Blog - Page 3 of 5 - Integrated Learning Strategies

Directionality: Why Directionality and Writing Letters Backward is a Part of a Greater Problem

Directionality: Why Directionality and Writing Letters Backward is Part of a Greater Problem This article discusses directionality, spatial awareness, motor planning and visual perception used to improve writing skills. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. As a child begins to develop their handwriting and writing skills, most parents don’t realize all of the different…

9 Essential Life Skills to Teach Your Kids

9 Essential Life Skills to Teach Your Kids Guest Post: Andy Andersen Integrated Learning Strategies is excited to feature life skills with guest blogger Andy Andersen. While many of the recommendations below are great for children and parents, some accommodations or exceptions may be made for children with learning challenges and learning disabilities. Every…

Oral Sensitivities: Why My Child Chews on Pencils and Sucks on Clothing

Oral Sensitivities: Why My Child Chews on Pencils and Sucks on Clothing This post contains information regarding oral sensitivities and oral defensiveness. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. When my son was younger, Sensory Processing and Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) were almost unheard of so when he would come home with chewed up…

Learning Styles: Why “One Size Fits All” Doesn’t Work

Learning Styles: Why “One Size Fits All” Doesn’t Work I am sure many of you have read or heard about the “5 love languages.” I have done my own share of research on this topic and found it fascinating that each person has their own love language in both the way they show love and…

Antioxidants: How they Improve Information Processing, Attention and Retention

Antioxidants: Improves Attention, Information Processing and Retention Antioxidants. The word sounds healthy, right? It’s definitely one of those nutrients you’ve heard you’re supposed to include in your diet. However, the why might be a little less clear. They’re brought up when talking about reducing the risks of cancer and studies have begun to show…

Primitive Reflexes: Why a Retained Spinal Galant Reflex is Mistaken for ADHD

Primitive Reflexes: Why a Retained Spinal Galant Reflex is Mistaken for ADHD This article contains information regarding a retained Spinal Galant Reflex. When I first began tutoring children and helping kids with learning challenges 20 years ago, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) seemed to be the common diagnosis for almost every learning challenge. If your…

Children with poor physical literacy struggle as adults

Guest Blog Post AFL Team Children with poor physical literacy struggle as adults Children who never learn to read or write become adults who can’t read or write. Should we be surprised that children who never develop movement skills become inactive, uncoordinated adults? A recent CBC story and news video suggests that children’s movement…

Weighted Blankets: What is a Weighted Blanket and Why does Deep Pressure help my Child?

Weighted Blankets: What is a Weighted Blanket and Why does Deep Pressure help my Child? This post contains information regarding the benefits of weighted blankets and how it can help emotional regulation. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. Whenever I think of weighted blankets for our students who have sensory issues, a little humor…

Primitive Reflexes: The Culprit Behind Your Child’s Balance and Coordination Issues

Primitive Reflexes: The Culprit Behind Your Child’s Balance and Coordination Issues This article contains information regarding retained primitive reflexes and provides affiliate links for your convenience. Running, kicking a ball, riding a bike and sitting straight in a chair are things most kids do easily, but if a child struggles doing simple physical tasks,…

Sensory Processing: Why is Disciplining my Sensory Child so Hard?

Sensory Processing: Why is Disciplining my Sensory Child so Hard? This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. We love our kids with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). They give us interesting perspectives on life. And they’re our kids; how could we do anything but love them? But, let’s be honest, sometimes it’s downright hard.…

Brain-Building Valentines Activities: Midline Crossing, Fine Motor, Vestibular, Visual Planning

Brain-Building Valentines Activities: Midline Crossing, Fine Motor, Vestibular, Visual Planning This post contains fun Valentines activities to help with your child’s learning development. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. Holidays create some of the best opportunities for learning development and learning activities. Of course, Valentines Day is no exception. As you know, we…

Cross the Midline: Crossing the Midline Exercises Using Arms and Legs for Brain Integration

Cross the Midline: Crossing the Midline Exercises Using Arms and Legs for Brain Integration This article contains activities to help your child cross the midline for better learning. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. As you may already know, crossing the midline is very important to your child’s learning development. It’s a key…

What is Your Dream Sensory Room?

