Another play invitation set-up from a recent weekend… Okay, so this is a little “extra” as far as I usually go with setting up play for my kids, but I was intrigued by the idea. You add a drop of food coloring to milk, toast some white bread, set out some paintbrushes, and let the … Read more
I see children on my school OT caseload who are three, and four, and five, and six. They are behaving in all sorts of inconvenient ways for traditional schooling. They touch things when they pass by them in the hallways. They stand up from chairs and move around the room, or they fall out of … Read more
Kids need room to play, unimpeded and unhelped, on materials that are at their level and above their level and below their level of ability to climb and interact with. They interact with things at their level and below their level to explore mastery. Their body learns what it has already learned, and reinforces and … Read more
I was talking with another OT recently about our experiences when we were newly graduated and working at our first jobs. She shared a story with me about the first school she worked at. She found the former OT’s list of “Rules for OT” in the therapy room…which basically amounted to a personalized list of … Read more
This is what goes through my head when I decide if I need to say “no” to something. (…on a good day, on a regulated day, when I’m parenting consciously…not just responding out of habit) The first three items are usually easy to tell at a glance. I don’t usually spend a lot of time … Read more
This is a very short prompt/invitation to play today! Short and easy – that’s the best type of prompt, right? Find something in your house that you have a bunch of. It could be anything. Invite your child to help sort it with you. This type of activity is going to be best and most … Read more
Inspired by Busy Toddler’s “Playing Preschool” — but a way more informal version of it — I sat down with the book “Ten Apples Up On Top” from the library and began reading. I didn’t call anyone over to the rug or make them pay attention to what I was doing. I read it all the … Read more
I wanted to give an example of how the same activity/craft/invitation to play can mean different things to different children (who are at different stages of development and therefore are exploring different things through their play!) I set out foam stickers, markers, and construction paper with my children, who were at the time ages 3.5 … Read more