For children, play is serious work and as therapists, we see it as an important part of their development! In this video, Jenna and Lola talk about the open-ended toys, toy rotations, teaching by example, playing outdoors, imaginative play, limiting screen time and why it's important to let your kids be bored.

Tops Tips on how to get your kids to play more

You see your child acting out a questionable behavior and you think to yourself, is this typical or is this a learning opportunity? If this ever happens to you, you are not alone. The line between acceptable and unacceptable behaviors is a very blurry one so we asked occupational therapists Jenna and Meagan to talk a bit about this topic. Your kiddo tired, irritated, imitation and copying of peers, trying to be more independent, having big feelings of the unknown or even attempting to take someone else's perspective? Come find out what is expected at this age and what isn't!

TOPS Tips video on expected behavior

Supporting early language development isn’t about getting your child to “say the right word”—it’s about creating meaningful opportunities to communicate! Try to avoid asking too many questions, prompting your child to repeat words, or forcing them to interact with toys. Instead, follow your child’s lead, model simple words and sounds during play, and move or change things in their environment to create natural opportunities for communication. When we slow down, join in their play, and respond to what they’re already interested in, we give children more opportunities to connect, communicate, and learn!

Tops video on language do’s and don’ts

Do you ever feel like your young child falls down too much? Are you unsure how much is too much and how much falling is just natural. In this video, physical therapists Sam and Lindsey talk about what types of falling are part of growing up and which parts of falling may need to be watched closely. Enjoy!

TOPS Tips video on how often your child should be following

The most common gait deviations we see in children are in-toeing, out-toeing, and toe walking. Toe walking can be normal in new walkers, but it should be occurring < 50% of the time by 18 months after independent walking. Often times, toe-walkers compensate with out-toeing, or “duck walking”, which can lead to hip and knee pain in the future. Toe walkers can also have a difficult time squatting, jumping, and navigating stairs. In-toeing can be caused by w-sitting or core and hip weakness. In-toeing can be problematic because it leads to frequent tripping and can also cause hip and knee pain in the future. To treat gait deviations, we often use different strengthening activities for the hip and core, balance activities, and stretch muscles that are tight. It’s important to treat gait deviations early on for the best outcomes!

TOPS Tips video on exercises for toe walkers

September is #NationalChildhoodObesityAwarenessMonth and this quick article from the Kids Care Home Health has great information and ideas for helping keep our kiddo's healthy! Please give it a read, this really can apply to all of us whether we are children or adults!

Link to the Article - https://kidscarehomehealth.com/healthy-eating-for-children/

If you are looking for any resources in regards to obtaining healthy foods or just better health in general, please check out WIC!

Link to WIC Resources - https://wicworks.fna.usda.gov/topic/health-observances/national-childhood-obesity-awareness-month?fbclid=IwY2xjawUXfgtwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMVhrSXdLWmNDVzM1Y1pRenlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeHucEmdrJGgUfwREPUwTXxzITJyybQVhnGDGBsWkRApvscHUuE0sVyRRC_h8_aem_l7G_DPELtPtPAktZet5gJw

In this video, the Therapy OPS Speech Department has some fun practicing words while doing activities outside. Changing locations and activities can be a great way to switch things up while still working towards your kiddo's speech goals!

TOPS Tips video on fun outdoor speech activities

Little feet learning big skills!

For kids who toe walk, fun movement activities can help encourage stronger, more confident walking patterns while building important skills along the way.

Try activities like:
-Side stepping across a beam or curb
-Heel walking with a stuffed animal or bean bag on their feet
-Kicking a cone while standing on a pillow
-Exploring different walking surfaces
-Bear walks & inchworm walks

These playful activities help kids work on balance, strength, body awareness, coordination, and flexibility all while having fun!

Every child develops at their own pace, and movement through play is a great way to support growing bodies!

TOPS Tips to assist kids with toe walking

Strong bodies start with a strong foundation!

Core strength plays an important role in so many everyday movements from sitting with good posture to running, jumping, climbing, and other higher-level gross motor skills.

Before kids can master bigger movements, they need a strong base to support their bodies and help them move with control and confidence.

Try these fun core-strengthening activities:
-Egg pose, egg rolls & sit-ups
-Crab walks, bear walks & inchworm walks
-Superman holds
-Balloon kicks
-Leg lifts with a favorite stuffed animal

These playful activities help build strength, coordination, balance, and body awareness all while making movement fun!

TOPS Tips video on promoting core strength in kids

Ready, set… JUMP!

Jumping is a big milestone that takes strength, balance, coordination, and body control. Like many gross motor skills, kids benefit from building the foundation first before moving on to more challenging jumping activities.

A fun jumping progression might look like:

Building lower body strength with sit-to-stands & calf raises
Jumping in place to reach for fun objects
Jumping in place in open ground
Jumping forward with control
Jumping down from different surfaces
Jumping over obstacles

Each step helps kids develop the strength, confidence, and motor planning skills needed for bigger movements like running, playground play, and sports.