What is Your Dream Sensory Room? If you had all the money in the world, which sensory room would you choose? Integrated Learning Strategies is a Utah-based center dedicated to helping mainstream children and children with learning disabilities achieve academic success. Our services provide kids with non-traditional tutoring programs within the Davis County, Kaysville,…

Sensory Integration: Swinging Not Just for Recess

Sensory Integration: Swinging Not Just for Recess This post contains information about sensory integration and how swinging can help learning challenges in the classroom. Affiliate links are provided for your convenience. As you become familiar with sensory integration, you understand that all children need to develop each part of their senses from birth to…

Moro Reflex: The Answer Behind Your Child’s Hypersensitivity to Light and Sound

Moro Reflex: The Answer Behind Your Child’s Hypersensitivity to Light and Sound This article provides information regarding the Moro reflex, which could be why a child has sensitivity to light and sound. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. Have you ever noticed an infant startle himself awake? The baby flings his arms out…

Types of Learning Disorders: How to know the difference in learning delays

Types of Learning Disorders: How to know the difference in learning delays This post contains information regarding types of learning disorders and comparisons of learning challenges. Many parents and caregivers get confused with the different terminology that is used to describe various learning problems, issues and behaviors. There is a constant bombardment in the media…

Vestibular System: Bring Back Playground Equipment with a Little Danger

Vestibular System: Bring Back Playground Equipment with a Little Danger This post contains affiliate links for your convenience to help children with their vestibular systems with playground equipment at home. When I was in elementary school, we had an awesome playground. We called it the big toy. It was this massive wooden fortress. One side…

Electric Toothbrush: “My Mouth Won’t Work” – Awakening Sensory Receptors for Speech and Language

Electric Toothbrush: “My Mouth Won’t Work” – Awakening Sensory Receptors for Speech and Language This post discusses how the electric toothbrush and other methods can help with speech and language development. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. If you’ve ever stood up in front of a large audience or been in a situation…

Proprioception: Tools for Motor Planning, Proprioception and Hand-eye Coordination

Proprioception: Tools for Motor Planning, Proprioception and Hand-eye Coordination This post contains information about proprioception, motor planning and hand-eye coordination. Affiliate links are included for your convenience. If you have ever watched your child throw a ball or kick a ball to their teammate, as they grow older and develop their muscles and joints, you…

Crossing the Midline: Learning Delays when Your Child can’t Cross the Midline

Crossing the Midline: Learning Delays when Your Child can’t Cross the Midline This post contains important details of learning risks when your child or student has trouble crossing the midline. Primitive reflexes. They have their time and their place. Take the Asymmetrical Tonic Reflex (ATNR), for example. This reflex coordinates the extension of an arm and…

Video Membership: Join Video Membership for Learning Exercises

Video Membership: Join Video Membership for Learning Exercises We are excited to announce our new video membership for parents, teachers and therapists to help children and students with learning challenges. Video membership is updated monthly with new videos (for example, exercises for primitive reflexes, crossing the midline, gross motor skills, fine motor skills, attention and…

Primitive Reflexes: The Answer Behind W-Sitting and How to Fix it

Primitive Reflexes: The Answer Behind W-Sitting and How to Fix it This article contains information regarding retained primitive reflexes and how they can be associated with W-sitting. It includes affiliate links for your convenience. Children find such joy in playing imaginative games with toys and costumes. I wish multiple times a day, both silently…

Learning Readiness: What Experts Say is Really Needed for Kindergarten Readiness

Learning Readiness: What Experts Say is Really Needed for Kindergarten Readiness Every parent wants their child to succeed in school, so when that kindergarten year approaches, you work hard to make sure the child is ready by checking their knowledge of ABC’s, numbers and shapes. You research all the articles on the Internet and…

