5 Activities to Improve Postural Control
By: Nicole Nardiello, MS, OTR/L
Picture this: You and your child are lying on your stomachs on your living room floor, arms and legs extended, zooming through the sky during a pretend […]
Understanding The Vestibular System
By: Erica Bruno, MS, OTR/L
What is the vestibular system?
The vestibular system, one of our “hidden” senses, is made up of several structures located within the inner ear. It provides our brain […]
Five Activities to Encourage Bilateral Coordination
By: Stephanie Montana, MS, OTR/L
Bilateral coordination, also known as bilateral integration, is the ability to use both sides of the body at the same time in a fluid and coordinated manner […]
Understanding Visual Motor Skills
By: Erica Bruno, MS, OTR/L
What are visual motor skills and why are they important?
Visual motor integration refers to the ability to interpret visual information and respond with a motor action. That […]
Games and Activities to Improve Fine Motor Skills at Home
By: Jenna Sarinelli, OTR/L
Fine motor skills are an integral part of a child’s ability to explore and navigate their environment, and to complete their daily occupations. Activities such as writing with […]
5 Ways Your Child Can Benefit From a Sensory Bin
By Antonina Vreeland MOT, OTR/L
Self-regulation
Tactile input is used widely across the occupational therapy profession to promote a child’s ability to self-regulate. Tactile input produces dopamine in a child’s brain, allowing them […]
What you really need to know about pencil grasp
By: Jenna Sarinelli, MS, OTR/L
One of the most common concerns regarding handwriting, from both parents and teachers, is pencil grasp. What can make pencil grasp such a tricky topic is that […]
Brushing: Who is a Candidate, What is Brushing, and Why is it Important?
By: Stephanie Montana, MS, OTR/L
If an occupational therapist has performed “brushing” during your child’s therapy session or recommended it to be part of their home program or “sensory diet,” it is […]
The Power of Co-Regulation
By: Nicole Gervasi, MS, OTR/L
Regulation is the ability to adjust in response to external changes. It involves making adaptive responses following changes in the surrounding environment or in the demands of […]
Deep Pressure Sensory Input: Understanding the Benefits and Neurochemistry
By: Erica Bruno, MS OTR/L
Deep pressure/touch sensory input refers to firm tactile (touch) input that provides proprioceptive (muscle/joint awareness) information to the whole body. This input can be achieved through actions […]