If you have done any air travel the last few years you know that airlines often have an in-flight magazine on board. These usually have a feature where they interview some movie star, CEO or savvy world traveler to ask them what they always carry in a flight bag. In the spirit of this theme we have put together a few of our pediatric solutions that are portable, have multiple therapeutic uses and are engaging and fun. Whether you are an itinerant school therapist, a private home based practitioner and or working inpatient services at a busy hospital here are 6 things for your therapy bag:
1. Wikki Stix: They have universal appeal to most kids and you can gather so much information about their sensory processing and perceptual skills when handling these sticky candle wick like textures to make shapes and letter.
2. Magnetic Wand & Chips: An immediate attention grabber if you scatter the chips around a table or floor then hand the child the wand. Watch the gross and fine motor movements as they work on getting all the chips back on the wand. Wonderful to work on balance, equilibrium issues on a therapy ball as they reach from side to side.
3. Bubbles: Perfect for visual tracking, eye hand coordination and/or oral motor skills and breath control.
4. Pegboard and Pegs: These offers slight resistance as the child pushes in/pulls out the peg. Helps give a baseline for hand strength skills.
5. Squiggle Wiggle Writer: Guaranteed to get a child to pick it up and at least make contact with paper! Children along the spectrum who avoid engaging in handwriting tasks will usually make an exception if this vibrating pen is used.
6. Tangle Fidget: An immediate rapport builder and gives the child something to focus on while you chat briefly with the teacher, parent or nursing staff to get an overview of why therapy services were requested.
So now you know our list. Let us know your picks and/or timesaver tips!
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