but my "early writers" were in need of some fresh ideas AND you benefit too! The 2022 Christmas FREE PRINTABLE pack includes the following pages:
Use the link below to get your copy! It's fun to bring the festive season into therapy sessions and you could easily do these at home with your early writers too. If you like these sorts of printables, you will find similar here in the Your Kids OT Shop.
If you prefer, head over to the YKOT store on Teachers Pay Teachers for $US. MERRY CHRISTMAS! Wishing you a restful and joyful holiday season! Thank you for your ongoing support of YKOT !  Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/ 
Christmas is coming and its time to incorporate some fun activities for kids into OT sessions. You could easily do these at home too!
​ Each activity requires just a few supplies. Feel free to substitute items with what you have available! 1. Christmas Pipe Cleaner Wand You will need: * A craft stick * A Pipe Cleaner * A Muffin Tray * Pom Poms * Another tray or bowl Preparation - what to do: * Ask your child to wind the pipe cleaner around the craft stick. * Ask your child to create a circle at the top of the stick to act as a "scoop". * Place a pom pom in each muffin tray hole. Activity - what to do: * Ask your child to use their wand to scoop each pom pom and transfer to tray or bowl. Alternative is to use the wand like an "egg and spoon" race to carry annd transfer the pom pom across the room. Activity benefits: * Encourage bilateral coordination. * Encourage motor planing. * Encourage eye-hand coordination. * Encourage crossing the midline (dependent on where you place the tray). 
2. Stacking Christmas Cups.
​ You will need: * 10 paper cups Preparation - what to do: * None! Activity - what to do: * Ask your child to stack the cups in a pyramid (4, 3, 2, 1). Alternative is to race a timer or race another person. Activity benefits: * Encourage bilateral coordination. * Encourage motor planing. * Encourage eye-hand coordination. * Encourage crossing the midline. 
3. Elf Rescue
You will need: * An elf on a small sled (or a small toy in a cardboard box). * A toilet paper roll. * A piece of wool. Preparation - what to do: * Attach the wool to the toilet paper roll on one end and sled on the other end. * Secure the elf to the sled. * Optional pain the toilet paper roll. Activity - what to do: * Ask your child to hold the toilet paper roll and wind up the wool to rescue the elf. Activity benefits: * Encourage bilateral coordination. * Encourage motor planing. * Encourage eye-hand coordination. * Encourage crossing the midline. 
4. Christmas Card Puzzles!
You will need: * Christmas cards or gift tags. * Scissors ​* Optional - magnets Preparation - what to do: * Cut the Christmas cards or gift tags into the desired number of pieces. * Optional - attach magnetic paper to the back of the cards. Activity - what to do: * Ask your child to match the pieces together to create the picture. The difficulty can be varied depending on the number of puzzle pieces cut and with how complicated the pictures are on the cards. Activity benefits: * Encourage visual spatial awareness. * Encourage visual discrimination. * Encourage visual closure skills. * Encourage problem solving skills. 
5. Christmas Tree Rings You will need: * Two Christmas craft trees (or alternatives could be empty plastic bottles, cardboard cones, etc). * Plastic Rings (mine are from Twister Rings or an alternative are swimming toy rings). * Balance Cushion Preparation - what to do: * Place trees within arms reach of balance cushion. Activity - what to do: * Ask your child to stand on the balance cushion and sort rings by colour over the trees. Activity benefits: * Encourage bilateral coordination. * Encourage motor planing. * Encourage eye-hand coordination. * Encourage crossing the midline. * Encourage balance skills. 
Watch these 5 activities in action with this video link.
Are you looking for more activities, worksheets and FREE printables for Christmas!
