tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-53299159468967900482024-03-11T22:54:56.779-07:00MAC&Toystoys, books, games and iPad/iPhone apps tested and approved by a pediatric occupational therapist and all the children she works with!Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.comBlogger220125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-19656925201198157492021-11-30T17:19:00.002-08:002021-11-30T17:29:19.435-08:00Open-Ended Play and Sensory Materials Gift Guide<p><span style="font-family: inherit;">I say this a lot and you will read it throughout this post, but how I wish I knew what I know now about open-ended play when my now 11 year old daughter was younger....I would have done things so differently. While she is a truly creative kid, I think that had I encouraged more sensory and open-ended play to her at a young age, she may not be so hooked to her electronics! </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Open-ended play materials encourage children to be more independent and creative thinkers, help them make choices and really foster creativity and imagination. By definition, open-ended materials do not have a pre-determined use....kids are in charge of deciding what will do with these materials. For example, a block can be a person, car, rocket ship, etc.. Children who engage in more open-ended play tend to develop wonderful problem solving skills. Sensory play is critical for development as well. Sensory play supports language development, cognitive growth, fine and gross motor skills, problem solving skills, social interaction and so much more.</span></p><p>If you are interested in building up your child's open-ended play experiences, be sure to check out my gift guide below. I have tried to include things that can be played with as toddlers through childhood. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoBMEv-72wBbHxtVfcpZ3Sc6HKc7NxPBT5oE1gdH01kjSo12WzBywW3amuLzYtEUXSVs468iMew1okMdSZ9QnJ5Wj8NSB2lZukl6XCBtvSGJ1AQxr4W0haZmTgHK8rHiDphjpF5HnrEJ7/s2048/MAC+gift+guide+pics+2021+04.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1811" data-original-width="2048" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNoBMEv-72wBbHxtVfcpZ3Sc6HKc7NxPBT5oE1gdH01kjSo12WzBywW3amuLzYtEUXSVs468iMew1okMdSZ9QnJ5Wj8NSB2lZukl6XCBtvSGJ1AQxr4W0haZmTgHK8rHiDphjpF5HnrEJ7/w640-h566/MAC+gift+guide+pics+2021+04.png" width="640" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">1. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/collections/blocks-building/products/babys-first-magnetic-blocks">Tegu Baby's First Magnetic Blocks</a>-I've always loved all things <a href="https://tegu.com/">Tegu</a> and always include them on my gift guides. They are especially great for children who have motor coordination difficulties because the magnets inside the blocks allows them to be successful with building and putting structures together. Ideal for children 6 months and older but I have a feeling some of my bigger kids would love these two. The brightly colored set of magnetic square blocks come in appealing colors and are easy to wash. Perfect for working on hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills, and encouraging fine-motor, grasping and manipulation skills for your little ones. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">2. <a href="https://www.createon.com/crayola/doodle-tiles.htm">Magna-Tiles Doodle Tiles</a>-I am always looking for ways to make handwriting and drawing more fun and knew that my magenetic-tile loving kids would most definitely be motivated to practice graphomotor skills with these. My 11 year old daughter and her friend were even motivated enough by these to put their phones down for a while to test them out for me! This Magna-Tile and Crayola collaboration is so great and will encourage creativity and imagination skills while also working on developing fine motor, grasping, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and work on improving hand-eye coordination and bilateral coordination. Each set comes with 8 small square tiles, 2 large square tiles and 5 Crayola markers that easily wash off. Compatible with all other Magna-Tiles. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">3. <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/products/magna-tiles-jungle-25-piece-set?_pos=11&_sid=b75882fea&_ss=r">Magna-Tiles Jungle Animals</a>-another awesome new set from Magna-Tiles that again be used with any other Magna-Tiles in your collection. This 25-piece set includes colorful tiles with different jungle patterns on them and 5 of the most adorable magnetic animals that stick to the other pieces. These are great for encouraging creativity, imagination and language skills while also working on developing fine motor, grasping, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and work on improving hand-eye coordination and bilateral coordination. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">4. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Educational-Silicone-Colorful-Creative-Building/dp/B099RSN3P2/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/146-5065211-4094331?pd_rd_w=xAXsU&pf_rd_p=c64372fa-c41c-422e-990d-9e034f73989b&pf_rd_r=MHDFP72V6TQ24DQQ3S5W&pd_rd_r=e6bd1460-2204-4460-9a59-8d53861c0989&pd_rd_wg=jE5PM&pd_rd_i=B099RSN3P2&psc=1">Silicone Pop Fidget Building Blocks</a>-one of my speech therapy colleagues tipped me off on these and I am now obsessed. Think a fidget pop-toy that you get to build yourself! These incredibly well-built and sturdy building blocks come in a variety of colors and can be snapped or slipped together to make shapes, objects or to even practice learning how to make letters. Great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills and works on motor planning and organizational skills. You can also work on sorting, matching and following patterns. A great on-the-go building material that will keep your kids entertained for a long time. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">5. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/collections/blocks-building/products/lola">Grapat Lola Building Toys</a>-this beautiful open-ended building set is definitely what I would call an investment piece (a toy with a bigger price tag but that will last forever and has endless play and learning potential. This set comes with 72 pieces....36 colorful Lola dolls in various colors and sizes. Kids work on improving matching, sorting, stacking, problem solving and categorizing skills while also working on improving fine motor, grasping, manipulation and hand-eye coordination skills. Playing with open-ended play materials is also great for working on encouraging creativity, imagination skill and early storytelling skills. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">6. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/collections/blocks-building/products/shapes-colors">Grimm's Shapes and Colors Block Set</a>-another investment toy that will last you forever. This brightly colored 70-piece set from Grimm's comes in a variety of geometric shapes and sizes. Kids can learn about shapes and colors through open-ended building and exploration. Introducing block building with kids at a young age is so beneficial and helps them develop life-long skills. It helps children develop language and vocabulary skills, encourages creativity, imagination and play skills and helps them learn about things such as early math skills, balance, motor planning, organization and problem solving skills. When building with siblings or peers, block building can teach children about turn taking, accepting other people's ideas and collaboration. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">7. <a href="https://www.youngwildandfriedman.com/products/magic-color-changing-dough-class-gift-jars?pr_prod_strat=copurchase&pr_rec_pid=6620458680456&pr_ref_pid=6630594543752&pr_seq=uniform">Magic Color Changing Dough Jars</a>-I saw these and thought about how much fun my kids at work would love to see these glittery white balls of play dough magically turn into a mystery color. I actually have ordered a bunch of these to give each of my kids this holiday season. I love how the simple act of manipulating the play dough works on increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills. Once they find out what color it is, they can build whatever they want. I always like to have tools such as a rolling pin, scissors, beads or whatever else I might have lying around to spark their creativity and imagination. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">8a. <a href="https://www.youngwildandfriedman.com/collections/sensory-bins/products/build-a-snowman-sensory-bin?variant=39677896556680">Build A Snowman Sensory Sand Bin</a>-sensory bins are a great way to keep kids occupied as the weather gets colder and it gets dark earlier. I know so many parents are trying to limit the amount of screen time since 2020 and 2021 meant so much screen time for their kids. I am in love with this Snowman Sensory Bin from <a href="https://www.youngwildandfriedman.com/">Young, Wild and Friedman </a>and think it would be a great gift, especially for those little ones who might not get to actually experience snowy weather. This set comes with homemade moldable sensory sand and cloud sand, various snowman figurines, SNOW glitter letters and a bucket and shovel all stored in a sensory bin with a lid. What a fun way to work on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, encourage hand-eye and bilateral coordination, encourage sensory and tactile exploration and encourage imagination, creativity, language and play skills, right? If snow play might not be your kid's thing, be sure to check out the extensive collection on the <a href="https://www.youngwildandfriedman.com/">Young, Wild and Friedman</a> website. <br />**If you are looking for a way to contain your child's sensory play or make it easy to move around your house, I can't encourage the <a href="https://www.hopelearningtoys.com/shop/p/style-01-zm5s3">Hope Learning Tray</a> enough. I have one at work and at home and it's been so incredibly handy. I have referenced this amazing sensory tray in my <a href="https://macandtoys.blogspot.com/2021/11/baby-and-toddler-holiday-gift-guide-2021.html">Baby and Toddler Gift Guide</a> so be sure to go and check that out for more information.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">9. <a href="https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/products/ca/p/RR751/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=PLA&gclid=CjwKCAiAv_KMBhAzEiwAs-rX1I-70HG6DrXSXdVBuxcTRYWJ4yeZuE6B1NZ4BUojyl8fqTltWbvBlRoCUbgQAvD_BwE">Bristle Blocks</a>-each year I like to include some of the classic toys in my gift guides. I think that a toy that has been around as long as I have been must be doing something right! Bristle blocks are not only a wonderful building toy, they offer a sensory and tactile experience that no other blocks do. They are also pretty indestructible which is a real bonus for some of our rough and tumble kinda kids. Young children can work on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improve hand-eye, bilateral coordination and motor planning skills while playing with these blocks. As grown-ups, we can teach kids about shapes, colors, size, etc. while they play with these blocks. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">10. <a href="https://fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toys/roll_bounce_tower.cfm">Roll and Bounce Tower</a>-I will never not be mesmerized and fascinated by a marble run and have often wondered how to introduce this toy to little ones but was always so nervous about the safety risks because of the marbles. This set comes with 27 chunky track and tower pieces that can be mixed and matched to be a different path each time. Kids place the large ball into the starting point and watch it go through the tunnels while watching panels flip and spin. This toy is great for working on improving hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills, increases grasp strength, fine motor skills and manipulation skills and teaches kids about cause and effect. Since there are an infinite ways to put the tower together, kids won't get bored or feel like they are playing with the same toy over and over again. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">11. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1071609099/beautiful-stained-glass-style-jewel?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=loose+parts+set&ref=sr_gallery-1-40&organic_search_click=1&frs=1&bes=1">Stained Glass Jewel Mandala Loose Parts</a>-while looking through Etsy I stumbled upon these beautiful blocks and thought they would be a beautiful addition to any child's toy room. This 15-block set comes in a variety of colors and are great for open-ended play and can be used with any other blocks. These blocks can be stacked, sorted by color and can be used to work on sequencing and following patterns. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">12. <a href="https://www.educationalinsights.com/design-drill-tool-box">Design and Drill Toolbox</a>-we have had a different version of this toy at my gym for years and it is a big hit amongst the kids. I chose this new drill set from <a href="https://www.educationalinsights.com/">Educational Insights </a>this year because of the storage box which is always a selling point for me. In addition to the power drill, the screws and the board, this set also comes with a handful of other tools including a hammer, measuring tape and much more. Kids can make their own designs or can work on improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills while copying the designs on the cards included with the set. This toy is also great for working on increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination and can be used to encourage creativity, imagination and expand play skills. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">13. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/king-of-the-road-40-pieces?pr_prod_strat=description&pr_rec_pid=6848134840495&pr_ref_pid=6848134742191&pr_seq=uniform">Way To Play Road Pieces</a>-I have loved these interchangeable road pieces since I first saw them a couple of years ago and recommend them to any of my families who have a little car lover in their life. This set of 40 interlocking pieces helps your little one create different routes and paths allowing your child to make his/her perfect path. The best part is that because they can design their own paths, they don't get bored and can change it up anytime they want. They are made of a soft, flexible rubber so you can create obstacles over other toys. Playing with these road pieces are great for working on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination and encourages motor planning and organizational skills. Pair with your favorite cars and let your child's imagination take the steering wheel!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">14. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/934579854/rainbow-peg-dolls-with-color-matching?ga_order=most_relevant&ga_search_type=all&ga_view_type=gallery&ga_search_query=rainbow+pegdolls+sorting&ref=sr_gallery-2-42&organic_search_click=1&pro=1">Rainbow Peg Dolls Sorting Set</a>-I have a set of sorting dolls and with boxes and work and they have been one of the best purchases I have ever made. This set of 12 rainbow colored peg dolls comes with a cotton bag for storage that also doubles as a play with the numbers 1-12 in colors for kids to work on matching skills. Kids not only work on color and number recognition, they can work on developing counting skills. When not used for matching and sorting, they can be used during open-ended play which encourages creativity, imagination, play, organizational and language skills. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;">15. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/922481316/complete-set-of-polished-wood-loose?ref=shop_home_active_15">Wooden Loose Parts Kit</a>-I am in love with all of <a href="https://www.hopelearningtoys.com/">Hope Learning Toys</a> products. This set of wooden loose parts comes with 6 3D shapes, 7 forest gnomes and 8 piece peg doll family. As I have mentioned in previous posts, I wish I knew more about open-ended play and the benefits of playing with loose parts when my daughter was younger. Not only is it great for working on grasping and manipulation skills, it encourages creativity and imagination skills, encourages play skills and is a great way to work on improving language and conversational skills. Loose parts can be used on their own, in sensory bins, with doll houses or any building toys you already might have at home. </span></p><p>Once again, I have tried to link some of my favorite local toy stores whenever I could as I have always found it very important to support our local businesses but even more so now. Many of the items listed above are ones that I have seen in most toy stores I have visited all over the place. And since are all hearing about shipping nightmares and problems with supply chain, why not take out some of the stress and support your local stores where you don't have to worry about toys arriving on time. If you are shopping for family members who are not local, find out their local toy stores and see if you can shop from there. If you are in the NYC area, be sure to check out the following stores: <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/">Lulu's Cuts and Toys</a>, <a href="https://littlethingstoystore.com/">Little Things Toy Store,</a> <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a>, <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/">Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store</a>, <a href="https://www.westsidekidsnyc.com/">West Side Kids</a>, <a href="https://stationeryandtoy.com/">Stationary and Toy World</a>, <a href="https://www.maryarnoldtoys.com/">Mary Arnold Toys</a>, <a href="https://kiddingaroundtoys.com/">Kidding Around Toys</a> and <a href="https://www.boomerangtoys.com/">Boomerang Toys</a>. </p><p>Again, if you are looking for specific open-ended or sensory toys for your kids or kids on your shopping list, please do not hesitate reaching out to me for suggestions. I have so many more thoughts on great gifts for the important kids in your life. I am only an email away at otmeghan@gmail.com and love to hear from and help in any way I can. </p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-9576587986237874562021-11-17T17:52:00.000-08:002021-11-17T17:52:12.477-08:00Crafting Holiday Gift Guide<p>One of my favorite things to do in my therapy sessions is to hide the therapeutic aspects of things to my kids. Making therapy fun and engaging leads to increased engagement and less resistance to trying more challenging things. Over the course of my career, I have found that finding highly motivating craft activities can go a long way in getting kids to try things outside of their comfort zone. Being able to work on an activity for several sessions allows for the kids to learn about patience, flexibility and resilience and also makes them even more excited and proud of the final product. Below I share a handful of my favorite crafting, baking and STEAM activity sets. I tried to include gifts for children of a variety of ages so hopefully you will find something. Don't forget that I have so many more ideas that I am always happy to share so if you need specific suggestions for anyone, don't hesitate reaching out and asking. In the meantime, take a look at this years gift ideas and read about all the developmental and therapeutic benefits. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31o4-TAHXtx68SPepB-X0_EoNRwve1L59MDZM41m7bs6ecREAqUCenVpvxEJHU-83yMbYHGZWhhpzHlsfmKHmOeubWbVJszEAVHz6Grxn01ZYB5LfJDvVgILlSKV_LFRugcJpm2nykFbo/s2048/MAC+gift+guide+pics+2021+03.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1811" data-original-width="2048" height="566" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi31o4-TAHXtx68SPepB-X0_EoNRwve1L59MDZM41m7bs6ecREAqUCenVpvxEJHU-83yMbYHGZWhhpzHlsfmKHmOeubWbVJszEAVHz6Grxn01ZYB5LfJDvVgILlSKV_LFRugcJpm2nykFbo/w640-h566/MAC+gift+guide+pics+2021+03.png" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>1. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/baking-set?_pos=1&_psq=baking&_ss=e&_v=1.0">Moulin Roty Baking Set</a>-I've been baking with my now 11 year old since she was old enough to be an active participant and she just loves baking now. Fun fact.....during Covid her aunt in California and she would do weekly baking/cooking dates over Zoom to keep their connection and it was one of the highlights of quarantine. Baking with kids can help create a beautiful connection between kids and their grownups but making sure that you have the right tools is essential. I wish that this baking set was available when my daughter was younger because the tools are just the right size for small hands and helps them be more independent and successful when baking. This gorgeous kit comes with an oven mitt, rolling pin, whisk, spatula, pastry cutter, pie tin, 2 heart-shaped cookie cutters, a muffin pan and a recipe book. They are kid-sized and can be used for actual baking or can be used during pretend play. Baking with kids can work on so many developmental skills such as improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, encourages hand-eye and bilateral coordination while also boosting confidence and self-esteem. </p><p>2. <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/search?q=coloring+poster">Giant Coloring Posters</a>-Looking for a fun family activity to keep you all busy as the cold weather sets in? Lulu's Cuts and Toys has a great selection of these for you to choose from. I am a bit biased and really love the <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/products/coloring-xxl-poster-roll-brooklyn?_pos=6&_sid=6aca71150&_ss=r">Brooklyn</a> one but there are several to choose from. Depending on your living situation, you can hang this on a wall and keep up all the time for kids to color in as they please or work on it a little at a time, roll it back up and store in the sturdy box it comes in. Obviously this is a great activity to work on improving graphomotor skills but is also a great way to encourage conversation and language skills. These large pictures are big enough for a whole family to work on at the same time. </p><p>3. <a href="https://www.papersource.com/gifts/tiny-baking-tools-10011614.html">Tiny Baking Kit</a>-what's cuter than mini baked goods??? A perfect gift for some of your older, more Tik-Tok savvy kids! One of my sisters gifted this to my daughter a few years ago and she spent countless hours playing with it. This set comes with 17 miniature sized baking tools and a recipe book with 20 recipes using all baking supplies you already have at home. Mini chocolate chip cookies, cupcakes, pizzas and so much more will delight your children while working on developing fine motor and manipulation skills, improve hand-eye coordination and work on improving executive functioning skills while following the recipes such as focus, attention, organization and planning skills. </p><p>4. <a href="https://www.williams-sonoma.com/products/flour-shop-surprise-cake-kit/?pkey=s~baking%20kits~31&sbkey=default">Flour Shop Rainbow Explosion Cake Kit-</a>Flour Shop is a cake store in SoHo in Manhattan and was all everyone was talking about when it first opened years ago. If you have a serious baker on your shopping list this year, this would be a really fun gift for them. The kit comes with all the ingredients you need to make this 6-layer rainbow kit (you will need cake pans): 1 pouch of vanilla cake mix, 6 rainbow colored gels, 1 pouch of cream cheese frosting mix, 1 pouch of rainbow explosion mix (sprinkles), 1 pouch rainbow polka dots (sprinkles). This is an awesome gift for an older child who loves to bake and works on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, following directions, organization, planning and task completion. </p><p>5. <a href="https://www.youngwildandfriedman.com/products/baking-kit?variant=39498624041096&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2021-08-26&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=CjwKCAiAp8iMBhAqEiwAJb94z5tazeBSDJUdgWC04efv2wMqmR8E-OO-B7Zcjw2Zhnjk1ciM2DcmchoCOQgQAvD_BwE">Play-Dough Baking Kit</a>-I am SO SO obsessed with this adorable "baking" kit for the little ones in your life. I am planning on ordering a handful of these for some of the kids on my shopping list this year and only hope that I am invited over to play with it! This kit comes with four silicone baking cups, candles, cookie cutters, a rolling pin, and pom poms, buttons, beads and jewels to decorate their cupcakes. It also comes with 3 containers of homemade/non-toxic cinnamon, strawberry and sugar cookie sprinkle play dough. First and foremost, these kits (be sure to check out all of the products from <a href="https://www.youngwildandfriedman.com/">Young + Wild and Friedman</a> because there are so many great ones to choose from) encourage creativity, imagination and play skills for little ones. They also work on improving grasp strength and manipulation skills, improve visual motor and visual perceptual skills and are great for sensory exploration. </p><p>6. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=orb+factory+sticky+mosaics&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics</a>-I can't tell you how much my kids love doing these Sticky Mosaics and they have made my gift guide year after year. Simple one of the best fine motor crafting activities out there and the kids have no idea how many therapeutic goals they are working on when using them. For younger children, the stickers are larger and different shapes and colors which are easier for their fingers to manipulate. For older children, the stickers are slightly smaller and kids have to match the correct color to numbers. In addition to working on fine motor skills, kids can work on shape, color and number recognition, improves hand eye coordination and improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills. Attach to an easel to work on increasing upper extremity strength. Kids are so proud of the final product and love showing them off. <br />***Be sure to check out your local toy and book stores for these kits. I am always seeing them and grab them whenever I do!</p><p>7. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=razzle+dazzle+diy+gem+art+kit">Razzle Dazzle DIY Gem Kit</a>-I discovered these awesome sets right before the lockdown and they ended up being a great thing for my virtual sessions for some of my kids. Very much like the sticky mosaic sets above, kids match colored gems to the correct letters to create a sparkly picture of various animals. The kit comes with a template, gems, a glue pen and a frame to protect your picture when completed. This is an amazing and fun way for kids to work on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye coordination and works on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning and organizational skills. </p><p>8. <a href="https://www.roseandrex.com/products/kid-made-modern-arts-crafts-library?variant=13605906317408&gclid=CjwKCAiA1aiMBhAUEiwACw25Meb7Pw2PYmsfwXyypRD4eyctVvWsy4gR44kKXGu4ZJi33XBSNCEPTBoC_IoQAvD_BwE">Kid Made Modern Arts & Craft Library</a>-<span style="font-family: inherit;">this is one of my favorite arts and crafts collections and love that it is appropriate for children of all ages and developmental levels. This collection comes with over 1000 pieces of art supplies including peg dolls, wooden loose pieces, pipe cleaners, beads, pom-poms, googly eyes and SO much more and come in a sturdy case with a handle so it can be taken on the go. While they give you suggestions on what you can make with the different materials, it is truly and invitation for kids to use their imagination and be creative using a variety of materials. This open-ended craft library allows children to think outside the box and figure out all the different ways they can explore and use materials to create which helps with improving confidence and self-esteem. </span></p><p>9. <a href="https://www.maisonette.com/product/dress-me-threading-game">Dress Me Threading Game</a>-loving this "sewing" kit for kids by Haba. Kids work on improving hand eye coordination, bilateral coordination and fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills while dressing these wooden dolls. Each set comes with 1 double-sided scene card, 36 clothing tiles, a sturdy stringing cord and 3 double-sided pattern cards. Kids can make their own outfits or follow the pattern cards (which is great for improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills and working on executive functioning skills such as focus, organization and task completion). </p><p>10. <a href="https://www.fabercastell.com/products/hat-not-hate-quick-knit-loom-6277000">Hat Not Hate Quick Knit Loom</a>-for younger children who are eager to learn how to knit but don't quite have the patience or coordination for knitting needles this is a great starting point. I began knitting during a sad time in my life and it's been nothing but a source of calm and comfort ever since. Post-Covid I am seeing that there are a lot of kids who need something to help them deal with some anxiety and I personally think busy hands help with that. I love this knitting loom from Faber Castell and Lion Brand Yarns that comes with all the materials needed to create two hats. My favorite thing about it is that they have also partnered with the <a href="https://hatnothate.org/">Hat Not Hate Anti-Bullying Awareness </a>organization to encourage children to knit a hat for themselves and then donate to the organization during Anti-Bullying month (October). This particular kit comes with all the materials needed to create two hats including 4 balls of yarn, a reusable loom, a loom hook, a tassel and pom-pom maker and two #HATNOTHATE leather tags to attach to the completed hats. The instructions are clear and easy to follow meaning kids will have success which will lead to increased confidence and self-esteem. Additionally, kids will work on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improve hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills and executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning and organizational skills. </p><p>11. <a href="https://www.stitchandstory.us/products/knitters-of-tomorrow">Knitters of Tomorrow Beginner Kit</a>-do you have someone in your life who would like to learn how to knit but not sure where to start? This beginners kit is one of the best that I have seen when searching for friends. It comes with 2 balls of yarn, a set of light-weight knitting needles, a plastic sewing needle for completing your projects and a beginner's guide pattern book with lessons broken into reasonable and appropriate lessons. There are also suggested links to online video tutorials to guide the children as they learn how to knit a hat and scarf. Knitting, once mastered, is such a wonderful skill for children. It's not only an amazing fine motor, visual motor and visual perceptual activity, it's great for working on improving executive functioning skills such focus, attention, organization and frustration tolerance. Most importantly, when a child masters knitting, they have increased confidence and self-esteem. </p><p>12. <a href="https://succulentsbox.com/products/kid-friendly-succulent-kit-tools-2-plant?variant=32207257436238&currency=USD&utm_medium=product_sync&utm_source=google&utm_content=sag_organic&utm_campaign=sag_organic&utm_campaign=gs-2019-05-06&utm_source=google&utm_medium=smart_campaign&gclid=CjwKCAiA1aiMBhAUEiwACw25MYgfEFJSk7a9FcaFuwH-BpQKnrG6wp6tCLOFqdm1d-kNjtbz2Nt-xxoCAV4QAvD_BwE">Kid-Friendly Succulent Kit</a>-I'm loving all the great DIY gardening kits made for younger children and am completely obsessed with this succulent kit! Gardening is a great hands-on activity that not only encourages sensory exploration, but works on improving fine motor, grasping, hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination and visual motor and visual perceptual skills. These kid-friendly kits come with a succulent (easy for kids to take care of), a ceramic animal pot, mini gardening tools, stickers for decorating and a bag of soil. In addition to all the therapeutic benefits, kids learn about responsibility by watering the plant. </p><p>13. <a href="https://www.purlsoho.com/classic-friendship-bracelet-kit.html">Classic Friendship Bracelet Making Kit</a>-it's so fun when an activity from my own childhood comes back so when I saw these friendship bracelet kits from Purl Soho, I immediately bought them for the tweens/teens in my life. Each kit (you choose your color-wave) comes with enough materials for 9-18 bracelets depending on the width of the bracelets you make. Each set comes with a safety pin and 5 spools of Chinese Knotting Cord in a really nice storage box with a step-by-step friendship bracelet pattern book. Great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination and works on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and task completion. </p><p>14. <a href="https://fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/klutz/klutz_maker_lab_arcade_claw_game.cfm">Arcade Claw Game</a>-for your STEAM loving kids, this is a pretty awesome gift. The Arcade Claw Game from Klutz Maker lab will get your kids excited for learning and creating. Kids follow the child-friendly, illustrated instructions to build their very own arcade claw game from a variety of materials (chipboard parts, acetate windows, cotton string, dowels, tall and short pulleys, carriage, claw and plastic snaps) . Once built, kids can fill the claw machine with 3 prize capsules and try and use the claw to grab them. This toy encourages the development of fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, spatial reasoning, hand-eye coordination and works on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, following directions, planning and organizational skills. </p><p>15. <a href="https://www.maisonette.com/product/deluxe-studio-science?gclid=Cj0KCQiAys2MBhDOARIsAFf1D1ed9Ie84BGKPlJkZ0eO7vD6hA9x8cs087QhaS6sS0WIV2DON9zWgmUaAt25EALw_wcB">S.T.E.A.M. School Deluxe Studio Science</a>-another STEAM gift but more appropriate for younger kids, this kit contains 10 amazing arts and crafts projects that has some kind of fun science, math and engineering concepts built in. Each activity comes with a fully illustrated card to make it easy for them to follow along for task completion. Some of the activities included are building with conductive light-up dough, playing with gears, making paper gliders. Kids will learn so much about engineering, electricity and so much more while working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, work on improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills and improve executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning and organizational skills. </p><p>16. <a href="https://www.maisonette.com/product/the-kindness-mission-box">The Kindness Mission Box</a>-I felt like it was important to complete this list with this awesome activity box. There is never a time to not try and teach our children about the importance of kindness and how they can spread it themselves. This activity kit includes a series of "secret missions" for kids to complete that teach kids about caring for themselves, their friends, family, community and environment. Children go through all 4 "training missions" by making clay friendship pots, a wooden birdhouse and origami creations before they move onto a deco of over 50 kindness missions to complete throughout the year. In addition to all the crafting materials and the cards, the kit also includes a self-care checklist which helps create healthy habits in children. Kids have no idea that while they are engaged in these activities, they are also working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improve visual motor and perceptual skills and are engaged in constant social emotional learning. </p><p>Once again, I have tried to link some of my favorite local toy stores whenever I could as I have always found it very important to support our local businesses but even more so now. Many of the items listed above are ones that I have seen in most toy stores I have visited all over the place. And since are all hearing about shipping nightmares and problems with supply chain, why not take out some of the stress and support your local stores where you don't have to worry about toys arriving on time. If you are shopping for family members who are not local, find out their local toy stores and see if you can shop from there. If you are in the NYC area, be sure to check out the following stores: <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/">Lulu's Cuts and Toys</a>, <a href="https://littlethingstoystore.com/">Little Things Toy Store,</a> <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a>, <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/">Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store</a>, <a href="https://www.westsidekidsnyc.com/">West Side Kids</a>, <a href="https://stationeryandtoy.com/">Stationary and Toy World</a>, <a href="https://www.maryarnoldtoys.com/">Mary Arnold Toys</a>, <a href="https://kiddingaroundtoys.com/">Kidding Around Toys</a> and <a href="https://www.boomerangtoys.com/">Boomerang Toys</a>. </p><p>Again, if you are looking for specific crafting or baking ideas for your kids or kids on your shopping list, please do not hesitate reaching out to me for suggestions. I have so many more thoughts on great gifts for the important toddlers in your life. I am only an email away at otmeghan@gmail.com and love to hear from and help in any way I can. