A Fidget-Free Classroom? My 10 tips offer ideas on how to help students who fidget achieve their best focus, state of calm, and active listening. Do we really want fidget-free kids? Fidgets such as rocking back and forth, tapping fingers, and shaking legs are cues...

I love connecting with people, ALL people. It is that connection that fills my happy tank. It is what has made a dream career of my over 25 years as a practicing speech-language pathologist. The connections that I have made along the way have made my life so full and...

Potty Training 101 Toilet Training or Potty Training is such a huge step for both children and parents! This can also be a very confusing time for parents. Trying to determine exactly when your child is ready for this big step can be tricky. It is often easy to just...

Biting? Oh my! Toddlers bite for many different reasons. Toddlers who bite are not bad children. Developmentally, toddlers are at a common age for biting. Some of the reasons toddlers may bite include: Communication Oral sensory seeking Anxiety/nervousness/feeling...

OT Kelly Yates pens a heartfelt thank you letter to Moms on Mother’s Day Dear Moms, Over the past couple months our role as MOM has changed in ways we never conceived possible. Our ‘Mom resumé’ has unexpectedly grown in a short period of time to include titles such...

There is a learning curve in supporting your child's TeleTherapy sessions at home.   Challenges of one sort or another are inevitable. As a guide, here are our top ten tips for parents new to TeleTherapy. 1. Put TeleTherapy on your child's schedule Kids, like adults,...

5 Benefits of TeleTherapy By Cindy Watson, M.Ed, CCC-SLPWhile most of my professional career I have provided clinic-based and home-based care, the growing need for alternative care options has led me to explore the benefits of TeleTherapy. I’ll start by mentioning...

Concerned about your child's sleep? You're not alone! My interest in sleep research began when my own son was two. He had been a pretty good sleeper as an infant, but the transition from crib to toddler bed, transitioning away from a pacifier, AND a time change away...

The right toy can make learning through play easy. The challenge is the seemingly endless options that can make gift giving overwhelming! Yes, you could buy your children cheap toys that will fall apart by New Year’s Day. OR, you can check out our list of clinic...

Reaching developmental milestones is an exciting part of childhood. Every child develops in his or her own unique and beautiful way. It is perfectly normal for children to hit CDC's developmental milestones at a slightly faster or slightly slower pace than their same...

'Disability' can make us Unique, Inspiring, Creative, and Strong.This Presidents’ Day, I thought it would be nice to reflect not just on a few U.S. presidents who have encountered mental or physical disabilities while achieving greatness, but to also feature...

It makes me very excited and proud that so many families and community organizations are learning more about Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). I have been approached by many families, educators, faith-based groups, and community centers asking how they can set up...

  Which toys are fun for kids... and help them learn and grow? Whether shopping for the holiday season or a birthday gift, why not find a toy that may help a child reach developmental milestones and address sensory needs? As a pediatric occupational therapist, I...

  An overextended child can miss out on one of the most crucial components of a healthy childhood... time for play. The kids are back in school, and the new academic year is in full swing. If your family is anything like mine, this time of year also brings on a...

It’s another new school year! How is your child adjusting to her new classroom? Whether your child has a diagnosed learning difference or not, ALL children have special educational needs at one time or another. And, as a parent, it is really tricky to determine when...

I started a little journey about ten years ago when I signed up to treat two twin girls in their home after only seeing a chart with a list of needs and diagnoses. In my head, I was thinking that I would probably get treatment started until someone else had a more...

Parents often want me to work with their child on shoe tying, typically before the start of a new school year. It seems as if this is one of those milestones that parents REALLY want their pre-schooler to achieve before kindergarten. This is great! I love it when...

The following can be used to make sure that babies and children are fed in a safe position, minimizing the risk of food or drink entering their airway. 1. Don’t lay baby flat on his or her back while bottle feeding.  When bottle-feeding, it is important for the baby...

We pediatric therapists have, in my opinion, the coolest jobs on the planet! I mean, who gets to go to work every day in an office where trampolines, swings, ball pits, doll houses, crayons, and glitter are all standard pieces of equipment? We play with...

https://youtu.be/aqCmZt3U-yI Baby Carter and his mom Kellie Garrett model tummy time in this fun how-to video hosted by Children's Therapy TEAM OT Melissa Foster. Make Tummy Time Great! by Melissa Foster, OTR/L Kellie is one of several therapist friends of mine who...

Dear Melissa, How important is it for me to bring my child to occupational therapy -  it seems like all he does is play. I have very mixed feelings when I hear this comment from parents. On one hand, the fact that it looks like “just play” means that the child and the...