Blog: Early Intervention
Staying true to our mission to provide valuable resources that children will find engaging, Tools To Grow is happy to offer Tactile Holiday Ornaments! Using a motivating Holiday theme, this FREE and effective resource targets a variety of performance challenges children may encounter. If...
Read MoreTools to Grow is pleased to present a guest blog by Courtney Luper, a resourceful mother that designed a product that we are sure will be of interest to Occupational Therapists. This mom invented the Stay Put Mat for use with her own children, but soon learned the mat had beneficial features for th...
Read MoreWhile parents generally think about a child’s acuity when considering how well their child can see, therapists and educators realize there is much more to eyesight than having 20/20 vision. Children require intact visual perception to understand, evaluate, and interpret what is seen. Even i...
Read MoreThis blog will focus on the motor challenges faced by children in the early childhood to school age years with minimal to moderate motor delays that continue to be influenced by what have been described as Primitive Motor Reflexes. A Reflex is a stereotyped response to a sensory stimulus. For ...
Read MoreAs of March 27, 2014, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new data on the prevalence of autism in the United States. This surveillance study identified 1 in 68 children (1 in 42 boys and 1 in 189 girls) as having autism spectrum disorder (ASD). As the number of children di...
Read MoreIn our own lives, it is safe to assume that we have all been touched by music in one way or another. That favorite song that always brings a smile and reminds you of a special person. The music you listen to when you need to relax…the music that helps you concentrate. Or perhaps you play a ...
Read MoreLooking for a fun active learning game? We are excited to share two games to get your kids moving! Kids will love counting the chips … but be careful, don't drop the cookies! We are pleased to be a part of The Inspired Treehouse's Brain Boosters Blog Series. This series explores movement-b...
Read MoreAll pediatric Occupational Therapists can envision a highly effective therapy session. The child is very happy to join you, and then becomes completely engaged in the activity. He or she is motivated to persevere with a challenging task and accepts your verbal cues and physical handling designed to...
Read MoreSummer is almost here and we have a fun Sandpaper Starfish Activity and Sandpaper Castle Craftivity that your students and children will LOVE!! Sandpaper is a great material that provides tactile input to help with tactile discrimination (learning smooth versus rough), tactile hyper-sensitivity (...
Read MoreTooth brushing prevents gum disease, tooth decay, and reduces the risk of dental problems, but it also provides oral stimulation and sensory input which are beneficial in the development of a child's oral skills. So, what do you do if your child has a poor tolerance for tooth brushing? I can relate...
Read MoreSo as to educate others with excellent strategies to help children with feeding difficulties, Tools to Grow is extremely honored to have Cara Koscinski, MOT, OTR/L as our second guest blogger. Cara Koscinski has a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy and has over 17 years of experience. She spec...
Read MoreHalloween can be very overwhelming for children with sensory processing challenges. With special planning for your child’s needs and preferences, Halloween can be enjoyable. This blog will provide tips and tools to use during the Halloween season. Remember to encourage your child to ...
Read MoreAs an Occupational Therapist with certification in Pediatric Neurodevelopmental Treatment and many years of experience in Early Intervention, I welcome this opportunity to blog about the positive outcomes and importance of tummy time for babies. I would like to highlight and analyze some aspec...
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