Sensory stories can be a great way to support children with special educational needs. We all learn from our senses everyday. A child with sensory impairments or physical disabilities may face practical barriers to this learning: they can’t see the picture; they can’t reach the toy. Children who experience sensory processing difficulties as part of [...]
In today’s day and age, almost everyone has some knowledge of autism – from news articles, TV shows or film, or from a personal relationship with someone with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The probability of knowing someone living with ASD is on the rise at an alarming rate. According to the United States Centers for [...]
Years of research has demonstrated prompts to be an effective teaching tool for people on the Autism Spectrum. Prompts are therefore an important and integral part of most ABA programs. However, their benefit doesn’t end there. Prompts can be equally useful for helping people both with and without special needs. Have you ever pointed your [...]
Most people don’t think about the process of remembering until they experience memory loss. But what if the ability to hold and retrieve memories was never there? How do you live life like that? How do you learn? Deficits in short-term memory, long-term memory and memory retrieval are common with neurological conditions such as traumatic [...]
In occupational therapy, there are many ways to use motivating technology to address specific fine motor, sensory processing and sensory-motor skills. Here is a parent’s guide to apps and game systems that will keep children entertained while also assisting in their development. iPads & Tablets Games such as Temple Runand Fruit Ninja help with visual [...]
When it comes to play, most parents’ first reaction is to keep it as tidy as possible. With children in the house, we have no choice but to surrender to a certain amount of mess, but the last thing we want to do is clean “gak” out of our carpets. However, allowing a child to [...]
This is Part Two of a series of posts that will concentrate on the inherent benefits of play for children with special needs. In this post we focus on how toys and the experience of play help with physical development and the growth of fine motor skills. Part One of the series was related to [...]
As the holiday season approaches the rush to find the perfect toys for children with special needs can sometimes be a nerve-racking mission. How do you pick the right toy for your little girl or boy? Here are some guidelines to keep in mind. 1. Consider Unusual Interests Many children with special needs many not [...]
Gross Motor Skills are one of most essential parts of a child’s development. The coordination of our body’s major muscle groups requires an intricate neurological dance involving sensory discrimination, motor planning, balance, strength and endurance. For children who have delays in this area it is important that they see a physical or occupational therapist to [...]
There’s a fine line between a naturally active child and a child who is affected by hyperactivity disorder. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) tends to become noticeable early on in childhood, at around 2 or three years old, but because most kids are naturally prone to daydreaming, fidgety behavior and a short attention span, ADHD [...]