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-49095961415618404002021-11-11T14:21:00.002-08:002021-11-11T14:21:35.754-08:002021 Stocking Stuffers and Small Stuff Guide<p>This is always one of my favorite gift guides to put together because I feel like we are always looking for small gifts for kids whether it be an add-on to a larger gift or to be used as a motivator or prize for a job well done. There are some gifts on here that make the list year after year (Thinking Putty, chopsticks, on-the-go craft kits) but most of these are new this year. There are so many clever gifts out there that can be used for therapeutic purposes without the kids even knowing. I tried to include gifts for various ages and many of these are appropriate for kids of all ages and are not age-specific. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGquWkn5QKXRGGnI0zj_e6vUUc6bfR-RgbvPm2iA3GFLFWN5ntrpj9W6S6CkfFATx2g_hFNaual97Kw_U9b93qL1UZ9rvXxlGuPXXzVLu8UIFnoMmr-SkL6EGI2UImJh4bw74ONkMFpjh/s2048/MAC+gift+guide+pics+2021+02.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1205" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUGquWkn5QKXRGGnI0zj_e6vUUc6bfR-RgbvPm2iA3GFLFWN5ntrpj9W6S6CkfFATx2g_hFNaual97Kw_U9b93qL1UZ9rvXxlGuPXXzVLu8UIFnoMmr-SkL6EGI2UImJh4bw74ONkMFpjh/w376-h640/MAC+gift+guide+pics+2021+02.png" width="376" /></a></div><p>1. <a href="https://www.target.com/p/paladone-products-ltd-connect-4-fridge-magnets/-/A-83780364?ref=tgt_adv_XS000000&AFID=google_pla_df_free_online&CPNG=Toys&adgroup=204-4">Magnetic Connect 4</a>-saw this and thought it was a fun game to play on a fridge or some other kind of magnetic surface. The goal of the game is the same as the original but you can work on increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills while also working on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning, problem solving and organizational skills. For you city dwellers, the added bonus is that you don't have to figure out where to store another bulky game with lots of pieces. </p><p>2. <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/products/copy-of-nee-doh-dohjee?_pos=5&_sid=490bfddef&_ss=r">Nee-Doh Dohjee</a>-squishy balls are all the rage these days and these have been a huge hit with my friends at the gym. What I love about these are that they come with a mini nee-doh ball and an outside animal/creature covering that you can mix and match with other Dohjees you collect. Great for increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills, improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination in addition to having a small little fidget that will help calm down during stressful times. </p><p>3. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Silicone-Bracelets-Wristband-Adjustable-Jibbitz/dp/B07JNT549D/ref=sr_1_4?crid=2QHOWUAVCRL72&keywords=silicone+bracelets+set+for+charms&qid=1636230983&qsid=146-5065211-4094331&sprefix=silicone+bracelets+set+for+charms%2Caps%2C59&sr=8-4&sres=B07S981R3D%2CB00KLYYKLK%2CB07JNT549D%2CB096KL21M3%2CB082Y6XNDP%2CB06XKKJ9QY%2CB073YKWN45%2CB09BW36J4G%2CB08FZ7QLHJ%2CB01MDJDAZ6%2CB09793GQHD%2CB09BJ5RQPS%2CB08RYR2L3F%2CB095WWYP33%2CB091DM65ZX%2CB08K8P67PD%2CB08Q895T7N%2CB08ZJCNVK1%2CB08FWWK4D9%2CB08CXF1DPP">Silicone Bracelets</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/YAZO-Random-Charms-Bracelet-Wristband/dp/B08P3Q6QSW/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=jibbitz%2Bcharms&qid=1636231034&sprefix=jibbitz%2Caps%2C68&sr=8-1-spons&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzTUlRTElDR0c2VDhVJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzM0MzIwTkRRRUhXTUJJTThYJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAxOTYzNDUyVUFOQTdONU9aSjA1JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ&th=1">With Charms Set</a>-fun set of plastic bracelets that kids can personalize with a variety of charms (you must buy both separately). I am actually planning on ordering a bunch of these for the kids to make as a holiday gift from me this year. Great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and also works on improving bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination. I like that you can easily swap the charms out of your bracelet so if the child's interests change or they want to coordinate with the outfit of the day, they can. </p><p>4. <a href="https://www.papersource.com/gifts/tiny-ice-cream-kit-10015531.html">Tiny Ice Cream Kit</a>-my sister bought my daughter the tiny baking kit and it was a huge hit with her and her friends. The kit comes with all the mini-sized tools you will need and an instruction book with 15 different tiny ice cream ideas. A great gift for an older kid (definitely suggest 8 or older like recommended on the packaging) who has decent frustration tolerance. This adorable set works on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and is a fabulous way to encourage executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and organizational skills. In the end, they have some adorable and tasty creations to show off. </p><p>5. <a href="https://www.papersource.com/gifts/busy-ideas-for-bored-kids-outside-edition-10015921.html">Busy Ideas for Bored Kids (Outside Edition)</a>-after the last crazy 20 months, I am finding that so many kids don't really know what to do when they aren't on a device or being told exactly what to do. I am trying to encourage my own daughter to get outdoors as much as possible while the weather is still nice but oftentimes she will say she is bored or doesn't know what she should do. This deck of cards will help children choose fun activities to do outside with their peers. Hopefully they will use the cards as suggestions and add their own adventures to the suggested activities. </p><p>6. <a href="https://www.papersource.com/gifts/whatchamadrawit-497114.html">Whatchamadrawit Game</a>-this fast-paced drawing game encourages creativity, imagination and thinking outside the box. All you need is a paper, writing instruments and your imagination. This can definitely be played during family game night and I think the more players, the better! Before each round a judge is chosen....a card is picked and everyone has 60-seconds to draw what is on the card and the judge will pick his/her favorite and the winner gets the card. The person with the most cards at the end is the winner. Such a fun way to work on improving drawing and graphomotor skills and working on kids, especially those more rigid ones, to think outside the box and have fun. </p><p>7. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/products/creatibles-diy-air-dry-clay-kit">DIY Air Dry Clay Kit</a>-I love using clay with my kids at work because it's such a great way to work on improving grasp strength and fine motor and manipulation skills but they often get upset when their creations get ruined. I have avoided using the oven bake clay since I don't have an oven to bake it at work and when I try and bring it home to cook, I end up ruining it. So I am loving this air dry clay from <a href="http://www.ooly.com">Ooly</a> and how easy it is for kids to manipulate. Kids can make a creation (or practice making letters, numbers, shapes, etc.) and by the time they return the following week it's dry and ready to take home. </p><p>8. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=play+again+reusable+sticker+fun+">On-The-Go Play Again Sticker and Game Set</a>-reusable stickers can be a hit or a major miss but these sets from <a href="http://www.ooly.com">Ooly</a> are an all-time favorite. There are three different sets to choose from: <a href="https://www.ooly.com/products/play-again-mini-on-the-go-activity-kit-daring-dinos">Daring Dinos</a>, <a href="https://www.ooly.com/products/play-again-mini-on-the-go-activity-kit-sunshine-garden?recommendify_click=similar">Sunshine Garden</a> and <a href="https://www.ooly.com/products/play-again-mini-on-the-go-activity-kit-working-wheels?recommendify_click=similar">Workin' Wheels</a> and each set features a simple board game, a match and learn game, tic tac toe and a scene board where kids can use the stickers to use their imagination and create their own picture. These are so awesome for developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye coordination works on developing focus, attention, organizational and problem solving skills. The best part is that everything is easily stored within in the packaging so it's easy to take on the go to keep kids entertained while traveling. </p><p>9. <a href="https://fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/dimpl_pops.cfm">Dimple Pops</a>-I love when a toy fad ends up actually being therapeutic and fidget toys have made a really big comeback since Covid. I'm not gonna lie....when I was doing a majority of my sessions remotely, I found myself needing something to keep my hands busy so I started using a fidget to help me focus. When I first saw all these pop-toys, I was instantly obsessed. I love that they have expanded and have kids of all ages in mind. What young kids don't realize is that while they are playing with this new fad toy, they are working on developing fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, visual motor skills and so much more. These Dimple Pops are really great for the little hands who are working on finger isolation. </p><p>10. <a href="https://fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/blue_orange/loopy_looper.cfm">Loopy Looper</a>-this is a fidget toy for older kids (or grown-ups) and the fun thing about this particular one is that there are four different options with different challenges. </p><p>Edge: Place your marble inside and find the perfect speed to keep it sticking to the rail.<br />Flow: Spin as slowly as you like to, taking time to feel the marble flow around the loop. Helps with focus, concentration and getting creative juices flowing.<br />Hoop: relax with a simple spin around the loop or launch into a quick-fire challenge by trying to land the ball inside the hoop! <br />Jump: this Loopy Looper requires skillful spinning to get the marble through the gap. Once the child figures out the method, they can keep going as fast as they can. <br /><br />These are great for developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improve hand-eye coordination and encourages concentration, focus and a sense of calm. </p><p>11. <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/collections/holiday-favorites/products/mega-construx-pokemon-generations-assorted">Mega Construx Pokéman</a>-it's funny how Pokéman are still a thing today after all these years. I'm loving these construction sets that work on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, increased grasp strength, improves focus, attention, planning and organizational skills. There are 6 different characters to choose from or you can collect them all. </p><p>12. <a href="https://crazyaarons.com">Crazy Aarons Thinking Putty</a>-I love everything about this putty but most love that the founder hires adults with special needs and trains them to have meaningful jobs. There is a giant variety of colors, styles and even some that smell! Putty is a great way to work on increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills and is also a great fidget for those moments when your child may have to return to remote learning. I like to hide small beads, coins or little animals in the putty to make it more motivating for tired little hands. </p><p>13. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sabers-Light-LightSaber-Chopsticks-Purple/dp/B06Y26VYP8/ref=sr_1_43?keywords=kids+fun+chopsticks&qid=1636151944&sr=8-43">Light Saber Chopsticks</a>-couldn't resist adding these when I stumbled upon them. One of my go-to activities I give parents to do at home to work on improving grasp and manipulation skills is to use child-friendly chopsticks while eating. I still have a lot of older kids who need to work on this skill but want nothing to do with the babyish chopsticks. How much are older kids going to love these light saber/Star Wars inspired chopsticks?!?</p><p>14. <a href="https://www.getspeks.com/products/geode-magnetic-fidget-sphere">Speks Geode Magnetic Sets</a>-I picked these up on a whim a few months ago not realizing they would be a huge hit and now I am not sure who loves them more...me or the kids! Think Magnatiles on a much smaller scale. Great for on the go fun while also working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills. There is no right or wrong way to play with them and you can collect all the sets to create larger projects. </p><p>15. <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/">Kids Made Modern</a> <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/unicorn-necklace-kit">Unicorn</a>, <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/shark-necklace-kit">Shark</a>, <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/mermaid-necklace-kit">Mermaid</a> and <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/cosmic-necklace-kit">Cosmic</a> Necklace Kits-cute little on the go necklace making sets from an incredible company. I've been a huge fan of the quality of the materials that come in each of their kits. These necklace sets come complete with a charm, cord for stringing, 40 various beads and comes in a cute little tin storage case that can be used later as a trinket box or even use it to turn into a homemade ornament once your little crafter completes their necklace. </p><p>16. <a href="https://shop.crayola.com/brands/scribble-scrubbie-pets">Scribble Scrubble Pets</a>-another fun little toy that will encourage even the most resistant writers pick up a marker and start coloring. My kids have loved coloring, designing and playing with these but they truly love scrubbing them clean and doing it over and over again. These are great for introducing younger children to coloring but also works on encouraging bilateral and hand-eye coordination, imagination and creativity skills and early writing skills. You can also work on improving tactile sensitivity by having them use soap or shaving cream on the scrub brush when scrubbing them clean. </p><p>17. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-Gaming-Jenga-Mini-Game/dp/B01MUAW5WO">Mini Jenga Game</a>-couldn't resist adding this to the list when I stumbled upon it. Jenga never fails to entertain kids and now you can take it on the go. Jenga is great for working on hand-eye coordination, focus, planning and organizational skills. If you want to add a fun little twist to the game, you can turn this into an ice-breaker game by writing questions on each block. </p><p>18. <a href="https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/secret-decoder-ring">Secret Decoder Ring</a>-cute and simple way to encourage kids to work on handwriting in a fun way. Leave your kids messages that they have to decode using this ring. Each letter has a number that it coordinates with. Want your kids to do a chore? Write the message out in numbers and have your kids solve the mystery. Not only is this a fun way to work on handwriting, by twisting the ring you are working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills. </p><p>19. <a href="https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/exploding-hand-soap">Exploding Hand Soap</a>-do you have kids who are resistant to hand washing? Try motivating them with these water bead like soap balls. They use the little spoon shaped like a hand to take one of the jar and then pop the bead that's filled with soap. Once the color disappears, they know they have washed long enough and can rinse. Love that we can add a little bit of sensory fun to a pretty boring but necessary task. </p><p>20. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/peanut-crayons?_pos=1&_psq=crayons&_ss=e&_v=1.0">Peanut Crayons</a>-a great first set of crayons for little hands. These peanut-shaped crayons are a perfect size for early drawers and super well made so there is no fear of them breaking during use. The unique shape of these crayons makes it easier for little hands to grasp for greater ease with coloring. Made from all natural and non-toxic beanwax so parents don't have to worry if they accidently end up in the mouth. </p><p>21. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/all-of-us-crayons?_pos=3&_psq=crayons&_ss=e&_v=1.0">All of Us Crayons</a>-inclusivity is a very important thing, especially in schools. This set of 8 crayons represents all colors of skin and encourages children to see the beauty of all colors and shades of skin. They are a perfect size to encourage a more proper grasp for little hands. Just a fun fact about these crayons: they made it onto Oprah's Favorite Things guide this year!</p><p>22. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mattel-Games-Flip-Amazon-Exclusive/dp/B07P8WVZ5D/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1ZEEQW9H2SJWT&keywords=uno+flip&qid=1636229097&qsid=146-5065211-4094331&sprefix=uno+flip%2Caps%2C125&sr=8-2&sres=B07P8WVZ5D%2CB08WGJ27ZB%2CB082RB1FCP%2CB08J4H682L%2CB08J4H68MR%2CB07TJT135V%2CB08HJN16XC%2CB002UAKLM0%2CB07JKB2H59%2CB08L89CZVR%2CB08HGLL647%2CB08GB11WJ1%2CB08J5GLHSC%2CB07Y94Y3JL%2CB08GLK316Z%2CB07P6MZPK3%2CB074RCV4HQ%2CB08J4GQMGL%2CB08V4KJ9D2%2CB08GLJXYWP&srpt=TABLETOP_GAME">Uno Flip</a>-this is one of my favorite new games this year and my older kids are loving it as well. I mean, who doesn't love Uno? This two-sided Uno game offers the traditional game of Uno with a special card that makes you flip the whole game over for a more competitive side of play with new challenges. Uno has always been a go-to game for me to work on developing executive functioning skills for my kids because it's a fun way to work on focus, attention, organization, planning and problem solving skills. </p><p>23. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Water-Beads-Non-Toxic-Classroom/dp/B087M227KG/ref=sr_1_4_sspa?crid=1ZV3F3SVPJDIU&keywords=water+beads&qid=1636228869&sprefix=water+beads%2Caps%2C99&sr=8-4-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExRVZDRlc1VzRLUkdCJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNjYyNzY3MVEyRlNaQUw0VThMTCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNjA4Njc4MkJSUDlQNFVPVDlUMyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=">Water Beads</a>-when I pull these out for my kids, they are so excited! Loving this linked set that comes with thousands of water beads in various sizes. Water bead play is a wonderful way to encourage sensory play and exploration with little mess for grownups to clean up. I always give my kids cups, spoons and other toys to use when playing to encourage bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination and focus and attentional skills. Sometimes I like to hide little plastic animals in the water beads and have them go on a hunt to save them which is always a big hit. </p><p>24. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Super-Outlet-Colorful-Miniature-Classroom/dp/B07FK331HK/ref=sxin_23_ac_d_mf_br?ac_md=3-2-U3VwZXIgWiBPdXRsZXQ%3D-ac_d_mf_br_br&crid=1OVBJCB4L3JPX&cv_ct_cx=puzzle+erasers&keywords=puzzle+erasers&pd_rd_i=B07FK331HK&pd_rd_r=8129eac3-c94e-428e-a5c4-80ae98c0b087&pd_rd_w=xJ7TO&pd_rd_wg=64FDt&pf_rd_p=b0c493d8-5fdd-4188-b852-c552a4a3abdb&pf_rd_r=XQ8DFQZNWXT5EGTHHJ67&psc=1&qid=1636237503&sprefix=puzzle+erasers%2Caps%2C74&sr=1-2-ed8a42d3-65f1-4884-a3a2-0dd6e83b6876">Eraser Puzzles</a>-these come highly recommended by my 11 year old daughter and her bestie. I love when a gift is not only practical but can also be used to reach developmental goals. Kids can work on problem solving, hand eye coordination, bilateral coordination and improves fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills. Each eraser has 5 pieces and you can mix and match. Be sure to check out your local toy stores to see what kinds of eraser puzzles they have....I have picked up the cutest animal and food eraser puzzles over the years for goody bags and prizes for my kids at work. </p><p>25. <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/collections/kids-tweens/products/taco-cat-goat-cheese-pizza-card-game">Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza Card Game</a>-not sure if you have noticed but I happen to have a thing for card games, especially ones that will engage the whole family. My speech therapist colleague <a href="https://www.jbspeech.com/">Jacki Barredo </a> suggested this game to me and I have been sharing it since. This game sounds more complicated than it actually and can be enjoyed by the whole family. The deck is split evenly between 2-8 players. Each person takes a turn flipping a card face-up on a pile in the middle while saying the words "Taco", "Cat", "Goat", "Cheese", "Pizza" in that order. If the card in the middle happens to match the word being spoken, the players race to slap the deck...whoever is the last to slap the deck must take the whole pile and add to their set of cards. The person who gets rid of all of their cards first is the winner. </p><p>26. <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/collections/kids-tweens/products/mini-twister">Mini Twister Game</a>-this is truly a dream recommendation for an occupational therapist! Twister has always been a favorite of mine because it works on so many developmental goals and this mini version makes me so happy. Such a fun way to work on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, finger isolation skills, motor planning and executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and problem solving skills. </p><p>27. <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/collections/baby-toddler/products/animal-abc-stickable-foam-bath-shapes">Animal ABC Stickable Foam Bath Shapes</a>-I've always encouraged parents to make bath-time as meaningful as possible. Whether it be using shaving cream on the wall to practice drawing or writing letters, I believe that kids learn best at a young age through hands-on, sensory based play which is why bath time is a perfect time for early learning. Loving these extra adorable foam animal alphabet stickers that come with a mesh bag for easy storage. A perfect opportunity to not only learn letters, these are great for working on improving fine motor and grasping skills and to expand language skills and learning letter sounds. </p><p>28. <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/collections/kids-tweens/products/unplugged-play-for-grade-school">Unplugged Play: Grade School Edition</a>-I'm constantly hearing that my 11 year old daughter is bored and doesn't know what to do (even though she has enough to keep her entertained for days on end) if she isn't allowed to be on her phone. I do think that after almost 20 months of everyone relying on technology, kids really are struggling making choices about what to do during their downtime. Since most kids don't want to be told what to do, I am loving the idea of giving them a book like that that has tons of choices for them to make. There are a variety of activities such as indoors vs. outdoors, solo play vs. playing with a friend/sibling but the common factor is that they don't require any technology. Be sure to check out the <a href="https://www.workman.com/products/unplugged-play-preschool/paperback">preschool edition</a> for your younger kids. </p><p>29. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00R0V7PUU?linkCode=ogi&tag=bp_links-20&ascsubtag=[artid|2089.g.268[src|[ch|[lt|">Boon Bath Time Pipes</a>-going back to my love of making bath time as meaningful as possible, how cool are these suction cup pipes??? This 5 piece set can be used individually or can be connected to build a chain. Each shape has a unique feature which encourages sensory exploration, hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination, cause and effect and so much more. These don't only have to be used during bath time....you can add them to a sensory bin with a variety of materials such as rice, beans, water beads and so much more. </p><p>30. <a href="https://tweemade.com/">Twee Chalk</a>-I love that there are some things that are ageless and timeless but also love that some of those things have become more advanced and exciting. I am totally obsessed with all of the gorgeous chalk creations from Twee (a Philadelphia based woman run company....woot woot). While my 11 year old daughter pretends to not care about these these things, she still get's excited when I buy a set of Twee chalk and insists I do not bring them to work. Living in Brooklyn and having a lot of sidewalk space so we have spent countless hours doing chalk drawing. Sidewalk chalk drawing is great for encouraging creativity and imagination skills and works on increasing upper extremity and hand strength. I encourage parents to have kids practice writing letters, numbers and shapes. </p><p>I have tried once again to link some of my favorite local toy stores whenever I could as I have always found it very important to support our local businesses but even more so now. Many of the items listed above are ones that I have seen in most toy stores I have visited all over the place. And since are all hearing about shipping nightmares and problems with supply chain, why not take out some of the stress and support your local stores where you don't have to worry about toys arriving on time. If you are shopping for family members who are not local, find out their local toy stores and see if you can shop from there. If you are in the NYC area, be sure to check out the following stores: <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/">Lulu's Cuts and Toys</a>, <a href="https://littlethingstoystore.com/">Little Things Toy Store,</a> <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a>, <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/">Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store</a>, <a href="https://www.westsidekidsnyc.com/">West Side Kids</a>, <a href="https://stationeryandtoy.com/">Stationary and Toy World</a>, <a href="https://www.maryarnoldtoys.com/">Mary Arnold Toys</a>, <a href="https://kiddingaroundtoys.com/">Kidding Around Toys</a> and <a href="https://www.boomerangtoys.com/">Boomerang Toys</a>. </p><p>If you are looking for specific ideas for your kids or kids on your shopping list, please do not hesitate reaching out to me for suggestions. I have so many more thoughts on great gifts for the important toddlers in your life. I am only an email away at otmeghan@gmail.com and love to hear from and help in any way I can. </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-6426441319763653022021-11-07T11:34:00.000-08:002021-11-07T11:34:23.065-08:00Baby and Toddler Holiday Gift Guide 2021<p>I haven't done a toddler specific guide before but I felt like it was really important this year. When you think about it, toddlers are entering a whole new world and even if they were born before Covid they don't remember life before it. One of the things I am seeing a lot with my younger kids is a lot of sensory seeking behaviors so I am including some gift ideas to help with that. The other thing I am noticing is that this particular group of kids hasn't really known anyone outside of their circle of people without masks so I am also including a handful of toys and games that will work on feelings, emotions and being able to read facial expressions. And each and every one of these toys will also help with the development of fine motor and grasping skills as well as improve visual motor and visual perceptual skills. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26LphMldW93-VITQAqqfziy2DZzzT_4TeVTc-o3PgS7XHdce1qQ75pG_UhAzb88N6dETyAIeIs64sAliGOERNKZQ0497YE_xoqDJm8qU2VAqp0sXGXMghzhs1j3wIUaE2acaKzTQTo04d/s2048/MAC+gift+guide+pics+2021+A.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1302" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi26LphMldW93-VITQAqqfziy2DZzzT_4TeVTc-o3PgS7XHdce1qQ75pG_UhAzb88N6dETyAIeIs64sAliGOERNKZQ0497YE_xoqDJm8qU2VAqp0sXGXMghzhs1j3wIUaE2acaKzTQTo04d/w407-h640/MAC+gift+guide+pics+2021+A.png" width="407" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>1. <a href="https://www.hopelearningtoys.com/shop/p/style-01-zm5s3">The Hope Learning Tray</a>-sensory play is so important for little hands and overall development. I've always been so jealous of those who don't live in the city who can set up elaborate sensory play set-ups for their children but that is not always possible for people. That's where this sensory tray comes into play. This beautifully designed and very sturdy sensory tray is perfect for all children and can be used in a million different ways. My 11-year old uses hers for jewelry making and I use it at the office for all kinds of sensory play such as water beads, kinetic sand, play dough and so much more. Pictured here is the limited edition Winter Sensory Kit which comes fully stocked with homemade play dough, snowmen peg dolls, stampers and SO much more. </p><p>2. <a href="https://www.learningresources.com/learn-a-lot-avocados"> Learn A-Lot-Avocados </a>-I am a sucker for any toys that have a built in a social-emotional component so when I saw these I fell in love. Kids can work on developing fine motor skills, increase grasp strength and manipulation skills in addition to color matching while also learning about feelings and emotions. In this set of 4 avocados that are perfectly sized for toddler hands, kids work on bilateral coordination and manipulation skills by pulling them apart. Once they are open, kids can work on matching the colors inside. Each avocado has a spinning pit inside with two emoji-style faces that change which is great for working on labeling and talking about a variety of feelings and emotions. Another added bonus, this comes with a storage case which makes clean-up a breeze. </p><p>3. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/wobbel-balance-board?_pos=1&_psq=wobbel&_ss=e&_v=1.0">Wobbel Board</a>-this is what I call an investment toy because it has a big price tag but will last for years and years. I have always had a balance board in my office and when Covid, lockdown and remote therapy began, I needed to give families ideas of what they could get to not only assist during therapy sessions, but to offer a safe movement option for kids during their remote school day. The Wobbel Board is something that will last forever and can be used to provide sensory input to help with improving focus and attention, works on improving overall body strength, balance and coordination skills. Be sure to check out the <a href="https://www.wobbel.eu/en/wobbelcards/">WobbelCards</a> that are free and in a bunch of languages. </p><p>4. <a href="https://www.plusplususa.com/collections/big-boxed-sets/products/big_picture_puzzles_basic">Plus Plus Big Picture Puzzles</a>-I am a huge fan of the original Plus-Plus blocks and was really happy when they created these larger blocks for little hands. This set of blocks can be used as an open-ended building toy or you can use the 60 different color Plus Plus blocks and complete the puzzles on the cards. Each card has two sides with the same picture but one has lines for the kids to match the blocks up to and the other side is free-form. Great for working on improving grasp strength and manipulation skills, bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination and visual motor and perceptual skills. </p><p>5. <a href="https://www.learningresources.com/fine-motor-peacock-pals">Fine Motor Peacock Pals</a>-Learning Resources has so many great toys for early learning and these peacocks are definitely one of my favorites.Young children work on building hand strength and manipulation skills while pulling out and replacing the peacock's feathers. Kids can work on matching the correct color feathers to each bird or mix and match. One of my favorite features of this toy is how the feathers are all different textures so children can work on sensory and tactile exploration while also encouraging bilateral coordination and visual motor and visual perceptual skills. </p><p>6. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/peekaboo-lock-boxes?_pos=1&_psq=peek&_ss=e&_v=1.0" style="font-family: "Open Sans", museo-sans;">Peekaboo Lock Boxes</a>-this is one of my all-time favorite purchases from Norman and Jules and my kids love it as well. This is a shape sorter on steroids because it so much more than just matching shapes. It works on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, works on learning colors and shapes and encourages problem solving and motor organizational skills. This six box set comes with a tray which kids have to match the colored boxes to. Additionally, each large and durable box has a different kind of fastener which kids have to problem solve how to open and close. I love watching the kids figure out different ways to play with the boxes once they put the shapes in. One of their favorite things to do is build a big rainbow tower with them which is great for working on increasing overall body strength and coordination. </p><p>7. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fisher-Price-Silly-Sortin-Monster-Puzzle/dp/B01NCUR51Q/?tag=toynotes124-20" style="font-family: "Open Sans", museo-sans;">Silly Sortin' Monster Puzzle</a>-another fun game that will help your little ones develop fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills in addition to developing hand-eye coordination and visual motor and perceptual skills. This comes with four colorful shapes for sorting, a spinning roller with three funny facial expressions (great for working on identifying feelings and emotions for these little ones who have spent most of their life seeing people in masks) and feet that move up and down when they grab them. This toy is great for working on tactile and sensory exploration</p><p>8. <a href="https://www.createon.com/sesame-street/">Sesame Street MagnaTiles</a>-Magna-Tiles are easily one of the biggest hits at my gym and always make my holiday gift guides. The benefits of these open-ended building blocks are endless but include encouraging imagination and creativity, problem solving and organizational skills. Additionally, they are great for developing fine motor and grasping skills, improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination. When I discovered these Sesame Street Ones (which are compatible with all other of our other MagnaTiles) I had to get some of them. There are many to choose from but the Cookie Monster set is a favorite of mine. Kids can help build a giant cookie for Cookie Monster using the tiles. One of my favorite features of this set is that kids can work on learning and matching the shapes that are on the cookies. </p><p>9. <a href="https://www.montessoriservices.com/pop-up-toy" style="font-family: "Open Sans", museo-sans;">Pop-Up Toy</a>-simple but very satisfying wooden toy for little hands that works on matching and cause and effect. Children can also work on developing hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination and grasping skills when playing with this toy. They quickly discover that if the push down hard enough on each of the peg people once they are in their spot that they will pop out of the box. While so many think kids are much more motivated by the toys that light up and have all kinds of sounds, I find that those kinds of toys become overstimulating for children fairly quickly and that they seem to hold their attention and focus for these simple toys for much longer. </p><p>10. <a href="https://www.mindware.orientaltrading.com/monkey-around-a2-GTT101.fltr?keyword=monkey+around">Monkey Around Game</a>-Peaceable Kingdom has been my go-to for early childhood games for years. First of all, they are typically super easy to learn how to play and are incredibly well made which is great for those sometimes little and destructive hands! What I love about Monkey Around is it is a movement game which I think is really important at this age. Sitting down and playing a game can be challenging for 2 and 3 year olds but add movement and you'll find they will be super successful. In this non-competitive game, kids work together to place all the bananas on the tree. The directions are very simple: take a card, do the action pictured (some are solo and some are done together) and place the banana on the tree. Playing Monkey Around works on the following developmental skills: improves gross motor skills such as motor planning, balancing and coordination skills, works on identifying body parts and works on developing social emotional skills such as turn taking, working together and being a good sport. </p><p>11. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/stampies?variant=40706103836847&gclid=CjwKCAjwz5iMBhAEEiwAMEAwGB_wngepFAAxkeoVr78ZlLT_U3CcH6bjfe5U1ypVeYHMj2O-n8tNGRoCwSwQAvD_BwE">Stampies</a>-these interchangeable stamps are great for little hands and can be used in a variety of ways. I plan on using them at work with play dough and stamp pads but they would be great for baking as well. Each set comes with a wooden stamper perfectly sized for toddler hands and 15 food-grade silicone animal stamps. In addition to learning about all kinds of animals, kids work on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, increase grasp strength, work on visual motor and perceptual skills and improve bilateral coordination skills. Use this with your favorite play dough or make it even more therapeutic by making your own <a href="https://www.thebestideasforkids.com/playdough-recipe/">play dough</a>. </p><p>12. <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/products/zingo?_pos=1&_sid=4de088da7&_ss=r">Zingo Matching Game</a>-this is another one of those super simple games that packs a powerful developmental punch. The game is a child-friendly version of Bingo where kids will increase their vocabulary while working on developing visual motor and visual perceptual skills, matching skills and improving hand-eye coordination. The kids love when it's their turn and they can slide the Zinger tile holder (which is great for developing fine motor and manipulation skills) to reveal two tiles and then the race for the players to grab tiles that match pictures on their board. Playing games with kids at home, and playing fairly, is crucial for developing healthy peer relationships. I always encourage parents to play fairly when at home so kids learn how to be both a good winner and a good loser when they are playing with friends. </p><p>13. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B076MNT766/ref=as_li_ss_tl?SubscriptionId=AKIAJO7E5OLQ67NVPFZA&ascsubtag=534523884-2-1060466129.1636219239&tag=shopperz_origin1-20">Easel</a>-this is another one of those investment pieces but one that will last forever. My daughter got an easel for her first birthday and used it for years and years. I encourage getting one that has multiple options such as a magnetic dry erase board, chalkboard and one that has a rod on top to hold a roll of painting paper. Working on an upright surface such as an easel is really great for development and helps with increasing upper extremity strength and encourages appropriate grasp on writing instruments.</p><p>14. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/">Ooly Art Supplies</a>-Ooly is my go-to art supplies company. If you were to come to my office you would see that I have tried just about everything of theirs. I believe that good and well-made art supplies are important in encouraging creativity and interest in drawing, coloring, etc. with little kids. One of my favorite gifts to give young children is a collection of art supplies. Below, I will list a handful of my favorite Ooly products perfect for those little hands:</p><p>a. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/products/mighty-mega-markers">Mighty Mega Markers</a>-these brightly colored markers are a perfect height and width for little hands. I find young kids, especially those with decreased grasp strength, are much more successful when using markers because it doesn't require as much work on their end. Because these markers are thicker than most, they encourage children to use a more appropriate grasp on the marker. </p><p>b. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/collections/crayons/products/brilliant-bee-crayons">Brilliant Bee Crayons</a>-I always encourage parents/educators/caregivers to use smaller, triangular crayons with young kids in order to encourage a proper grasp on crayons. If you find that your kids are still using more of a fisted grip when holding these crayons, make a game out of it and break the crayons into smaller pieces. The smaller the crayon, the more likely it is they will use a tripod-like grasp. </p><p>c. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/collections/paint/products/chunkies-paint-sticks-classic-pack-set-of-6">Chunkies Paint Stix</a>-these are great for kids who have decreased grasp strength as they don't require a lot of pressure to make marks on paper. These brightly colored stix are easy to hold, dry easily and are far less messy than traditional paints. </p><p>15. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/rolimate-Suction-Eggshell-Storage-Design/dp/B08T1HNSR3/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=suction+cup+toys+for+toddlers&qid=1636220673&qsid=146-5065211-4094331&sprefix=suction+cup+toys+%2Caps%2C96&sr=8-7&sres=B07VWLSM88%2CB00DEBB3N0%2CB08T1HNSR3%2CB095C9QLJH%2CB01JH887BY%2CB08XWRSWSF%2CB092S24B41%2CB08ZCKZKSY%2CB079CHXD52%2CB01M1YKAT9%2CB0963QQ5PQ%2CB001R5TJ8G%2CB08X1YQ2N9%2CB01GIJGIVG%2CB01CU8NS26%2CB095P2C2VF%2CB08SW3FVRX%2CB08W3W3TCV%2CB09F3LSK45%2CB08YWN8Y71">Suction Cup Animal Toys</a>-I have shared Squigz suction cup toys every year on my gift guide and while I still love them and gift them to so many people, I have become obsessed with these creature toys. This 36-piece set of animals comes in an adorable and convenient egg-shaped storage container. These cute little suckers can stick to each other and a variety of surfaces including windows, mirrors, bath tub walls, high chairs and so much more. Kids work on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improve hand-eye coordination and improve play and imagination skills. </p><p>16. <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/products/lalaboom-snap-beads?_pos=8&_sid=f13f51f0c&_ss=r">Lalaboom Snap Beads</a>-pop beads or snap beads (whatever you call them) have been a staple in my closet for years and years but I got rid of my traditional pop-beads when I discovered these. This set of snap beads not only works on bilateral coordination by pushing together and pulling apart the large beads, each bead is two pieces that kids can twist and turn to mix and match with other beads which is awesome for the development of fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills. Each part of the beads offers a different tactile experience which is awesome for little hands and they are BPA-free so if you have a teething kiddo, you don't have to worry about them putting them in their mouths. </p><p>17. <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/products/innybin?_pos=24&_sid=f13f51f0c&_ss=r">Inny Bin</a>-I truly love this baby toy and wish I had had it at the ready for when my daughter was little. Leave it to <a href="www.fatbraintoys.com ">Fat Brain Toys</a> to come up with a simple but brilliant toy that encourages sensory exploration, object manipulation and problem solving for your babies. The Inny Bin comes with 6 shapes with varying textures which they have to pull out and push back into the bright colored elastic bands. What's really nice about this toy is that you can use whatever objects you want and that you know will motivate your curious little ones. I have put Frozen figurines, trains and cars and other character toys in it and it's always worked like a charm! </p><p>18. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Playskool-PLA-Busy-Poppin-Pals/dp/B081DN9ZMB/ref=dp_prsubs_1?pd_rd_i=B081DN9ZMB&psc=1">Busy Poppin' Pals Pop Up Toy</a>-cause and effect toys are timeless and should be part of every babies toy choices. Introduce this toy to babies while they are in tummy-time and do hand-over-hand assistance for the five buttons. Babies and toddlers learn about problem solving, cause and effect and grasping and manipulation skills as the figure out how each animal comes out of their boxes. I love that this toy is still around and have witnessed the joy it continues to bring kids after all of these years! I remember having the Sesame Street one as a child and am really happy that simple cause and effect toys are still being made. </p><p>19.<a href="https://www.jaqjaqbird.com/products/reusable-erasable-paper"> Jaq-Jaq Bird Reusable and Erasable Paper and Markers</a>-over the last couple of years, I have begun to be more conscious of how much paper I use during my sessions and have been trying to alternate ways to have kids practice drawing and writing. I have been so happy with this reusable/erasable and feel better that I am not throwing away tons of paper every day. The set comes with 10 pieces of double sided sheets of paper that you can use chalk markers, gel crayons, traditional chalk or the Jaq Jaq <a href="https://www.jaqjaqbird.com/products/mini-wishy-washy-markers-12-pcs?_pos=2&_sid=8ffed2efb&_ss=r">Wishy Washy Markers</a>. These clean easily with a wet paper towel or a baby wipe. The paper is lightweight and durable so it's perfect for on-the-go entertainment to keep kids busy while waiting for an appointment, out to dinner or while traveling. </p><p>20. <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/1057608867/multicultural-alphabet-peg-dolls?ref=shop_home_active_9&frs=1]">Multicultural Alphabet Peg Dolls</a>-SOOOO obsessed with this peg doll set and just might have to add it to my work collection! I have a set of rainbow peg dolls at work and it's one of the most asked for toys to play with. While many still believe in teaching the alphabet to young ones the traditional way like flashcards, I believe that kids learn better through play and exploration. So when I stumbled on these peg dolls, I knew that they were going on this year's list. The set includes 26 peg dolls with uppercase letters on one side and lowercase on the others and comes in 6 different skin tones. Another investment piece that your children will go back to for years and. years. Be sure to check out all of the beautiful products from this Etsy store owner, <a href="https://www.etsy.com/shop/TwentyTwoTurtledoves?ref=simple-shop-header-name&listing_id=979717822">Twenty-two Turtledoves</a>. In addition to working on learning and identifying upper and lowercase letters, playing with peg dolls encourages creativity and imagination skills. </p><p>I have tried to link some of my favorite local toy stores whenever I could as I have always found it very important to support our local businesses but even more so now. Many of the items listed above are ones that I have seen in most toy stores I have visited all over the place. And since are all hearing about shipping nightmares and problems with supply chain, why not take out some of the stress and support your local stores where you don't have to worry about toys arriving on time. If you are shopping for family members who are not local, find out their local toy stores and see if you can shop from there. If you are in the NYC area, be sure to check out the following stores: <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/">Lulu's Cuts and Toys</a>, <a href="https://littlethingstoystore.com/">Little Things Toy Store,</a> <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a>, <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/">Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store</a>, <a href="https://www.westsidekidsnyc.com/">West Side Kids</a>, <a href="https://stationeryandtoy.com/">Stationary and Toy World</a>, <a href="https://www.maryarnoldtoys.com/">Mary Arnold Toys</a>, <a href="https://kiddingaroundtoys.com/">Kidding Around Toys</a> and <a href="https://www.boomerangtoys.com/">Boomerang Toys</a>. </p><p>If you are looking for specific ideas for your kids or kids on your shopping list, please do not hesitate reaching out to me for suggestions. I have so many more thoughts on great gifts for the important toddlers in your life. I am only an email away at otmeghan@gmail.com and love to hear from and help in any way I can. </p>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-57731490118515419552020-12-07T11:01:00.002-08:002020-12-07T11:01:21.597-08:002020 Holiday Gift Guides-Toys and Such <div class="separator"></div><div class="separator"></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wt2jcSRMI-HXrJGr5ooGnGfA9dbDjqTkMAuS0h6DRChVQSjvSwbRKgLs8vvWDhlajgLdEUiy4Z1ug56WYs4owqNTiTJFaHRY5wfhtJcBryQt4GUNkDAI3ELXxhTYjzop2Bsj-Cz25hav/s645/fa251_1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div><div>For some reason, it was harder to put this list together this year. As I am finishing it up, I am realizing that I was trying my absolute hardest to curate a list of toys that are not just for particular age groups, but also ones that would grow with your child and be good for family play. In this crazy year, I have heard from so many parents that they would rather get their children fewer but more meaningful gifts so as I was putting this list together, I was thinking about things that I would have wanted for my own daughter when she was younger. I was also mindful about sharing gifts this year that were more sensory and provided more hands-on learning opportunities since another concern parents had this year was to limit the gifts that they purchased that would have them on a screen of some sort. Another aspect of all these toys is that they can be used in multiple ways in order to work on a variety of skills based on what your child's interests and developmental needs might be. The last thing I wanted to include were open-ended toys that allow children to use their creativity and imagination instead of having to follow exact rules and expectations. I have found that in the last several months that kids are feeling a lack of control (rightly so) and that during my sessions I want to provide the comfort of providing them with structure and routine while also giving them choices at the same time. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="clear: right; float: right; font-family: inherit; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wt2jcSRMI-HXrJGr5ooGnGfA9dbDjqTkMAuS0h6DRChVQSjvSwbRKgLs8vvWDhlajgLdEUiy4Z1ug56WYs4owqNTiTJFaHRY5wfhtJcBryQt4GUNkDAI3ELXxhTYjzop2Bsj-Cz25hav/w200-h200/fa251_1.jpg" width="200" /></span><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/innybin.cfm">Innybin</a>-Fat Brain Toys creates some of my all time favorite sensory exploration toys for the little ones on your list who aren't quite ready for your traditional shape sorter. Young kids push different large textured shapes through a bunch of elastic bands and then try and retrieve them. This simple toy works on the development of so many essential skills for children between 6 months and 2 years such as encouraging fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, provides an opportunity for sensory/tactile exploration and begins to teach young kids about cause and effect. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotoQPrKxVr8faFm5_uXcDjngR_UTPB91qhY0cx6Z8UUlwdRLikr7a-mWd4uBjENt9n-xiOiTUwF3oevbFHPfWhsVWzJIhU7OaIihMXEOnAapysgOmhxabn7VahOoV6s0Gf0QB5EYFpuRn/s275/images.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgotoQPrKxVr8faFm5_uXcDjngR_UTPB91qhY0cx6Z8UUlwdRLikr7a-mWd4uBjENt9n-xiOiTUwF3oevbFHPfWhsVWzJIhU7OaIihMXEOnAapysgOmhxabn7VahOoV6s0Gf0QB5EYFpuRn/w133-h200/images.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.roseandrex.com/products/avdar-pastel-stacking-tower">Wooden Pastel Stacking Tower</a>-who isn't familiar with the old-school Fisher-Price Rainbow Stacking toy from my childhood? Even if you are way younger than me, you know what toy I am talking about. Over the years, I have become a huge fan of wooden toys so when I saw this beautiful stacking toy by <a href="https://avdar.toys/">Avdar Toys </a>on the <a href="https://www.roseandrex.com/">Rose & Rex</a> shop, I was sold. Stacking toys, while so simple, are a perfect addition to any baby/toddlers toy collection. Even before we can expect them to stack them in order, we want provide children with opportunities to explore and manipulate different sized objects. Next we want them to be able to pick the rings up and place them on the stand and eventually be able to place them in the right order. In addition to working on fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, stacking towers work on developing hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and problem solving skills. </span><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgy7Cn49zCYqM5RkrAiDCE2DSF9iGpiu4pFvnzGn-3T8WcjI1kz_0BXaHij2otRJ6snYzphel7F_zVeRKXj1C00hNMQpKAXSva7t_qRQ1G2-3xfKq9O2pZHD3TWBI6xGVYSI6XGv6zTHU/s328/download.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="328" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgy7Cn49zCYqM5RkrAiDCE2DSF9iGpiu4pFvnzGn-3T8WcjI1kz_0BXaHij2otRJ6snYzphel7F_zVeRKXj1C00hNMQpKAXSva7t_qRQ1G2-3xfKq9O2pZHD3TWBI6xGVYSI6XGv6zTHU/w320-h150/download.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lalaboom-056312-lalaboom-Assembly/dp/B07CBGX3H8/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2VJNMPRQVN3DD&dchild=1&keywords=lalaboom+snap+beads&qid=1607359022&sprefix=lalaboom+%2Caps%2C289&sr=8-2">Lalaboom Snap Beads</a>-there are a few things that should always be part of a toddler's toy collection and snap beads are definitely one of those things. I have been using and gifting the Lalaboom beads for a few years now and really them because they are more than just pop beads and do so much more than the traditional ones. They can be used with children as young as 6-8 months (depending on when they begin to sit up unassisted) and because of their very special design, can be used with toddlers and even preschoolers. This set of 15 colored beads come in a variety of textures which encourages sensory exploration for younger children. Each bead can be twisted into two pieces and be mixed and matched with the other beads in the set. These are also designed so that kids can stack them and build with them and also have holes in them so you can string them with the provided needle and string in the kit. In addition to working on fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, they are great for working on encouraging bilateral and hand-eye coordination, increased upper body strength and when used for open-ended play, encourages creativity, imagination and problem solving skills. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKiEZKYreL7zEpMHudYkmMpt5VJ5BiXuBj_v9FUyblHiHyIv-4WgiGbAUjkLbLZ3ITmcqBKKlfhXeMBbDk0DUEWFYwb8NDZzSji2GyLwzZQ088PJhcaTPPQ_wcF4XXni0YyXZiTc-2WiV/s1500/91uE1iQW3tL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="1500" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqKiEZKYreL7zEpMHudYkmMpt5VJ5BiXuBj_v9FUyblHiHyIv-4WgiGbAUjkLbLZ3ITmcqBKKlfhXeMBbDk0DUEWFYwb8NDZzSji2GyLwzZQ088PJhcaTPPQ_wcF4XXni0YyXZiTc-2WiV/w200-h191/91uE1iQW3tL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Lalaboom-BL710-Developmental-Montessori-Dishwasher/dp/B07ZDNFXH2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=lalaboom+pegboard&qid=1607359389&sr=8-1">Lalaboom Pegboard</a>-piggybacking on the Lalaboom Snap Beads, I have to share this cool pegboard that you can using the beads. It actually just arrived and I can't wait to test it out with my kids at work this week. Unlike the traditional pegboards where you push the peg in/pull the peg out, you have to twist these beads on and off the board. This set comes with 1 pegboard, 5-double sided cards and 10 beads of various colors and textures. One of the things that I love about this company and these products is that they about how toys can grown with the children. For babies, just being able to play and manipulate the beads is the purpose. As they get older, around 18 months, the goal is for kids to be able to screw and unscrew the beads into the matching colors on the board. This toy works on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, visual motor and visual perceptual skills., encourages bilateral and hand-eye coordination and executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, problem solving and organizational skills. A bonus is that they are safe for teething babies to chew on and easy to clean. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oEDlWXyMKCJ8qiQxVhG94XIQ1aGnjiFPxFteh_VZ_VRNhN-riDjinYPutuqLagpIyXaq82r2NaIHi1iJOAHiXmpgsNX1i4Iy2NavOf5UJ_a-DTfyXBeekkQKOP99h19aQQ07tgA5VOby/s640/A1NE_1_20121002_63311920.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oEDlWXyMKCJ8qiQxVhG94XIQ1aGnjiFPxFteh_VZ_VRNhN-riDjinYPutuqLagpIyXaq82r2NaIHi1iJOAHiXmpgsNX1i4Iy2NavOf5UJ_a-DTfyXBeekkQKOP99h19aQQ07tgA5VOby/w200-h150/A1NE_1_20121002_63311920.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/peekaboo-lock-boxes.html">Peekaboo Lock Boxes</a>-This take on shape sorters is one my absolute favorite things at my gym. First of all, it's beautiful and sturdy and can be used for so much more than just a shape sorting toy. It can be used to build and stack with and encourages sensory and fine motor exploration. Kids not only have to find the correct place to put each shape, they also have to match the colored boxes to the correct spot on the board. Each box also has a different latch or fastener that they need figure out how to open and close which is great for working on the development of fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills. There are also opportunities for open-ended play using the blocks, the shapes and the board which is great for working on critical thinking, problem solving and imagination. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PfO9axQByBtg4R7e3dYK_lb6PrD5pIZv6nHavZyyU_1CGEog3vkrJURzDm5LJ0LQlM2k0_xXpXqTo0XlVGsbhoM8VBfZ5kdgnXDjKZMerkpfH2IDUpRTPf0D79hkmU_vpJL5PtvMGVqW/s645/md3151.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0PfO9axQByBtg4R7e3dYK_lb6PrD5pIZv6nHavZyyU_1CGEog3vkrJURzDm5LJ0LQlM2k0_xXpXqTo0XlVGsbhoM8VBfZ5kdgnXDjKZMerkpfH2IDUpRTPf0D79hkmU_vpJL5PtvMGVqW/w200-h200/md3151.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Poke-Alphabet-Learning/dp/B08KSB1T2Z/ref=sr_1_5?crid=IQIE2WK3L3FO&dchild=1&keywords=poke+a+dot+alphabet+cards&qid=1607363389&sprefix=poke+a+dot+alphabet+ca%2Caps%2C155&sr=8-5">Poke-A-Dot Alphabet </a>and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Melissa-Doug-Poke-Number-Learning/dp/B08KSBVMQM/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/139-4094317-8447341?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B08KSBVMQM&pd_rd_r=5c1df513-b8ab-459b-86a8-8f84999e1a86&pd_rd_w=LUmZe&pd_rd_wg=CUlKy&pf_rd_p=f325d01c-4658-4593-be83-3e12ca663f0e&pf_rd_r=FVWGVG6QDC3BY7QTR06B&psc=1&refRID=FVWGVG6QDC3BY7QTR06B">Number Cards</a>-I have loved the Melissa and Doug <a href="https://www.blogger.com/u/1/blog/post/edit/5329915946896790048/5773149011851541955#"><span class="s1" style="color: #dca10d;">Poke-A-Dot</span></a> books forever and when I saw these cards at a local pharmacy I was really excited to share them on this years gift guide. These jumbo-sized Poke-A-Dot alphabet and number cards are a hands-on, sensory based learning tool that will encourage fine motor and manipulation skills at the same time. Each set includes 13 sturdy, double-sided cards with letters/numbers with pictures/objects that correspond to each letter/number on the card. These are also great for language development, encourage counting skills and improve hand-eye coordination skills. Great for on-the-go learning and fun for your toddlers and preschoolers. </span><p></p><div><p></p><p></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/42-piece-set-in-blossom.html"></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/42-piece-set-in-blossom.html"></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqrlzQ6XfO4yXbbtOgGdxUFH5aSvoLHrRjDcN7kntvxClygq_oDEVn5ArE_yRO9LkU94XZgPS0GR64BO-lD5Yt4M7SZ8fLG7sJsry8QFYyjjJ6_190E0nYozR5Ls_9iP1gS_GqW7z-2M7/s272/images-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="272" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqrlzQ6XfO4yXbbtOgGdxUFH5aSvoLHrRjDcN7kntvxClygq_oDEVn5ArE_yRO9LkU94XZgPS0GR64BO-lD5Yt4M7SZ8fLG7sJsry8QFYyjjJ6_190E0nYozR5Ls_9iP1gS_GqW7z-2M7/w200-h200/images-2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/search.php?search_query=tegu&section=product">Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks</a>-these magnetic blocks have been part of my gift guides for years. They were also one of the first sets of blocks that I got my daughter years ago and they are still in absolutely perfect condition. When I first began working in private practice, I was working with a child with cerebral palsy who was interested in playing with blocks but didn't have the control to play with them successfully. I went on a hunt to find something that would work and stumbled upon the Tegu blocks and was intrigued by the magnetic aspect and if he would have more success. I won't ever forget the look on his face as he played with the blocks for the first time. I have been recommending these blocks for years and years and personally give them as gifts to so many of my friends and family who have babies. Great for working on improving grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination and works on developing visual motor and visual perceptual skills, and encourages creativity and imagination. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzOh-m0M5JlO5VrJpuVGbHg1PfLjTaewqUj3vC0HlL0j1utI_bIbULIhE_qIaRCyQdwp_ofN4cfT4505WVyinHc6sXRVIheM99Sh7JRoFkd4hS8gs7I4Fl_QAsW9nm-9HkFpquMWmgru-/s1200/OioiooiAlphabetWoodenBlockSet21.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzOh-m0M5JlO5VrJpuVGbHg1PfLjTaewqUj3vC0HlL0j1utI_bIbULIhE_qIaRCyQdwp_ofN4cfT4505WVyinHc6sXRVIheM99Sh7JRoFkd4hS8gs7I4Fl_QAsW9nm-9HkFpquMWmgru-/w200-h200/OioiooiAlphabetWoodenBlockSet21.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/alphabet-play-blocks.html?nosto=frontpage-nosto-1">Alphabet Play Blocks</a>/<a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/numbers-play-block-set.html">Numbers Play Blocks Set</a>-if I had to choose one thing for you to buy out of <br />everything on this list, I would have to put these at the top of my list. Just like some of the previous toys, the alphabet and number blocks are considered an investment toy and will last forever. When I first saw these posted on Instagram, it took me all of 5 seconds to order them, even though I wasn't working with children in person. The alphabet blocks were the first new toy I introduced to my kids when I began working with them in person and they have been a a huge hit with kids of all ages! They love being able to find the object that matches with each letter, putting the letters in order and playing with some of the object blocks. They get kids excited to learn about letters and numbers and can be used to encourage learning how to write. Grownups will be as excited to play with these blocks as their kids! </span></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE47nYnnqTcq8OepQ2la4SpjgVkuD2LegEte4O0ZsPJjgxvzcT2HCC0G17DzI7kd5Dwtc61xInErZoaaRmwH6CClykVOcnBaEWMqFtzdknrM6GfHkvJA0Fzl1GrxIBFizSayEIaDUjKxq/s1390/ELMO4-1-e1595275321789.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="712" data-original-width="1390" height="103" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXE47nYnnqTcq8OepQ2la4SpjgVkuD2LegEte4O0ZsPJjgxvzcT2HCC0G17DzI7kd5Dwtc61xInErZoaaRmwH6CClykVOcnBaEWMqFtzdknrM6GfHkvJA0Fzl1GrxIBFizSayEIaDUjKxq/w200-h103/ELMO4-1-e1595275321789.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span><a href="https://www.magnatiles.com/">Magna-Tiles</a>-</span>another staple to my holiday gift guide. MagnaTiles are pricey but worth the investment and will last you for a lifetime. My daughter is 10 years old and we still have her original set of MagnaTiles and are still in perfect condition. She may not use them as much but they are pulled out from time to time. MagnaTiles are also a huge hit with my kids in my social skills group and are a great tool to encourage creativity and imagination skills while also working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination. I like to have my kids at work use different characters and work together to build something for them to then play with the dolls. For example, I have seen kids use them to build a castle for the Disney Princess Magic Clip Dolls. It's so fun to watch them not only create together, but then come up with a story for the princesses. My new favorites are <a href="https://www.magnatiles.com/magna-tiles-structures/">Magna-Tile Structures</a>. These new Magna Tile sets have images on them such as Sesame Street characters, Eric Carle stories, Build-A-Bear Workshop sets and a series of vehicles and buildings. </span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUNRIHDErPKJi6TDKRMBMDYXrfkdbgPbVANdFvlqtp_aHDUvuWZtGFbZcBrL4XnbkFHa-MSNYZrv2Bjn-61nD-CJO1Hj8yengu1YiglivEllaev0dChkAVv29m0R9r7tPyo4wYzKzsq9B/s1398/lf.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1398" data-original-width="1398" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtUNRIHDErPKJi6TDKRMBMDYXrfkdbgPbVANdFvlqtp_aHDUvuWZtGFbZcBrL4XnbkFHa-MSNYZrv2Bjn-61nD-CJO1Hj8yengu1YiglivEllaev0dChkAVv29m0R9r7tPyo4wYzKzsq9B/w200-h200/lf.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Big-Game-Toys-LITE-Screen-Premium/dp/B07G2LMNYY/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=classic+lite+brite&qid=1606965999&sr=8-4">Lite-Brite</a><span>-I have been using some of the newer versions of the Lite Brite in my private practice for years, but there is nothing quite like the simplicity of the original one. Some of the newer versions of Lite-Brite have had different shaped pegs which I found were sometimes challenging for the younger kids to manipulate independently. This updated version that resembles the original Lite-Brite but is now bigger and brighter, offers four different light options and comes with more pegs. It comes with 6 design templates but you can go to their <a href="https://www.basicfun.com/litebrite/index.html">website</a> to download more options and you can create your own designs. Lite-Brite is great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and task completion. I love that it also allows children to come up with their own creations and I have used it to have kids practice how to make shapes, letters and numbers. </span></span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtt7HlOu2svsjwyajvTZHds8yT4KeqqU6gsFjmgjZGwy6rrbXGk408Q7zPHqwbXxTCouMIOcieo9ckl7CKzOZ4aeeAPHqu8v1Z-p8BOH925c3dC6-lSUCzM956mbn8HT1g3rtwITjGLU2/s900/wobbel-balance-board-wobbel-original-forest-transparent-lacquer-with-felt-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="900" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQtt7HlOu2svsjwyajvTZHds8yT4KeqqU6gsFjmgjZGwy6rrbXGk408Q7zPHqwbXxTCouMIOcieo9ckl7CKzOZ4aeeAPHqu8v1Z-p8BOH925c3dC6-lSUCzM956mbn8HT1g3rtwITjGLU2/w200-h200/wobbel-balance-board-wobbel-original-forest-transparent-lacquer-with-felt-2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/search.php?search_query=wobbel&section=product">Wobbel Balance Board</a>-one thing I have noticed about the pandemic is that there is a definite increase in children's sensory seeking behaviors. Starting in March, our kids had to adjust to so many changes with the most drastic one being that they stopped going to school in person. Until the stay at home orders happened all over the country, our kids were used to a very stimulating and active life. All of a sudden, their lives went digital and Zoom school, therapy and playdates were the new normal. When I made the switch to remote therapy, one of the first things I asked many of my families to order was the Wobbel Board. I have had one for my own daughter for years and I wanted my kiddos to have more opportunities to move during their remote school day and to use during our online sessions. It's also been a really good tool for me to add more gross motor and motor planning activities into my virtual sessions. If you go onto their website, you can download and print out a set of <a href="https://www.wobbel.eu/en/wobbelcards/">activity cards</a> which have been a big hit with my kids. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjAqHEUBvxQP_Oxx-hcbfdjMdURjXjFFxK5x9KwK2KNfPI9NNrYHyVF8kzv7DTwoHG4NuZD41gNmokogGthsnYRMVfxk7EKa7HCUKbSfB43JE189j2asxOoLcvRMJocLX8guUh_UFadOq/s1456/1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1456" data-original-width="1092" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjAqHEUBvxQP_Oxx-hcbfdjMdURjXjFFxK5x9KwK2KNfPI9NNrYHyVF8kzv7DTwoHG4NuZD41gNmokogGthsnYRMVfxk7EKa7HCUKbSfB43JE189j2asxOoLcvRMJocLX8guUh_UFadOq/w150-h200/1.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><a href="https://www.hopelearningtoys.com/product-page/natural-building-blocks-waldorf-construction-toy">Natural Building Blocks</a>-I love this handcrafted set of building blocks from Hope Learning Toys. Using natural birch and oak, these blocks open young minds to creative play and construction. Varying sized blocks make each play time new and engaging. 100% safe and all natural, they are sealed with beeswax. The 30 piece set comes with a gorgeous handmade woven basket for storage. In addition to working on creative play, children work on developing imagination, creativity and problem solving skills which are critical skills for developing confidence, self-esteem and lead to appropriate socialization skills with peers. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2muyt7bO-izVODyeQC6q-GCzd6S-TxF5AXVUqE_53Os4hvk0SEruja8mxZR446flBJgkT5pw8SOR_Q7zabLd4qlGP_9fyYqz1BHFIlgfdh8DYd6PadTZk_W3QH8OIEYudMQtKPczpBMhO/s570/il_570xN.1955507121_szvy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="570" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2muyt7bO-izVODyeQC6q-GCzd6S-TxF5AXVUqE_53Os4hvk0SEruja8mxZR446flBJgkT5pw8SOR_Q7zabLd4qlGP_9fyYqz1BHFIlgfdh8DYd6PadTZk_W3QH8OIEYudMQtKPczpBMhO/w200-h133/il_570xN.1955507121_szvy.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.roseandrex.com/products/color-sorting-wooden-rainbow">Color Sorting Wooden Rainbow</a>-I am a complete sucker for rainbow themed toys so when I saw this color sorting rainbow, I couldn't add it to my toy arsenal fast enough. Kids work on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and so much more while putting the colored pom-poms in the matching color of the rainbow. In addition to fine motor skills, kids are working on visual perceptual skills, hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination, matching, sequencing and executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and task completion. Here are a few things you can do to mix things up when using the rainbow: pick up pom-poms up with a set of kid's chopsticks/<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Stick-Elephant-Chop-Sticks/dp/B001AW4U7Q/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=zoo+sticks&qid=1607197059&sr=8-2">Zoo Sticks</a>; have them roll a dice and count out that number of pom-poms to put in the rainbow. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3ffJxN8klqmkU5PAsrG0bimfRgYXJ6VBV2EfeZ6Y5bdVCVjDsg7Es4eHYqmc7jNYhpnC8OcIV8GEDXGIsAr5RBQpf07T766-uaNgfVvx3NYL7ScVeJptRN12_gkA86freg63fsSpzyzK/s570/il_570xN.2370910726_5qr8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="570" data-original-width="570" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc3ffJxN8klqmkU5PAsrG0bimfRgYXJ6VBV2EfeZ6Y5bdVCVjDsg7Es4eHYqmc7jNYhpnC8OcIV8GEDXGIsAr5RBQpf07T766-uaNgfVvx3NYL7ScVeJptRN12_gkA86freg63fsSpzyzK/w200-h200/il_570xN.2370910726_5qr8.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.roseandrex.com/collections/playitforward-collection-for-alliance-of-moms/products/wooden-number-tray-set">Wooden Tray Number Set</a>-I am absolutely obsessed with these number trays and have used them in so many ways with my kids at work. Obviously, they are great for teaching younger children numbers, but they can be used to help them learn how to write their numbers, count, sort, sequence, etc. This set of 10 handcrafted number trays are used to engage early math skills through play and exploration. I like to use them combined with some kind of fine motor activity such as using <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Zoo-Stick-Elephant-Chop-Sticks/dp/B001AW4U7Q/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=zoo+sticks&qid=1607197059&sr=8-2">Zoo Sticks</a> to pick up small objects and place the correct number of objects in the tray. Encourage sensory exploration by filling a bowl with different kinds of objects (marbles, beans, pasta, etc.) and have kids sort them into the trays. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oVtLZJW3AItpO566Cql74haxtM2WgWFt2NtC1MyVLDD8SZH0yboIajkRpoH2cQ1c-5EQP4hQycGpC3DUyNOQ-KuYXXEmcs9hihEd594YdPzfj7PcVVO3wdOfHGd3YpJGYAtmbJVZzS5U/s794/c5358854e60ae1300b3ff195a0e3a153.