You will find a variety here at Your Kids OT. Click on the links below! * Christmas Fun Sheets * Christmas Activity Advent Calendar * Christmas Social and Emotional Competencies * Christmas Push Pin Tree * Christmas Tree Craft * Christmas Story Writing Prompts * 2020 Holiday Activity Pack * Christmas Tree Printable Pack * 2021 Christmas Free Printables So many activities to keep your children busy this holiday season! Let me know your favourites! ​ 
Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. ​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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​ Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/ ​  Fidget tool or toy? I used to be the first to ask this question but I have to confess that my thinking around "fidget tools and toys" has changed! It used to irk me so much when mainstream "fidget" toys became available and were "played" with by every child in a school as the lastest trend. You know the ones... fidget spinners, fidget cubes, pop it toys... every child needed to have one and "fidget" all the time. No! Internal and external crying out... not because fidgets have become mainstream (that is actually wonderful) but didn't people realise that fidgets are supposed to be tools for concentration. Discreet? Quiet? Unseen? Kept in a pocket? Not distract from other people or from the task at hand? I was recently asked by a friend's daughter for some background information about fidget toys and it was only then that I realised that my thinking around fidgets has evolved. Traditionally fidget tools have been used to help children with concentration in the classroom. A fidget was a way for tactile seekers to receive some input whilst still concentrating in class. They were manipulated by a child's hands and were those things I described earlier (discreet, quiet, unseen kept in a pocket or lap, not distracting). You may have seen lots of "fidget rules" posters that describe this use of fidgets in the classroom.  However, as you can see from the image above... I think there is value in those items that I would have previously classed as "toys". Instead of being used for concentrating on tasks (such as classroom and homework tasks), these fidget tools may be used to help with regulation. These fidget tools may help a child to become more alert or to help them with calming down. This is the place where fidgets may not only provide tactile sensory input but may also provide auditory and visual input. These fidgets may CONSUME the child and they may NOT be able to concentrate on other things. The fidget tools may actually provide a distraction from other things going on around them. Children may use these type of fidget tools in a calm down space. whilst in a waiting room, whilst on public transport or whilst attending a medical appointment. Can you think of other places your child might use these fidget tools? What if the fidget tool is not enough? A fidget tool is rarely enough. The caution with fidget tools (rather than toys) is that they should be used as part of a bigger picture in addressing a child's needs (whether that be concentration or regulation). Perhaps the child needs movement or deep pressure at other times of the day? Perhaps the child needs an awareness of routines and expectations? Perhaps the child needs a timer to help with transitions? Perhaps the child needs help with anxiety? Perhaps the child needs co-regulation with a trusted adult? Perhaps the child needs oral input with something to chew? Perhaps the child needs deep breathing or mindfulness activities? And the list could go on... Children who are not using fidget tools for concentration and regulation ... are really "playing". They become fidget TOYS. There is nothing wrong with "playing"! If you have followed me for any length of time, you will know that I highly value play. Fidget tools are not "fix alls". Fidget tools can help with concentration and regulation. Fidget tools can be used as part of a holistic approach to intervention. What is your mindset on fidget tools and toys? Have I challenged your thinking? Do you agree?   Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/ Fun way to work on wrist extension and fine motor skills (fundamental skills for pencil control)!13/9/2022
A hooked wrist?
Wrist off the table? A neutral hand, wrist and forearm? In order for fingers to be able to manipulate writing tools in a dynamic way, a child needs to have developed shoulder stability, forearm stability and... wrist extension. Wrist extension can sometimes be overlooked. Some people are super focused on pencil grasp and how the fingers are holding the pencil, that the wrist is not considered. Without a stable wrist and forearm, the fingers will have difficulty moving the pencil. What tends to happen is that the fingers get "locked into position" for stability and movement of the pencil comes from the wrist, elbow or shoulder. Some people are super "unfocused" ... ok, that's not a word... some people are not considering pencil grasp at all. They have swung the other way to say that pencil grasp is not important. If you have read any of my previous blog posts, you will know that I'm all about function but other considerations need to be taken into account too... * Is your child just learning how to write ? Are they developmentally ready to write? * Is your child experiencing pain? * Is your child experiencing fatigue? * Is your child producing letter reversals or confusion with writing? * Is your child complaining about writing and having difficulty keeping up with the class? * Is your child slow? * Is your child's pencil pressure too hard or too light? There are many reasons to consider pencil grasp. There are many reasons to look at the biomechanics of a child's writing and where pencil control is coming from. OK, so back to a fun way to work on wrist extension and fine motor skills! OTs love to use vertical surface to support wrist stability and extension. Here is an activity that is quick and easy to set up, with so many benefits! What you need:
What to do:
** WATCH THIS IN ACTION ---> Your Kids OT IG 
Variation:
In addition to wrist extension and fine motor skills... this variation will also work on crossing the midline, motor planning as well as drawing. ** WATCH THIS IN ACTION ---> Your Kids OT IG​​
For more information on handwriting and pencil grasp, check out the articles HERE. For more information on fine motor skills, check out the articles HERE.