Important Core Strength Handbook for Greater Learning Development

Important Core Strength Handbook for Greater Learning Development This article discusses how your child’s learning relates to core strength and contains affiliate links for your convenience. Over the years, diet and exercise have become a huge part of our every day lives. The more we hear about diabetes, obesity and other health-related challenges, our natural…

Important Things to Teach Your Kids in Homeschool

Important Things to Teach Your Kids in Homeschool Guest post by Aleksandre McMenamin Homeschool guest post to assist parents with alternatives in education. Homeschooling your children can be an absolutely beautiful experience, both for you and for them. However, aside from the terrific times that you will have together, you also want to make…

Omega 3: Studies Show Increase in Child’s Omega 3 Intake Improves Attention, Focus and Behavior

Omega 3 Fatty Acids: Studies Show Increase in Child’s Omega 3 Intake Improves Attention, Focus and Behavior I’ve always heard of the age-old habit of taking fish oil. And the idea alone has always made me a little more than queasy. I take that back, merely combining the words fish and oil has always…

Types of Attention: Why Attention and Focus Issues are Confused for ADHD

Types of Attention: Why Attention Issues are Confused for ADHD This article explores types of attention and why attention issues are often confused for ADHD. Does it seem like your child is constantly daydreaming? Do they forget things frequently? Do you often wonder if your child will ever start paying attention? These are common questions that…

Primitive Reflexes: A Child in Constant Fight or Flight Mode

Primitive Reflexes: A Child in Constant Fight or Flight Mode This post for primitive reflexes contains affiliate links for your convenience. You have an important presentation at work in a few minutes and you have to stand before the entire board and give the analysis for the past quarter. Your heart starts beating loud,…

Brushing Technique for Sensory Tactile Defensiveness

Brushing Technique for Sensory Tactile Defensiveness This article for the brushing technique contains affiliate links for your convenience. For children who struggle with Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD), Autism, ADHD or if they are sensitive to touch, tactile objects, they chew on their pencils and toys or are constantly fidgeting, they may need some additional…

Primitive Reflexes: Bedwetting – Why Your Child Wets the Bed or Wears Pull-ups after Age 5

Primitive Reflexes: Bedwetting – Why Your Child Wets the Bed or Wears Pull-ups after Age 5 This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. As parents, we are all too familiar with the potty training process and how grueling it can be sometimes. Those frustrating trial runs with underwear versus diapers, frequent runs to…

Faster Doesn’t Equal Smarter: Are Timed Reading Tests Making our Kids Dumber?

Faster Doesn’t Equal Smarter: Are Timed Reading Tests Making our Kids Dumber? Timed reading tests such as the Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills (DIBELS) test have been widely used in schools around the country since 2001. Because we are constantly trying to help our students compete with our international counterparts, many educators…

How to Tell a Skeptical Spouse Your Child has a Sensory Processing Disorder

How to Tell a Skeptical Spouse Your Child has a Sensory Processing Disorder This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. There’s always that concern when our kids do something quirky or they’ve had one too many tantrums or episodes that maybe it’s a sign that something is wrong. Most of the time, after…

Cutting PE from schools hurts kids in more ways than one

Cutting PE from schools hurts kids in more ways than one Guest Blog Post AFL Team A recent article by the New York Times editorial board highlights a disturbing, yet growing, trend across schools in North America. As parents and educators turn up the academic pressure on kids, cuts are being made to make…

Brain boosting exercises to do with your kids

Brain boosting exercises to do with your kids We’re having a great time with Fox 13’s The Place talking about fun back to front brain-building exercises encouraging sensory-motor activities that help with receptive and expressive language so children can follow class instructions. Exercises also help sensory overload, meltdowns, attention, behavior, focus and fidgeting. Kids with sensory issues struggle…

Hyptonia: Exercises to Help Your Baby with Low Muscle Tone

Hyptonia: Exercises to Help Your Baby with Low Muscle Tone A pediatric physical therapist from Dinosaur Physical Therapy helps us understand the importance of strengthening your baby’s muscle tone. A baby with Hyptonia (poor muscle tone) can struggle with other developmental milestones as they get older. Developing these muscles as babies and toddlers will…