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="794" data-original-width="794" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2oVtLZJW3AItpO566Cql74haxtM2WgWFt2NtC1MyVLDD8SZH0yboIajkRpoH2cQ1c-5EQP4hQycGpC3DUyNOQ-KuYXXEmcs9hihEd594YdPzfj7PcVVO3wdOfHGd3YpJGYAtmbJVZzS5U/w200-h200/c5358854e60ae1300b3ff195a0e3a153.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.roseandrex.com/products/mirus-toys-emotion-wheel">Emotion Wheel</a>-kids (and grownups) are experiencing lots of big feelings these days but may have a hard time expressing them to others. One of the things we do to kick off my social skills group each week is have everyone tell the group how they are feeling. Because it is often difficult for kids to choose an emotion, we have a poster with lots of feelings for them to choose. I fell in love with this Emotion Wheel when I saw it and can't wait to be back in-person and use it with my kids. For those of you who have younger children who doing remote learning, the Emotion Wheel could be a great way for your kids to start their day. At breakfast, everyone in the family can go around and share how they are feeling. This is a great thing to keep out in the open so if your child is experiencing a difficult moment in their day and can't talk about it you can direct them to go over and show you how they are feeling. Once your child is able to identify how they are feeling, you can come up with coping skills and strategies during those difficult time. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E1r7ZchhM70Mj6B4ZS-wdldeOigpDJv2Y2-sJx4ugPiSa-L8BQM1aW9l1aFzPXAEFZzoZhZVRE2QuU49WaqynDYNf-mzisrXrF-NKHAIe4_jepu_5m7xr6uh0rJPZv71c5RayMnXNgJA/s645/fa271_3.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8E1r7ZchhM70Mj6B4ZS-wdldeOigpDJv2Y2-sJx4ugPiSa-L8BQM1aW9l1aFzPXAEFZzoZhZVRE2QuU49WaqynDYNf-mzisrXrF-NKHAIe4_jepu_5m7xr6uh0rJPZv71c5RayMnXNgJA/w200-h200/fa271_3.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/curve_bowl.cfm?tid=email_20201205&utm_source=email_20201205&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=email_20201205">Curve Ball</a>-I am trying to include as many indoor-appropriate gross motor gift options this year since there is a really strong chance our kids will be spending a lot more time inside this winter than normal. Providing your children opportunities for movement during remote learning will help with their focus and attention, help decrease frustration that so many kids are experiencing with all this online learning and build up their confidence and self-esteem. Curve Ball from Fat Brain Toys is a fun game that can be played independently or as a family. Roll the wobbly weighted ball at just the right angle in order to avoid the obstacles to knock down the pin. Kids try and beat the 10 challenges that are included with the game and then can make up their own. Works on improving hand-eye coordination, visual motor skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization, problem solving and critical thinking skills. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxcXs72s_bJqq2LLygRTB0qkR9rvwsHx8HEAoEEjvSWVi4Am9pcPoN5ye65zUWbrcTy9yMXmsuNGdrzSxLj0inBus9XlcS0v-mTQvD3H2SpfcLicWbfbvW6vdH6Jg9rFPEVCsHWZRdFqN/s2048/41907_alt2.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGxcXs72s_bJqq2LLygRTB0qkR9rvwsHx8HEAoEEjvSWVi4Am9pcPoN5ye65zUWbrcTy9yMXmsuNGdrzSxLj0inBus9XlcS0v-mTQvD3H2SpfcLicWbfbvW6vdH6Jg9rFPEVCsHWZRdFqN/w200-h150/41907_alt2.png" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://www.lego.com/en-us/campaigns/dots?ef_id=CjwKCAiA_Kz-BRAJEiwAhJNY78_djJi_0G5yIyoekecEb4rPW_0rqZPdN7byzPWJqkIUWVyfhQwm9RoCeWIQAvD_BwE%3AG%3As&s_kwcid=AL%21790%213%21481088386079%21e%21%21g%21%21lego%20dots&Buffer=&cmp=KAC-INI-GOOGUS-GO-US-EN-RE-PS-BUY-BELIEVE-DOTS-SHOP-BP-EX-RN-XX&gclid=CjwKCAiA_Kz-BRAJEiwAhJNY78_djJi_0G5yIyoekecEb4rPW_0rqZPdN7byzPWJqkIUWVyfhQwm9RoCeWIQAvD_BwE">Lego Dots Kits</a>-I'm constantly on the lookout for toys and craft products that are good for older children and that's exactly where my head went when I discovered the Lego Dots kits. I picked up a couple sets for my once Lego obsessed daughter and was happy to see how into completing them. Kids can explore different ways to express themselves with a different room decor items or bracelets. My daughter loves her jewelry box. What I love about these kits is that they give you directions to make the base of the project (jewelry box, pencil holders, picture frames and bracelets) but then let kids use small, colorful Lego pieces to make the project reflect their personalities. The best part is that if they feel like changing things up, they can easily remove the pieces and re-design it. Great for increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills, works on improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills, improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination and encourages creativity. </span><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSddwy0xS-pWlZtWI7Vbrrm-38jnWS0tnowSODrCnIQGJtOwgmEIrNUmxvKnNZWo51BkVwrLRF9Llq_8fpIBgowLxPDUdjxQR43No9U_ULxMGnK_F6POEn_oF-cJbaSCJ-DnyS-Mso5jOu/s1500/813U-miHSZL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1141" data-original-width="1500" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSddwy0xS-pWlZtWI7Vbrrm-38jnWS0tnowSODrCnIQGJtOwgmEIrNUmxvKnNZWo51BkVwrLRF9Llq_8fpIBgowLxPDUdjxQR43No9U_ULxMGnK_F6POEn_oF-cJbaSCJ-DnyS-Mso5jOu/w200-h152/813U-miHSZL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://kidmademodern.com/collections/arts-crafts/products/arts-and-crafts-library">Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Supply Library</a>-this is one of my favorite arts and crafts collections and love that it is appropriate for children of all ages and developmental levels. This collection comes with over 1000 pieces of art supplies including peg dolls, wooden loose pieces, pipe cleaners, beads, pom-poms, googly eyes and SO much more and come in a sturdy case with a handle so it can be taken on the go. While they give you suggestions on what you can make with the different materials, it is truly and invitation for kids to use their imagination and be creative using a variety of materials. This open-ended craft library allows children to think outside the box and figure out all the different ways they can explore and use materials to create which helps with improving confidence and self-esteem. </span></div><div><br /></div><div>Please be sure to come back and check in on this blog post in the next few days as I will be adding a few other things as they come to my mind. If you are looking for something special for the children in your life, please don't hesitate to reach out to me and I would be happy to make specific suggestions. There is so much more out there and I love helping people find the perfect gifts for the special little ones in their lives. Remember, I am always a <a href="otmeghan@gmail.com ">click away</a> and love hearing from you all. <br /><p></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: small;"><br /></span></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span><br /></div>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-39424482893512601562020-11-30T09:44:00.001-08:002020-11-30T09:44:22.754-08:002020 Gift Guide-Stocking Stuffers and the Small Stuff! <p></p><div>This part of my gift guide is one of my favorite to put together year after year. I try and add as many new items as possible each year but there are some things that are just so good that they must be included year after year. I have included all kinds of fun smaller gifts/stocking stuffers that can be good for kids of all ages and work on a ton of occupational therapy and other developmental skills. You will see there is a real mix of craft kits, sensory materials and toys, games and so much more. One of the things I did was find things that you can find in many of your local toy or gift stores (and please, please, please support your local small businesses this holiday season). Many of these are actually gifts that I give my own family and friends but they have a home in my therapy closet. For example, the <a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=reusable+sticker+scenes">Ooly Play Again Reusable Stickers</a> are a favorite of the kids during my therapy session and the kids have absolutely no idea that we are working on improving fine motor and grasping skills, visual motor and perceptual skills while encouraging play and language skills. Every single one of these gifts works on multiple skills. I also tried to include things that keep kids off screens since there is so much screen time these days with remote learning and therapy. In a time where we all feel like there is so much we can't control, we can be more mindful about what kinds of toys, games and craft materials we have available for our children. Another thing I was really happy to include were mindfulness and random acts of kindness cards. We all need to spend time not only taking care of ourselves, but making sure that children develop coping skills during this really unconventional time. </div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9Ivo3Gv4ivTx8T8euQy5NDvgIL2v7qN6k4ie3iKjLEp1BhgExN-KxfxHjT5W-I4oKzoexC5LSfbZKa2aBJVm7bXwzV1td59ZyXE_9iUxb0xRp025LDrdc6vion_AaSYsvX9SWStmwZNL/s2048/IMG_7293.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD9Ivo3Gv4ivTx8T8euQy5NDvgIL2v7qN6k4ie3iKjLEp1BhgExN-KxfxHjT5W-I4oKzoexC5LSfbZKa2aBJVm7bXwzV1td59ZyXE_9iUxb0xRp025LDrdc6vion_AaSYsvX9SWStmwZNL/w640-h640/IMG_7293.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>1. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=reusable+sticker+scenes">Ooly Play Again Reusable Stickers</a><div>2. <a href="https://puttyworld.com/collections/shop-all-thinking-putty">Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty</a><span> </span></div><div>3. <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/rainbow-weaving-kit">Kid Made Modern Rainbow Weaving Kit</a><span> </span></div><div>4. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/pocket-crayons-cars.html">Goober Car Pocket Crayons</a></div><div>5. <a href="https://tweemade.com/collections/shoptwee">Twee Chalk</a><span> </span></div><div>6. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/all-of-us-crayons.html">All of Us Crayons</a></div><div>7. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Schylling-Super-Nee-Random-Color/dp/B07KRL5KF8/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=super+nee+doh+ball&qid=1606668857&sr=8-2">Super Nee Doh Ball</a></div><div>8. <a href="https://shop.crayola.com/brands/scribble-scrubbie-pets">Crayola Scribble Scrubbie Pets</a></div><div>9. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Potato-Head-Chips-Original/dp/B07VP6LF9Z/ref=sr_1_59?crid=2IQ5LPUG188YL&dchild=1&keywords=mini+mr.+potato+head+toys&qid=1606095826&sprefix=mini+mr.+p%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-59">Mr. Potato Head Chips Mini Doll</a></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0Acu4VUqOHnk7t4C98bTgNwmwPCJJKCeU95q7yDrZtSf_Rm3c8x4SBGfNdZ_XJZq6ItNdv7R5N4VOhgL_pp1uBPYGd2PxhqoiXLECRw3dEamzNwKEBdzQ-02-aKguqGbaMB2WnscidvB/s2048/IMG_7314.JPG" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV0Acu4VUqOHnk7t4C98bTgNwmwPCJJKCeU95q7yDrZtSf_Rm3c8x4SBGfNdZ_XJZq6ItNdv7R5N4VOhgL_pp1uBPYGd2PxhqoiXLECRw3dEamzNwKEBdzQ-02-aKguqGbaMB2WnscidvB/w640-h640/IMG_7314.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. <a href="https://www.jaqjaqbird.com/products/reusable-erasable-paper">Jaq Jaq Bird Reusable and Erasable Paper Paper</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/the-dollhouse-book.html">The Dollhouse Book</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. <a href="https://www.jaqjaqbird.com/collections/bored-boards">Jaq Jaq Bird Bored Boards</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">4. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hog-Wild-Sticks-Party-Pack/dp/B0026P4ZQM">Zoo Sticks</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nee-Doh-Schylling-Squishy-Stretchy-Complete/dp/B07YCTRJ86/ref=sr_1_22_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=schylling+bubble+ball&qid=1606685981&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-22-spons&psc=1&smid=A2TR0RQGQD04TR&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExNzRHRjgxUjJBNlBEJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjAwMzkzMzRVRkVKVjROVkJOViZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDE5Mjk0MkxYTExPSFQxMUtJVSZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2J0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=">Bubble Ball</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/peanut-crayons.html">Goober Peanut Crayons</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/collections/on-the-go-craft-kits/products/on-the-go-coloring-kit-v4">Kid Made Modern On The Go Coloring Kit</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">8. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=scratch+and+scribble+scratch+art+kit">OOLY Scratch and Scribble Kits</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">9. <a href="https://www.jaqjaqbird.com/products/doodle-it-and-go-erasable-book">Jaq Jaq Bird Doodle It and Go Erasable Book </a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePYtIthAMHMA7VZQFTbcfTzLUAmm9wdvIM_LenpO-A5EuzxVtGPudtoB7l3Gjgl5O2vW3NL2tq_n2LfaRP1_Zz86D3UGfWpSFcDZkTuC8cl3wNTwiZkRa_Dkw86KXzSLYXw7hozVnfJZf/s2048/IMG_7325.JPG" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePYtIthAMHMA7VZQFTbcfTzLUAmm9wdvIM_LenpO-A5EuzxVtGPudtoB7l3Gjgl5O2vW3NL2tq_n2LfaRP1_Zz86D3UGfWpSFcDZkTuC8cl3wNTwiZkRa_Dkw86KXzSLYXw7hozVnfJZf/w640-h640/IMG_7325.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;">1.<a href="https://www.landofdough.com/"> Land of Dough Playdough</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">2. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Me-Compendium-Fill-Journal-Society/dp/0553459791/ref=sr_1_2?crid=26GXXB0B1IJNQ&dchild=1&keywords=me+a+compendium&qid=1606689799&sprefix=me+a+compe%2Ctoys-and-games%2C147&sr=8-2">Me: A Compendium Children's Journal</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Petit-Collage-Match-Magnetic-Robots/dp/B078LDPQ6X/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=robot+remix+magnetic&qid=1606687415&sr=8-2">Robot Remix Magnetic Play Set</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/kiko-wakka-game-yellow-pouch.html">Kiko + Wakka Game</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Schylling-Strechable-Colorful-Noodles-Bucket/dp/B08586CNRS/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=schylling+noodles&qid=1606689213&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-1">Sensory Stretchy Noodles</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. <a href="https://shop.crayola.com/featured/easter/easter-gifts-for-kids/frozen-2-window-clings-craft-kit-2321020000.html">Frozen DIY Color Changing Window Clings</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=on+the+go+stationery+kits">Ooly On-The-Go Stationery Kits</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">8. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Petit-Collage-Eco-Friendly-Travel-Stencil/dp/B084H9DWSP/ref=pd_lpo_21_t_0/130-1306777-0493144?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B084H9DWSP&pd_rd_r=616ac279-fe67-4c88-b2a3-c0c064aed471&pd_rd_w=ePB9U&pd_rd_wg=vu7NQ&pf_rd_p=7b36d496-f366-4631-94d3-61b87b52511b&pf_rd_r=E5RF8GHFV5M7ZVYC7WJK&psc=1&refRID=E5RF8GHFV5M7ZVYC7WJK">Funny Faces Magic Sketch Board</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">9. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/collections/art-diy/products/rainbow-sparkle-watercolor-gel-crayons">Sparkle Watercolor Gel Crayons</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQY-j1YSDYsnSdRA0ww7YW5dF4MWk-7nbCyVXFi4HynzCDM7O6ljZqTSa603XUi7GBTCu-kp5WU9KYRd9Dlfn0l1dEmjFaLS8In01XnIVemr2BzmKEr_kQbIayJDpwjcpin_smModHY20/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxQY-j1YSDYsnSdRA0ww7YW5dF4MWk-7nbCyVXFi4HynzCDM7O6ljZqTSa603XUi7GBTCu-kp5WU9KYRd9Dlfn0l1dEmjFaLS8In01XnIVemr2BzmKEr_kQbIayJDpwjcpin_smModHY20/w640-h640/IMG_7339.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="text-align: left;">1. <a href="https://www.hopelearningtoys.com/product-page/emotions-peg-doll-set">Emotion Pegdolls </a></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. <a href="https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/flipbook-kits">DIY Flip Books </a></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. <a href="https://ilovetenzi.com/product/tenzi-dice-game/">Tenzi</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. <a href="https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/whatchamadrawit">WHATCHAMADRAWIT Game</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">5. <a href="https://www.orientaltrading.com/giraffe-expanding-tube-toys-a2-13838578.fltr">Giraffe Poptubes</a>/<a href="https://www.orientaltrading.com/wiener-dog-expanding-tube-toys-a2-13838582.fltr">Hot Dog Poptubes</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. <a href="https://www.uncommongoods.com/product/random-acts-of-kindness-kits?_br_psugg_q=random%20acts%20of%20kindness%20kit">Random Acts of Kindness Cards</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. <a href="https://www.relevantplay.com/products/bakery-activity-set">Mad Mattr Bakery Activity Set</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">8. <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/mindful-kids-cards.html?gclid=Cj0KCQiAqo3-BRDoARIsAE5vnaJHIk4vVWbvRRyJ8VlmFkVgFGikc6m5WRyskGz6ZAfiZaHASMw4ZRQaAjKdEALw_wcB">Mindfulness Activity Cards </a></div><div style="text-align: left;">9. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Princess-Clips-Multipack-Collection-Frustration/dp/B07ZS6K2B4/ref=sr_1_5?crid=189JWG3UXSWWO&dchild=1&keywords=disney+magic+clip+princess+dolls&qid=1606694954&sprefix=disney+magic+clip+%2Caps%2C186&sr=8-5">Disney Princess Magic Clip Dolls</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5ZSHhFeUtTQ9JYhg_Pv6uKf6T163j6yruCWyIoqkf3-l06TC5sUJTCGhklSpof9e4uLvFMCMCxrY8-udGG_oNN7dT-7gsC2M8KAwOPtpodFZbR7bwHejKRnII1uOMrIYQhszRkYJTFo1/" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2048" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5ZSHhFeUtTQ9JYhg_Pv6uKf6T163j6yruCWyIoqkf3-l06TC5sUJTCGhklSpof9e4uLvFMCMCxrY8-udGG_oNN7dT-7gsC2M8KAwOPtpodFZbR7bwHejKRnII1uOMrIYQhszRkYJTFo1/w640-h640/IMG_7351.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>1. <a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=razzle+dazzle+DIY+gem+art+kit">Razzle Dazzle DIY Gem Art Kit</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">2. <a href="https://www.madlibs.com/books/">Mad Libs</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">3. <a href="https://www.leemagicpen.com/collections/sticker-puzzles">Sticker Puzzles </a></div><div style="text-align: left;">4. <a href="https://camp.com/products/4173-speak-spell?search=speak+and+spell">Speak & Spell</a> </div><div style="text-align: left;">5. <a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/search.cfm?q=jixelz+">Jixelz </a></div><div style="text-align: left;">6. <a href="https://www.wikkistix.com/product/do-wikki-game/">Wikki Stix Game</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">7. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=hog+wild+popper+toy&i=toys-and-games&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">Hog Wild Animal Popper Toys</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">8. <a href="https://www.plusplususa.com/collections/all">Plus Plus Blocks</a></div><div style="text-align: left;">9. <a href="https://www.highlights.com/store/products/hidden-pictures-2021/puzzle-fun-collection">Hidden Pictures Books</a></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I could have kept going with this list because there is just so much great stuff out there. I was excited to include some toys from my youth like the Speak and Spell, Mad Libs and Highlights Hidden Pictures books. It's amazing how some of these things don't lose their appeal even years and years later. If you are looking for specific recommendations for someone on your gift list this year, please reach out because I have so much more to suggest. Also, please let me know if you found some kind of amazing stocking stuffer or small gift that I should know about. I am always looking for new things to keep my kids motivated during their occupational therapy sessions in-person and while on remote sessions. I am only a <a href="otmeghan@gmail.com ">click away</a> and LOVE hearing from everyone. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I must end by encouraging you to check out your local gift and toy stores this holiday season. While the holiday season is always important for these stores, this year it is so much more important after such a rocky several months of the pandemic. I was very mindful about including things that are easily found in smaller stores. Below, I share (again), the stores that I love in my home and work neighborhoods. Please feel free to share your favorite stores and where they are located:</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a>, Brooklyn </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://pinkolive.com/">Pink Olive</a>, multiple locations in Manhattan, Brooklyn and upstate New York</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/">Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store</a>, Park Slope </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/">Lulu's Cuts and Toys</a>, Park Slope</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://littlethingstoystore.com/">Little Things Toy Store</a>, Park Slope</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://stationeryandtoy.com/shop/">Stationery and Toy World</a>, UWS </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.westsidekidsnyc.com/">West Side Kids</a>, UWS</div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://kiddingaroundtoys.com/">Kidding Around Toys</a>, Chelsea </div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.maryarnoldtoys.com/">Mary Arnold Toys</a>, UES</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div></div>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-41723776043636681962020-11-27T16:13:00.009-08:002020-11-27T16:19:30.346-08:002020 Holiday Gift Guide-The SEL Book Guide<p>The last several months have been so eye-opening on so many levels but the most incredible thing to me is how resilient and wonderful the children have been. We have asked them to make so many changes to their lives and while some of them have been good and exciting for some of the kids, it's also been really challenging and has brought up a lot of feelings and emotions. In my social skills group, I have found that discussing some of these difficulties can be a challenge so have turned to reading them children's books. It's amazing what kind of conversations can come from a thoughtfully written book. Below, I share just a handful of my favorite books (some recommended by colleagues and other parents). I tried to focus on books that address some of the really big social emotional topics that have come out of the last several months: kindness, diversity, acceptance, flexibility, resilience, feelings, emotions and coping skills. </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivPE1bfsCpIjAgWmKKkBLXelLshz-5YNFcPK1bYXAw2E86xaKFm2L-kBpMczWazHxdJRO5R5kfAhKh-wdf81KArdu0TGBC8JPtqaqnN9-eW1i1pCTrY7Gr2cFh2ct0u6hvZC6WkMPILBV/s499/51xJ7cDtU4L._SX376_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="378" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgivPE1bfsCpIjAgWmKKkBLXelLshz-5YNFcPK1bYXAw2E86xaKFm2L-kBpMczWazHxdJRO5R5kfAhKh-wdf81KArdu0TGBC8JPtqaqnN9-eW1i1pCTrY7Gr2cFh2ct0u6hvZC6WkMPILBV/w151-h200/51xJ7cDtU4L._SX376_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="151" /></a></div><p></p><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Ghost-Who-Was-Quilt/dp/0735264473/ref=sr_1_2?crid=39NL11C9CUR8U&dchild=1&keywords=the+little+ghost+who+was+a+quilt&qid=1606504784&sprefix=the+little+ghost%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-2"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" />The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt</a>-a beautiful book that teaches kids that it is okay to be different. This little ghost doesn't understand why he's a quilt when his parents and all of his friends are sheets. Ghosts are supposed to be sheets so they can whirl and twirl and float and soar but he can't do any of that and when he flies, he gets hot. Being different makes the little ghost feel sad and left out and he just doesn't understand why he can't keep up with them all. But that all changes one Halloween when he has an experience that no other ghost could have and it only happened because he is a quilt and it helps him realize that being different is okay. A beautiful story to share with children who may feel or look different than their friends to help them understand that it's okay to be different and that sometimes it can actually make you even more special because of being different. <p></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3a1jiQxou6ZAv8pzHPASQnt-fZlbTtmZ0s-5gO6maozNaguDuZcKql49tS3ec_IbjhnDPBs9HSH0akO7FmQ0NFqKxe5GpazcuE_UjfJ7LfMQlNL3lMJzNoJNGAvbHmy9kHkqTtYp3Kuf/s600/41TKoH1e-6L.__BG0%252C0%252C0%252C0_FMpng_AC_UL600_SR558%252C600_.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="558" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG3a1jiQxou6ZAv8pzHPASQnt-fZlbTtmZ0s-5gO6maozNaguDuZcKql49tS3ec_IbjhnDPBs9HSH0akO7FmQ0NFqKxe5GpazcuE_UjfJ7LfMQlNL3lMJzNoJNGAvbHmy9kHkqTtYp3Kuf/w186-h200/41TKoH1e-6L.__BG0%252C0%252C0%252C0_FMpng_AC_UL600_SR558%252C600_.png" width="186" /></a></div></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Not-Box-Antoinette-Portis/dp/0061123226/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1LK7YVSNHELC1&dchild=1&keywords=not+a+box+book&qid=1606522038&sprefix=not+a+box+%2Caps%2C153&sr=8-2">Not A Box</a>-this is one of my favorite books and great for teaching kids about being flexible and thinking outside of the box. Inspired by a memory of sitting in a box on her driveway with her sister, Antoinette Portis, encourages kids to use their imagination. A box is more than just a box if you take the time to think about it. From mountain to rocket ship, a small rabbit shows that a box can be anything you want it to be. What I love about this book is that it is easy to come up with accompanying activities to do after reading the book. Be sure to save some of your cardboard boxes and see what your kids can turn them into. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPTw80chDmhnRQ3FvsIuhXUPrMZEAQI3GJxXl77eOOZAyFKHmut1Rxs1SLDXqGDjFIxUhO6taMJg1zPFYqgDu3E6kuhxedOf-v9q0ZJVB89n-5o21Ebu3dwCRSu8jeXbSDjerdQkMW_v4/s600/9C7wDwAAQBAJ.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="492" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPTw80chDmhnRQ3FvsIuhXUPrMZEAQI3GJxXl77eOOZAyFKHmut1Rxs1SLDXqGDjFIxUhO6taMJg1zPFYqgDu3E6kuhxedOf-v9q0ZJVB89n-5o21Ebu3dwCRSu8jeXbSDjerdQkMW_v4/w164-h200/9C7wDwAAQBAJ.jpg" width="164" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/World-Needs-Who-Were-Made/dp/1400314232/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=The+World+Needs+Who+You+Were+Made+To+Be&qid=1606358565&sr=8-2">The World Needs Who You Were Made To Be</a>-written by Joanna Gaines and illustrated by Julianna Swaney, this beautiful book celebrates how creativity and acceptance can come together to make a wonderful adventure. The book follows a group of children as they each create their own hot-air balloons. As they begin to work together, they realize that they each have their own special talents and skills. In a time when so many people are struggling, I think it is more important than ever to teach our kids that we should always be willing to lend a helping hand to those in need, especially when our skills or talents will help them. If you want to add a nice little hands-on craft activity, print out a picture of a hot-air balloon and have your kids decorate their own. I can't wait until we are back to in-person sessions for my social skills group, TMH Juniors, and we can incorporate this book and some really fun art projects into our routine. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2aITthROhJUXNemE321P20kYNiBEhwu1PyBCsxMz1Q7MtXlnuirQY74iWNeWmgNY6RH5AxI_tz0dzPfx5kgoLppb7q0ufnJiHRgRNungZHIj44pNNIiitJVp-maICRtXEvbiDeset5Mw/s355/9781454917298.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="355" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM2aITthROhJUXNemE321P20kYNiBEhwu1PyBCsxMz1Q7MtXlnuirQY74iWNeWmgNY6RH5AxI_tz0dzPfx5kgoLppb7q0ufnJiHRgRNungZHIj44pNNIiitJVp-maICRtXEvbiDeset5Mw/w200-h153/9781454917298.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Color-Monster-Pop-Up-Book-Feelings/dp/1454917296/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=color+monster+pop+up+book&qid=1606501485&s=books&sr=1-3">The Color Monster: A Pop-Up Book of Feelings</a><b>-</b>we spend a lot of time teaching children about concepts such as colors, numbers and letters, but not enough time teaching them about feelings and emotions. This interactive pop-up book helps kids learn about emotions by matching them with a color and helps to open up the conversation about what feelings look like.<i> </i>One of my favorite things about this book is that they talk about how it's okay to feel more than one feeling at a time. Teaching kids to identify and handle big emotions is a really important skill and one that I think needs more attention now than ever before. After you read it, you can make your own Color Monster Feelings Chart. I did a quick <a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=color+monster+feelings+charts&safe=off&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwjqmb-BrKPtAhVfSDABHanuDZ4Q_AUoAXoECAYQAw&biw=1396&bih=678">google search</a> and there are so many brilliant ideas out there from teachers, therapists and parents. <p></p><p><a href="https://slumberkins.com/collections/books/products/the-feels-book-misfit"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwYw-4dHK-DME1QtxXbqHCwLj2tb_3h9in21Fzfp-L68OEp0CpA4z_YxsrjQsxQ4cEPJq-71GuajQ_yfhup0lM3jmaANRBkb_AqEgaLJeD4d5fqWnZ5zC3IXe7qdklnHQNJGgbaAR1JIt/s606/slumberkins-the-feels-book.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="606" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvwYw-4dHK-DME1QtxXbqHCwLj2tb_3h9in21Fzfp-L68OEp0CpA4z_YxsrjQsxQ4cEPJq-71GuajQ_yfhup0lM3jmaANRBkb_AqEgaLJeD4d5fqWnZ5zC3IXe7qdklnHQNJGgbaAR1JIt/w198-h200/slumberkins-the-feels-book.jpg" width="198" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://slumberkins.com/collections/emotional-wellbeing/products/the-feels-book-1">The Feels Book-</a>I stumbled on this book during my research and fell in love with this book (I think it is the adorable Yeti). Another great resource for parents to support their children during this crazy and uncertain times where big feelings and confusion is at an all-time high for so many kids. Join Yeti on a journey as she meets each of her feelings and learns how to take care of each one. Included with the book is a digital parent resource guide that provides a variety of questions and activities to help children develop positive emotional well-being and appropriate coping skills. You can also get this adorable <a href="https://slumberkins.com/collections/snugglers/products/yeti-bundle?variant=31019097653386">Yeti Snuggler</a> which comes with a mindfulness activity that works on regulating emotions and reducing anxiety. <p></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07VPN4Z2P/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSFxUWW0YSuN7BCXZVkcD5-er9QzsdfvMdAhmBicNZ9D_6KFTPhVa1pAk3bDrsSDaOuRr3GcfFEzs3ihEmjHHvZuT2YoNq2rQbms12JoaEbXPUvObYM9Hd9FUOuuM4IcCwpesYw2oVf5G/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1626" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiSFxUWW0YSuN7BCXZVkcD5-er9QzsdfvMdAhmBicNZ9D_6KFTPhVa1pAk3bDrsSDaOuRr3GcfFEzs3ihEmjHHvZuT2YoNq2rQbms12JoaEbXPUvObYM9Hd9FUOuuM4IcCwpesYw2oVf5G/w159-h200/81sjRE1UznL.jpg" width="159" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ruby-Finds-Worry-Tom-Percival/dp/1547602376/ref=sr_1_2?crid=29WIDQCFGL8HK&dchild=1&keywords=ruby+finds+a+worry&qid=1606521057&sprefix=ruby+finds+a+w%2Caps%2C166&sr=8-2">Ruby Finds A Worry</a>-Ruby is a happy, curious and imaginative girl until one day, something unexpected happens: she finds a Worry. It begins out small but with each day, that worry grows and grows until she can't think about anything else. It takes meeting another kid who also has worries that Ruby learns everybody has worries and that there are ways to get rid of them. Ruby Finds A Worry is a great book for right now because so many children are experiencing a variety of worries and struggling with how to deal with them when that happens. Teaching kids strategies to decrease their anxiety at a young age is so important, especially during these times of so much uncertainty. <p></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/NOT-just-Scribble-Diane-Alber/dp/0991248244/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=scribble+stones&qid=1606245208&s=books&sr=1-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEySUdIRFFTQzFaSFhaJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjU2NDI1WEdYTEhUTEJBNVYzJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAyNzAwODQxRTJNMEgyMUpBNklTJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ=="></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk978OBZNr-8AFjXl0A0rb2LCsw63juJUdrzpmKfJT2Er_pFtC5zx4KuxJmBgDxbtwCH-2k3UM0mLwf6yDQVOOycVcReC6dzGKzefKfHhC1M1k40CqFzZTu1wgoVUls_dfZoMLaBxODGk3/s2048/717euQlNNzL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1989" data-original-width="2048" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk978OBZNr-8AFjXl0A0rb2LCsw63juJUdrzpmKfJT2Er_pFtC5zx4KuxJmBgDxbtwCH-2k3UM0mLwf6yDQVOOycVcReC6dzGKzefKfHhC1M1k40CqFzZTu1wgoVUls_dfZoMLaBxODGk3/w200-h194/717euQlNNzL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><br /><div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/NOT-just-Scribble-Diane-Alber/dp/0991248244/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=i%27m+not+just+a+scribble&qid=1606521032&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExQ1A0VTZJMFRMMlIwJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNDcyODI4MUUzSUpaQUY1VVRCWCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUExMDIzNjgwMTFCWlFSQjdESjBZMiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=">I'm Not Just A Scribble</a>-if you are not familiar with the author <a href="https://dianealber.com/">Diane Alber</a>, I highly recommend that you take a look at her SEL books. We have been reading some of her Little Spot books during our remote social skills groups and the kids really love them. During our lesson about inclusion and kindness, we read I'm Not Just A Scribble and the conversations that the group had with each other after was so wonderful. Scribble, the main character of this book, never thought he was different until he met his first drawing. After being left out for being different than everyone else, Scribble decides to teach the drawings how to accept each other for who they are. This book comes with 100 stickers for your children to make their own scribbles and a feelings chart that you can hang up. Another fun activity to do is to have kids scribble all over a piece of paper and then see what they can turn the scribble into. <p></p><p></p><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Ghost-Who-Was-Quilt/dp/0735264473/ref=sr_1_2?crid=39NL11C9CUR8U&dchild=1&keywords=the+little+ghost+who+was+a+quilt&qid=1606504784&sprefix=the+little+ghost%2Caps%2C205&sr=8-2">The Little Ghost Who Was a Quilt</a>-a beautiful book that teaches kids that it is okay to be different. This little ghost doesn't understand why he's a quilt when his parents and all of his friends are sheets. Ghosts are supposed to be sheets so they can whirl and twirl and float and soar but he can't do any of that and when he flies, he gets hot. Being different makes the little ghost feel sad and left out and he just doesn't understand why he can't keep up with them all. But that all changes one Halloween when he has an experience that no other ghost could have and it only happened because he is a quilt and it helps him realize that being different is okay. A beautiful story to share with children who may feel or look different than their friends to help them understand that it's okay to be different and that sometimes it can actually make you even more special because of being different. