A Pediatric Perspective : fine motor skills

Is Kindergarten the New 1st Grade?

Cecilia Cruse — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 18:33:00 GMT

Last week I presented at another conference for early childhood educators. Entitled 10 Terrific Tips for DAP Fine Motor Skills the workshop covered important sensory and motor components needed for developing good hand skills. (See my blog from last spring...(read more)

Smart Pens for Note Taking Challenges

Cecilia Cruse — Wed, 30 Jan 2013 02:44:00 GMT

So we have smart phones and tablets, and now lately I have seen a growing interest in the use of smart pens. These pens such as the Sky TM wifi pen from LiveScribe, actually record audio as the user is taking notes on the page. The user can then go back...(read more)

Speed and Legibility with Pencil Grip

Cecilia Cruse — Sun, 04 Nov 2012 16:04:00 GMT

I have been catching up lately on all my research and journal readings (in case you missed it, see my recent blog on idiopathic toe walking ). Browsing the current edition of AJOT, a study on handwriting grips caught my attention. Entitled " Effect of...(read more)

In the Spirit of the Games

Cecilia Cruse — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:14:00 GMT

For the next few weeks many of us will be glued to our televisions (and laptops and tablets!) to view the Summer Olympic Games held in London. In the spirit of the games this innovative idea was too cute to pass up. Check out this SPORTOS clip and I think...(read more)

“Scent-sational” Ideas:

Cecilia Cruse — Sun, 20 May 2012 21:47:00 GMT

As an OT with a background in SI, I think our sense of smell is often overlooked. Here are some easy suggestions to use olfactory input as a fun way to supplement treatment activities: Add dry JELL-O®mix to watercolor or tempera paints. Or mix up the...(read more)

What Do You Have in Your Therapy Bag?

Cecilia Cruse — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 15:35:00 GMT

I travel a good bit with my job these days so am a frequent flyer with the airlines. Typically the in-flight magazines have a feature where they interview some movie star, CEO or savvy world traveler to ask them what they always carry in a flight bag....(read more)

Check Out this Quick Video for Building Hand Strength!

Cecilia Cruse — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 21:31:00 GMT

Just thought I would share this helpful clip I found awhile back. I present regularly at conferences and in-services for teachers and as an OT, am always asked how to help students with skills like cutting and handwriting. We all know that good fine motor...(read more)

Overcoming Sensory Defensive Behaviors (hand play)

Wendy Hof — Mon, 30 May 2011 19:50:00 GMT

We've probably all seen a child with sensory defensive behaviors relating to their hand play skills. They're the ones who shrink away when it's time to finger paint. They will go to any other place in the classroom or playgroup other than the sensory...(read more)