Give this activity a try! What are some of your favourite vertical surface activities? What other ways can you help to develop wrist stability and extension? ​ 
Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. ​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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​ Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/  Poke poke poke. Kids love making holes! Here is a legitimate way that they can make holes and learn at the same time.... by using "push pins" (or drawing pins, depending on where you are in the world). If you have been following me here at Your Kids OT for a while, you will know that I love incorporating push pin activities into therapy session for SO many reasons. From the development of fine motor skillls, hand strength, building eye/ hand coordination to providing sensory feedback to the hand whilst learning. The fingers are provided with "'heavy work" and lots of proprioceptive information is fed back to the fingers and hands during these activities. Children are so engaged with push pin activities and they often "work hard" even when they are beginning to fatigue. Read more about the reasons for using push pins HERE. All push pin activities should be supervised closely. These activities are not suitable for those who are mouthing objects and unable to follow instructions. Recommended age for use of push pins is 4 years and older. Here are 5 ways to incorporate push pins to learning! 1. Push Pins and Lacing Cards Use a cork mat and lay a "lacing/threading" card on top. These cards already have holes in them, normally use to weave laces in and out for preschool age children. Preschool age children enjoy the novelty of placing push pins into the holes of these cards. If you don't have lacing cards, use cardboard and a hole punch to create your own pictures.  2. Push Pins and Playdough Crossing the Midline Create two playdough rings. Use push pins (I have flower ones) that are planted into playdough rings when I call out left or right. This encourages children to work on crossing the midline, left and right discrimination. These skills are important especially for those who those who shuffle along their chair when they write or make adjustments to avoid crossing the midline. Read more about crossing the midline and bilateral coordination HERE.  3. Push Pins and Playdough Letter Formation Create letters using playdough. Use a push pin to make holes in the playdough letter. Make sure you start in the correct position and move in the correct direction for writing the letter. You can work on lowercase letters, capital letters, shapes, numbers, a child's name or even words.  4. Push Pins with Paper: Pictures and Letters This activity moves a child from object-based learning to paper activities. It links physical hands-on learning with what is going on in printed form. You will need the printables from the YKOT to either create a picture or letter. We use a cork mat, laying down coloured paper and the chosen printable page. We can focus on one letter and picture; using this as a writing prompt to write a sentence. Children love to hold up their final picture to the light and see it coming through the holes. For younger children, I use the picture printable to create a drawing. For some children, I use the face emotion pictures and link this with social emotional learning. Find the printables ... * Alphabet Dot Pictures * Push Pin Poke Drawing Templates These printables are also available at the YKOT Teachers Pay Teachers Store ($US).