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQhRRn-4m6k2mfMuH2zGcRq014wPukeTA7Zf2pq0jZ7jNzwea2ac8mcnMSgaBmA8FCk9dJJwlPESuugY3yXOt23u1rQfkM3mGGiU1zQl-nm9owlKs1sxGVgPqxGSoN7vHw1MDOEza0Rwz/s500/51L9raPY6vL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="404" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQQhRRn-4m6k2mfMuH2zGcRq014wPukeTA7Zf2pq0jZ7jNzwea2ac8mcnMSgaBmA8FCk9dJJwlPESuugY3yXOt23u1rQfkM3mGGiU1zQl-nm9owlKs1sxGVgPqxGSoN7vHw1MDOEza0Rwz/w162-h200/51L9raPY6vL.jpg" width="162" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wish-Chris-Saunders/dp/1786033453/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=&sr=">Wish</a>-this beautiful book by Chris Saunders teaches children about kindness, sharing and the magic of friendship. The story is about Rabbit who has never had a wish before. One day he gets three wishes but can't decide what to wish for so he asks his friends Mouse, Fox and Bear what they would wish for. Rabbit decides to grant all three wishes for his friends and they are so grateful that they share their wishes with him. Not only is this a beautiful story about being kind to other people, the illustrations are gorgeous. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaFRd96HPeESCd8zWERriARKqjuMq78qiR_TQY2NOpcHSUCQgrLd1qbSfgkzihSpUOIbEgB0whDkN8r_A-2by9cqh16QYXUFBs1uvw4x5KXz9EX_T0NSxCDi28rHqy4baF4R13QC2fE5R/s2048/A1-WVFxoJDL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1762" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIaFRd96HPeESCd8zWERriARKqjuMq78qiR_TQY2NOpcHSUCQgrLd1qbSfgkzihSpUOIbEgB0whDkN8r_A-2by9cqh16QYXUFBs1uvw4x5KXz9EX_T0NSxCDi28rHqy4baF4R13QC2fE5R/w172-h200/A1-WVFxoJDL.jpg" width="172" /></a></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Day-You-Begin-Jacqueline-Woodson/dp/0399246533/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3OLH6VSDGWOHW&dchild=1&keywords=the+day+you+begin+jacqueline+woodson&qid=1606514160&s=books&sprefix=the+day+you+be%2Cstripbooks%2C163&sr=1-2">The Day You Begin</a><b>-</b>there are many reasons for children to feel different and this book by Jaqueline Woodson does a wonderful job talking about this topic. Maybe it's the way you look or talk, where you come from or maybe it is because you may have a harder time talking or walking. It's not easy to take the risks to join a group when nobody really knows you yet, but you know you have to do it. This book is a helpful reminder to children how we may all feel when you have to join a new group and that if you open up and share some of your own stories, there just might be others that you can connect with. This is a story about being brave, especially when you feel like you might be alone. It also feels very important to share this story this year given the number of changes so many kids are experiencing during the pandemic. So many children I know have left their familiar school environment and may be starting new schools or doing remote learning and experiencing a lot of anxiety about being the new and different kid. <p></p><div class="p1"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGg7qZ0Ykk38Z-VOzZowojMSWgQwXqRi7incoW9rZOO2m5zJBoJ2_04NeKpqvv64FSryqxKBgqMMk89iys9tZl-lrHmsZa3nPfbaP1gaOcPceDFE7m2QYFpmFLGZn5DQr8wg1gOiq5nsG/s1600/51FbQPDILOL._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGg7qZ0Ykk38Z-VOzZowojMSWgQwXqRi7incoW9rZOO2m5zJBoJ2_04NeKpqvv64FSryqxKBgqMMk89iys9tZl-lrHmsZa3nPfbaP1gaOcPceDFE7m2QYFpmFLGZn5DQr8wg1gOiq5nsG/s200/51FbQPDILOL._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="155" /></a><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"></span><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="p1"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></div><div class="p1"><span face=""helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif" style="font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-Fall-Humpty-Dumpty-Again/dp/1626726825/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QASNMBM6NQ8D&keywords=after+the+fall&qid=1573227184&s=books&sprefix=after+,stripbooks,166&sr=1-1">After The Fall by Dan Santat</a></span><span class="s1">-Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened <i>after</i>? Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall―that is, until <i>after</i> his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most.</span></span></div><div class="p6"><span class="s1">Will he summon the courage to face his fear?<i>After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)</i> is a masterful picture book that will remind readers of all ages that <i>Life begins when you get back up</i>.</span></div><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGIvGL3XnDGrqbs482mFvgCoVRaZsOxpTun8O6Xm6AgexI6ywzbDlrKjfE7Hg4k3wsl3TBhizFt2Y5dUWsY-0mAc4JO1jiuzqDS9z0dXfrRUccuRskSMBJYHuHg4_kfwfvJO3HiZn_I0A/s600/6192GFuXZCL._AC_UL600_SR600%252C600_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZGIvGL3XnDGrqbs482mFvgCoVRaZsOxpTun8O6Xm6AgexI6ywzbDlrKjfE7Hg4k3wsl3TBhizFt2Y5dUWsY-0mAc4JO1jiuzqDS9z0dXfrRUccuRskSMBJYHuHg4_kfwfvJO3HiZn_I0A/w200-h200/6192GFuXZCL._AC_UL600_SR600%252C600_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Kindness-Superpower-childrens-Empathy-Compassion/dp/B08DSTHKQB/ref=sr_1_6?dchild=1&keywords=children%27s+books+about+diversity&qid=1606519997&s=books&sr=1-6">Kindness Is My Superpower</a>-I think one of the most important things I ever taught my own daughter is the importance of being kind to others. We never know what other people are going through and making sure children know this from a very young age. In this delightful book, kids learn about how kindness, sensitivity and generosity can make the world a better place. This book is chockfull of examples of kindness at home, school or in your community and how if we are all more understanding of others and accept them for who they are, the world will be a more empathetic place. There are also Acts of Kindness Cards included with the book that promote empathy and kindness. </p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0nyXusfDya7V8uCB3ieKs5p5zlQxBIQmvLKUKUnnUGFZnxtzmhI-i5XXXvQwkYTWN3lZgBA9jXGGABcWuw_W7K3QfdZwenRBOYgelwla4DA3lhhoPL9RrObfo5HKwursvXIPSiJeKtuo/s1200/765654._UY630_SR1200%252C630_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY0nyXusfDya7V8uCB3ieKs5p5zlQxBIQmvLKUKUnnUGFZnxtzmhI-i5XXXvQwkYTWN3lZgBA9jXGGABcWuw_W7K3QfdZwenRBOYgelwla4DA3lhhoPL9RrObfo5HKwursvXIPSiJeKtuo/w200-h105/765654._UY630_SR1200%252C630_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ish-Creatrilogy-Peter-H-Reynolds-ebook/dp/B00ECHPYOO/ref=sr_1_12?dchild=1&keywords=ishi&qid=1606500802&s=digital-text&sr=1-12">ish</a>-in one of my favorite Peter H. Reyolds books, we meet Ramon who loved to draw. Anytime, anything and anywhere! Drawing is what Ramon does and what makes him feel good about himself. It is what makes him happy until his older brother makes a mean comment and he no longer can find the joy in drawing. Ramon can't draw without feeling sad and worried about what he is doing. Luckily for him, his younger sister the world differently and opens Ramon's eyes and makes him realize that things don't always have to be "just right". This is a great book for children who are always seeking perfection and need to know that "just right" is different for everyone and just because someone doesn't like <span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 14px;">care.</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJG4P58LjQdZa6-kiB2MlySLN3hP3bIJL0fYqbFDlOsAc1XOTE9ZBeb5N_Sj51h_LqPFK5Rbx4FvPb717HojtV-y-51gOWtzWHDLebaZuId-7emWiwbNWnoNNFcThIIdyPAqVzn9VwznHm/s500/Tessie-Tames-Her-Tongue-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="400" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJG4P58LjQdZa6-kiB2MlySLN3hP3bIJL0fYqbFDlOsAc1XOTE9ZBeb5N_Sj51h_LqPFK5Rbx4FvPb717HojtV-y-51gOWtzWHDLebaZuId-7emWiwbNWnoNNFcThIIdyPAqVzn9VwznHm/w160-h200/Tessie-Tames-Her-Tongue-1.jpg" width="160" /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Tessie-Tames-Her-Tongue-Learning/dp/1631981331/ref=sr_1_1?crid=372RPL3JK573W&dchild=1&keywords=tessie+tames+her+tongue&qid=1606521619&sprefix=tessie+tames+%2Caps%2C154&sr=8-1">Tessie Tames Her Tongue</a>-Tessie loves to talk but her constant talking gets her into trouble at home and at school. The more she talks, the louder she becomes. She talks with her mouth full of food. The problem with this is that she doesn't give others a chance to talk and her brother and classmates begin to ignore her. With the of her school counselor, Tessie learns the importance of listening and how to tame her talkative tongue. We never want to dampen a child's spirit or make them not want to share their stories, but when it means that other children/people don't have an opportunity to say what's on their mind, it can turn into a problem. <p></p><p><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fair-Sonny-Varela/dp/1494904047/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=fair+is+fair&qid=1606504282&sr=8-2"></a></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N8Xzmim2OVeEVE8TIN7noHrBe7Yf9Bd85LLTRZxc0N-b4I4Slgfuc1j7MV6DKNAkmzoXVPSMduKK_ftX8EJ5O7FXOUhwNOiGXuIATxjgPugg4E3D7lox8TUqI4QghurcbRXLdaNgOag4/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-N8Xzmim2OVeEVE8TIN7noHrBe7Yf9Bd85LLTRZxc0N-b4I4Slgfuc1j7MV6DKNAkmzoXVPSMduKK_ftX8EJ5O7FXOUhwNOiGXuIATxjgPugg4E3D7lox8TUqI4QghurcbRXLdaNgOag4/w200-h105/22036133._UY630_SR1200%252C630_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fair-Sonny-Varela/dp/1494904047/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=fair+is+fair&qid=1606521648&sr=8-2">Fair is Fair-</a>"It's not fair!" This is something that parents and teachers hear all of the time when they think someone else, a sibling or classmate, is getting more than they are.<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Do special needs for one mean less love for another? This is the question explored in this short children's story of three zoo animals. They learn that being equally loved doesn't necessarily mean that they're treated the exact same. Rather, true love is expressed when each animal gets what they need. This is a perfect book for all families with siblings who think may think that things are never fair. </span></span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Are-Welcome-Alexandra-Penfold/dp/0525579648/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1606514312&sr=1-2"></a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeA8V7fw5QSNg0GO01y65mqYbjQNUmDIwFnseGbKUBEfx6YALwgqa1rjZxEVlLMsZduCkuoiTaqQO6Z_xv4w-NGq78h-mUH9zneJ__uPgD1k4k9qPJYqh3955H1rzTJOUK23k4bsyoPZ3g/s450/9780525579649.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeA8V7fw5QSNg0GO01y65mqYbjQNUmDIwFnseGbKUBEfx6YALwgqa1rjZxEVlLMsZduCkuoiTaqQO6Z_xv4w-NGq78h-mUH9zneJ__uPgD1k4k9qPJYqh3955H1rzTJOUK23k4bsyoPZ3g/w200-h200/9780525579649.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/All-Are-Welcome-Alexandra-Penfold/dp/0525579648/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=all+are+welcome&qid=1606521916&s=books&sr=1-2">All Are Welcome</a>-after the events that unfolded this spring, I know that many parents are trying to find ways to teach their children about diversity and kindness and sometimes the best way to do this is through books. In this book, you follow a group of children in their school. They are all culturally different, celebrate different holidays and have different family traditions but that is embraced in this school. Kids learn about each other and different cultures and realize that everyone is welcome in their school and welcomed with open arms no matter what. </span><p></p><p><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></p><p><br /></p><p>While I linked all of these books to Amazon, I can't stress the importance of supporting your local bookstores during this crazy time. I have shared some of my local bookshops and encourage you all to share your favorite local bookstores in the comments below. </p><p><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.communitybookstore.net/">Community Bookstore</a>-Park Slope, Brooklyn</span><br /><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.greenlightbookstore.com/">Greenlight Bookstore</a>-Fort Greene, Brooklyn </span><br /><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="http://powerhouseon8th.com/">powerHouse on 8th</a>-Park Slope, Brooklyn (there is also a second location in DUMBO)</span><br /><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.booksaremagic.net/">Books Are Magic</a>-Cobble Hill, Park Slope </span><br /><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.bankstreetbooks.com/">Bank Street Bookstore</a>-multiple locations on the UWS of Manhattan</span><br /><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="http://booksofwonder.com/">Books of Wonder</a>-Union Square and UWS locations</span><br /><span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.shakeandco.com/shake_trade/home_page.php">Shakespeare and Co</a>-UES and UWS locations</span></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p></div>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-63916222700887538112020-11-18T09:43:00.002-08:002020-11-21T05:55:26.649-08:00Norman and Jules 2020 Holiday Gift Guide<p>For those of you who know me, you know that I am passionate about supporting our local toy stores. For many of these stores, they have put their heart and souls into their store. Most importantly, these local stores end up knowing you and your children, they watch them grow up. If you are ever in Brooklyn, I can't stress how you should make sure to stop by Norman and Jules beautiful new store in Gowanus. It's between Park Slope and Carroll Gardens with many other stores and restaurants worth checking out. </p><p>Working with Courtney, one of the owners of Norman and Jules, we have come up with this list of toys and products that will work on so many occupational therapy and developmental goals. For me, when choosing toys for my private practice, it's about finding ones that don't look like they are for special needs. Parents of the kids that I work with want their children to be able to play with the same kinds of toys that other children their age are playing with. Many of the items on this list are what I call investment toys because they will cost more but will last forever. Think toys that will not only last through your own children's childhood, but be passed down to their children. We were also mindful to try and pick products that would spark your child's imagination and encourage open-ended play. During this crazy time, kids are expected to follow so many new rules and play should about doing what they want and how they want to do it. <br /><br /><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokYMmKqOjIUyOQ6A3lz0vNRcfQnPb7H6KfuPzpPhhYmG1MPa8_nOXUECdOrgNMq7qVwPw5R7k1OLT8KVvm3r90nf8A0mXG2GyFcYK1ukg0tufZBZ22O147KKVEV-tBZT0CMdBjadBao3b/s380/download.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="133" data-original-width="380" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiokYMmKqOjIUyOQ6A3lz0vNRcfQnPb7H6KfuPzpPhhYmG1MPa8_nOXUECdOrgNMq7qVwPw5R7k1OLT8KVvm3r90nf8A0mXG2GyFcYK1ukg0tufZBZ22O147KKVEV-tBZT0CMdBjadBao3b/s320/download.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/land-of-dough/">Land of Dough</a>-I am absolutely obsessed with the gorgeous play dough by this company. It comes in the most beautiful and unique designs such as rainbows and space and galaxy. Whenever I pick some up for my daughter, I pick up two containers because she wants one to play with and one to keep all pretty. Not only is it totally unique and gorgeous, it is made from all natural ingredients such as beetroot, spirulina and organic jojoba and lavender oils. The dough comes in its own reusable, compostable bags making it easy to store and with a little wooden scooper. Playing with dough is great for encouraging sensory exploration, works on improving grasp strength and manipulation skills and improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination. Some of the things you can do with the dough is hide beads inside and have your child find them, practice making shapes, letters or numbers and practice cutting by rolling dough into "snakes" and have them snip into small pieces. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibck9-efRcLjJe1UqPv2qtn2lEkVY7n9QyT4lVJMwiRra9pvnGULMqjxrSFVqmQfUVNTuo1gHIgnHC8RXwn8-zL-BqxZQ6AMnXiPV-N3-G4KTr0qF35Qbj6BKAQRD5ozH8whXGBTlU8BmI/s275/images-1.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="275" data-original-width="183" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibck9-efRcLjJe1UqPv2qtn2lEkVY7n9QyT4lVJMwiRra9pvnGULMqjxrSFVqmQfUVNTuo1gHIgnHC8RXwn8-zL-BqxZQ6AMnXiPV-N3-G4KTr0qF35Qbj6BKAQRD5ozH8whXGBTlU8BmI/w133-h200/images-1.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/color-me-crayons.html">Colour Me Crayons</a>-one of the beautiful things about living in a place like New York City is being surrounded by people of every nationality and color. When I saw these crayons on Norman and Jules' Instagram feed back in the spring, I almost cried and then immediately purchased them for work. This set of crayons comes with 12 vibrant skin colors so that every child can find the color that matches their skin. There are so many wonderful things about these skin-toned crayons. First of all, it is so important that when a child is asked to draw a picture of themselves that they have the option of finding a crayon that represents their skin color. Second of all, these crayons are triangular which encourages an appropriate grasp in young children. </p><p><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6M-oshPfY7aos0qYI0m8wSlr-DyUwRjKOPcJaCTlbebWh7MqXqO96UUUC2ggdsZhCnKHWYqGUIYUyBjAGR5qZhMFciqYZ8gVY4sS-NDfTXNjqCFYQqfeY5Jfiy3MiiSlsllhvNLSLE0E/s800/Goober-Peanut-Crayon-non-toxic-natural-wax-crayon-for-babies-4-600x800.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ6M-oshPfY7aos0qYI0m8wSlr-DyUwRjKOPcJaCTlbebWh7MqXqO96UUUC2ggdsZhCnKHWYqGUIYUyBjAGR5qZhMFciqYZ8gVY4sS-NDfTXNjqCFYQqfeY5Jfiy3MiiSlsllhvNLSLE0E/w150-h200/Goober-Peanut-Crayon-non-toxic-natural-wax-crayon-for-babies-4-600x800.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><p></p><p><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/peanut-crayons.html">Goober Peanut Crayons</a>-I am constantly on the lookout for different kinds of writing instruments, especially for the little ones that I work with. One of the most important things about introducing young children to crayons and other drawing tools is that they help to promote good grasping skills from an early age. What I love about these peanut shaped crayons is that they are a really good width and shape for little hands. The bean like shape is great for encouraging kids to grab them and then use a tripod like grasp. They are made from natural bean wax and all non-toxic ingredients so parents don't have to worry if your risk-taking little one decides to put them in their mouths. Another fun thing about the unique shape of these crayons are that they can stand up or stack on top of each other which your child will love! </p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53-Ok1onZ40VGhccriATpGwgGEXOclQlfpVrsuzGgFQ7pp2QOClufuVo6b117qEl4wHm-RK2-dH30y7iL-nf0c7vL9utxJg3IzTXflSLJjJ1rBuyJxaFfyHjFHkOs8SP78BsG2D8c-jni/s569/81G1deGu8TL._AC_SX569_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="387" data-original-width="569" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg53-Ok1onZ40VGhccriATpGwgGEXOclQlfpVrsuzGgFQ7pp2QOClufuVo6b117qEl4wHm-RK2-dH30y7iL-nf0c7vL9utxJg3IzTXflSLJjJ1rBuyJxaFfyHjFHkOs8SP78BsG2D8c-jni/w200-h136/81G1deGu8TL._AC_SX569_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/eco-chains.html">Eco Chains</a>-I'm a sucker for any small manipulative toys, especially ones that are easy to throw in a bag to take on the go. Manipulative toys (think Legos and pop-beads) are very important for building up a child's hand strength and manipulation skills, which is crucial skills for the development of academic skills such as cutting, drawing and handwriting. Eco chains are colorful links that children can connect. In addition to working on grasp strength and manipulation skills, they are great for working on improving bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination, spatial awareness and logical thinking. Add challenges by having your children make patterns or sort them by color and link them together that way. Like I already said, these are great to throw in your bag when traveling or out and about to keep your little ones busy and off a screen. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87drWmJbADy3T7M8sSG2XueyTcfi2yRBpSJMlIt08kNH2OsSGUFnOlX4uBqvuaCIU-6JZesy_-4cD0xD2LPjbdHdvTB8pVYnoBk_YcFOIOW2YR-pnJnX3_6vrT19MwvokeasbDbWrlL8A/s1480/null.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1480" data-original-width="1480" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi87drWmJbADy3T7M8sSG2XueyTcfi2yRBpSJMlIt08kNH2OsSGUFnOlX4uBqvuaCIU-6JZesy_-4cD0xD2LPjbdHdvTB8pVYnoBk_YcFOIOW2YR-pnJnX3_6vrT19MwvokeasbDbWrlL8A/w200-h200/null.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/jumbo-weaving-frames.html">Jumbo Weaving Frames</a>-I have always been a fan of all weaving toys but often times they are too small for the kids that I work with which leads to frustration and eventually, they give up entirely. Right off the bat, this is what I call an investment toy. It's a bit on the pricey side but once you see it, you will understand the reason. The quality of both the frames and the fabric strips is off the charts awesome. They will be able to handle major wear and tear of your rambunctious little ones and last you for ages. The set comes with a square, triangle and circle frames and several multi-fabric strips. It also comes with 15 large, double-sided weaving activity cards for children to follow. The nice thing about this set is that kids can try and copy the designs on the cards or make their own designs. The Jumbo Weaving Frames are great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and organizational skills. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxzvAORwTkNi2zS2ahOARoiptKBzPRVRTQ2jAePBHuyAlynD5dwivRrtQL1-jv12QaFM2OZYo1pgj-dZUeeMOjaufBmFB7z8XiqD1JtobMBZ6SrwDj3vijL6l5IJ1lR8P1b_cQjtHtObE/s1440/make-a-face-compilation-1080.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNxzvAORwTkNi2zS2ahOARoiptKBzPRVRTQ2jAePBHuyAlynD5dwivRrtQL1-jv12QaFM2OZYo1pgj-dZUeeMOjaufBmFB7z8XiqD1JtobMBZ6SrwDj3vijL6l5IJ1lR8P1b_cQjtHtObE/w150-h200/make-a-face-compilation-1080.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/make-a-face.html">Make A Face</a>-Moon Picnic makes beautiful wooden toys, including this Make A Face toy which I have used with my social skills group, The Meeting House, when we talk about feelings and emotions. Right now kids are experiencing all kinds of big feelings and emotions and don't always have the right words to describe them. For many kids, especially younger ones, talking about their feelings are difficult and often times embarrassing. In my social skills group, we start each session off with a feelings check in and this is something that I have suggested that the families of kids who are homeschooling or doing distance learning incorporate into their daily routine. If your child isn't quite ready to talk about it, this toy is a great tool to put in their work area and have them put together each morning. In addition to them becoming more aware of their feelings, children can work on improving their grasp strength and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye coordination and visual motor and visual perceptual skills. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXwfVsLR-bmf_qVIyT5aDQ6vVCaDrKqzIPKkqb4AM-ivrvNiIbwnZfEnnphSvB8BYqkc5PZAGbNe-IcTZI3E-qCO6GpcDxR25Ge1tasbwMRGVhjKiqcCBDKLf96BSAaL-_h9qS4Gaf9G2/s1025/52961133_014_b.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1025" data-original-width="683" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUXwfVsLR-bmf_qVIyT5aDQ6vVCaDrKqzIPKkqb4AM-ivrvNiIbwnZfEnnphSvB8BYqkc5PZAGbNe-IcTZI3E-qCO6GpcDxR25Ge1tasbwMRGVhjKiqcCBDKLf96BSAaL-_h9qS4Gaf9G2/w133-h200/52961133_014_b.jpg" width="133" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p></p><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/my-weather-station.html">My Weather Station</a>-one of my favorite parts of a preschool classroom is morning meeting and for some reason, listening to kids describe the weather seems like such an important part of that meeting time. With so many children not in a traditional classroom this year, I know many families are trying to bring the classroom to them and Moon Picnic's My Weather Station is a great addition to any home classroom or learning pod. This fun, educational and interactive toy has 4 movable parts (great for working on fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills) and 5 weather symbols to display. Great for teaching kids about seasons, temperature and so much more while encouraging them to notice details about their environment. <p></p><p><br /></p><p></p><div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/rainbow-bowl-sorting-game.html"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/rainbow-bowl-sorting-game.html"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje__VXho7Z6OWo9Mw3JWUeB2oYVxk5sZw3rG-LI4y2LA9ZMeaKlVVUeJKec-ojyrBsfi5R8Eef1sv5oYS8DCPCziV4um0Vnp3khtnIO_OioNaAiJ-i7_ipHBi0pfTG6PepcaUjvXBoV6Lq/s800/juego-de-clasificacion-de-madera-con-6-cuencos-de-colores---grimms.jpg2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje__VXho7Z6OWo9Mw3JWUeB2oYVxk5sZw3rG-LI4y2LA9ZMeaKlVVUeJKec-ojyrBsfi5R8Eef1sv5oYS8DCPCziV4um0Vnp3khtnIO_OioNaAiJ-i7_ipHBi0pfTG6PepcaUjvXBoV6Lq/w200-h200/juego-de-clasificacion-de-madera-con-6-cuencos-de-colores---grimms.jpg2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Rainbow Bowl Sorting Game-some of my favorite things are fine motor toys, rainbows and really well made wooden toys. If you don't know about the Grimm's toy collection, I highly recommend you find out about it. When my now 10 year old daughter was about 3 years old, a client gifted me with the Grimm's Rainbow and it's always had a prominent place in our house. When Covid hit, that rainbow went right into our rainbow and has been there since. I digress, this rainbow sorting toy is a truly great toy that will teach your little one so much. Not only will they learn about colors and shapes, they will do so in a multi-sensory way which is so important. This set comes with 2 trays that hold 6 colored bowls, a pair of large tweezers and 3 different shapes in each color that you can put in the correct that you use the large tweezers to sort the same colored fish, star and heart in matching bowl. Children work on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, improve hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages focus and attention. </div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOZ0AYauTaJSWLhyphenhyphenL4OzVt2ZaPsOoj8dq_CYmByMDIH7gGk10DkmftjBfFwsfwOGsjJw8K-ThO51awGNcT8sHd85sb61uVRfjRpJEGMvMUT8uRJkulZ4k3mCz1qvrlYzn4fHzgs0AvzBG/s2000/a5379152-8940-4fe0-bef2-30f61edc24cf_1.7ed7f720fd0d80e4f5e6559ca61f7485.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2000" data-original-width="2000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLOZ0AYauTaJSWLhyphenhyphenL4OzVt2ZaPsOoj8dq_CYmByMDIH7gGk10DkmftjBfFwsfwOGsjJw8K-ThO51awGNcT8sHd85sb61uVRfjRpJEGMvMUT8uRJkulZ4k3mCz1qvrlYzn4fHzgs0AvzBG/w200-h200/a5379152-8940-4fe0-bef2-30f61edc24cf_1.7ed7f720fd0d80e4f5e6559ca61f7485.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/peekaboo-lock-boxes.html?nosto=nosto-page-category2-copy">Peekaboo Lock Boxes</a>-this take on shape sorters is one of my favorite things that I have at my gym. First of all, it's absolutely beautiful and sturdy, making it perfect for the wear and tear it goes through with many kids playing with it. Like the traditional shape sorter, a child has to figure out where all the shapes go, but this has so many other aspects that are so great for your little ones development. There are 6 colored boxes with not only a place to put the shape in, but one side with a different fastener you have to open and close, and a clear panel so you can see through. It also comes with a tray that has 6 colored squares for each box to go into. So not only is your child learning about shapes, they are learning about colors, matching and developing critical fine motor and manipulation skills. There are also opportunities for open-ended play; after my kids put the shapes in or practice the different fasteners, I left them play with the blocks and have seen them make towers, buildings or whatever else comes to their minds. This is a gift that really checks off a ton of boxes and is worth every penny! <div><br /></div><div><br /><p></p><p></p><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/42-piece-set-in-blossom.html"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/42-piece-set-in-blossom.html"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqrlzQ6XfO4yXbbtOgGdxUFH5aSvoLHrRjDcN7kntvxClygq_oDEVn5ArE_yRO9LkU94XZgPS0GR64BO-lD5Yt4M7SZ8fLG7sJsry8QFYyjjJ6_190E0nYozR5Ls_9iP1gS_GqW7z-2M7/s272/images-2.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="272" data-original-width="272" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjqrlzQ6XfO4yXbbtOgGdxUFH5aSvoLHrRjDcN7kntvxClygq_oDEVn5ArE_yRO9LkU94XZgPS0GR64BO-lD5Yt4M7SZ8fLG7sJsry8QFYyjjJ6_190E0nYozR5Ls_9iP1gS_GqW7z-2M7/w200-h200/images-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>Tegu Magnetic Wooden Blocks-these magnetic blocks have been part of my gift guides for years. They were also one of the first sets of blocks that I got my daughter years ago and they are still in absolutely perfect condition. When I first began working in private practice, I was working with a child with cerebral palsy who was interested in playing with blocks but didn't have the control to play with them successfully. I went on a hunt to find something that would work and stumbled upon the Tegu blocks and was intrigued by the magnetic aspect and if he would have more success. I won't ever forget the look on his face as he played with the blocks for the first time. I have been recommending these blocks for years and years and personally give them as gifts to so many of my friends and family who have babies. Great for working on improving grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination and works on developing visual motor and visual perceptual skills, and encourages creativity and imagination. <p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzOh-m0M5JlO5VrJpuVGbHg1PfLjTaewqUj3vC0HlL0j1utI_bIbULIhE_qIaRCyQdwp_ofN4cfT4505WVyinHc6sXRVIheM99Sh7JRoFkd4hS8gs7I4Fl_QAsW9nm-9HkFpquMWmgru-/s1200/OioiooiAlphabetWoodenBlockSet21.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbzOh-m0M5JlO5VrJpuVGbHg1PfLjTaewqUj3vC0HlL0j1utI_bIbULIhE_qIaRCyQdwp_ofN4cfT4505WVyinHc6sXRVIheM99Sh7JRoFkd4hS8gs7I4Fl_QAsW9nm-9HkFpquMWmgru-/w200-h200/OioiooiAlphabetWoodenBlockSet21.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/alphabet-play-blocks.html?nosto=frontpage-nosto-1">Alphabet Play Blocks</a>/<a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/numbers-play-block-set.html">Numbers Play Blocks Set</a>-if I had to choose one thing for you to buy out of <br />everything on this list, I would have to put these at the top of my list. Just like some of the previous toys, the alphabet and number blocks are considered an investment toy and will last forever. When I first saw these posted on Instagram, it took me all of 5 seconds to order them, even though I wasn't working with children in person. The alphabet blocks were the first new toy I introduced to my kids when I began working with them in person and they have been a a huge hit with kids of all ages! They love being able to find the object that matches with each letter, putting the letters in order and playing with some of the object blocks. They get kids excited to learn about letters and numbers and can be used to encourage learning how to write. Grownups will be as excited to play with these blocks as their kids! <p></p><p></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5HdCaMyMCuf6Q-6WnjwV_XYyn7P5kzujraR_nIiDBMrUkH0NbAiX1R7XP2BnMeeI9rvUS8xloyt8blRx9pLjHiZ7XIzM7J3JJFrlEdsVm0aH8vLS1-DlK0bhoprijnjbVRzhPRtgB9qe/s275/images.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5HdCaMyMCuf6Q-6WnjwV_XYyn7P5kzujraR_nIiDBMrUkH0NbAiX1R7XP2BnMeeI9rvUS8xloyt8blRx9pLjHiZ7XIzM7J3JJFrlEdsVm0aH8vLS1-DlK0bhoprijnjbVRzhPRtgB9qe/s0/images.jpg" /></a></div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/search.php?search_query=wobbel&section=product">Wobbel Balance Board</a>-one thing I have noticed about the pandemic is that there is a definite increase in children's sensory seeking behaviors. Starting in March, our kids had to adjust to so many changes with the most drastic one being that they stopped going to school in person. Until the stay at home orders happened all over the country, our kids were used to a very stimulating and active life. All of a sudden, their lives went digital and Zoom school, therapy and playdates were the new normal. When I made the switch to remote therapy, one of the first things I asked many of my families to order was the Wobbel Board. I have had one for my own daughter for years and I wanted my kiddos to have more opportunities to move during their remote school day and to use during our online sessions. It's also been a really good tool for me to add more gross motor and motor planning activities into my virtual sessions. If you go onto their website, you can download and print out a set of <a href="https://www.wobbel.eu/en/wobbelcards/">activity cards</a> which have been a big hit with my kids. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoRqVaEmLrd6VmEvFiKFS7coMsFjRIrt3tdqWhzNMp7CT50dDAb0dUpfJPrp3ty_TAF3EDjXrUPt_9KTRxrTbKT6or8i-wKXVup2vfXcbDTYqN1Oe7p_aorqGIQZAfOGFUpH-qFI8Ld7W/s1440/Tangerine-Studio-Magnetic-Fishing-Set-web-1.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjoRqVaEmLrd6VmEvFiKFS7coMsFjRIrt3tdqWhzNMp7CT50dDAb0dUpfJPrp3ty_TAF3EDjXrUPt_9KTRxrTbKT6or8i-wKXVup2vfXcbDTYqN1Oe7p_aorqGIQZAfOGFUpH-qFI8Ld7W/w150-h200/Tangerine-Studio-Magnetic-Fishing-Set-web-1.jpg" width="150" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/magnetic-fishing-set.html">Magnetic Fishing Set</a>-I am including this after the Wobbel Board because I think this is a great toy that you can use while on the board. I use the Wobbel Board and other balance boards with my kids at work all the time and the most important thing is combining it with the right kind of toy or activity because maintaining their balance can be tricky and frustrating making them want to get off right away. This beautiful fishing toy is a perfect way to distract your kids from the "work". This adorable set includes a fishing rod with a moveable reel and three magnetic fish, an octopus and a shell for kids to easily catch. </div><div>Whether you are on a balance board or just playing, this little toy packs a real punch with all the ways it can help with your child's developmental skills. Kids can work on improving bilateral and hand-eye coordination, improves grasping and manipulation skills and encourages focus, attention and organizational skills. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxct17rFF0wP97XCWmfDvUV2tXapd5saQSpQwBowpTBo5-7oJ234OZ3q_tIs3FM2hIYdi95dDKQBmpnKOThXxnEL9rzlja7kQCx2kaJHOQ2QuFSQp-4ONjzYIjuFUNud70htHVLZhx4jy/s225/download-1.jpg" style="clear: right; display: inline; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIxct17rFF0wP97XCWmfDvUV2tXapd5saQSpQwBowpTBo5-7oJ234OZ3q_tIs3FM2hIYdi95dDKQBmpnKOThXxnEL9rzlja7kQCx2kaJHOQ2QuFSQp-4ONjzYIjuFUNud70htHVLZhx4jy/s0/download-1.jpg" /></a><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/wooden-swing-board.html">Wooden Swing Board</a>-if you are fortunate enough to have the space for this, I say get it! I have something similar to this at the gym I work at but this one is so much better that I might have to replace it! Balance and coordination are critical for the development of so many other gross motor skills like jumping, running and learning how to ride a scooter and/or a bicycle. In addition this swing is great for working on improving body and safety awareness, motor planning and providing children with sensory input during these crazy Covid times. It can be used indoors or outdoors and your child should always be supervised! <p></p><p><br /></p></div>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-23885954003228497032020-11-15T13:57:00.005-08:002020-11-16T07:42:38.838-08:002020 Holiday Gift Guide-Game Time!