Left-Brain Schools in a Right-Brain World: Lack of Play in Schools, Rise in Learning Delays

Left-Brain Schools in a Right-Brain World: Lack of Play in Schools, Rise in Learning Delays I need you to start by imagining the following scene: A paintbrush scratches across the canvas, staining deep blue waves in its wake. The scent of paint hangs thick in the air, coating the painter’s nose and lungs with its…

Back to Front Brain Exercises for Comprehension, Sensory-Motor, Behavior, Attention

Back to Front Brain Exercises Essential for Comprehension, Attention and Behavior This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. As I meet with more and more parents on a daily basis about their child’s struggles in school to attend and focus, they are often surprised to find my recommendation is more movement. “The problem…

Zinc Deficiency: White Spots on a Child’s Nails May Show Signs of Learning Challenges

Child with Zinc Deficiency may show signs of Learning Challenges Take a glance at your child’s fingernails, what do you see? Sometimes a person’s nails can identify a medical issue or problem that otherwise could be overlooked. Fingernails can tell us a great deal about what is going on internally in the body. Ridges…

Physical literacy checklist: 6-9 years

Physical literacy checklist: 6-9 years Guest Blog Post Jim Grove These are some basic sport skills that your child should be learning, and mastering. These contribute to your child becoming physically literate. 1. Striking sports Striking is the act of hitting an object – such as a ball – with either your hand or…

Dr. A. Jean Ayers – Sensory Integration and the Child

Sensory Integration and the Child This article contains affiliate links for your convenience. Sensory Integration and the Child, written by Dr. A. Jean Ayers, is one of the best resources written for parents, teachers and therapists explaining sensory integration and how to recognize the signs and symptoms in children. It provides helpful tips, checklists, question-and-answer…

Doctor attributes Superman to Preventing Developmental Delays and Improved Attention in School

Prone and Supine Exercises: Doctor attributes Superman to Preventing Developmental Delays This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Does playing Superman really improve school and behavioral performance? The answer is yes, kind of. Running around in a cape and pretending to have laser vision won’t necessarily start raking in the A’s, but a…

Why New Year’s Increases Child Anxiety in Anxious Kids

Why New Year’s Increases Child Anxiety in Anxious Kids Holidays are generally difficult for adults and children that have any type of anxiety disorder. New Year’s is no exception. Depending on the type of anxiety that a child suffers from, anything from social parties, to food, to going back to school can trigger serious…

North Shore Pediatric Provides Resource for Sensory Processing Disorders

North Shore Pediatric Provides Resource for Sensory Processing Disorders The North Shore Pediatric Therapy center has provided us with a great resource and infographic to help parents, teachers, families and Occupational Therapists understand Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD). It’s important to recognize the signs and symptoms in children and how it impacts learning in the…

Elf on the Shelf: Sensory Taste, Smell and Sight Activities

Elf on the Shelf: Sensory Taste, Smell and Sight Activities Last week we had so much fun playing and learning with our little elf doing many tactile activities. My kids keep pulling out the pasta and shaving cream to try the activities all over again. Both seem to be the popular entertainments of the…

Object Play: Does Research Show Your Child’s Playing Habits May Disrupt Learning?

Object Play: Are Your Child’s Playing Habits Disrupting Learning? This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. We see our kids play with their toys every day. They play with everything from video games down to those cardboard boxes you keep meaning to take out to the recycling bin. But what if I told…

Family First: Easing the symptoms of Sensory Processing Delay

Easing the symptoms of Sensory Processing Delay WSFA Channel 12 publishes article by Charisse Gibson regarding signs and symptoms of a Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) in children. Information parents can share with family and friends about how your child’s diagnosis is real and what intervention can help. To read the full article, click here. Written by Charisse Gibson…

Physical literacy checklist: 4-6 years

Physical literacy checklist: 4-6 years Guest Blog Post Jim Grove These are some basic fundamental movement skills that your preschool child should be learning, and mastering. These contribute to your child becoming physically literate. 1. Running By age four, your child should be running with confidence. You want to make sure she continues to…