5. Push Pin, Die and Numbers! Numbers, maths and a "die" go hand in hand. We add a push pin to make this a very hands on learning experience. I use an old game insert with square hole to draw small square shapes. You could also just draw some squares. We can work on:- * number identification - roll the die and make holes to match * writing numbers - roll the die, make holes and write the number * before and after numbers - roll the die, make holes, then write the number before and the number after * addition and subraction - roll the die to find numbers to add or subtract, make holes to work out the answer  Watch these Push Pin Activities on the You-Tube Video. What is your favourite "push pin" activity and which one will you try out?   Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/  TheimportanceoftheSIZEoflettersandspacingcannotbeundervaluedwhenitcomestohandwritinglegibility. Did you get that? The importance of the size of letters and spacing can not be undervalued when it comes to handwriting legibility. The size of letters, their alignment to the writing line and having adequate spaces between words (and letters) affects how we read written information. Ideally we want all writing (letters and spacing) to be uniform but many can not achieve this (even adults)! If just one aspect of neat writing is achieved, then it does help the reader to deciper the written work. Before I give you some tips, try an experiment... Get out some ruled lined paper. Draw two horizontal lines between the printed lines, dividing the space into thirds. Make sure the lines are parallel with the spacing staying consistent. Don't turn the page and don't turn your arm. Did you find this easy or difficulty? Now ask your child to do the same. Can they draw two horizontal lines with consistent spacing? I would say that if your child has handwriting difficulties then they will want to move the page or their arm. They will have difficulty with consistent spacing and their lines will not run parrallel. This is probably (and I'm making broad generalisations) due to difficulty with visual spatial awareness, visual motor control and pencil control. There may be underlying difficulties in other areas too. Ok, so what can we do about it? 1. Sizing and spacing with blocks. I use 1cm craft blocks to represent the size of a "small letter". We use two stacked blocks above the line for a "capital letter" or "tall letter". Two blocks (one above and one below) are used to represent a "tail letter". Single words are practiced with the blocks and then sentences are made. We work on a block space between each word. We work on making short sentences with the blocks and then writing the sentence (either on a whiteboard or chalkboard). Some children may require an adult to write the sentence as a model for them to make with blocks. This is a visually engaging way to help children to develop visual spatial awareness whilst working on size and spacing.  2. Meatballs and Spaghetti. This idea has been around for a long time and encourages children to place "meatball" size spaces between words and "spaghetti" size spaces between letters. You can make this more visually obvious by using something like wikki stix or playdough to make the meatball and spaghetti. Playdough and wikki stix also afford the flexibility of making the writing line and letters of the alphabet. You can work on the size of letters and their alignment to that line.  3. White writing implements! Don't throw away the unused white crayon or white pencil. Use these to help delineate spaces between words. Have your child switch from their ordinary pencil to the white one to draw a small dot between words. For some children the action of putting down one pencil and picking up another (in any colour) will help with the motor plan to leave a gap between words. I prefer a white pencil for obvious reasons ... that it can't be obviously when we look at the overall sentence. The child is introduced to "white space" between words. If this is not enough to help your child with spacing, you may use a coloured pencil between the ordinary pencil to make a more obvious dot.  4. Grid paper. Grid paper (or boxed paper) is often used by children in mathematics or for Chinese students in writing characters. There is a reason for this... it helps visually with spacing and size! You can practice visual motor and pencil control skills with grid paper. Have your child copy patterns to see if they can continue with the same size and spacing that you have drawn. You can use the grid paper to work on letter sizes and word spacing too. Each square could represent the height of a small letter with two letters being the size of a tall letter. Alternatively, a square could be the size of tall letter and the child needs to write in half the square to create a small letter. Using the grid paper is adapable to your child's needs. In the example below, this child has difficulty with visual motor and pencil control skills. We work on these things, however the achievement for this child is having a letter in each box providing a small space between each letter and then a large space (a box) between each word. The size of the grid paper you choose will depend on the age and ability of your child.  