<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Winter always means more indoor times and with concerns about another wave of Covid-19 cases as we enter the holiday season, I anticipate people will be spending a lot more time indoors as a family. There are only so many television shows one can binge and I get the sense that people are looking for ways to connect that don’t involve a screen given amount of time people are spending with remote learning and work. Now seems like an ideal time to re-evaluate your game closet and make sure you have some games that will keep the whole family entertained. Below, I share a handful of this year’s favorites. I am excited to have some amazing game suggestions from my colleague, speech therapist Jacki Barredo, that are geared towards older kids and have a speech and language twist to them. I have also tried to add a handful of board games that encourage movement as I think it's so important that no matter what happens with the pandemic, we keep kids active because it is proven that children learn better and are more emotionally balanced when their bodies are given the opportunity to get up and move. </span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/learning_resources/wriggleworms_fine_motor_activity_set.cfm"></a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuV3qLoNc0SIMlHvxVbYFYCLLHlUWOEhYjptbh7PPw1A2rP8tC3WEw41Bl-Jr08P1OOXHb4HVegg_sCJ1vkYG_GmBVzaKEDX0razPfILp1vkSdSwUMrNCK1zDX_DEJm8VJS9SU00Cqbt7/s569/91lrxd8vj-L._AC_SX569_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="569" data-original-width="569" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPuV3qLoNc0SIMlHvxVbYFYCLLHlUWOEhYjptbh7PPw1A2rP8tC3WEw41Bl-Jr08P1OOXHb4HVegg_sCJ1vkYG_GmBVzaKEDX0razPfILp1vkSdSwUMrNCK1zDX_DEJm8VJS9SU00Cqbt7/w200-h200/91lrxd8vj-L._AC_SX569_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/learning_resources/wriggleworms_fine_motor_activity_set.cfm?country=US&source=google_pla&kwid=LR266-1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAwMP9BRCzARIsAPWTJ_Eaf-cC33E-GN0x7kcwE21AMfEpaOgRmpTyUbKgrkt1ljcHCKKEzw8aAi8qEALw_wcB">Wriggleworms</a></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">-I am a complete sucker for any game that has some kind of grabber to pick up pieces so when I saw this game I was sold.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> For the little ones on your gift list this year, this is a simple game packed with fun ways to work on developing a variety of skills. The game comes with 20 stretchy worms in 4 colors and 2 different lengths and 20 cards (10 with numbers, 8 critical thinking and 2 size outlines). Kids spin a spinner and they either collect a worm of the same color or the number of worms that they land on. The goal of the game is to be the player to collect the larger number of worms. My favorite part is that they have to use the provided tongs to remove the worms from the game board which is a wonderful way to work on increasing grasp strength and improve manipulation skills. In addition to working on fine motor skills, children learn about colors and size, can practice working on sorting skills, counting and be introduced to early math skills. </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmREJA7K8fkbMfFDcZJ8zy3wDBFQZvGOSZZXnvPBUiIVzxGP-CHvsH7I552u3NhEgmS_N4gzutt8IVGEAxNPYjmJbMPzPr3LBopWbEjGA6ll6GhXLP09VqeTuslHu8avAYPH7d4KHTrGv/s1000/0889070593595.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="605" data-original-width="1000" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAmREJA7K8fkbMfFDcZJ8zy3wDBFQZvGOSZZXnvPBUiIVzxGP-CHvsH7I552u3NhEgmS_N4gzutt8IVGEAxNPYjmJbMPzPr3LBopWbEjGA6ll6GhXLP09VqeTuslHu8avAYPH7d4KHTrGv/w200-h121/0889070593595.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rainbow-Fish-Share-Sparkle-Game/dp/B01NCX6U0Z">Share And Sparkle Game</a></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">-The Rainbow Fish is a popular children’s book that teaches children about the importance of being kind, sharing and what it means to be a good friend. In this cooperative, educational game, children must work together to collect all of the Rainbow Fish’s sparkly scales so he can swim in the waves before they reach the shore. Cooperative games are a great way for children or families to learn that there is more to playing a game than winning or losing. In addition to working on improving play skills, children can work on developing fine motor and grasping skills, hand-eye coordination and visual perceptual skills.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ji4rA7rThiEMPvc8UEIutRJFk6G5Aqm_4btgqGTMuIikdcg6ukKEn2cTkVJAKJKieSdNvwRz_2zUE3cugi0vj3Jf-7iwPVfgZnsMexYr9G9iVX3OU2bQk7a3FsqFvCLk9T2J1hmZtuh8/s1024/colMonComponents.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="711" data-original-width="1024" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ji4rA7rThiEMPvc8UEIutRJFk6G5Aqm_4btgqGTMuIikdcg6ukKEn2cTkVJAKJKieSdNvwRz_2zUE3cugi0vj3Jf-7iwPVfgZnsMexYr9G9iVX3OU2bQk7a3FsqFvCLk9T2J1hmZtuh8/w200-h139/colMonComponents.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/The-Color-Monster-Childrens-Game/dp/B07L5444FR/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+color+monster+game&qid=1604335486&sr=8-1">The Color Monster Game</a></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">-based on one of my favorite <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Color-Monster-Pop-Up-Book-Feelings/dp/1454917296/ref=pd_all_pref_2/134-4110354-4820868?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1454917296&pd_rd_r=7feffb1c-ae97-418c-8ce8-16d54b8aad59&pd_rd_w=BINkz&pd_rd_wg=Lck3q&pf_rd_p=e6474b7e-8fb6-4ee2-b5d6-a1da55185fe6&pf_rd_r=NNHNAMKX4RERBAHDTAE4&psc=1&refRID=NNHNAMKX4RERBAHDTAE4"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">children’s books</span></a> about learning how to identify and understand feelings, The Color Monster game seems to be a much needed resources for young children during these crazy times. Children (and their grownups!) are feeling lot of big feelings and sometimes that can be very confusing. In this collaborative game, children work take turns rolling the dice to move the monster around the board to try and fill up the jars by matching the emotion tokens to the correct colored jar. In order to pick up an emotion coin, children have to share a memory or experience they had with whichever feeling they pick up (Happiness, Sadness, Anger, Fear or Calm). The game is finished when all the correct emotion tokens are in the correct jar.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Break-the-Ice-Game/dp/B01MS6B7BV/ref=sr_1_5?crid=1ADFCPFO5Z35F&dchild=1&keywords=cooties+game+for+kids&qid=1605311075&sprefix=cootie%2Caps%2C253&sr=8-5"><br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VPoz-gHc49A27nWBmcy0sJ7e5B3UB2tLPirg94JDoqZnz1WhBrmMcPwFuCNc1X_RxVqQ5RWrvkRLizyR9lhPl1aeS4q-S-y1ohQ4yeGAl3QT93Iluw2Mh8RntygkK_J7puID3kOcaOEF/s1500/91Q75EmvwmL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1415" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_VPoz-gHc49A27nWBmcy0sJ7e5B3UB2tLPirg94JDoqZnz1WhBrmMcPwFuCNc1X_RxVqQ5RWrvkRLizyR9lhPl1aeS4q-S-y1ohQ4yeGAl3QT93Iluw2Mh8RntygkK_J7puID3kOcaOEF/w189-h200/91Q75EmvwmL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="189" /></a></span></span></div><span><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Dont-Break-the-Ice-Game/dp/B01MS6B7BV/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=don%27t+break+the+ice&qid=1605470223&sr=8-2">Don't Break The Ice</a>-a classic children's game perfect for preschoolers, Don't Break the Ice is a two to four player game where the object is to keep Phillip the Penguin on top of the ice as long as you can while you tap out pieces of ice. Using a little mallet, kids tap out ice pieces but it requires thought and patience to choose a piece that won't make the whole board break. This game is perfect for the little ones in your life who are just starting to learn about turn taking. It also works on developing hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination and can improve grasping and manipulation skills. </span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCH-A_a7Jan2mjFv4QWRSrYJYke0P6gzWhFuqF6FtW0HtzbIZNP9sW3VkX3JwTIImP-qYcuETK0nhIdTzC4gEdxuJzWrJpMSaXdpq2ctCQkisKL5j4RrTt4G3a7iGFm0rIvkkgVJ1izf4/s994/71XhT39SGlL._AC_SL1000_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="966" data-original-width="994" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCH-A_a7Jan2mjFv4QWRSrYJYke0P6gzWhFuqF6FtW0HtzbIZNP9sW3VkX3JwTIImP-qYcuETK0nhIdTzC4gEdxuJzWrJpMSaXdpq2ctCQkisKL5j4RrTt4G3a7iGFm0rIvkkgVJ1izf4/w200-h194/71XhT39SGlL._AC_SL1000_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.educationalinsights.com/pancake-pile-up-relay-game">Pancake Pileup</a>-this game is a huge hit both at my sensory gym and with my kids at <a href="www.themeetinghouseafterschool.org">The Meeting House</a>. What I love about Pancake Pileup is that you can play it in so many ways depending on your child's goals. This game has been a good one to play on my remote sessions to add a gross motor component. It is traditionally a relay-style game where kids pick a card and then try and be the first to stack their pancakes in the correct order; pancakes are on one end of the room and the plate is on the other. If you have several kids you can do a relay race where one kid picks up the first pancake, hands off the spatula to the next kid and continue until the card is complete. Pancake Pileup is great for working on improving visual perceptual skills, hand-eye coordination, sequencing and executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and regulation skills. Additionally, you can improve gross motor skills by giving the kids physical challenges such as jumping, walking backwards, etc. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/HABA-Very-First-Games-Cooperative/dp/B004BW8TYC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=toddler+games&qid=1605490938&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A1V3CN8LT5ZFSV&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExOEZDMDdNUldGTUNGJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjg4ODYwMUE4N1pZR0s2MDIwQSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzQ1MDEzQkM1UUNQMTFDREVSJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ=="></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/HABA-Very-First-Games-Cooperative/dp/B004BW8TYC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=toddler+games&qid=1605490938&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A1V3CN8LT5ZFSV&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExOEZDMDdNUldGTUNGJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjg4ODYwMUE4N1pZR0s2MDIwQSZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzQ1MDEzQkM1UUNQMTFDREVSJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ=="></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAK1sEMjsntrkRZyxrEAoi53qu5pqjPus2R3ulBr1Kxef2oTPGGOI4KetsSqMwlwhWkqn_Bl8WNh7_wpT44jBSyziGPNXlAYyvscg3KrF__rdba7b550XdGR7rK3UrAUkDb1TEp5dBJAg/s2048/13e7984d-e17d-452c-bf64-2bb86f4d798b_1.e9555dacb3edafb603e9b552430de1b8.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1366" data-original-width="2048" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeAK1sEMjsntrkRZyxrEAoi53qu5pqjPus2R3ulBr1Kxef2oTPGGOI4KetsSqMwlwhWkqn_Bl8WNh7_wpT44jBSyziGPNXlAYyvscg3KrF__rdba7b550XdGR7rK3UrAUkDb1TEp5dBJAg/w200-h133/13e7984d-e17d-452c-bf64-2bb86f4d798b_1.e9555dacb3edafb603e9b552430de1b8.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><a href="https://www.amazon.com/HABA-Very-First-Games-Cooperative/dp/B004BW8TYC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=3TMRXB66HKV51&dchild=1&keywords=first+orchard+board+game&qid=1605540739&sprefix=first+orchard+haba%2Caps%2C930&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A1V3CN8LT5ZFSV&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWlBFQVpINjhQMFdaJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDMzMDUwQ1FHTzVKU1BCWDQ3JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA3NDUwMTNCQzVRQ1AxMUNERVImd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl">First Orchard</a>-one of the things I am hearing from many of my families is their concerns about their very young children missing out on critical opportunities to socialize and learn early academic skills. I am here to reassure parents of young children that there are so many other ways to support your children during this crazy time and the most important way is through play. If your toddler isn't going to school, collaborative games like First Orchard are great for teaching them about working together, color recognition and early counting skills. Together, children (and their grownups if necessary) work together to pick the fruits from the trees before the raven reaches the end of the path. First Orchard is similar to Hi Ho Cherry O but I am always a big fan of toys/products made from wood for sustainability. In addition to working on the aforementioned skills, First Orchard encourages fine motor and manipulations skill and hand-eye coordination.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R3sEsGCEpkpS3dCssi3pTpAiJ8B3g5GItqRGtd7-zj7sYImnb9R6H5qpxOMO6FbKisWVNUq86g9enYtyeqDvD9H92cpgRiiYVbPWSJF_N5r96LAd6Be4ao7Zn-3-_OBJqa7fWgQJCGni/s1500/91tsM6U%252BuAL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="1500" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-R3sEsGCEpkpS3dCssi3pTpAiJ8B3g5GItqRGtd7-zj7sYImnb9R6H5qpxOMO6FbKisWVNUq86g9enYtyeqDvD9H92cpgRiiYVbPWSJF_N5r96LAd6Be4ao7Zn-3-_OBJqa7fWgQJCGni/w200-h198/91tsM6U%252BuAL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.mindware.orientaltrading.com/little-red-riding-hood-puzzle-a2-13770457.fltr?cm_mmc=GooglePLA-_-1938802754-_-74521678041-_-13770457&gclsrc=aw.ds&&gclid=Cj0KCQjwufn8BRCwARIsAKzP696W95rNexB0PcFUpkVDYwa5MRxHcLxN3OJ-qi-7xy_4vQCSJATnD60aAhkBEALw_wcB">Little Red Riding Hood Game</a></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">-this is a great game to work on problem solving and logical reasoning with preschoolers and young school-age children. The point of the game is to get Little Red Riding Hood to grandma’s house by creating the correct path. There are 48-challenge cards and each one starts with a guide to how to place the pieces (Little Red Riding Hood, grandma’s house, trees and the wolf) on the board and fill in the path using the correct pieces. While they say this is a 1-player game, I think it would be a great game for kids to work on together in order to solve the challenge. In addition to cognitive skills, this game works on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves visual-spatial and perceptual skills and increases executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and organizational skills.<br /><br /></span></span><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Mouth-Feed-Frog-Game/dp/B001DTRD4S/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mr.+mouth+game&qid=1604336480&sr=8-1"></a></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span><span class="s2" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc319AtlkEkPLNQc2JLjQnCNTlQjpuV54Owd5A9rFxYRWun_pHNVTLmiMrgTMOkgSaHjaGQhlTA0DNYteiaN-ZtB9BgZJm8M9VRBM0qV5-46pPxi-pAgA0f-kWLu0Fr-aVqtGaD4vqs9b/s1500/71CzpxJmnyL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1045" data-original-width="1500" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlc319AtlkEkPLNQc2JLjQnCNTlQjpuV54Owd5A9rFxYRWun_pHNVTLmiMrgTMOkgSaHjaGQhlTA0DNYteiaN-ZtB9BgZJm8M9VRBM0qV5-46pPxi-pAgA0f-kWLu0Fr-aVqtGaD4vqs9b/w200-h139/71CzpxJmnyL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none; text-decoration-line: underline;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Mouth-Feed-Frog-Game/dp/B001DTRD4S/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=mr.+mouth&qid=1605540769&sr=8-1">Mr. Mouth</a></span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;">-I love when games from my childhood make a comeback and even more happy when said games end up being favorites for the kids that I work with. Mr. Mouth is great for older preschoolers and school-age kids to work on improving hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and a great game for working on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, regulation and organizational skills. Be the first to get all of your bugs into the mouth. Sounds easy but you have to time it just right which can be tricky. For my younger kids who might be getting frustrated, I often let them practice by keeping the mouth open for the first round so they can get used to the game in order to build up their frustration tolerance.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQnlDNdhBSBON7n0gqvolhgRXjCUE34ew3ZeVuQJmluWBPgaC4OCsuV9OryatbM1_3aIpAv35NDdi0v8EXcHCrHOF0dpTJDkzSREPqVeFLdW-1g56nREB7vbAfUtFhy6maP7xIXfRglVf/s1500/81Y-GhWlxTL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1486" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqQnlDNdhBSBON7n0gqvolhgRXjCUE34ew3ZeVuQJmluWBPgaC4OCsuV9OryatbM1_3aIpAv35NDdi0v8EXcHCrHOF0dpTJDkzSREPqVeFLdW-1g56nREB7vbAfUtFhy6maP7xIXfRglVf/w198-h200/81Y-GhWlxTL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="198" /></span></a></div><span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mattel-Games-Kerplunk-Sloths-Kids/dp/B07XB3HGCW/ref=sr_1_3?crid=16A0AVBHUN2RB&dchild=1&keywords=tumbling+monkeys&qid=1605289388&sprefix=tumbling+monkey%2Caps%2C313&sr=8-3">Kerplunk Sloths</a>-the original Kerplunk (marbles) and Tumblin' Monkeys are two of my favorite games and also longtime favorites at work. When I went searching for the link to those games, I stumbled upon this newer version and obsessed is an understatement. Instead of marbles or monkeys, you have to collect the cutest little plastic sloths you've ever seen! Kids take turns rolling the die and removing the matching color stick. The rules actually say that the person with the least number of sloths at the end is the winner but I often let the child(ren) playing decide if they want to aim to get the most or the least number in order to determine a winner. Kerplunk Sloths works on so many developmental skills including improving fine motor and manipulation skills, improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills, encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning and organizational skills. Younger children may need some assistance for set-up but in general, this game is appropriate for pre-school through school-age children. </span></span></span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxL00h0kkc5jr2Uz8Us1HxQVCl5LvF50okTT_3qcOQ8xScpvRE8ljjK7mi76JFTl0SHJRZfGtZsth7p1b57dgYmvpmy3zAJtsgXMXrH2g9AdzXLfRv4yD0n2gkC6pTFQCpp8iTE0y3QaF/s1024/eeBoo_Spottington_2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="576" data-original-width="1024" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsxL00h0kkc5jr2Uz8Us1HxQVCl5LvF50okTT_3qcOQ8xScpvRE8ljjK7mi76JFTl0SHJRZfGtZsth7p1b57dgYmvpmy3zAJtsgXMXrH2g9AdzXLfRv4yD0n2gkC6pTFQCpp8iTE0y3QaF/w200-h113/eeBoo_Spottington_2.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://eeboo.com/products/spottington">Spottington</a>-for those of you who don't know about <a href="https://eeboo.com">Eeboo</a>, I highly recommend you get to know them. In addition to beautiful puzzles, pretend play toys and craft supplies, they have some of the most well-made, durable and creative games. I received Spottington in my monthly Sensory TheraPlay box last month and it's been a great game for my school age kids. One of my favorite things about this visual perceptual and visual scanning game is the fact that it comes with 7 double-sided interchangeable game boards so the game is never the same. The rules of the game are quite simple, which is another bonus, which makes it more fun for everyone. People take turns flipping over one of the 250 picture cards and everyone playing races to be the first one to find it. Once you find it, you place your token on it and call out "Spottington". The objects are various sizes and there be others that look similar so it really takes a lot of concentration. This game is great for working on visual motor, visual scanning and visual discrimination skills and improves executive functioning skills such as focus and attention. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></span></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTGF7PbqBBpJ2nq1O4cdyBGtciWqbLYpmUSBDLk5Hy-pO3ToLuNO5QzqA9A2z1S6yV4X7LXBo5EwhKnet8i46CCTyzqjJVERoX9DWsWDWjWWLEQWeRycf4iRKTBHCB5oAYuLC2ue6PGNP/s500/2793237_P_SC.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpTGF7PbqBBpJ2nq1O4cdyBGtciWqbLYpmUSBDLk5Hy-pO3ToLuNO5QzqA9A2z1S6yV4X7LXBo5EwhKnet8i46CCTyzqjJVERoX9DWsWDWjWWLEQWeRycf4iRKTBHCB5oAYuLC2ue6PGNP/w200-h200/2793237_P_SC.jpg" width="200" /></span></a><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"></span></div><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Interactive-Birthday-Promotes-Physical-Activity/dp/B07DGYX438/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3K10P4UFYX6R1&dchild=1&keywords=the+floor+is+lava+game+for+kids&qid=1605306779&sprefix=the+flo%2Caps%2C165&sr=8-2">The Floor is Lava</a>-with the recent success of the Netflix show, The Floor is Lava, this has become a game kids have gotten really into. I love this game, especially as we are looking at the possibility of a second round of lockdowns and shelter in place action, because it offers movement opportunities for our kids who are spending so much time on a screen. In this family game players must imagine that the floor is molten hot lava while spinning the color wheel to jump to the right foam pieces. The game comes with 25 different colored "safety stones" and 27 challenge cards. This gross motor game works on jumping, leaping, balance, coordination and motor planning. For younger kids, this could be a really fun way to learn about colors. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hapinest-Balance-Stepping-Obstacle-Coordination/dp/B0821N2C12/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3NA8R5N38JWDO&dchild=1&keywords=the+floor+is+lava+game+for+kids&qid=1605471550&sprefix=the+floor+%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-10"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hapinest-Balance-Stepping-Obstacle-Coordination/dp/B0821N2C12/ref=sr_1_10?crid=3NA8R5N38JWDO&dchild=1&keywords=the+floor+is+lava+game+for+kids&qid=1605471550&sprefix=the+floor+%2Caps%2C178&sr=8-10"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLe-AD2cUE60FaRkeYlKozZwo3yz6zWR4Qh85SAwzhh91i0ayv48OjLNj6bWuEWuMdtb69vJ-cseIdl99rYWCNRsgSHs5y2SfFyl6_XuYOdXaHvCU2wyFV_BJLZ1zvxLjZiWa55P01oQS/s1500/71zs0IkSuPL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="1500" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPLe-AD2cUE60FaRkeYlKozZwo3yz6zWR4Qh85SAwzhh91i0ayv48OjLNj6bWuEWuMdtb69vJ-cseIdl99rYWCNRsgSHs5y2SfFyl6_XuYOdXaHvCU2wyFV_BJLZ1zvxLjZiWa55P01oQS/w200-h196/71zs0IkSuPL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div>Turtle Steps-another gross motor game that can be played indoors or outdoors. Kids who have gross motor delays often want to avoid movement at all costs possible so being able to do it through game can be a game changer for them. Turtle Steps works on balance, coordination and concentration and is appropriate for children 3 years and older. The game includes 3 large and 3 medium-sized turtle shell stepping stones, 24 activity cards with turtle facts and alternative ways to play the game. Through obstacle courses and challenges, kids can work on jumping, coordination and increasing body strength. Play by the rules it comes with or create your own game using the turtle shells. For those of you worried about space, the shells easily stack as to not take up too much space. Gross motor development and movement is important for building confidence, self-esteem and helps with children learning. During these crazy times where so many kids are doing remote school, it's so important that we provide as many opportunities for movement that we can. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://gamewright.com/product/Boochie"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://gamewright.com/product/Boochie"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://gamewright.com/product/Boochie"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AhrAlPHCFzo_lyHkXJql8HSS637CotQ4PTWIyyImLmJL2eM_HijoRdyT0XF6_h7VovVf2AxiYFlV-L0SNg-JDJ2zYiS4_w6SXjIJ85UN1Y-FzBY6hxonOUaVluSikFV7720BBXePIIkG/s1000/GAMEWRIGHT-314.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="765" data-original-width="1000" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5AhrAlPHCFzo_lyHkXJql8HSS637CotQ4PTWIyyImLmJL2eM_HijoRdyT0XF6_h7VovVf2AxiYFlV-L0SNg-JDJ2zYiS4_w6SXjIJ85UN1Y-FzBY6hxonOUaVluSikFV7720BBXePIIkG/w200-h153/GAMEWRIGHT-314.jpg" width="200" /></a></div></div><br /><a href="https://gamewright.com/product/Boochie">Boochie</a>-another movement game that the whole family can enjoy indoors or outdoors. The first part of the game is to toss out the Boochie target and then try to land your ball and as close as possible. Kids will love that they get to keep score on the special wrist tracker that the game comes with that will throw out different throwing challenges each round. Kids may have to toss between their legs, behind their back, with their eyes closed and so much more. In addition to getting kids up and moving while they may be stuck inside this winter, it works on improving a variety of gross motor skills such as hand-eye coordination, balance, endurance, throwing skills and so much more. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw4CRzJVV1oPCImfj_tpDV17PUjrF8DQmJPcX1BgySWjX5NFBDvesDzAAo7itmG1XhQXuxApBcWGCa_EOL5ah4uJVUazz5RLr-Ls55Hu2yY4zCCtJ4wTcsyChdxc05iKqlYTJkrQMyDXH/s1000/GAMEWRIGHT-249.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1000" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsw4CRzJVV1oPCImfj_tpDV17PUjrF8DQmJPcX1BgySWjX5NFBDvesDzAAo7itmG1XhQXuxApBcWGCa_EOL5ah4uJVUazz5RLr-Ls55Hu2yY4zCCtJ4wTcsyChdxc05iKqlYTJkrQMyDXH/w200-h160/GAMEWRIGHT-249.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://gamewright.com/product/Sushi-Go">Sushi Go</a>-one of my clients recommended this game to me and I am obsessed with it now. I actually just picked up my second game to play at home with my husband and daughter! This pick and pass card game is fast-paced and requires strategy and good planning. Each player gets 10 cards and is trying to score the most points by collecting and making a variety of sushi rolls. Sounds easy, but it gets tricky because you keep passing your cards between players who might end up taking the card that you need. This is great for older children who are working on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and organization. It's also a great way to sneak in some additional math practice for your kids! </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigruCQIYAWg_VxyLKy2mIBOdYvxtILqMaL820WjKtKCjjAu6LvZSYZZKa1XCXLR73mtladSVAzWYMkflrLZav_weSoKBkP4zMLpj9pac7Ct3R_b0h6O43WJq3VifbAGltqMApVEZ7gaD7M/s541/0855836006081_p2_v3_s550x406.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="541" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigruCQIYAWg_VxyLKy2mIBOdYvxtILqMaL820WjKtKCjjAu6LvZSYZZKa1XCXLR73mtladSVAzWYMkflrLZav_weSoKBkP4zMLpj9pac7Ct3R_b0h6O43WJq3VifbAGltqMApVEZ7gaD7M/w200-h150/0855836006081_p2_v3_s550x406.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Taco-Cat-Goat-Cheese-Pizza/dp/B077Z1R28P/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=1QB4MJJZKXTFJ&dchild=1&keywords=taco+cat+goat+cheese+pizza&qid=1604336509&sprefix=taco+cat+%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQjdROUxQWVhKNUkxJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMzcyNzM2UFc0WDVUN1Q3SFZNJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAzNjE5NjYyNFVJMDMyUlA2OVU4JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==">Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza</a>-this game recommendation comes from speech therapist extraordinaire, <a href="https://www.jbspeech.com/">Jacki Barredo</a>. I’m a huge fan of card games because they are easy to store and can easily be taken on the go to keep your kids entertained and this definitely fits that requirement. Pass out all of the cards to all the players and take turns flipping your cards over while saying taco, cat, goat, cheese, pizza (in that order). When the card and the word match, players race to slap the cards and the winner takes the pile. Be sure to keep your eyes open for three special action cards. This is definitely for older children on your gift list and great for working on sequencing, organization, focus, attention and really great for working on regulatory skills. </span><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="s1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-kerning: none; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-C3379-Hearing-Things-Game/dp/B01MR4V1M1/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hearing+things+game&qid=1605309083&sr=8-2"></a></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-C3379-Hearing-Things-Game/dp/B01MR4V1M1/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hearing+things+game&qid=1605309083&sr=8-2"></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZSMqIJX6pbKvq9QooAhikhxuGPKikftP1Wt2WTOAAlLV_ssRdWcQT5NAjK1SYfnRIt4kpWWjfuX6eTcJ6BypOke_kjY3a9LP4a3QtuRFNoq3VLOrj5Y17nS9LEAb5w8BzjXkUSZvboaI/s1000/Hasbro_HearingThings.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1000" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZSMqIJX6pbKvq9QooAhikhxuGPKikftP1Wt2WTOAAlLV_ssRdWcQT5NAjK1SYfnRIt4kpWWjfuX6eTcJ6BypOke_kjY3a9LP4a3QtuRFNoq3VLOrj5Y17nS9LEAb5w8BzjXkUSZvboaI/w200-h150/Hasbro_HearingThings.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hasbro-C3379-Hearing-Things-Game/dp/B01MR4V1M1/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=hearing+things&qid=1605470033&sr=8-2">Hearing Things</a>-another recommendation from my speech therapist colleague, <a href="https://www.jbspeech.com/">Jacki Barredo</a>, geared towards older children (10 and older). After the online viral "whisper challenge" sensation, Hasbro created this game. One player puts on a pair of speech-cancelling electronic headphones and the other player is required to say the random phrases on the card. The player only earns the card if they correctly figure out what the other one was saying.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJ0jWV1IBWFnjvTcck46rdBdQ4n3-TGl_k6k238Nli5cdwAKf_qOa3csradqLUWHdt20HQvww1EIpjvg1mezUOfHLLoa9G3PVYUVTw5VzZo4mgcxUWWau4EQfzbXFYAizFwuBZsqYrMie/s1330/Screen-Shot-2020-04-29-at-8.21.50-AM.png" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1027" data-original-width="1330" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeJ0jWV1IBWFnjvTcck46rdBdQ4n3-TGl_k6k238Nli5cdwAKf_qOa3csradqLUWHdt20HQvww1EIpjvg1mezUOfHLLoa9G3PVYUVTw5VzZo4mgcxUWWau4EQfzbXFYAizFwuBZsqYrMie/w200-h154/Screen-Shot-2020-04-29-at-8.21.50-AM.png" width="200" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><a href="https://ilovetenzi.com/product/buildzi/"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Buildzi</span></a>-one of my absolute favorite games, and has been for years, is the dice game <a href="https://ilovetenzi.com/the-tale-of-tenzi/"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">Tenzi</span></a>. It’s been a favorite for my kids and has been on my gift guide for years. As I have spent the last few months trying to freshen up my game selection, I stumbled on Buildzi and had to test it out immediately. It has quickly become a favorite of my kids, particularly my older children. One of the things that I love about this companies games is that they all have more than one way to play it making it less likely your child will become bored with it. When playing Tower Buildzi, kids have to look at a card and replicate the tower on the card; this can be done individually or against a friend to see who can build it the fastest without it falling down. When playing Block Card Buildzi, each player gets 8 cards with different shapes and they have to build a sturdy tower using the random shapes.<br />Buildzi is amazing for working on developing a variety of visual skills such as visual motor, visual perceptual, visual discrimination and visual tracking skills. It also works on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and improving frustration tolerance. If you have a child who has difficulty with teamwork, this is a great game, particularly the Block Card version, to work together with a sibling or a peer to strategize the best way to build a tower.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLeOsau8alPEbzzS_GfCitKDu0sImBl9x71RgruPxc7ZEo5rGGtHAPRl6meenfpbQy-GVho3x-dG8OexFfoPLC8Uie96T3zC8Up6Jds5oeuQweG9YvMSH8cY0hoz2YUuTe4vHlMoOz2dC/s679/61GYUjp5jXL._AC_SX679_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="679" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLeOsau8alPEbzzS_GfCitKDu0sImBl9x71RgruPxc7ZEo5rGGtHAPRl6meenfpbQy-GVho3x-dG8OexFfoPLC8Uie96T3zC8Up6Jds5oeuQweG9YvMSH8cY0hoz2YUuTe4vHlMoOz2dC/w200-h194/61GYUjp5jXL._AC_SX679_.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><p></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"><span class="s1" style="font-family: helvetica; font-kerning: none;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rummy-Board-Durable-Travel-Adults/dp/B081F6CFWQ/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=rummikub+childrens&qid=1605304229&sr=8-3">Rummy Tile Board Game</a>-Rummikub is a favorite game amongst many of my family and friends. Whenever my sister comes to visit (remember when one could freely travel???), we spend hours playing it. While I have the original version, I thought this version would be more appealing to kids. Rummy Tile Board is a great game for older children who need to work on developing or improving their executive functioning skills. Kids have to take turns placing numbered tiles in runs (4, 5, 6 and so on) or in groups (same numbers, different colors). The first person to use all of their tiles wins. This fast-paced game works on sequencing, pattern recognition, focus, attention and organizational skills. Like many of the more complicated games I introduce my kids to, I always play the first few rounds together so I can make sure they truly understand the rules and answer any questions they might have. I find that this builds their confidence and motivates them to try something that may be tricky for them. </span></p><p class="p2" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px; min-height: 12px;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></p><p class="p1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal; margin: 0px;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit2nPQC2V9lWptFzB7mPzUtbbca4OPr8XCT1kg2qPqa9xDRdQvTsaD8A0WOHhnUjCKHZcFKUhjOjFluDAW3qOxgkKHQOVbTB_T1lHLC_YOTj3XHtduomhXhR46TgdZMm1Uykf7u5oaTg2/s225/download.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiit2nPQC2V9lWptFzB7mPzUtbbca4OPr8XCT1kg2qPqa9xDRdQvTsaD8A0WOHhnUjCKHZcFKUhjOjFluDAW3qOxgkKHQOVbTB_T1lHLC_YOTj3XHtduomhXhR46TgdZMm1Uykf7u5oaTg2/w200-h200/download.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/morphy.cfm">Morphy</a>-another one of my favorite games for the older kids on my caseload. The goal of the game is to collect the most number of discs by finding a disc with that is different by one quality. The game comes with 60 discs that have a color, pattern and a center circle hole that varies in size. Start with a green disc with stripes and a large center circle and you can move it to an orange disc with stripes and a large center circle or to a green disc with dots and a large center circle. Morphy is a fast-paced game that works on improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills, visual discrimination, visual tracking, pattern recognition, sequencing and improves executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and self-monitoring. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had so much fun putting this game gift guide together. As I have already said, parents are looking for as many opportunities to get their kids off of a screen and what's better than getting the family together to play games. I worked really hard to find games that grown-ups would enjoy playing and not just feel obligated to. There are so many great games out there but it can be really hard to sift through them all. One of the things that I was mindful about with this list is that a variety of skills could be worked on when playing them. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I highly recommend going to your local toy-stores and see what they have; they are often a wealth of information and know what is most popular. Some of my favorite local toy-stores that have an amazing selection here in the New York City area are <a href="https://luluskidscuts.nyc/collections/board-games">Lulu's Cuts and Toys</a> in Park Slope, <a href="https://littlethingstoystore.com/">Little Things Toy Store </a>in Park Slope, <a href="https://stationeryandtoy.com/shop/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=69&zenid=l48gfn373j7vsr170sotpg65a4">Stationery and Toy Store</a> on the Upper West Side, <a href="https://www.maryarnoldtoys.com/">Mary Arnold Toys</a> on the Upper East Side and <a href="https://www.fstoys.com/">Fun Stuff Toys</a> on Long Island. While it's always been important to shop local and small businesses, they are really relying on it this holiday season. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">There are so many more games out there and if you are looking for something specific for your child or someone you are looking to buy for this year, I'd be happy to help you find the perfect game. I am only a <a href="otmeghan@gmail.com ">click away</a> and love hearing from you all. Also, if you have any game suggestions, please send them my way! I am always looking for new games for work and home. </span></div></div></div></div>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-89258700882654107122020-09-06T12:06:00.001-07:002020-09-06T12:07:41.519-07:00Successful Online Sessions are Possible!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69gYwilmzmNECo38vGFDyaTshmkmZ4shW7VmlIzGvJPz0ywZCbiL8rGs1xDKW4bzKkkTRD1ojA8xjSZbBNlciTYVhYfkG4zbmcTVUtADxbloTW6K8hPldpKnOfhzn1Qsm3JOsrHparlQw/s2048/ZoomGuide.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1583" data-original-width="2048" height="483" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj69gYwilmzmNECo38vGFDyaTshmkmZ4shW7VmlIzGvJPz0ywZCbiL8rGs1xDKW4bzKkkTRD1ojA8xjSZbBNlciTYVhYfkG4zbmcTVUtADxbloTW6K8hPldpKnOfhzn1Qsm3JOsrHparlQw/w625-h483/ZoomGuide.png" width="625" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div>It's been a while and every time I go quiet with blogging, I promise myself I will get better. The good news is the reason I took a break from blogging was because I was actually busy with work. The gratitude I feel for being busy during this crazy time is immeasurable. I love what I do and to be able to continue even remotely felt like such a gift. In July, I was able to slowly go back to my New York City office to see a handful of kids in person, but the majority of my caseload has been remotely and will continue that way with this new school year. <div><br /></div><div>Unlike March and April when we were all trying to figure out this new way of doing therapy, I feel so much more prepared and ready for whatever gets thrown at us this school year. Not only do I feel more prepared, I have figured out how I can support parents and caregivers for these sessions to be more successful by setting up the environment. With the help of my daughter (illustrator) and my husband (graphic designer), I have created this infographic that I will be sharing with all of my families before we begin online therapy sessions. The suggestions made are not exclusive to therapy sessions and can be used to make distance learning and online extra-curricular activities </div><div><br /></div><div>1. <b><i>Dress in therapy appropriate clothing</i></b>-I know that we have all fallen into a clothing rut. Why really bother to get dressed if we are not going to be going outside. Keep in mind that kids do better with routine and consistency so if they are going to be on a zoom class or therapy session, they should get dressed just like they would for an in-person session or school. This is especially important for activities that will require them to get up and moving. I like to start most of my remote sessions with a gross/sensory motor activity and it's helpful if they are wearing shoes (if you are a no-shoe household, get a pair of inexpensive shoes that can be worn indoors). </div><div><br /></div><div>2. <b><i>Plan to have a snack and use the bathroom BEFORE a session begins</i></b>-another thing that I saw a lot of during my remote sessions was kids turning on the camera with a big snack in-front of them. These remote sessions make it much easier for snacks to be at our disposal whenever we want them. This is a huge distraction for kids during sessions, especially if they are presented with more challenging activities. Having that snack right there in-front of them is an easy way to avoid tasks. Typical therapy sessions last no more than 45 minutes so if your child says they are hungry, make a plan with them that there will be a snack waiting for them as soon as their session is over. As for the bathroom, we all know that when you have to go, you have to go but if possible, encourage your child to use the bathroom right before their session begins to avoid a pause in the session. My observation was that it quite tricky for the kids to regain their focus and attention afterwards. </div><div><br /></div><div>3. <i><b>Set up a good work space</b></i>-I know that space is something that can be quite limited, especially for my New York City based clients who live in apartments and you are juggling parents working from home and multiple children doing remote learning/therapy. I speak from my own personal experience with my 10 year old daughter. While in my head I knew this was going to be a long-term thing, my heart wanted something else so badly that I just threw her at a crowded table with too much junk. That disorganized table naturally led her to be disorganized with her supplies, papers, etc.. No matter what happens with NYC schools, my daughter will be home and we are starting the year off with a proper desk with her computer and only what she will need for school. This designated area will be her own space and will be the only place she will be allowed to do her work. In order for therapy sessions to be successful, do the same. Have a designated space, preferably a child sized table or desk with room around them for them to participate in any gross or sensory motor activities. </div><div>**for kids who have a hard time sitting for long periods of time, consider a standing desk that can be adjusted for them throughout the day. </div><div><br /></div><div>4. <b><i>Physical movement space is a must</i></b>-kids have never been asked to spend so much time sitting in front of a screen and we forget how much natural movement occurs throughout a school day. Getting up from circle time on the floor to go to their tables, moving from their classroom to the lunch room and specials rooms are all things that will no longer be happening so we must create movement opportunities, especially when we see their focus is impacted. Whether your child will be in school or at home, make sure they are set up with space around them to get up and do some quick physical movement. Some simple movement activities that can be done throughout their school day: jumping jacks, dance parties, freeze dance, running in place or some simple yoga poses. </div><div><br /></div><div>5. <i><b>Only have materials needed for school/therapy sessions on hand</b></i>-going back to number 3, whatever work space you have set up for your child, only have materials that they might need for their sessions or that particular class. I can't tell you how much time was wasted during some of my sessions asking kids to put away their favorite stuffed animals, books or other toys. One of the things that I have learned and vow to be much better about this year is to send an agenda to my remote session parents at the beginning of the week with any materials that will need to be printed and what we will need for our sessions. If I know a child well enough and know that they will need markers or Legos during their session but having them out before they are needed will distract them from doing other activities, I will ask parents to bring them to them when needed.</div><div><br /></div><div>6. <b><i>Set up technology before the session begins</i></b>-this is especially important for younger children and children who might not have a grownup right there to support them in the moment (working parents, parents/caregivers supporting other children). Make sure that the camera and volume are on and stay with your child until you are certain they are signed on and everything is working with their therapist or with their class. Another important thing, make sure your device is completely charged before your child's day begins and be sure to check on the battery level throughout the day. The more you use a device, the quicker it will go through a charge and if kids are in the middle of an activity and their device dies, it's very hard to come back and attend. </div><div><br /></div><div>7. <b><i>Limit distractions</i></b>-again, another much easier said than done expectation. But there are some easy things that can be done no matter what your remote learning situation looks like. If your child has a session or class, turn the television or music off and have them put away any toys that they might have in their eye sight. If there are siblings at home, try and have them occupied so they don't interrupt your child's session. Also, if your child needs your assistance during your session, try not to be on the phone as that can be a huge distraction for kids. </div><div><br /></div><div>8. <b><i>Make sure a grownup is available for troubleshooting</i></b>-one of the things I realized early on is that one of the most helpful things I could do as a therapist is set up an online session in a way that parents didn't have to be involved 100% of the time. This ended up being easier for older children but I did figure out that even for some of my younger children that as long as I was clear with what I needed for each session prior to beginning, things went smoother. My pre-schoolers did great because they had a grown-up assisting them for much of the session but for my older kids who were more independent, I worked it out with their parents or caregivers that they would be reachable via text if I needed something from them. </div><div><br /></div><div>I want to end this post with discussing the importance of routine and structure, especially during these uncertain times. Knowing what to expect from their day and what will be expected from them will help children feel more in control of things. If your child does well with visual instruction, set up a visual calendar for the week with when they will be going to school (online or in-person), what therapy sessions they have and any other extracurricular activities that might be involved with. If your child will be mostly remote learning, I can't stress the importance of adding body and brain breaks into their schedule. Whether it be having a dance party between sessions or doing some kind of obstacle course in your house, movement helps with learning. <p></p></div><div>The last thing I want to say is that we are all in this together and we are all doing the absolute best we can. This is not easy and none of us could have expected when 2020 started that life as we know it would come to a screeching halt and we would need to make all of these lifestyle changes. Parents, it's okay to feel overwhelmed and nervous about what lies ahead but know you are not in this alone. Find yourself a friend who you can vent to when necessary. Us parents need to support each other now more than ever. This is a whole new adventure and I too am nervous about what will be, but I also know that we all know so much more than we did months ago and that's making me feel a little less anxious for this new school year. </div><div><br /></div><div>Good luck to you all! I am here to answer any questions or provide any support I can this school year. I am only a <a href="otmeghan@gmail.com ">click away</a> and love hearing from everyone. </div>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-2851646371154161422020-04-28T09:32:00.000-07:002020-04-28T10:42:35.413-07:00So Much Screen TimeHow are you all doing? I am sure many of us thought that by this point we would start seeing things go back to some kind of normal after nearly six weeks, right? Each day we're learning that our social distancing efforts are working, but it's hard not to wish that things were back to normal, especially when it comes to remote learning and therapy.<br />
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This has been an eye-opening experience for me as both a parent and a therapist and I've learned a lot in the last six weeks that will forever alter my expectations on parents (myself included). I want to applaud each and every one of you reading this....you're doing an amazing job. You have been handed a giant bag of lemons and are making lemonade out of them. It's not always easy, but you are giving this your all and your kids are going to come out of this not only okay, but great.<br />
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One of the things I am hearing from the parents of the kids I work with is that the amount of screen time is almost unbearable. This is especially true for the younger children and those with sensory issues. So many of the kids that I work with were used to screen time being limited to weekends and special events so this is a whole new world for them and they are having a hard time with the adjustment. The thing that makes this so tricky is that some schools are requiring children to be on a screen for the entire school day with the exception of lunch while others have you check in a couple of times a week for meetings and then they expect you to get your work done at your own pace.<br />
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Today, I'm going to offer up some tips to help you and your children get through the rest of this remote learning adventure. Keep in mind that every child is different and what works for some won't work for others so try them and see what helps your day more smoothly. Let me be clear about one thing....<b>nobody should be expected to do any or all of these. You are already being asked to do so much more than normal. If you pick one thing to focus on to help you and your child, that is enough. </b><br />
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1. <b>Make a schedule</b> <b>with your child each day so they know exactly what is expected from them</b>. One of the first things I did when this whole thing started was pick up a dry erase board that we hung up behind my daughter Quinn's work station. Each morning, she signs onto her Google Classroom and writes down her flow of the day. This includes what assignments she has to get finished, any teacher meetups and any extra-curricular lessons that are scheduled for the day. By writing this down, we are finding that she has some control of her day and knows exactly what is expected of her. We also don't have to be on top of her to make sure she is doing what she needs to.<br />
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2. <b>Keep a daily routine</b>. This is certainly easier said than done on some days, but consistency and routine will help things feel as normal as possible in this absolutely abnormal time. Breakfast and lunch are at the same time in our house. We also try and build in times for movement for her throughout the school day. What's worked for us is that Quinn knows that every day at noon she has an hour to eat, read, play a video game, etc.. This is her hour to do what she wants (for the most part).<br />
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3. <b>Make sure that your child is in a comfortable place with as few distractions as possible</b>. I know that this might be hard in small living spaces and if you have multiple children, but limiting the visual and auditory distractions will help your child get the most out of their lessons. If your child has to be in their room at their desk for their remote learning, make sure that toys aren't strewn about making it more desirable to go and play with them while they should be in class. If possible, make sure all toys and distractions are out of sight before their school day begins. If your child is out in an open space where parents and siblings are also working, make sure they have a good set of headphones to block out as much noise so they can focus on what their teachers/therapists are saying.<br />
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4. <b>Make sure your child is wearing comfortable clothes</b>. I know there are some schools that are requiring kids to get into their school uniforms (which I think is a bit ridiculous) but if there is any way to make your kids feel more comfortable in those uniforms, that could help your child sit for longer periods of time. I know I am having a lot of trouble getting my daughter to get out of her pajamas each day but I have found that when she is dressed in real clothes, she has more energy (she won't agree with me but I see a definite difference)!<br />
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5. <b>Schedule movement breaks</b>. I can't stress how important it is to get a child up and moving throughout the day. I have already <a href="https://macandtoys.blogspot.com/2020/03/get-that-body-moving.html">blogged</a> about the importance of this but it's worth repeating that movement has been proven to do the following:<br />
*Improves cognitive skills as they complete these activities. Be sure to up the challenge for them as they become more successful with them.<br />
*Improves focus and attention which helps with the learning process. We must allow time for movement opportunities in order for our children to learn.<br />
*Helps "turn on" your brain (this is proven!).<br />
*Helps a child better focus and attend and also better organize their work.<br />
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There are so many ways to add movement into your child's daily schedule. Play a game of Simon Says, run up and down stairs if you have them, create an obstacle course early in the morning that they can escape to when they feel like they need to move. Challenge your child to create an obstacle course using stuff you have around the house. Here are some things you can have them do:<br />
*Find something to jump over (see how many times they can do it in 30 seconds)<br />
*Find something to jump on<br />
*Find something to crawl over or through<br />
*Find something to climb over<br />
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Also, use materials you already have in your house. Masking tape makes a great balance beam, colored paper makes great jumping spots and tables make great tunnels!<br />
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6. <b>Set up a sensory diet</b>. <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Like most things, children's sensory needs are drastically different from one another. While some of your children are still getting their occupational therapy services, some are not so you may find that your child is presenting with regression in this area. You may find that your child is seeking more input than usual. This makes total sense given the amount of time your child is spending sitting in front of a screen (therefore fewer opportunities to play outside). Even if your child isn't getting occupational therapy right now, reach out to their therapist and ask them to help you set up a sensory diet that works into your schedule. A sensory diet helps kids get in a "just right" state so they can pay attention and learn. Activities in a sensory diet can help kids who are overreactive feel calmer and unrreactive kids feel more alert</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">By providing your child with appropriate sensory input, you will find their ability to focus and attend to tasks will improve. It will also help with their ability to handle more challenging activities that are being thrown at them and help with improving their frustration tolerance. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXQXWJUU64TOUcrh8E4TvJoBAWHDCCH9__PPC-mjl4ViW5ujrU4A7GszuxI91lRr7v3iwXr5qH9wl_IzgrvV4gY-6h_d1jeJ2TJcvUY05Rx7BRcUN28xshW3A-Zkxmi9eM793dov24WMp/s1600/71maG2%252BVPGL._AC_SL1000_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZXQXWJUU64TOUcrh8E4TvJoBAWHDCCH9__PPC-mjl4ViW5ujrU4A7GszuxI91lRr7v3iwXr5qH9wl_IzgrvV4gY-6h_d1jeJ2TJcvUY05Rx7BRcUN28xshW3A-Zkxmi9eM793dov24WMp/s200/71maG2%252BVPGL._AC_SL1000_.jpg" width="199" /></a>7. <b>Create a sensory box</b>. This is especially important for older children who feel like their life is completely out of control right now. Like I have already mentioned, the sensory needs of each child are different so deciding what to put in a sensory bin will depend on what their sensory needs are. Here are a handful of common sensory box tools that help improve sensory processing skills in your child. If possible, have your child's occupational therapist go over with you and your child how to and when to use all of the tools. Please be sure to eliminate anything you worry about your child using. For example, if you have a kid who likes to put things in his/her mouth, I would avoid things like putty, kinetic sand or Mad Mattr. Here is a <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fidgets-Bubbler-Squishy-Toys-Stretchy/dp/B07T21B6XL/ref=sr_1_2?dchild=1&keywords=sensory+box&qid=1588019516&sr=8-2">great kit</a> you can get on Amazon that includes some of the following:<br />
*Sensory/squeezy balls-I am a huge fun of the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=schylling+stress+ball&ref=nb_sb_noss_2">Schylling squeezy balls</a><br />
*Bubbles<br />
*Theraband<br />
*Putty (my favorite is <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=schylling+stress+ball&ref=nb_sb_noss_2">Crazy Aaron's Thinking Putty</a>)<br />
*Fidget toys<br />
*Kinetic sand<br />
*<a href="https://www.relevantplay.com/collections/mad-mattr">Mad Mattr</a><br />
*Stretchy string<br />
*Monkey noodles<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nq8YcZmDJaiyUwpULDkjU7WJYCwnt6nlwloIw1JBMCyD-IZEcBPr3j7IA8_uA86DnoxMnILUjkIrXOp1woya9A9BkSR5slUnWx8-pNKHQRa0adPu3jIlaoNGpxVc_m3Tp_FzJ8LCY04Y/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8nq8YcZmDJaiyUwpULDkjU7WJYCwnt6nlwloIw1JBMCyD-IZEcBPr3j7IA8_uA86DnoxMnILUjkIrXOp1woya9A9BkSR5slUnWx8-pNKHQRa0adPu3jIlaoNGpxVc_m3Tp_FzJ8LCY04Y/s200/download.jpg" width="200" /></a>8. <b>Set aside a few minutes each day to talk about feelings/emotions.</b> You are probably noticing that your child's emotions are all over the place these days. I know from personal experience that my daughter who is usually able to maintain her calm (for the most part) when she is challenged or confused is having a much harder time controlling her emotions. The most important thing we can do for our children is validate these big feelings they are feeling because it is totally normal right now. It is okay that they are feeling scared, angry, frustrated, sad or a ton of other feelings. Their lives have changed in ways that they may never forget and their parents, who are supposed to be able to tell them everything will be okay, can't tell them when this will end and their lives will return to normal. Make sure your children know how to identify their feelings. There are a lot of great children's books out there that talk about feelings including some of my favorites <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Color-Monster-Pop-Up-Book-Feelings/dp/1454917296/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1UAOHA5CREAD5&dchild=1&keywords=the+color+monster+pop-up+book+of+feelings&qid=1588027964&sprefix=the+color+monster%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-1">The Color Monster,</a> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Way-I-Feel-Janan-Cain/dp/1884734715/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=the+way+I+feel&qid=1588027941&sr=8-1">The Way I Feel</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Today-Feel-Alphabet-Feelings/dp/1419723243/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&keywords=Today+I+Feel&qid=1588027921&sr=8-1">Today I Feel (An Alphabet of Feelings)</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boy-Big-Feelings/dp/150645450X/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2CROQPMOXYFPB&dchild=1&keywords=the+boy+with+big+big+feelings&qid=1588027899&sprefix=the+boy+with+b%2Caps%2C147&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExWENHVlpZRFVUWlVMJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMDA4MjcxMllTR0NPTlg1REtUQiZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNzE1Mjg5MVRURlNXV0tGSkdOTyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=">The Boy With Big, Big Feelings</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Mixed-Emotions-Handle-Feelings/dp/1465473327/ref=sr_1_1?crid=W1N6XIT438M9&dchild=1&keywords=my+mixed+emotions+help+your+kids+handle+their+feelings&qid=1588027861&sprefix=my+mixed+f%2Caps%2C144&sr=8-1">My Mixed Emotions</a>. I have learned through my social skills group at The Meeting House that children learn so much through these kinds of books and since the characters are struggling with similar things that children are, they are able to better talk about and problem solve through these tricky times.<br />
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9. <b>Be your child's advocate</b>. Parents have this unique opportunity to really see what is and isn't working for their children with this kind of learning. You are seeing things that are helping them be successful with remote learning but you are also seeing what isn't working. Please don't be afraid to reach out to teachers or school administration if you feel like you aren't being listened to. As parents, you have the ability to help your child be as successful as possible during this crazy time. If you find that your child isn't getting anything from hours and hours of online learning, tell their teachers. If you find that they are working better on their own schedule, make sure the teachers know that as well. Honestly, there is NO reason a child should be in front of a computer for hours on end being taught.<br />
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10. <b>Know when you need to quit</b>. This is incredibly important for both parents and kids. You are going to find that there will be days where your child has just had it and making them push through with all the screen time and remote learning will end up proving to be more stressful all around. It's also very important to keep in mind that once a child check's out, they are no longer going to learn. If you are finding that your child has had enough for the day, take control and tell them they are done and that you will let their teacher know. We need to make sure our kids know that we are just as concerned about their emotional wellbeing as their academics. Actually, this might be a time that we need to be more concerned with their emotional wellbeing over academics. Our kids are going to be okay if they don't finish all of their assignments every single day. We need to take the pressure off of them. Being on top of our kids all day, every day isn't good for anyone and will only cause tension at home to increase at a time where you need to be be maintaining the calm in our households.<br />
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11. <b>Take time for you</b>-the most important thing I have to say is that you must find ways to take care of yourself during these crazy times. We are expending an awful lot of energy on our kids, as we are meant to be doing, but we must find ways to take care of ourselves. Nail salons are closed, we can't get our hair done and we can't go carefree shopping these days. Find ways to take care of you for a small amount of time each day. For me, listening to my favorite podcasts or music while taking a daily walk does more than I can explain for my soul than I ever knew was possible. I am seeing things in my neighborhood and appreciating the little things more than I could have ever imagined. I know that this isn't always easy, especially if you are working and caring for your children full-time, but if we don't take care of ourselves, it becomes much more difficult to properly care for all the other people in our lives.<br />
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While this new way of life comes with many challenges, I do feel like we will all come out of this better parents, teachers, therapists, etc.. We will have a whole new level of appreciation for things that we took for granted just a few months ago. While we all long for things to return to normal, we must continue to learn and grow in the moment. I end each of my tele-therapy sessions telling parents how great their children are doing and thank them for their support in making each session go smoothly. I need them to know that we are a team and that I appreciate them.<br />
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I would love to hear from any and all of you with some things that you have learned through remote learning and therapy. I know that other parents and professionals would love to hear what's working for your family during this crazy time. I am always a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from all of you. One of the greatest things that has come out of this whole situation for me is that I have been collaborating with parents and professionals on a whole new level. I've always understood how important it is to work together in order for the greatest amount of improvement and success to happen, but have so much more appreciation for it these days.Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-89742153976509578492020-04-13T11:39:00.001-07:002020-04-13T15:34:35.767-07:00Cooking With Kids One of the most challenging things at this point is filling up our days. Especially for those of us who live in the city with lack of outdoor space, keeping our kids busy and limiting the amount of time watching television or on some kind of screen becomes incredibly stressful. So many of the parents on my caseload are looking for easy, fun and non-screen time activities for children so this week I am going to talk about baking with kids. As soon as my daughter was old enough, I started including her in baking with me. It started with her simply just watching me at work as I baked and her involvement increased as she got older. Today, at 10 years old, she loves to bake. Actually, to make up for the fact that she wasn't going to be with her cousin for Easter, my sister and I had our girls pick out a recipe and the FaceTimed the entire time. It was adorable and made them feel connected on a day that they just love to be together.<br />
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Baking with children is not only a great way to connect with your children but has so many developmental benefits built right into it. At this crazy time, I think the most helpful thing I can do for parents is provide them with activities that don't seem like therapy or work. While I know baking isn't for everyone, I am going to outline the benefits and provide a bunch of baking activities that you can do with your children.<br />
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There are so many benefits of cooking with children including:</div>
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*improves fine motor and manipulation skills. Measuring ingredients, rolling out dough, using cookie cutters and decorating your baked goods will lead to improved fine motor and manipulation skills. </div>
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*improves visual skills such as improved hand-eye coordination, visual motor skills and visual tracking. </div>
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*encourages language development. Use this time to not only label ingredients, but talk about the ingredients. Have them describe how they feel. For example, put out a little plate with some of the ingredients and have them feel them and talk about the textures. Are they soft? Are they rough? </div>
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*encourages executive functioning skills. Baking with children is a great way to naturally work on things such as improving attention, focus, organization, sequencing and working memory. For some kids, it might be helpful to print out pictures of the steps and have them put them in order before actually starting baking. </div>
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*for older children, baking can be a really motivating way to work on math skills. For younger children, you can introduce the concepts of more and less while measuring out ingredients. For example, put the measuring cups out with the ingredients in them and ask what you will use more of. My 10 year old is working on fractions right now and when she begins to get really frustrated, I bring out our measure cups as a visual.<br />
*boosts confidence and self-esteem. It really is so much fun to see kids light up as they see their completed baked good come out of the oven. Even more exciting is when they get peoples reactions when they eat them.<br />