Elf On The Shelf Sensory Series: Touch and Tactile Activities

Elf On The Shelf Sensory Series: Touch and Tactile Activities This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. What has your elf been up to this year? Our little helper has been having tons of fun with our kids and students working their gross motor and fine motor skills. It is such a magical…

Toe Walking: Doctor Attributes Toe Walking to Signs of Poor Vestibular

Toe Walking: Doctor Attributes Toe Walking to Signs of Poor Vestibular This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. A little girl balances on her tip-toes. Given this simple sentence, most people will envision a little girl in a tutu, standing before a mirror and grasping a wooden bar. It’s common to find a…

6 At-Home Remedies for Kids During Winter

6 At-Home Remedies for Kids During Winter Guest Post By Darci Maxwell The flu likes the winter – and studies prove it. The name “influenza” is an Italian word that originated in the 18th century as part of the phrase “influenza di freddo,” meaning “influence of the cold.” The cold, dry winter air helps winter…

Sensory Clothes: Clothing Items for Fidgeting and Behavior

Sensory Clothes: Clothing Items for Fidgeting and Behavior This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Clothes are sometimes the hardest gifts for children to receive during the holiday season, but many parents still want their kids to have fun pajamas or outfits for when they go back to school. If you have a…

Unique ideas for your Elf on the Shelf

Unique ideas for your Elf on the Shelf Holidays are always wonderful with Fox 13’s The Place when talking about fun activities kids can participate in while learning. Every parent knows Elf on the Shelf provides great motivation to help kids stay “nice” during the holidays and it prevents “bad behavior” because the elf…

Does a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Look different in Adults versus Children

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) in Adults and Children One of the myths surrounding a Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is that it’s just a phase and kids will grow out of it. It is possible for a child to find their own positive coping mechanism, allowing the symptoms to subside or become manageable, but the…

Elf on the Shelf Sensory Series: Helping Your Child’s Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills

Elf on the Shelf Sensory Series: Helping Your Child’s Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills You have probably heard about the importance of developing your child’s fine motor skills from your child’s teacher or perhaps from a book you have read during your child’s early development. On the other hand, you may have a wealth…

Breakthrough Study Reveals Biological Basis for Sensory Processing Disorders in Kids

Breakthrough Study Reveals Biological Basis for Sensory Processing Disorders in Kids US San Francisco publishes article by Juliana Bunim regarding breakthrough study showing Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) are more prevalent in children than autism. Information parents can share with family and friends about how your child’s diagnosis is real and what intervention can help. …

Recess: It’s important. Does your child get enough of it?

Recess: It’s important. Does your child get enough of it? Great article originally posted in the Washington Post by Emily Sohn discussing the importance of recess and how children aren’t getting the movement they need to excel in the classroom. Full details below. Article written by Emily Sohn My son is in second grade…

13 Gross Motor and Midline Elf on the Shelf Activities for better School Performance

13 Gross Motor and Midline Elf on the Shelf Activities This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Way back in the day before Elf on the Shelf was even created, it was our annual tradition to have the elf come visit our house and bring small toys and activities for my kids to…

5 Myths About Sensory Processing Disorders

5 Myths About Sensory Processing Disorders The word is out about Sensory Processing Disorders. Or at least it’s starting to be. The news, Internet, and social media are buzzing with information and articles about Sensory Processing Disorders (SPD) and it has people talking. It’s wonderful especially when as many as 1 in 20 children…

Physical literacy checklist: 2-4 years

Guest Blog Post Jim Grove These are some basic fundamental movement skills that your toddler should be learning, and mastering. These contribute to your child becoming physically literate. Running By age two, most toddlers will have started running (some will have started as early as 20 months). They are still a bit unsteady on…

Our Favorite Christmas Books to Help your Child Read

Our Favorite Christmas Books to Help your Child Read This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Welcome to the Winter + Holiday Children Story Books Series hosted by The Jenny Evolution! More than 30 amazing bloggers have gotten together to create winter and holiday-themed books lists that your child is sure to love. During the holiday season,…