5. Modified (or adapative) paper. There are a number of variations of modified paper on the market. From my own "Earth paper lines" to these examples here, here and here. For some children, changing the paper up is the quickest way to helping them see how letters should be sized and spaced for legibility. They can use the paper (or try a few options) to develop good writing habits. The paper is then "weaned off" so that the child can make links to ordindary paper and carry over their new found legibility. Some children will find the "carry over" and "weaning off" difficult and they benefit from a longer term use of modified paper. For some children the modified or even grid paper doesn't work! Why? Modified and grid paper requires a certain amount of visual spatial awareness and pencil control already to use it. For these children, the modified paper just highlights how difficult writing is to start with and they may need more help with noticing lines and distinguishing shapes. For example, a ruler can provide a physical boundary for the writing line so students "bump the line" (read more here).  So when is a good time to work on letter sizes and spacing?? Generally when children are introduced to writing letters, formation is of key importance. The starting position, the direction and the shape of letters (and numbers). We don't worry too much about sizing and spacing as we want children to be successful and gain pencil control. For Kindergarten children (approx age 5- 6 years old) learning to write may find it easier to use their whole arm to control the pencil and may be only beginning to develop dynamic finger movements on the pencil (ie. a dynamic tripod grasp). This is why they find it easier to write large letters and words. As children move onto writing sentences and a writing line is introduced; spacing and sizing become more important. Older children (ie. 8 years and older) referred for occupational therapy with poor handwriting legibility benefit greatly from working on sizing and spacing. This is when legibility is prioritised over letter formation and we want more output (writing) on the page. Need more tips on handwriting? Make sure you read past articles HERE. You can also find more information in "THE HANDWRITING BOOK" where I am a contributing author. This e-book may now be purchased from the Your Kids OT SHOP. Which suggestion will you be trying with your child to work on sizing and spacing in handwriting?   Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/  No, I don’t want to. No, I can’t do it. No, I want to but I don’t know how. No, not today. No, I have never done this before. No, not in front of you. No, I wasn’t expecting to do this. No, I think it is too hard. No, I don’t have enough time. No, you have already asked me. No, I’ve done it before so why do I have to do it again? What does “no” mean? Children who are “demand avoidant” are not “being naughty”. They are not seeking a power struggle with you as the adult in their lives. They are impacted by anxiety, fear and loss of control where a task (which appears to be within their scope to complete) becomes unachievable. Simple tasks and even tasks they have completed previously are too “demanding”. Pathological Demand Avoidance is described as a profile of Autism. A low threshold of tolerance to a variety of “demands” results in the child reacting with a fight, flight or freeze response. Anxiety and a need to feel in control underpin a child’s avoidant behavior. Each child who demonstrates avoidant behavior may do this in different ways. It could include shouting, laughing, crying, screaming, hiding, not talking, running away, throwing things, repetitive actions and more. Different children will present in different ways. One individual child may also show a range of behaviour that changes depending on the demand or who the child is with at the time.  The PDA society lists the following key principles for parents, teachers and therapist in helping a child with PDA; built on an engaged relationship between the child and adult. P: Pick Battles A: Anxiety Management N: Negotiation and Collaboration D: Disguise and Manage Demands A: Adaptation As an occupational therapist, finding the “just right challenge” is important for all children. For children with PDA, this can be particularly challenging. The importance of a therapeutic relationship should not be underestimated. Built on trust; rapport and respect need to be established before any “demands” can be expected. A therapeutic goal of “joint attention to a task” may be an essential foundation before further goals are established. Whilst every child is different, here are 5 examples of incorporating the PDA society principles.
