Goal Writing, SMART goals, COAST goals, RHUMBA goals, ABCD(E) goals, Intervention Approaches, Sensory Integration, NDT, Compensatory Model, Adaptation, New OT, New OT Grad, New OT Practitioner, Rehab, Rehabilitation, Acute Rehabilitation, Acute Rehab, Inpatient Rehab, Adult Rehab, Acute Therapist, Acute, ICU, Occupational Therapy, Occupational Therapist, Physical Therapy, Physical Therapist, Speech Therapy, Speech Therapist, Fieldwork I, Fieldwork II, Clinicals, Clinical Rotations, OT School, Graduate School, Neuro, Medical Student, Study Guide, ICU Nurse, Spanish for Medicine, Spanish Translation, Printable, Fieldwork II, Fieldwork 2, Fieldwork These goal writing tips will walk you through: ✔︎ Appropriate vocabulary to use when goal writing, and what to avoid ✔︎ How to create goals in various settings, within the 3 most common different intervention approaches for pediatrics ✔︎ Examples of goals within each intervention approach ✔︎ Simplifies the goal writing process for OT students and new OT practitioners ✔︎ Role delineation for goal writing ✔︎ Goal writing formats using 4 acronyms (SMART, COAST, RHUMBA, and ABCDE) ✔︎ Goal bank for 9 various types of common pediatric OT goals

Grasp Patterns The use of a spoon for eating is one of the first tool-using skills that many infants acquire. Why does it matter how kids hold their spoon or even more relevant, their pencil? If you were to look in any classroom you will see a wide variety of ways that children hold their pencils, write, etc. There are what OT specialists call an "ideal functional pattern" for grasping pencils/ojbects but there are also many grasp patterns that are NOT functional and that can get in the way of a student's writing ability. In the newsletter Grasp Patterns the use of our hands for different tasks is described in depth and cool therapeutic ways to promote functional groups. We use the two sides of our hands for different tasks. Muscles of the thumb side are primarily controlled by the median nerve and are used for skilled manipulation. The little finger side is primarily controlled by the ulnar nerve, and is uded for strength. How you pick up things isn't really something we think about because it is pretty much an involuntary motion. We are always told that there are proper ways to type, correct posture, correct way to brush your teeth, etc but do you remember when you were taught how to write? How many times did your parents take the spoon or pencil out of your hand and make you hold it the correct way? Now take a second and think about how you would pick up and use an ice pick versus how you would pick up and use a needle and thread. If you are anything like me you would pick up an ice pick by using your thumb, index and middle fingers for primary control and use my ring finger and little finger to control and stabilize the needle and thread. Some of the cool interesting ways to promote functional grasps are listed below: Pop bubble wrap with thumb and index finger Draw in the sand with a stick Use eye droppers to drip water mixed with food coloring or paint Use chalk to draw big on sidewalk Lite Brite, Connect Four, Etch a Sketch, Perfection Legos, K'NEX Sticker books Here are the two different groups of grasps. Personally, I hold my pencil like the quadrupod and it luckily is a functional group. What kind of grasp do you have and do you think it effects your writing ability?

Exercise balls are a great tool that are used by occupational therapists and can be a great item to have at home to work on a variety of skills such as core ...

This Blog and Infographic will review tonic reflexes, their significance if the reflex persists beyond the typical age range, and the possible impact on a child’s functioning and role performance. Last but not least, this blog will suggest therapeutic interventions that are known to help inhibit the activation of tonic reflexes and advance postural control as a foundation for optimal functioning.

This Blog and Infographic will review tonic reflexes, their significance if the reflex persists beyond the typical age range, and the possible impact on a child’s functioning and role performance. Last but not least, this blog will suggest therapeutic interventions that are known to help inhibit the activation of tonic reflexes and advance postural control as a foundation for optimal functioning.

Thanks to Loren Shlaes of the PediatricOT blog for the heads up on this article Editor’s Note: I think most for most therapists and pediatric clinicians, this article won’t be “news” but it is surely worth sharing with parents. [Source: The Atlantic.com] There doesn’t seem to be one particular kind of diet that works best […]

Proprioception relates to how aware we are of what is happening outside the body (body awareness). Learn how to support your child's proprioception needs.

The following school readiness checklist was compiled to provide an overview of your child’s visual motor skills, fine motor and pre-writing skills, gross motor skills, cognitive and problem solving skills, social, language and emotional skills, and self-care (independence) skills. There is a wide range of expectations for children beginning formal schooling and this may change from one local area to another. The starting age for school may also vary depending on your state or country of residence. Terms of use: This checklist should be used as a guide only. This school readiness checklist is not a standardised test and can not be used to gauge age-norms. This checklist may be used by parents, educators and health professionals for their own use with a child or children in their care. This checklist should not be distributed. Further free copies may be obtained from Your Kids OT. If you have concerns with your child's development, please contact your local health professional for an assessment of your child's individual needs. Updated version 2_2023.

These visual tracking tips and tools will help kids with skills like reading, writing, and other learning tasks. Visual tracking is a visual mobility skill.

A common question I am asked once I tell people what I am studying is, "what is occupational therapy?", I enjoy when people ask me...

OTs use these spatial awareness toys and spatial awareness games to support the spatial sense and body awareness in functional tasks.

Looking for ways to use functional cognition in your OT practice? Neuro OT Renee Leuschke shares strategies and ideas to start using today.

Heavy work activities are powerful tools for self-regulation, attention, focus, body awareness, and calming sensory input.

Teaching kids how to hold a spoon and fork? There are developmental skills that need to be achieved before scooping with a spoon is possible.

Praxis and Motor Planning: Resources for Pediatric Therapists to address Imitation of Postures, Postural Praxis, Body Scheme Awareness, and Spatial Awareness.