30 Brain-Building Sensory Toys to Buy Your Kids for Christmas

30 Brain-Building Sensory Toys to Buy Your Kids for Christmas This post contains affiliate links. Every year parents always ask me what toys they can get their children to help them learn better in the classroom. There are so many toys available, it’s hard to just pick a few. However, there are several available…

Too many 4-year-old kids who can’t crawl: study

Guest Blog Post AFL Team Too many 4-year-old kids who can’t crawl: study A British study finds that nearly a third of four- and five-year-olds cannot do basic physical movements like crawling or standing on one leg. And the deficiency seems to be linked to poor academic achievement. The UK newspaper Daily Mail summarizes…

Easy way to make your own Sensory Crash Pad

Easy way to make your own Sensory Crash Pad This post contains affiliate links. Crash, bang, kerplunk! Those all too familiar sounds when your child is running around the playground chasing after their sister or brother or it’s what happens when they fall from the monkey bars. Fortunately, when your little ones are playing…

How can I help my family and friends understand my child’s behavior and sensory disorder

How can I help my family understand my child’s behavior and sensory disorder If you have a child with sensory issues, Autism, ADHD or a Sensory a Processing Disorder (SPD), you can empathize with the mother at the store whose child is in the middle of a meltdown, or the child at the next table…

Common Core Math: Situations to Avoid When Helping your 6th-Grader Prepare for Jr. High

Situations to avoid when helping your 6th-Grader prepare for Jr. High Common Core Math I can’t believe my child will be in Jr. High next year! How many times have you heard this? Or are you saying this about your own child? Jr. High can be an exciting new adventure, but it can also…

Clever Tips to Childproof Your Home

Clever Tips to Childproof Your Home Who knew that having a two year old was more like having a three-foot tall tornado spinning around your home leaving creative chaos in its wake? The mess is not the only problem, as for some reason, children love to play with things that offer life-threatening danger: stoves,…

Best Parent Pointers to Support 5th-Grade Common Core Math Homework

Best Parent Pointers to Support 5th-Grade Common Core Math Homework I hear the woes from parents and kids frequently about their struggles with Common Core Math. This change is not easy, the math standards are very different from when we were in elementary. Each grade brings its own challenges as the student is expected…

Why these Core Muscle Exercises Help Prevent Learning Challenges in the Classroom

Why these Core Muscle Exercises Help Prevent Learning Challenges in the Classroom When I talk with parents for the first time, they often have questions about why their child can’t read, comprehend, remember math facts, follow instructions and why they aren’t excelling in the classroom. They know something is missing, but they can’t put…

Thanksgiving Day Game Plan to Combat Sensory Overload

Thanksgiving Day Game Plan to Combat Sensory Overload Thanksgiving is full of wonderful things. The smell of food fills the air. We get to eat that wonderful smelling food. We get to catch up with family members. Kids get to run around and play with cousins. Pie (because honestly, it deserves its own category).…

10 conversation starters for talking to your child about physical education

10 conversation starters for talking to your child about physical education Guest Blog Post Sarah Gietschier-Hartman At the beginning of the school year my students run into the gym and enthusiastically ask, “Mrs. G-H, what are we doing today?” We stop and have a quick class discussion about how physical education isn’t just about…

10 conversation starters for talking to your child about physical education

How schools ruined recess — and four things needed to fix it

How schools ruined recess — and four things needed to fix it Another wonderful article in the Washington post written by Angela Hanscom from TimberNook about the importance of play-based activities to help children build their fine motor skills, reflexes, balance and coordination, and sensory systems. All of these activities support what we do…

How to Recognize if My Child’s Anger Issues are Normal or if it’s Something More

How to Recognize if My Child’s Anger Issues are Normal or if it’s Something More Anger is not unusual or unfamiliar for most parents. As children grow older, they explore their emotions and develop a sense of emotional intelligence as they cope with tough issues at school, at home and with friends. However, when…