In general; “heavy work” or opportunities for proprioception to joints, muscles and skin can help a child to regulate. This may include:
You can read more about sensory supports: 2. Include a puppet (or toy or pet). Puppets can help with communication. They can be used in a variety of ways that are engaging and fun for the child. Here are some examples for using a puppet:
3. Be flexible. There is nothing achieved with a power struggle between an adult and child. Having plan B is an important adaptation. Whilst some tasks should not be avoided for safety or long term health, many tasks can be forgone for something else or at least postponed. When a task really needs to be done, consider:
 4. Explore and engage with the child’s interest. Whilst there are often concerns of a child’s predominant interests becoming obsessions, exploring and engaging with the child’s interest may be an important step in “joint attention” and establishing rapport. Can the interest be used to try new activities? (eg. An interest in camping may lead to cutting paper “logs” to build a camp fire. An interest in planets may lead to drawing dotted lines for the space ship to visit each planet. An interest in video games may lead to creating a game to learn letters in a child’s name.) 5. Praise and rewards used unconventionally. Praise comes naturally when something is done well. We want to praise the child and their efforts. We want to reward behaviour that we want to see repeated. These can both (whilst seemingly positive) can cause a child to feel anxious with a perceived demand to repeat or improve performance of the activity (which may be your motivation and what you want). Complicated! This requires re-framing so …
Videos, books and social stories can be useful ways to help a child with PDA to de-personalise situations, learn from modelling and discuss how others approach a task or situation. Head over to Growing Hands on Kids where I have also written ANOTHER five strategies to support PDA - 5 Strategies to Support Pathological Demand Avoidance - Growing Hands-On Kids (growinghandsonkids.com) including creating a game with the task, do the task together, reduce indirect demands, ask without asking, using humor or novelty. Supporting a child with PDA takes time, creativity, patience and empathy. It is not easy and emotions may run high quickly. For further information on Pathological Demand Avoidance, refer to: * PDA Society, * Sally Cat’s PDA Page, * Pathological Demand Avoidance Australia & New Zealand, * Pathological Demand Avoidance Teaching Strategies (Podcast) Do you support a child with PDA? What has worked for you both?   Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/  We are approaching Easter and the run to the school holidays here in Sydney is real! Just a few day left of the term. Create a cute bouncing bunny with a FREE template.
An Easter inspired activity to encourage scissor skills, bilateral coordination and motor planning. Watch me make the bouncing bunny ---> https://youtube.com/shorts/z5VTkHFAv3A?feature=share Get your FREE BOUNCING BUNNY PRINTABLE HERE! Also check out other EASTER inspired activities: * Q Tip Easter Craft * Easter Scissor Skills Eggs * Oral Motor Easter Egg Transfer * Easter Drawing for Scribblers * Easter Prewriting Lines and Shapes  HAPPY EASTER and if you have holidays coming, ENJOY!   Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/  K.I. Al-Ghani is a special educational needs teacher who has worked for more than 35 years. She is currently a specialist teacher for inclusion support, author and mother of an adult son with ASD, Haitham. Haitham is the illustrator of the books which K.I. has authored on social emotional learning. The following is an overview of the books and my personal opinion for review. These books were purchased from various sources including Amazon and Booktopia. This is not sponsored. The books provide a wonderful way to approach tricky subjects with your children with a target audience of approximately 7-11 years. Each book has valuable information for adults (parents, teachers, therapists) with strategies to address the issues. There are lots of practical strategies that the children in the story use and which can be tried by your children too. The books provide children with "emotional literacy". It gives children and adults a shared language to talk about these issues together. Picture books also allow children to relate to the characters or distant themselves from the characters if needed. It may take time or a later discussion to connect some of the issues in the story with themselves. I do find each of the stories a little long and "wordy", so you may have to gauge your child's attention span. Some stories may need to be read in smaller parts or abbreviated. The pictures provide a talking point and a focal point for children to look at. Another way to engage your children whilst reading these books, is to assign an action for certain key words that are repeated. This could include hand or body movements that represent the words. On the whole, I have found that some of the children I'm working with can't manage the extensive language in the books so it is more helpful for the adults in their lives to read the books instead. Here is a closer look at the books.  