Recently I went on a short trip to celebrate the fifth birthday of a family member. Before traveling, I was searching for a toy that he may like that wouldn't be a risk to his younger brother. It also needed to have at least a spark of magic given the family's love of all things Disney. I remembered that I...
When I was a child, outdoor play was the norm. I spent hours with the kids on my block building forts in the snow, riding bikes to team practices, and choreographing dance routines until dark. Now, children struggle to find friends to play with outside choosing to play indoors with their electronic devices. Parents have to make an effort to...
Due to the popularity of the book The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman, it is easier to remember the ways people prefer to receive and give love. These include physical touch, quality time, acts of service, receiving gifts, and words of affirmation. There is even a book that explains this concept related specifically to children that I talk about...
Before deciding to become an occupational therapist, I initially started applying to colleges with the intent to become a physical therapist. That's a story for another day, but I ended up spending the first couple years of school taking the same courses as PT majors. Once I graduated and started working in the real world, I was amazed how much...
With the overwhelming collection of toys available to children, sometimes it’s the simplicity of wood blocks that we often ignore. With all the games and electronic toys calling your name in stores, parents sometimes forget to appreciate these traditional toys. Blocks are often overlooked and shouldn’t be. Most parents don’t realize that square building blocks are used by therapists to...