Why Mindful Exercises are Busting the 4th Grade Common Core Math Slump

Why Mindful Exercises are Busting the 4th Grade Common Core Math Slump When researching Common Core Math topics for 4th graders, I stumbled onto a rather fascinating study that was published in 2015 in Time Magazine. The headline caught my eye, and as I read further, I became more intrigued. I found myself recognizing…

Developing an Attitude of Gratitude for Children with Sensory Disorders

Developing an Attitude of Gratitude for Children with Sensory Disorders Sometimes it feels like walking on pins and needles. You think you’ve got it figured out. No tags or tight clothing. You know the lists of foods that wig them out. You have game plans for social settings that stress out your sensory sensitive…

Can I Make My Child Smarter? 6 Common Parenting Myths

Can I Make My Child Smarter? 6 Common Parenting Myths Guest Post We as parents want the best for our children. We want to raise a generation of healthy, intelligent, society-contributing individuals that can make a difference in the world. In order to do so, we read parenting books, download the brain development apps,…

We have some fun ideas for your sensory sensitive kids

Fun Ideas for your Sensory Sensitive Kids We’re having a great time with Fox 13’s The Place talking about fun midline brain-building exercises to encourage sensory learning for kids with sensory overload, meltdowns, unexplained aggression and anxiety. Kids with sensory issues struggle with all types of textures, smells, and noises, especially when it comes to the classroom,…

Why Crossing the Midline Activities Helped this Child Listen to his Teacher

Why Crossing the Midline Activities Helped this Child Listen to his Teacher As I think back to the time when I was in Kindergarten, I realize how much has changed. What was once naptime, coloring, painting, and running around the playground at recess, is now a place for reading, writing, sitting still in your…

Is Low Muscle Tone Interfering With Your Child’s Learning?

Is Low Muscle Tone Interfering With Your Child’s Learning? Muscle tone. It’s a word most of us would associate with body builders and fitness buffs. But do you think of a child with speech problems? The kid slumped over on their desk at school? Or the clumsy child dropping their pencils and fumbling around…

What My 3rd Grader Needs to Know about Common Core Math

What My 3rd Grader Needs to Know about Common Core Math Third grade is a huge transition year for the child gaining a solid knowledge base in many subjects. Math is no exception to this. Many times a child can get by or “fly under the radar” with math concepts in first and second…

Handwriting Results Show Importance of Child’s Fine Motor Skills Development

What Your Child’s Handwriting and Fine Motor Skills Tell You When parents and students walk into my center for the first time, I often chuckle to myself as they look in awe at all the kids swinging on swings, throwing balls, crashing into a bean bags and riding on our scooter board. I can hear the…

Development Delays if Children Retain Primitive Reflexes after Birth

Will My Child’s Development be Delayed if they Retain Primitive Reflexes after Birth? If you’ve ever spent time around babies, you’re probably just as fascinated by these little human beings as I am. Their abilities are limited, but they’re equipped with all they need to help ensure their survival. A simple touch to the…

How to Combat 2nd Grade Common Core Math Woes

How to Combat 2nd Grade Common Core Math Woes This post contains affiliate links. Many children struggle with the new Common Core Math standards. Multiple reasons exist but one of main issues we see is your child trying to tackle the idea of being able to explain how you arrived at the answer –…

In this classroom, the kids can’t sit still

In this classroom, the kids can’t sit still Wonderful article in the Washington Post about how one school is using play-based learning activities to “have students involved with some type of physical activity while helping their brains.” We often talk about how important these types of movement activities connect the neural pathways in the…

Creative ways of making kids sit still longer cannot replace outdoor play

Creative ways of making kids sit still longer cannot replace outdoor play Guest Blog Post Lori Fireman If there’s one thing my eight year old daughter likes to do, it’s bounce. In bed. At the dinner table. Name the inappropriate spot, and she has bounced there — so when I heard that some teachers…

Angela Hanscom: Stop Blaming Parents (Including Yourself) For Sensory Disorders Article Misguided