The Red Beast: Controlling Anger in Children with Asperger's Syndrome. Back Cover Synopsis: Deep inside everyone, a red beast lies sleeping. When it is asleep, the red beast is quite small, but when it wakes up, it begins to grow and grow. This is the story of how one boy, Rufus, conquered his anger and sent the red beast back to sleep. Opinion: This picture book deals with a child who loses control of their emotions and lashes out. He is encouraged by teachers to use sensory solutions to calm down. The "taking to the sensory room" is a bit upsetting as the teachers drag him there. However, once in the room they offer strategies like breathing, squeezing a ball, taking a drink, popping bubble wrap. The beast within Rufus calms down and he can return to the classroom. I do enjoy reading this book with children who are working through social emotional regulation. It gives us a talking point for thinking about how people feel, what people are thinking, the size of the problem, the size of the reaction and calm down strategies. I think it misses a few things like empathy for Rufus when he is hit, as it paints Rufus as turning into the red beast (like a scary fairy tale) even though the story is saying it is the beast within him. I do like that when the red beast grows, his eyes and ears get small (letting children know when people get upset that it is hard to hear and see what is going on). You may have to think about how your child might react to this imagery. I think it is also important to emphasize that there is red beast in all of us (which the book does at the beginning) and not to single out one child with this issue of difficulty with anger management.  Winston Wallaby Can't Stop Bouncing: What do do about hyperactivity in children including those with ADHD, SPD and ASD. Back Cover Synopsis: Winston Wallaby, like most wallabies, loves to bounce. However, Winston can't seem to ever sit still and when he starts school he needs helps to concentrate...Luckily his teacher Mrs Calm show Winston how to settle down and focus his mind in class, and he learns new ways to help him with touch, feel, attention and awareness. This books was written to help children with ADHD, SPD and ASD to recognize their sensory needs and develop tools to support them. Opinion: This picture books links movement with inattention. It addresses the issue that Winston is trying his hardest but he can't fix the problem on his own. Sometimes his "bouncing" means that he misses instructions, physically hurts someone else or knocks things over. The book shines here when the teacher encourages the whole class to use the sensory strategies so Winston is not always singled out. Whilst Winston has a phrase that he repeats to himself throughout the book "I won't bounce", it would be also great to ask your children to think of other things that he could have told himself (ie. positive self talk).  Panicosaurus: Managing Anxiety in Children including those with Asperger Syndrome. Back Cover Synopsis: Have you ever felt a sense of dread and worry creeping over you? That might be the Panicosaurus coming out to play... Sometimes the Panicosaurus tricks Mabel's brain into panicking about certain challenges, such as walking past a big dog on the street or when her favourite teacher is not at school. With the help of Smartosaurus, who lets her know there is really nothing to be afraid of, Mabel discovers different ways to manage Panicosaurus, and defeat the challenges he creates for her. Opinion: The dinosaur chararacters are linked to parts to the brain to give children information about how our emotions and the brain are connected. Panicosaurus is described as "naughty" from the outset as a trouble maker for the girl character, Mabel. Where the previous book doesn't use "self-talk", this book does! I love the empathy of the fellow students in this book and how the main character is never made to feel "bad" about the difficulties she is experiencing. This book is a great way to talk about what situations might cause a child to be anxious and what strategies they might try. When using this book with one student we created different plans for different situations. I created a Smartosaurus vs Panicosaurus worksheet with a "playground plan". This included a reflection of how panicosaurus might trick us, how our body feels and smartosauraus' plan to solve the problem.  The Disappointment Dragon: Learning to cope with disappointment (for all children and dragon tamers, including those with Asperger Syndrome). Back Cover Synopsis: When things don't go our way, the Disappointment Dragon can come to visit and take us down to his home in the valley of despair... The disappointment dragon visits Bobby when he is not picked for the school football team. He also finds Lucinda when she has to miss an exciting school trip because she has the chicken pox. He even tries to take the whole of Class 3 down to the Valley of Despair when their favourite teacher moves away. Will the Dragon of Hope be able to chase away the Disappointment Dragon and help them to see things more positively? Opinion: This book is divided into 5 stories to introduce and address different ways a child might experience disappointment. This is a difficult topic to address and I have found this is my least favourite of the Al-Ghani picture books. Even though the introduction and the strategy sections of the book warn the adult reading it not to jump in to "fix" the situation and shield children from life's disappointments, I found that the stories do emphasize "banishing" the dragon. When reading these stories (or maybe before), I think it is good to acknowledge that we can all be disappointed and this is a normal reaction when we can't get or do something we want. Maybe it is beyond our control (eg. the weather, or someone else moving) or maybe it is because there are rules that we need to follow (eg. mask wearing, lockdown restrictions). For children, disappointment can hit hard as they can feel that there is very little that they can control or have a voice about. Whilst I agree with the book there are ways to help children to feel more hopeful, there is also more to it that a child might need to work through including perspective, flexible thinking, letting ideas go whilst showing the child empathy.  