A few weeks ago I got a note from an OT friend who was headed to Ghana with the group Children Inspiring Hope. This non -profit promotes concepts of a global community and works to connect children cross culturally through art and education service programs.  You can read about their work on this trip from their recent ...

Over the next few months I am going to begin researching and exploring a variety of disorders and disabilities we commonly see within the Early Intervention population. Almost like a refresher course for those therapists who graduated before the year 2000, myself included! Today's focus will be on Cerebral Palsy, what it is and the facts ...

Today's post offers two very simple and inexpensive Easter activities that can be done at home or in a classroom with children under the age of 5. Both are simple, fun and have plenty of opportunities to explore lots of language! ''Hopping Opposites!'' This game is easy to make and fun to play! Using either flat foam Easter eggs you can buy at ...

Today's post offers a fun recipe and a classroom activity ideal for teaching young children about St. Patrick's Day! Enjoy and have fun in your therapy sessions over the next week! Lucky Leprechaun's Pot o' Gold Mix (peanut free!) You will need: Lucky charms cereal Dried banana chips Mini M&Ms Raisins Dried Cranberries Popcorn (if ...

Over the last 8 weeks I ran a series of blog posts highlighting what ''Normal or Typical Speech and Language Development Looks Like in Children Ages 0 to 5'', breaking down developmental stages and milestones by months and years. The goal of the series was twofold: First, I wanted to help educate parents who may not be familiar with childhood ...

This week's post is the final in my 8-week series highlighting typical speech and language development for young children ages birth to 5. Today's post specifically addresses what ''normal'' speech and language development looks like for a five year old child. The Babycenter website states the following information about children this age: ''At ...

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 on the AHA! Moment).  The room was packed and ...

Kids love eating foods that are holiday friendly and Valentine's Day is the perfect time of year to bring this concept to life! There are so many ideas for heart shaped foods out there! Just take a glance at Facebook and Pinterest and you will see endless ideas for making heart-shaped foods. Kids LOVE this idea and what a great way to engage an ...

This is week 6 of my 8 week series highlighting what typical speech and language development looks like in young children. This week's post will focus on the growth that happens between ages 3 and 4. During this year, young children really leave the baby and toddler time behind. Many are entering preschool and are ready to become a ''big kid''. ...

This past week I was catching up with a dear friend and colleague who works the NICU in a busy urban acute care hospital.  Her role as an OT has shifted as she responds to a growing trend in the US: that the number of newborns showing symptoms of withdrawal from opioids including prescription pain killers like Vicodin and Oxycontin have ...