Yana Musheyev

Fun hack to teach your kids the importance of washing their hands. It really works! All you need is a Tray, water, black pepper and soap!

Get a grip on better handwriting! This finger strengthening exercise using a thick rubber band targets specific muscles to enhance grip, control, and dexterity. Improve writing precision and quality with this simple yet effective technique! #HandwritingImprovement #FingerStrength #WritingTips

We expect so much from ours kids now from such a young age. There is so much pressure getting them to write and read so early. But guess what parents? Preschoolers should focus on developing their fine motor skills, hand strength and dexterity prior to writing letters. Focus on PLAY. Once they have the strength and capability to hold a crayon/marker/pencil correctly, they should then master drawing lines and shapes PRIOR to learning to write letters. Typically, children aren’t even expected to draw diagonal lines until 4 1/2 years old which is a precursor to writing letters because so many letters have diagonal lines (and even more difficult strokes like curves). So stop placing pressure on them, or yourself, and let them play and explore. . . . . . . . #occupationaltherapy #occupationaltherapist #pediatricot #pedsot #handwritingskills #finemotorskills #preschoolteacher #prek #prekteacher #kindergartenreadiness #prehandwritingskills #kidslearning

Fidgety kids? Try this simple hack! Attach a Theraband to a chair leg to provide a discreet outlet for excess energy. Improves focus, reduces restlessness, and boosts self-regulation! Provides deep pressure, proprioceptive input, and tactile stimulation to help kids focus and self-regulate.

Blow Away Weak Oral Muscles! As an OT, I love using straw-blowing exercises to strengthen oral muscles! Puckering, blowing, and coordinating lip movements can really help strengthen oral muscles and increase oral coordination. We started with a regular straw and blowing paper, now he’s using a skinny straw blowing legos! That requires a lot more strength!!!

As an Occupational Therapist, I can attest that extracurricular sports offer numerous benefits for children’s physical, emotional, and social development. Here are some key reasons why extracurricular sports are essential: *Physical Development* 1. *Gross Motor Skills*: Sports help develop fundamental movement skills like running, jumping, throwing, and catching. 2. *Coordination and Balance*: Participating in sports enhances overall coordination, balance, and spatial awareness. 3. *Physical Fitness*: Regular physical activity improves cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility. *Emotional Development* 1. *Confidence and Self-Esteem*: Participating in sports can foster a sense of accomplishment, pride, and self-worth. 2. *Resilience and Perseverance*: Overcoming obstacles, losses, and setbacks in sports helps build resilience and perseverance. 3. *Emotional Regulation*: Sports participation can teach children to manage emotions, such as anxiety, anger, or disappointment. *Social Development* 1. *Teamwork and Communication*: Sports encourage collaboration, communication, and mutual respect among teammates. 2. *Social Skills and Friendship*: Participating in sports provides opportunities to develop social skills, make friends, and feel a sense of belonging. 3. *Sportsmanship and Fair Play*: Sports teach valuable life lessons about fair play, respect for opponents, and gracious winning or losing. *Occupational Therapy Perspective* 1. *Sensory Integration*: Sports can provide a healthy outlet for sensory integration, helping children regulate their sensory experiences. 2. *Motor Planning*: Participating in sports enhances motor planning skills, which are essential for daily activities and independence. 3. *Executive Function*: Sports require children to develop executive function skills, such as planning, organization, and self-regulation.

A multi step approach to working on letter formation. She now can make the letter S without any cues 👏🏼 squigz for the win @fatbraintoys

Pinch and turn grasp hack for the win

A little tweak here and there makes all the difference 🪄 ✨

Simple activity working on: ✏️ fine motor control ✏️midline crossing ✏️visual spatial skills And more … Trying to teach my student to draw the infinity sign but she was struggling - started off doing this, once she was able to we went to the infinity sign and she did it with zero issues

Flexible seating solutions can work wonders for kids who struggle with sitting still! Try these options: - *Grounded Feet*: Ensure their feet are firmly planted on the ground. If the chair is too high, simply place something under their feet. - *Alternative Seating*: Consider using therapy balls or peanut balls for seated activities. - *Weighted Comfort*: Utilize weighted lap animals to provide calming pressure. Additional strategies to explore: - *Brain Breaks*: Regular breaks for stretching and movement. - *Heavy Work Activities*: Engage in physical tasks to release excess energy. - *Visual Schedules*: Use timers and schedules to help stay on track. By incorporating these ideas, you can help your child stay focused and comfortable!

Fun Q tip pre writing activity. Using different tools to work on pre writing skills is essential so that the child doesn’t get bored and is always engaged!