Super Shamlal: Living and Learning with Pathological Demand Avoidance. Back Cover Synopsis: Shamlal the Camel finds it almost impossible to do all the normal, everyday things that the other camels do. Her first word was "NO" and this is still the word she repeats the most throughout every day. Luckily, Shamlal's parents take her to a psychologist who explains that she has PDA, and gives her tips for how to live and learn with it. Opinion: I think this is a wonderful book for adults. The story clearly describes what is like for the camel who experiences panic when asked to do ordinary activities. It provides ways to help someone who is experiencing this to work through SODA (Switch on the thinking brain, oxygen, distraction and approval) and many more fantastic strategies including ask without asking, using humour, work as a double act, variety is the spice of life, handwriting help, using praise, supporting sensory needs, a typical day and more! In the story itself, the camel goes to a psychologist who gives Shamlal the label "Pathologcal Demand Avoidance". I think for the children I work with, having this label or knowing this is what others are thinking of them... is not necesarily helpful to them. It may be helpful for their parents, however many of the children I see are not diagnosed. For my own use, I leave out the diagnosis and also shorten some of the story telling. It is beautiful story telling, however it makes the book very long to read. This may be a good book for parents or teachers to read across several days in a row.  Are you Feeling Cold, Yuki? Interoception and Internal Body Awareness for Children with ASD, PDA, SPD, ADHD and DCD. Back Cover Synopsis: Yuki the snow monkey lives in Japan with his family and friends. He sometimes find it hard to realise when his body is giving him signals, like when he is hungry or cold. Grandfather helps Yuki to understand what his "funny feelings" mean, and what his brain is trying to tell him. This illustrated book will help children to build interoceptive awareness and gain an understanding of the body's activities. It also includes further information for parents and carers, as well as downloaded activities and strategies for building interceptive abilities. Opinion: I love this book! This is probably one of my favourite books in this collection as it keeps the message simple and clear. Grandfather monkey is kind and takes young Yuki through an interoceptive program. He draws the body outline in snow and explains about skin, the brain and body parts. Grandfather then guides Yuki through a series of actvities to bring awareness to sensations in different body parts and feelings (like hunger, the need to toilet and anger). A complete bonus but a brilliant one is access to the downloadable workbook. There are over 40 pages of information and guided interoception activities. Even if you have no other training, this workbook is easy to follow and user-friendly. There is one more book in the series by Al-Ghani called "The Green Eye Goblin" which I have read but don't own. There is also a series of social stories that she has written on Friendship. I have found these stories useful to use with children to talk about different issues which may affect friendships including learning to share, spitting, winning/losing, when to tell on others, obsessions, personal hygiene, personal space, using tact, being taken advantage of and jealousy. Overall, I highly recommend these books as fantastic resources for social emotional learning. They will teach both the adult reader and the child, providing information about the issue and pratical strategies to help address them. Have you read these books? Do you use them? I would love to hear your comments about these books or others you might use for social emotional learning.   Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia. She has two growing 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. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete). 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
Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team. They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK. 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. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. Amazon Store: https://www.amazon.com/shop/yourkidsot YKOT shop: https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html Teachers Pay Teachers: https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Store/Your-Kids-Ot You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yourkidsot Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yourkidsot/ Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com.au/yourkidsot/ |
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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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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