Progress happens one jump at a time!

TOPS Tips video on how to improve jumping in kids

Don’t let those hard-earned OT skills slide just because school is out!

You don’t need expensive toys or complicated setups to build hand strength, bilateral coordination, and finger isolation this summer. In fact, your backyard and kitchen are packed with everything you need.

Try these other super simple, low/no-prep ideas today!

Peeling painter's tape off the driveway or sidewalk

Squirting liquid soap into a water bucket and making bubbles with a whisk

Picking up wet river stones with kitchen tongs

Popping bubble wrap left over from summer delivery boxes

Threading pool noodles onto a long piece of rope or a clothesline

Which one are you going to try first?

TOPS Tips OT Summer Fine Motor Activities

In this video, Speech Therapist Rachel and her lovely assistant demonstrate how fill-in-the-blank books such as "Do Cows Meow?" help with language development. If your child is just starting out, books that require animal sounds are great because kiddo's generally learn animal sounds before they learn words. It's important that as you read the books that whether your child makes the correct sound or not, you repeat the sound so that they can hear it. Repetition is key to aiding in language. You can also use simple word books as well. Simply read the sentence but don't say the last word and let your child say it instead.

TOPS Tips Language Development Using Books

In this TOPS Tips video, physical therapist Lindsey talks about the importance of crawling. Crawling is an important pre-cursor to walking because it builds body strength, arch strength, helps visual development and coordination of both sides of the body. Generally speaking, infants should be crawling around the 9-10 month mark. Please check it out for more information about crawling and find out if you will be able to determine if your child will be a world-class athlete by when they start crawling (spoiler - you can't).

TOPS Tips video on the importance of crawling

Finding yourself stuck inside with the kids due to the weather, screens winning the battle for your kid’s attention or even because of a scary squirrel that has camped out near your door (why is he staring at the house)? Well, Occupational Therapist Mallory and Christine have you covered. This video is almost 5 minutes but it gives some really good ideas for getting kids moving indoors, getting them the sensory input they need and keeping the caregiver sane. How to make a crash pad, why chewy foods are best and what in the world is a hotdog roll activity? Check out the video and find out about these and so many more ideas for you!

TOPS Tips on Sensory Activities for your children

In past #TherapyTipTuesday posts, we've provided ways to work on handwriting. Today's tip is also about how to work on handwriting and it's never been so....sweet! Sorry, I'll show myself out. Instead of using pencils, pens or markers, try using icing. Why, because there’s really no sweeter way to practice letter formation. Bake that cake and practice writing a note to grandparents or a friend. Don't have a freshly baked cake handy? Try writing on a piece of parchment paper and when you are done, erase the writing with your tongue and then start over again! You will have those r's and y's perfected in no time.

Did you know March is National Sleep Month? A good night of sleep sets the tone for the day to follow. That is why it is so important to get a good night of sleep! The benefits of good sleep are endless and can make a major impact on our kiddo's (and our own!) daily functioning. Here are a few tips our friendly OT team would like you to know:

-Provide your child with lots of opportunities to move and be active during the day. When our kids get time to run around and play outside, it helps them to sleep better at night.

-Keep bedtime and naptime routines the same. Don’t have a bedtime routine? Work on creating one. Routines are important to help cue your child’s body to wind down and get ready for rest. This might include same bedtime/wake time every day, creating a visual schedule can help, including calming activities!

-Limit alerting activities, such as screen time and rough and tumble play, 2 hours before bedtime. Studies have found that blue light from screens interfere with the natural production of melatonin, which helps our body get sleepy and ready for rest.

-Create an environment that promotes healthy sleep hygiene, including using a fan or sound machine for white noise, dimming lighting, and reducing clutter.

#NationalSleepMonth #occupationaltherapy #putthescreensdown

In this post, physical therapist Sam talks about balance development in children including the two main variables of balance - base of support and heights off of the ground. Sam gives great visuals on both variables and some tips for working on balance development. Enjoy and learn!

TOPS Tips video on Balance Development in Children

Teaching social communication to kids can be complicated. There are a number of components that need to be addressed. Thankfully, speech therapists Eva and Rachel are here to help. In this video they cover the topic of perspective-taking. Come for the information, stay for the amazing faces that Rachel brings to the table!

TOPS Tips Video on Perspective-Taking

Did you know that infants can develop flats spots on the back and sides of their heads if they don’t do enough tummy time each day? Yes, it true and it’s recommended that infants work up to 80 minutes of tummy time each day. To find out more on how to prevent flats spots on the head of an infant, what to do if your infant has developed flat spots and how flat spots can affect the eyes and ears, please check out this 3-minute video by physical therapists Ann and Hailey.

TOPS Tips Video on Tummy Time and Flat Spots on the Head