In our ever-changing world, technology has taken center stage. It is not unusual to see a kiddo using an iPad like a professional. There are so many useful resources for our avid iPad users. The occupational therapists at Chicago Occupational Therapy have compiled a list of apps that they have found to be most useful. These apps can aid in …

Handwriting is an important skill that children need to perform well academically and also in everyday life. Handwriting can be a difficult task for many children as it involves various components such as fine/visual motor skills, hand strength, grasping skills, visual spatial skills, and attention. There are many ways to help increase all of these skills to improve a child’s …

In pediatric occupational therapy, we often encounter children who experience sensory issues. Children can present with difficulty in any of the seven sensory areas. See the Chicago Occupational Therapy blog post “What is Sensory Processing?” for more information about the different sensory areas and processing skills. Tactile defensiveness is one type of sensory response that can be directly treated in …

It can be challenging for children with difficulties in sensory processing to tolerate routine grooming tasks, such as haircuts. Not because they are afraid of coming out of the appointment with bad bangs or an uneven trim, but because of the sensory response it evokes. See the Chicago Occupational Therapy blog post “What is Sensory Processing?” for more information about …

Sleep is a critical and important activity for a child. If a child isn’t getting enough sleep, they will likely be inattentive, disorganized, and dysregulated. For children with sensory processing difficulties, sleeping can be a struggle for both the child and their parents. Children with Sensory Processing Disorder have difficulty processing, organizing, and responding to sensory input resulting in atypical …

What is Sensory Modulation? Sensory modulation refers to a person’s ability to create an appropriately graded response to incoming sensory stimuli (Parham & Mailloux, 2015).  For example, raising the volume of your voice in a noisy environment so people can better hear you, shading your eyes from the bright sun, or walking slowly into a lake, rather than jumping in, …

If you are new to the field of pediatric occupational therapy, “joint compressions” may be a new term, but this therapeutic strategy can be extremely helpful when used safely and appropriately. Joint compressions provide proprioceptive input that helps children know where their body is in their environment. What are joint compressions? Deep pressure applied by the hands to various joints …

The newest book in our series of illustrated guides for parents is out! What is Sensory Processing Disorder? An Illustrated Guide, helps both parents and children understand what sensory processing disorder is, how occupational therapy can help, and what to expect from therapy. This fun, child-friendly guide includes a breakdown of sensory processing disorder and the differences between sensory-avoiding and sensory-seeking. …

As kids, we were always taught “Don’t play with your food!”. But in reality, parents should encourage their young ones to play with their food starting at an early age. There are several benefits when playing with food, especially for our kids who are picky eaters or anxious to try new foods. Below are just a few of those benefits: …

Self-care skills are incredibly important for young children to learn, but for children with sensory difficulties, some self-care skills can be difficult to master. If a child has sensory issues, their brain may have trouble processing or organizing information from the senses (sights, sounds, smells, textures, or flavors). As a result of sensory issues, activities such as brushing teeth can …