Why I believe “Angela Hanscom: Stop Blaming Parents (Including Yourself) For Sensory Disorders” Article is Misguided I recently read an interesting opinion article by Lee Lee in the Huffington Post entitled, “Angela Hanscom: Stop Blaming Parents (Including Yourself) For Sensory Disorders,” and was instantly curious about it’s claims regarding society blaming parents for their…

How Time and Money is Teaching 1st Graders Common Core Math

How Time and Money is Teaching 1st Graders Common Core Math Like it or not, it’s here to stay. Your child will be incorporating it in their daily educational adventure. Maybe your first grader enjoys math or maybe it’s already a frustration, either way, Common Core Math is present in every school day and…

5 Smart Questions to Ask During Parent Teacher Conference

5 Smart Questions to Ask During Parent Teacher Conference Parent Teacher Conference. When that moment arrives, I’m always a ball of nerves. As a parent, I love to hear about my children’s successes. I already know they’re wonderful, but I also know that they’re perfectly imperfect human beings. So as much as I know…

Top 10 Books for Halloween to help Early Readers

Top 10 Books for Halloween to help Early Readers The post contains affiliate links. Halloween is one of the best holidays to get your kids excited about reading, especially those early readers who are just learning their letters, sight words and sounds. There are so many fun books for Halloween available that will get…

Physical literacy like you’ve never seen it before

Physical literacy like you’ve never seen it before Guest Blog Post Blaine Kyllo We’ll admit that the term “physical literacy” is a bit of a mouthful. When we use the phrase with parents who’ve never heard it before, they tend to furrow their brows and cock their heads as they work out what it…

Halloween Sensory Activities on Fox 13’s The Place

Halloween Sensory Activities on Fox 13’s The Place We’re having a great time with Fox 13’s The Place talking about fun Halloween sensory activities to encourage sensory learning for kids with sensory overload, meltdowns at holiday parties, unexplained aggression and anxiety. Kids with sensory issues struggle with all types of textures, especially when it comes to…

Child Development Needs Sensory Stimulation through Science

Child Development Needs Sensory Stimulation through Science I’m sure we’ve all seen our children through the phase of dropping utensils or toys from their high chair, hollering for it back only to promptly drop it again. Or better yet is the endless why phase. I think why is probably every child’s favorite word at…

Why All Parents and Teachers Should Read Sensory Processing 101

Why All Parents and Teachers Should Read Sensory Processing 101 This post contains affiliate links. When I first meet with parents to talk about the concerns they have with their child, usually they come to me with an academic issue saying their child is doing poorly in school, they forget homework, they skip words…

Tricks for Making Halloween a Treat for Kids with Sensory Disorders

Tricks for Making Halloween a Treat for Kids with Sensory Disorders For most of us, Halloween means chilly weather, leaves crunching under our feet and a good excuse to dress up and celebrate. We might stress a little over getting the costumes our kids are dying to have, getting to the school party on…

“Ghoulish” Halloween Sensory Activities to Calm Sensory Sensitivity

“Ghoulish” Halloween Sensory Activities to Calm Sensory Sensitivity Halloween is one of our favorite times of year and what better time to get our kids involved in sensory activities that are not only fun and “ghoulish,” but also target a child’s senses to help them cope with their surroundings and sensory overload. Before we…

5 of the Best Brain Building Activities to Help your Child Learn that may Surprise You

5 of the Best Brain Building Activities to Help your Child Learn that may Surprise You As you prepare your kids for school, it’s a great time to begin thinking of ways to better help your child learn in the classroom. As you know, each child is unique and different, which means his or her learning…

Support us for National Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Awareness Month

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Awareness Month You may not have realized it, but October is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) Awareness month and we are spreading the word about how to help children and adults with SPD. As many of you know, we have several students who struggle with SPD and other sensory issues. This…

Smart Math Center Activities for Teaching Kindergarteners Common Core Math

Smart Math Center Activities for Teaching Kindergarteners Common Core Math If you have a kindergartner like mine, when you ask what was something fun they did in school, their answer is usually something like “recess.” However, on occasion I would get another response, which was “centers.” After the first month I was intrigued with what…