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I am going to share some cooking activities that you can do with your children. It's important to find activities that will encourage independence for children while also working cooperatively with their siblings or parents. If you are cooking with more than one child, set clear expectations and responsibilities from the get-go to limit arguing during the actual activity. Below you will find several baking and cooking activities. Some requiring cooking, others might not. There are not just food cooking ideas, but also sensory materials like play dough or colored rice and noodles.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguym7U1C-NpdoRKbMasZDC8hUYrh-OHZ0BygsNYZQD6r_MZHb-VlbVQS17QSSeR8Q8mVRHl8bEFfrJVSwzRYRMinJ-XfjmtvLolRrzogcTw9u2XU9gBfwM_e45dUNs3t1VMeffSl68rrmr/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguym7U1C-NpdoRKbMasZDC8hUYrh-OHZ0BygsNYZQD6r_MZHb-VlbVQS17QSSeR8Q8mVRHl8bEFfrJVSwzRYRMinJ-XfjmtvLolRrzogcTw9u2XU9gBfwM_e45dUNs3t1VMeffSl68rrmr/s200/download.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Freeze-Cream-Ball-Maker-77349/dp/B008AK7YVU/ref=sr_1_2?crid=140HI444FVT5D&dchild=1&keywords=ice+cream+maker+ball+for+kids&qid=1586795129&sprefix=ice+cream+maker+ball%2Caps%2C139&sr=8-2">Play and Freeze Ice Cream Ball Ice Cream Maker</a>-this was actually recommended to me by one of my occupational therapist colleagues and couldn't love it more. With kids not getting as much physical activity as they are used to, I love that you can combine some gross motor work while making ice cream. Kids can make make ice-cream in about 30 minutes using just a few ingredients by rolling the ball back and forth to each other. Check out this <a href="https://www.llbean.com/shop/guidePages/sizeCharts/iceCreamBallrecipespopup.html">link</a> from L.L. Bean with a bunch of different recipes you can try using this ice cream maker.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGeaNnSnyhyphenhyphenJzSG9RahTQnNtHAhBGoCN9U3hlVrL2YRPoZ04RcuaxHGyt4xAhvCbciXNPu5jJhmxVdSj9oEXbSowaXsS_RdFnM3KgWSIgA4I3KYSGUinYf1RvedBnJSXfXAY6yBULEsPx/s1600/6edd3b89ca778deca2878c83260007c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1353" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFGeaNnSnyhyphenhyphenJzSG9RahTQnNtHAhBGoCN9U3hlVrL2YRPoZ04RcuaxHGyt4xAhvCbciXNPu5jJhmxVdSj9oEXbSowaXsS_RdFnM3KgWSIgA4I3KYSGUinYf1RvedBnJSXfXAY6yBULEsPx/s200/6edd3b89ca778deca2878c83260007c4.jpg" width="168" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><b style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);">English Muffin/Bagel Pizzas</b><span style="-webkit-text-stroke: rgb(0, 0, 0);">-I remember making these as a child with my parents and sisters. This is a great activity because it doesn't require a lot of ingredients and most are things you can easily get even during a pandemic! You will need english muffins or bagels, sauce, shredded mozzarella and any toppings you might want to add. To add some depth to this activity, give your child a pad of paper with a list of everyone’s names on it and write the kinds of pizza available and have him check off what everyone wants. Another fun thing to do is use ingredients to make silly faces. For example, use a pepper to make a mouth or olives or pepperoni to make eyes. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KSXgofJJL_CXtHXVwZlKRnPnaGud8eSVV05bj9mqlIvbphh-H_kpjrfKTMnVGbdk2sAHszssFuyRPszix7tKl6LXU51YwY10pdWfH0Tb2UHF1g0pQunov9B-2_DOXaH-nQergGk_88T8/s1600/CleanFoodCrush-Rainbow-Fruit-Skewers-.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5KSXgofJJL_CXtHXVwZlKRnPnaGud8eSVV05bj9mqlIvbphh-H_kpjrfKTMnVGbdk2sAHszssFuyRPszix7tKl6LXU51YwY10pdWfH0Tb2UHF1g0pQunov9B-2_DOXaH-nQergGk_88T8/s200/CleanFoodCrush-Rainbow-Fruit-Skewers-.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rainbow Fruit Kabobs</b>-a variety of cut up fruits in different colors and wooden skewers. Talk about the colors and what order the colors are in a rainbow and have them put the fruit on the wooden skewers in the correct order. This is a great baking activity to do with younger children who you might not feel comfortable with them using mixers and other baking equipment. There are a lot of kid-safe baking tools that you can give your kids to use so the can cut the fruit up. I love this activity because it's a great way to work on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills while also working on hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills. Best part is that the end result is a healthy treat for you and your kids to enjoy. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp48O5slshs6jhNi1hGa9m20-DILaKryi-TEUDSTOrwdxYS4x4BtcdUegTw0dcOFx5w8OW4gcnoprn92AKy8AtS4t8EWl5kdKv_rMD1XSQ2TJeByWf8gH4hg5DEilgD5esL_1TTUN0434H/s1600/ricekrispie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="137" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp48O5slshs6jhNi1hGa9m20-DILaKryi-TEUDSTOrwdxYS4x4BtcdUegTw0dcOFx5w8OW4gcnoprn92AKy8AtS4t8EWl5kdKv_rMD1XSQ2TJeByWf8gH4hg5DEilgD5esL_1TTUN0434H/s200/ricekrispie.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Rice Krispie Treats</b>-I have always found that making rice krispie treats is another kid friendly baking activity where you can adapt the activity based on your child's age. For younger kids, you can melt the butter and marshmallows and just have them add the cereal and stir but for older and more responsible kids, have them do that (in the microwave or stovetop). You can make this more of a hands-on/sensory experience by having him roll them into balls instead of putting them in a baking pan.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> You can also change things up by using different kinds of cereal to add color or have them use cookie cutters to make different shapes once they are cooled down. </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfipOlMBCJT6okkVOyCDeUC_5pfk44V7bQq3QbiPoUqUP_5_PUIJ10K6miq_7b8VqOW__XjFLqCz80mpriYot6ktonyDQ_xccvNitaoutJJ2r68kEmpfeWHn5zCkk-ws0KwDoJ3ZnyD3pV/s1600/Energy-balls-3-628x900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfipOlMBCJT6okkVOyCDeUC_5pfk44V7bQq3QbiPoUqUP_5_PUIJ10K6miq_7b8VqOW__XjFLqCz80mpriYot6ktonyDQ_xccvNitaoutJJ2r68kEmpfeWHn5zCkk-ws0KwDoJ3ZnyD3pV/s200/Energy-balls-3-628x900.jpg" width="139" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://lemonlimeadventures.com/mm-energy-bites/"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>M&M Energy Bites</b></span></a>-this is another simple non-baking activity that kids can be really involved in. Mix together 1 cup rolled outs, 1/2 cup of peanut butter, 1/2 cup M&Ms, 1/3 cup of honey and 1 teaspoon vanilla extract. Stirring the ingredients with is a great way to work on increasing upper extremity strength and encourages bilateral coordination skills. Use an ice cream scoop or large spoon to grab a spoonful, place in hand and roll into a ball.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ebdVrUPTsO91oydws0iT6VPF6IrAX0yyuRTWuXSRYwq3yQOaG-R7iTYpU64RrIgnIhy5JGrR8U4oO_-xI7vXbvgM64KUl7vYlgl3k_2Gr9_7xQmAyJ6Sa89G_1_xMdTBSebWi5Z8kyuK/s1600/delish-andes-chocolate-chip-cookies-053-1544221847.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ebdVrUPTsO91oydws0iT6VPF6IrAX0yyuRTWuXSRYwq3yQOaG-R7iTYpU64RrIgnIhy5JGrR8U4oO_-xI7vXbvgM64KUl7vYlgl3k_2Gr9_7xQmAyJ6Sa89G_1_xMdTBSebWi5Z8kyuK/s200/delish-andes-chocolate-chip-cookies-053-1544221847.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Chocolate Chip Cookies</b>-you can make them from scratch or use slice and bake ones. No matter which method you use, making chocolate chip cookies are a delicious way to work on fine motor skills. If you make fresh, let your kids add all the ingredients (break the eggs into a bowl for him) and stir as much as he can. When I was baking with my daughter when she was younger, I would put all of the ingredients in bowls and then would tell her which one to add. If you use the slice-and-bake cookies, give your kid a safe knife and help them cut the dough into chunks and then allow them to roll them into balls before placing on the cookie sheet. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><b>Homemade PlayDoh</b>-play doh is another sensory material that kids LOVE. I love this recipe from Mothercould and love that it can last up to 6 months if stored in a good container.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> There are so many benefits of playing with play dough such as increasing grasp strength, improves grasping and manipulation skills and encourages hand-eye coordination and bilateral coordination skills. Roll play dough into long snakes and practice making shapes, letters or numbers. Use a rolling pin and roll play dough flat and use your favorite cookie cutters.</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREffTO-5fZmnbC3p3AMnFgNLZJxMd5PblONpw2ZoSj6entFkS4MJ_tK7GAChHBZH5NVpXaKi3WxsA4TP1-Ef7ZI_7XaNyrBThhD8FEjO5r2J8wK-WWLfVFJoiy74JDI82LPSh-hnbYSGw/s1600/How-to-Dye-Noodles-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhREffTO-5fZmnbC3p3AMnFgNLZJxMd5PblONpw2ZoSj6entFkS4MJ_tK7GAChHBZH5NVpXaKi3WxsA4TP1-Ef7ZI_7XaNyrBThhD8FEjO5r2J8wK-WWLfVFJoiy74JDI82LPSh-hnbYSGw/s200/How-to-Dye-Noodles-6.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><b><a href="https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/dye-rice-sensory-play-colored-rice/">Dye Rice/Noodles</a></b></span>-another great sensory experience and kids can be part of the whole experiences of making it. Kids will love watching the plain rice or pasta go from plain to brightly colored sensory materials. For each color, you need 1 cup of white rice/baby pasta, 1 tablespoon vinegar and desired amount of food coloring. Have kids help you by pouring the rice and vinegar into little Tupperwares and squeezing a few drops of food coloring. Close the lid and then have them shake the Tupperwares until the rice/noodles are all covered. If you make some of each color, you can pour them into a much bigger Tupperware and hide little characters or animals in it and and have him dig through using their hands or spoons or scoopers to rescue them.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> Another fun activity is to dye penne or rigatoni noodles and have kids make necklaces out of them. </span><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Iz8Ok6bCfTHL0IkeaFGlSODBbRKc0KPtoAduhyphenhyphenlo9va0pSr_cJqnx9ZtIZR7V0Im2WPZijmTVUhDKMSFquRWkBq7ATnGkGRhexw4UTtxvPEXnBTV-ZoTvle1QSQFltNBdaGKFh8YsDX/s1600/how-to-make-flubber-liquid-starch-sensory-play-glitter-flubber.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX4Iz8Ok6bCfTHL0IkeaFGlSODBbRKc0KPtoAduhyphenhyphenlo9va0pSr_cJqnx9ZtIZR7V0Im2WPZijmTVUhDKMSFquRWkBq7ATnGkGRhexw4UTtxvPEXnBTV-ZoTvle1QSQFltNBdaGKFh8YsDX/s200/how-to-make-flubber-liquid-starch-sensory-play-glitter-flubber.jpg" width="200" /></a><span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/make-homemade-flubber-borax-science/"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;"><b>Homemade Flubber/Thick Slime</b></span></a>-so many of the kids I work with love sensory exploration and there are so many great recipes out there. Flubber/thick slime is a very popular sensory material at my gym and doesn't require a lot of ingredients. </span></span><span style="font-family: inherit;">You’ll need 1 cup of Elmer’s White Glue, 1/2 cup room temperature water, 1/2 cup liquid starch and glitter or food coloring (optional). Click</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="https://littlebinsforlittlehands.com/make-homemade-flubber-borax-science/" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="s2" style="font-kerning: none;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span style="font-family: inherit;">for directions.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"> Once made, you can hide little objects in them like beads to work on increasing grasp strength and improving grasping and manipulation skills. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmmyhPD9RKiX4BEKdEimDUDxyluoId4a9Q9dJLt-W6OZHMeJ_s9yjIYtysWZkiUKwjtBtoYTlLaXM6xAUIUdKR82x_v_dcr5WWoHlCL2_GkD2mbiGl5eZw4dXrbPvn-vx5X3Nue8bUn-y/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDmmyhPD9RKiX4BEKdEimDUDxyluoId4a9Q9dJLt-W6OZHMeJ_s9yjIYtysWZkiUKwjtBtoYTlLaXM6xAUIUdKR82x_v_dcr5WWoHlCL2_GkD2mbiGl5eZw4dXrbPvn-vx5X3Nue8bUn-y/s200/unnamed.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://unsophisticook.com/salt-dough-recipe/">Salt Clay</a>-this is another simple activity that can be done with kids of all ages and uses only 3 ingredients: salt, flour and water. If you want, you can add a few drops of food coloring to the dough. One of the things I like about using salt clay is that you can adapt how you use it making things either more simple or more challenging depending on the age of your child. Kids can use cookie cutters to make creations or they can use their imagination and make whatever they want to create. Once they are done making their creation, they can use markers or paint to decorate them if you didn't add color earlier. </div>
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<span class="s1" style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-converted-space">One of the things I think is really important is to not expect perfection when cooking/baking with kids. This should be a fun experience and making mistakes is to be expected when engaged in this kind of activity with children. The other thing to try and let go of is to not get worked up if a mess is made. Unless someone is going to get hurt, don't worry about ingredients on the counters, floors or even on themselves. Wait until the activity is complete and hand out cleaning up responsibilities to each person who participated. Remember, the most important thing is to have fun because even though this is a crazy time, there are so many opportunities to make fabulous memories with your children. </span></span></span></div>
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Have you been baking/cooking with your kids during this crazy time? What are your favorite recipes for baking, cooking or sensory materials? I would love to hear from you and am always a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a>. I'm sure I am not the only one who would be interested in hearing about other recipes to keep kids busy these days. </div>
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Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-42983732948127506042020-04-06T11:05:00.000-07:002020-04-06T11:19:31.029-07:00Let's Get That Body Moving....Part 2<div>
Last week, I <a href="https://macandtoys.blogspot.com/2020/03/get-that-body-moving.html">blogged</a> about the importance of brain/body breaks during this crazy time and provided a bunch of activities that could be incorporated into your child's daily schedule. Things like playing a game of Simon Says, jump roping or hula hooping throughout the school day can help your children reset for the rest of the day. Some kids require more movement than others and for different reasons. Let's be honest, some kids are perfectly happy with not having forced movement throughout their day while others just can't get enough movement. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQJshodcYUFIRZ65fO_fRVhwlbkC6remCXLS7pPLIv2AMJfTsA6_mv5ekJj-eYw0j2iqMMKNEvX8sAZDWSMQRrFsqxsSZhw8fW4PSmVvT2PaYocCuJ4VlMFeUQ9THdcCqAqUBrY5pv6Ey/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUQJshodcYUFIRZ65fO_fRVhwlbkC6remCXLS7pPLIv2AMJfTsA6_mv5ekJj-eYw0j2iqMMKNEvX8sAZDWSMQRrFsqxsSZhw8fW4PSmVvT2PaYocCuJ4VlMFeUQ9THdcCqAqUBrY5pv6Ey/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a>As I have been supporting families through this crazy time, some of them have asked me to help create some kind of weekly schedule that will help their children gain some kind of routine. For many of my kids, this involves building in several body breaks. While our kids are spending a lot more time in front of screens, it is often while they are seated. One of the most helpful things I have been using to start my remote sessions before we sit down and do our table work is some kind of big body/movement activity. When we are at the gym for our sessions, we always start with a swing, jumping on a ball or trampoline or some kind of obstacle course and it is such a great way to get them organized and energized for the rest of our session. Since we can't be face to face at this point and most people (particularly my families in the city with not a lot of space for equipment) don't have access to things like a trampoline or large therapy ball, I've had to get creative. With the help of screen sharing, I have been able to find fun ways to get my kids up and moving. There are some really fabulous three to 5 minute movement videos on You Tube that have been a huge hit with my kids. As I mentioned last week, these movement breaks are not only necessary for giving our kids a chance to move around but have been proven to help with improved learning. This is even more important now than it ever was as kids are not getting out. Below, I share with you twenty short videos that you can do at home with your children. Since we are all home, make this a family thing and add a few dance parties or brain breaks to all of your schedules. This will not only be good for getting your up and moving but dancing and moving is good for you emotional well-being. </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A1vdKfXlB_g&list=RDA1vdKfXlB_g&index=1">The Freeze Dance</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o6gHL1LJ-HQ">Go Bananas</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T9T5fJDy_ig">Smallfoot: Do The Yeti</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mZHBSxfamk">Dancing Robots Song</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cg-wnQKRHTs">The Goldfish Song: Let's Go Swimming</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwT5oX_mqS0">Shake Your Sillies Out </a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OkO8DaPIyXo">Simon Says</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r6cJB7k6eEk">Walking, Walking, Hop, Hop, Hop</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Lm4rSMDOR8">Twist and Shout </a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TSdeIhmv6v0">Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w6YbSxMhsQ0">Get Funky: The Funky Monkey Dance</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XqZsoesa55w">Baby Shark Dance Song</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KhfkYzUwYFk">Trolls: Can't Stop The Feeling</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W387m-ved6o">Frozen 2: Make Your Move</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l4WNrvVjiTw">If You're Happy and You Know It</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KG3AO6lJ4BQ">Do The Bear Walk</a><br />
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These videos are not only great getting kids up and moving around, but have more therapeutic value than you even realize. Kids will learn how to follow directions, work on improving body awareness and motor planning skills. This moving around will help them with their ability to focus and attend better to more challenging school work or therapy activities. The best part about this is that so many of these are familiar songs or characters which makes these videos even more motivating, especially for those kids we know who totally prefer to sit on the couch! </div>
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This new way of doing therapy with my children has forced me to be more creative and think outside of the box. While I can't wait until the day when I can get back to my toys, equipment and co-workers, I am embracing all there is out there and what technology is allowing us to accomplish during our therapy sessions. If you have any other movement videos that you are using with your kids, send along! I am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from you all. </div>
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Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-53764226743414028232020-03-30T14:35:00.002-07:002020-03-30T14:35:53.850-07:00Get That Body Moving! I hope that this latest blog post finds you all healthy and staying sane. My daughter is just starting week two of her remote learning and we are all adjusting with our new "normal". We have set up our small apartment with three stations for school and work and so far, it's working. One thing I have noticed being cooped up inside for a majority of our day is how important it is to get up and moving throughout the day. For the first time in my daughter's school career, the majority of her work is done on a computer which means she is spending hours on end looking at a screen and I am realizing how important it is for her to get up and move around throughout the day. Seeing this firsthand has made me realize even more than I already know just how important body and brain breaks are crucial and have been encouraging my daughter to get up and move around, especially when she seems to be getting frustrated by something.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Look at how much active your child's brain is after just 20<br />minutes of physical movement! </td></tr>
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The importance of brain/body breaks can't be expressed enough. Here are a few of the many benefits of incorporating these breaks into your child's daily schedule while remote learning is taking place:<br />
*improves cognitive skills as they complete these activities. Be sure to up the challenge for them as they become more successful with them.<br />
*improves focus and attention which helps with the learning process. We must allow time for movement opportunities in order for our children to learn.<br />
*movement has been proven to actually help "turn on" your brain.<br />
*engaging in organized physical movement helps a child with being able to not only focus and attend but also helps with organizing your work.<br />
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Brain breaks are easy to build into your child's day, especially if they are following some kind of schedule. My daughter gets her daily schedule first thing in the morning and then writes it down on her dry erase board. We know when she will have Zoom meetings and know what assignments need to get done and know when it needs to be completed so we work around that and then think about where to add in some brain breaks. Like most things, what kinds of brain breaks work for children are individual. Below, I share some simple and fun brain breaks that you can do at home.<br />
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1. <b>Dance Party</b>-my daughter's go-to brain break is to have a dance party. We have music playing in our apartment all day long. It's something all of us love and helps us focus and attend. When it's time for her to get up and move, she is allowed to pick a song or two of her choice, typically Taylor Swift, put the volume up and just dance. If you have more than one child, put together a family dance party playlist that they can shuffle through during these dance parties.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfJ1gnRcSQHOw7BbUnKhcV1PpeUDDwavGPYmU6qMTEa1piXVeo2MpdQpwnLNLPuJcfeVm4Enx5nZdj7H6Vl382WI3kuTgIImQr2MDjfVRtIqISJJ0VhQWA6IEMjiAIXgFtmyOCkPBqKUm/s1600/7aed1ecadd70856234df6792b4b2c46a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzfJ1gnRcSQHOw7BbUnKhcV1PpeUDDwavGPYmU6qMTEa1piXVeo2MpdQpwnLNLPuJcfeVm4Enx5nZdj7H6Vl382WI3kuTgIImQr2MDjfVRtIqISJJ0VhQWA6IEMjiAIXgFtmyOCkPBqKUm/s200/7aed1ecadd70856234df6792b4b2c46a.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
2. <b>Freeze Dance</b>-during all of my remote therapy sessions, I start with a game of Freeze Dance. Sometimes I have them choose a song which is highly motivating to them to get them up and moving and helps them to get their bodies organized before we sit down and do our work in this non-traditional manner. During each of the freeze moments, I add in some kind of body awareness challenge. For example, I will say to them, "The next time the music stops, make your body a small shape." There are also a ton of really great video options on You Tube that my kids have really enjoyed.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTDquA0K9HpILTmxxzcMJqsw65xuJE7WvBZqgSlH3N8iSFoLBmsXoPmx72heTAbsGVfmZF0hqx2NOu0INjrTC80ZNRnwr6MUh4yVQ-6Ngkjs34UkTWach2qVtnY0e_oq2mX3_QLBnSAjQ/s1600/9f9f45389f71da4cba41d0a76be080e3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQTDquA0K9HpILTmxxzcMJqsw65xuJE7WvBZqgSlH3N8iSFoLBmsXoPmx72heTAbsGVfmZF0hqx2NOu0INjrTC80ZNRnwr6MUh4yVQ-6Ngkjs34UkTWach2qVtnY0e_oq2mX3_QLBnSAjQ/s200/9f9f45389f71da4cba41d0a76be080e3.jpg" width="141" /></a>3. <b>Simon Says</b>-this is an easy game to do, even in the smallest of spaces! I like Simon Says because it is always different and you can pick activities that are appropriate for each child. Jump up and down, touch your toes, touch various body parts, do jumping jacks, run in place, and so much more. This is a great activity to get your kids up and moving but also helps with improving body awareness, body strength, motor planning and coordination and improves executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and self-regulation.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3BW5OvprCoTP1IAj4gVHWmehIJ-QfHHqeihWaZhTQG5YgcZeLOKmhEU9NbKSs66oiML3zVJQD-ZQYgKwqUqsnN8WBiwZs9XBwEt0WVlljIef7jc6UgeZIvMimV_guNjIYmgZ7f3C6045/s1600/83346022_2610873145696808_9026064889998737408_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3BW5OvprCoTP1IAj4gVHWmehIJ-QfHHqeihWaZhTQG5YgcZeLOKmhEU9NbKSs66oiML3zVJQD-ZQYgKwqUqsnN8WBiwZs9XBwEt0WVlljIef7jc6UgeZIvMimV_guNjIYmgZ7f3C6045/s200/83346022_2610873145696808_9026064889998737408_n.jpg" width="154" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS3BW5OvprCoTP1IAj4gVHWmehIJ-QfHHqeihWaZhTQG5YgcZeLOKmhEU9NbKSs66oiML3zVJQD-ZQYgKwqUqsnN8WBiwZs9XBwEt0WVlljIef7jc6UgeZIvMimV_guNjIYmgZ7f3C6045/s1600/83346022_2610873145696808_9026064889998737408_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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4. <b>What's Your Name Workout</b>-I have been doing these workouts with my kids at the gym and they love it because it is personalized for them which makes it feel more special. I have included both the beginner's and extreme workout for you to take a look at. Change things up by having your kids spell out other family members or pet's names. If your kids are struggling with their spelling words, have them practice them by combining it with the these activities.<br />
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5. <b>Alphabet Scavenger Hunt</b>-this is also a great way to work on handwriting but the main goal is to get them up and moving around. Give your child a clipboard with a piece of paper with the letters of the alphabet written along the left hand side of the paper. Depending on how much time they have, highlight a certain number of letters and have them walk around their house or apartment and find objects that start with those letters and write them down. If you have siblings, they can compete against each other or work together to complete the scavenger hunt.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-_e5WgtDcUCpKkZkHsq-G0GJIiM_L4T6rndlMowUgeQ7MlFKgahGXFFSEfaXNg0w2H0PFKZJERa2L_8DJA8N9FBYZ-Fs1RqQ8l7IRx1yu20gv-KqaZyBYD_QfcfG_SDt-a81Mqy76boD/s1600/7363e717-fb13-4447-b999-a1d3e9c525f7_1.5dfb00e51f2d0b242a3058c36f7e528b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-_e5WgtDcUCpKkZkHsq-G0GJIiM_L4T6rndlMowUgeQ7MlFKgahGXFFSEfaXNg0w2H0PFKZJERa2L_8DJA8N9FBYZ-Fs1RqQ8l7IRx1yu20gv-KqaZyBYD_QfcfG_SDt-a81Mqy76boD/s200/7363e717-fb13-4447-b999-a1d3e9c525f7_1.5dfb00e51f2d0b242a3058c36f7e528b.jpg" width="200" /></a>6. <b>Play Charades</b>-charades is a fun brain break activity that can be played with a child and a parent, with siblings or as a whole family. It not only gets kids up and moving around, it helps with developing body awareness. You can have kids come up with their own ideas (might be easier for your older children) or come up with a list as a family and throw them in a bowl and pick them out one at a time to act out. Definitely set a timer because it could go on forever and then lead to kids getting super frustrated. For those of you who prefer to have the work done for you, check out some of the great charades games out there: Charades for Kids, Pictures Charades and Kids On Stage.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeJAnbrwRYKuG4Zm27DpLW5qqDpuGlwsvxNJ9FdlnII4_V1osxXpx958wiKpKvY46p7Q9xK-6yejtIuWCyxbal5u3BFVgKNj354pURYJCcqkrIMf4w50rTwS8hs00nhGvvZGXgsTQjbF6/s1600/43542696_380285812510682_3024759138006597632_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOeJAnbrwRYKuG4Zm27DpLW5qqDpuGlwsvxNJ9FdlnII4_V1osxXpx958wiKpKvY46p7Q9xK-6yejtIuWCyxbal5u3BFVgKNj354pURYJCcqkrIMf4w50rTwS8hs00nhGvvZGXgsTQjbF6/s200/43542696_380285812510682_3024759138006597632_n.jpg" width="112" /></a>7. <b>Animal Walk</b>-this is a really fun activity, especially for younger children and can be silly or serious. Come up with a list of animals and talk about how they move before you do this with your child. I am a big fan of using colorful visuals with kids so I encourage finding pictures of a bunch of animals, print them out and turn them over so they can't see the picture. Decide on how many animal walks you are going to do, pick that number of cards and place them somewhere the child can see them and start moving! Maybe find some fun animal-themed music (In The Jungle is a good one!) and have it playing in the background.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeciSWGgxcf1Tgzi5fcZrc13YEGn_oLsIZOwFxCJmkBqF2goCzmNRjjivtoEkbI-MuRQnmaZjH_3_YFRQ9xHFHJn2fve5-IVcJjY7FAvGtFd9nzJMlIbfusUhGi0AdT9hve9V8bva0_tn/s1600/yoga-for-kids.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGeciSWGgxcf1Tgzi5fcZrc13YEGn_oLsIZOwFxCJmkBqF2goCzmNRjjivtoEkbI-MuRQnmaZjH_3_YFRQ9xHFHJn2fve5-IVcJjY7FAvGtFd9nzJMlIbfusUhGi0AdT9hve9V8bva0_tn/s320/yoga-for-kids.jpg" width="320" /></a>8. <b>Yoga</b>-not only do our kids need to move around, they need opportunities to practice mindfulness. That is more important right now than ever before as so many kids are feeling confused and uncertain about what is going on. Yoga is the perfect activity to combine both of these things and there are so many fun videos out there, especially on You Tube (people swear by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/CosmicKidsYoga">Cosmic Kids Yoga</a>). I have been using the <a href="https://www.superduperinc.com/products/view.aspx?pid=OTSC8609#.XoJHBtNKjs0">Super Duper Publications Yogarilla cards</a> with my kids for years and I love them. I actually just purchased a new set since mine are stuck at work to use in my remote therapy sessions. At this point, I prefer the cards just because I feel like our kids need a break from screen time with this new school format. These cards are my favorite because the cards are large and the illustrations are great. On the back of each card, there are regular and adapted directions for children with different skill sets and other activities that can be done.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZJMbpzzy2ZF3mE5Mx0BeSW9AUFG7ll-W_6W8JuQv6byFBqPUzwX26DOc25AEyUNzNPeRyq0qixBS_jAZoVtc3iHVR_XB-W__sRVaua_MLWySBwGEd9mF75zUVnTiTK4c6kOf9yauVmqG/s1600/unnamed.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKZJMbpzzy2ZF3mE5Mx0BeSW9AUFG7ll-W_6W8JuQv6byFBqPUzwX26DOc25AEyUNzNPeRyq0qixBS_jAZoVtc3iHVR_XB-W__sRVaua_MLWySBwGEd9mF75zUVnTiTK4c6kOf9yauVmqG/s200/unnamed.jpg" width="200" /></a>9. <b>Balloon Games</b>-since we are spending more time inside, I recommend balloon ball games instead of using a regular ball so you don't have to worry about something breaking or someone getting hurt. Just blowing up a balloon is a great activity for kids to help with calming them down and getting them to focus and attend. Here are a couple of balloon games you can have your children play or play with your children during these brain breaks.<br />
*Balloon Toss-set up two spots for you and your child to stand on and tap the balloon back and forth to each other as many times as you can. Keep a tally to see how much better you are getting at it!<br />
*Balloon Tennis-instead of using your hands, make a tennis racket out of a paper plate and stick and use that to toss the balloon back and forth to each other.<br />
*Balloon Catch-try and find something at home that you can use to catch a balloon that is tossed at you. For example, a large funnel or a beach bucket.<br />
*Balloon Head Volleyball-Instead of using your hands to tap the balloon back and forth to each other, use your head!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBLsXorGL3KeyCJWlKLkQSWi3oc87xLBORq41FGhDve9TmT37LaVl2TVrjcjKLgAaAaftDT1FlspL4Mjtgq4EJbJkVj5TcimDIXsUSCEJrHsYXHAMELe5mb_iaHRcWXbpYootLHdqkHVB/s1600/00000-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiBLsXorGL3KeyCJWlKLkQSWi3oc87xLBORq41FGhDve9TmT37LaVl2TVrjcjKLgAaAaftDT1FlspL4Mjtgq4EJbJkVj5TcimDIXsUSCEJrHsYXHAMELe5mb_iaHRcWXbpYootLHdqkHVB/s200/00000-19.jpg" width="190" /></a>10. <b>Hula Hoop Games</b>-i'm thinking that now that the weather is getting nicer and my daughter needs more opportunities to move that body of hers, it will be time to get a new hula hoop. The most obvious use of a hula hoop is the traditional way but you can take that and make it more challenging for them. Have them try getting it around a certain number of times or a certain length of time. Keep track of how long they can go so they can see their progress. Here are two other ways to use a hula hoop:<br />
*Hula Jump-stand with the hoop vertically in front of your body and then flip it down towards your feet, jump over it and bring it back behind you. See how many times you can go before having to take a break.<br />
*Hoop Rolling-this was actually one of my daughter's favorite things to do here in Brooklyn. We are lucky enough to have a long sidewalk with not much foot traffic (even less now) where my daughter can see how far she can roll her hula hoop. She really likes to flick it so it comes back to her and one of her favorite things to do was to have contests with me or her dad.<br />
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Many of the activities I suggested are ones that can be played inside or in your backyard. Keeping in mind all of my New York City families and their limited space, I tried to suggest things that don't require a lot of space or equipment. Keep in mind that not only do kids need brain breaks, grownups need them too. I can say that I have been missing my morning routines, especially my commute. I am one of those strange people who loves that 45 minutes of walking, movement, etc. before I walk into the office. When your kids take brain breaks, do it with them! In order to keep healthy and sane, we need to make sure that we are keeping our bodies moving. Do you and your family have brain games that you have begun to incorporate into your daily routines? What are your family favorites? It would be great to hear what other brain games people are playing. I would love to hear from all of you and am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a>.<br />
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<br />Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-78236742170940630012020-03-25T09:41:00.001-07:002020-03-25T09:41:05.443-07:00Remote Therapy Tools It's hard to believe how quickly things shifted for us as therapists, parents, teachers, etc. in such a short time. For kids, they may be feeling scared about how many things in their life have changed and as their grownups, it's our responsibility to offer them comfort and consistency. While I am preparing to move towards remote therapy sessions, I am trying to gather ideas and tools on how to make this as successful as possible. This is definitely going to be challenging, but I am looking forward to expanding my skills and helping parents through this time. One of the things I am doing is trying to think about what parents might have lying around their houses or what might still be easy to get. I know that stores are closed to foot traffic and browsing, but are still open for deliveries or curbside pickup. I urge parents to take advantage of these stores and the personalized care they can provide to you. For my New York City folks, check out places like <a href="http://luluskidscuts.nyc/">Lulu's Cuts and Toys</a>, <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a>, <a href="https://littlethingstoystore.com/">Little Things Toy Store</a>, <a href="http://stationeryandtoy.com/shop/">Stationary and Toy World</a> and <a href="https://stoopher.com/">Stoopher and Boots</a> (follow on Instagram to see her awesome toys).<br />
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Here are more than 20 of my favorite and most commonly used therapy tools:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgA5jcpEarzog_EIjnH1UREx9riU-id1uT97TMsEtrtdfvV3D0ZaiaQ0OqTj2NpxMMR1zvxmYQtDarxVTWLvx3SVF0ULtpJVTHyZn-oOYzB4dmIjW5jIefVUDvorzcawN_hHGwtEOZSE1/s1600/71nMRxcR-cL._AC_SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="412" data-original-width="425" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUgA5jcpEarzog_EIjnH1UREx9riU-id1uT97TMsEtrtdfvV3D0ZaiaQ0OqTj2NpxMMR1zvxmYQtDarxVTWLvx3SVF0ULtpJVTHyZn-oOYzB4dmIjW5jIefVUDvorzcawN_hHGwtEOZSE1/s200/71nMRxcR-cL._AC_SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>PopTubes</b>-I think any therapeutic gym you go to will have a bag of these. Used for working on improving grasp strength and manipulation skills, encourages hand eye and bilateral coordination skills. One of our favorite activities to do at our gym is to set up our <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Skoolzy-Rainbow-Counting-Matching-Counters/dp/B01DFRDDTY">sorting bears and cups</a>, have the kids stretch out the poptube and use it as a slide for the bears.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQCVROoMdXFpexcU1Vj76hY7ywL-AnuftCp40wp02Dtj3LKS6007PKu-IDs6215elVO-GmwsJmga54TMFrmMpLnRsRYYZPcOVk0w9R_KwZZZnqEBoSKuK2nje0Jr92iF03reLz_A6y58H/s1600/58969-disney-princess-stickers__81547.1492709682.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQCVROoMdXFpexcU1Vj76hY7ywL-AnuftCp40wp02Dtj3LKS6007PKu-IDs6215elVO-GmwsJmga54TMFrmMpLnRsRYYZPcOVk0w9R_KwZZZnqEBoSKuK2nje0Jr92iF03reLz_A6y58H/s200/58969-disney-princess-stickers__81547.1492709682.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><br /></b><br />
<b>Stickers</b>-I use stickers for SO much. Kids love them as a reward at the end of a session, but I find them to be so useful for therapeutic activities. Here are a few things I use stickers for:<br />
-find stickers of your children's favorite characters and put them on a piece of paper and have them write their names next to them (I make boxes for my early writers)<br />
-draw lines and put stickers at the top of them and have kids practice cutting. Make curved or zigzag lines to increase the challenge<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkjla0EEWC3C0AA5vhxa7z0iv6SDIXIuBuhAR5NxXpSOyYYDtv2UPDchfbYxwj91CqCXyIiOsVC-3cR9D3Jxux1c2R75oHbPqbcXtydaZVj_2vJg4UbKUB5SnaNYcyEGMIeTTm5dckyXu/s1600/0192664144081_p1_v1_s550x406.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="406" data-original-width="406" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkjla0EEWC3C0AA5vhxa7z0iv6SDIXIuBuhAR5NxXpSOyYYDtv2UPDchfbYxwj91CqCXyIiOsVC-3cR9D3Jxux1c2R75oHbPqbcXtydaZVj_2vJg4UbKUB5SnaNYcyEGMIeTTm5dckyXu/s200/0192664144081_p1_v1_s550x406.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Bag of Beads</b>-there are so many things you can do with a bag of beads! There are a variety of sizes of beads. Typically I recommend larger beads for smaller hands and smaller beads for bigger, stronger hands. Obviously stringing beads are great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and improves hand eye and bilateral coordination. You can simply string beads or add some challenges by doing the following:<br />
-make pattern cards and have kids follow them<br />
-add a sensory component and hide the beads in a bucket of rice and have them dig through and find them<br />
-when using smaller beads, like these <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/diy-charm-accessories-kit.html">alphabet beads</a> from Norman and Jules, pick up all the beads you are going to use with kids chopsticks<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF5Ktcy5a4y5Poti32DeyDEhb67VruR7MB4SEE1O-ch9u1ssCQ3j0M09UuDrCiYx1HVUo7HQLmvAXeUGwG0Fsu2RoYwCWciIoIXh_Jj7qsc1vHAZZIOGtdIX56J1zvIl8VB2ITEx_TYNZ/s1600/s7_655853_imageset_01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="367" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSF5Ktcy5a4y5Poti32DeyDEhb67VruR7MB4SEE1O-ch9u1ssCQ3j0M09UuDrCiYx1HVUo7HQLmvAXeUGwG0Fsu2RoYwCWciIoIXh_Jj7qsc1vHAZZIOGtdIX56J1zvIl8VB2ITEx_TYNZ/s200/s7_655853_imageset_01.jpg" width="183" /></a><a href="https://view.joomag.com/hog-wild-2018-catalog-hw-cat-joomag-fnl/0674320001550193378/p55?short"><b>Squeeze Popper Toys</b></a>-these have been a huge favorite of mine for a while. Definitely check out your local toy stores for these as I have seen them everywhere! Kids really get a kick out it but don't realize that there are a ton of occupational therapy goals that can be worked on using them. Let them choose their favorite animal or food and then let them play. These are a perfect toy to work on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, increases grasp strength and encourages hand eye and bilateral coordination skills. Make a game out of this and set up a target (think something like a dart board) and see how many points you can get by aiming at different numbers or colors worth different points.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxSlEGtWfR-I7Dde5G-TXJOHh1aoFCc-j1JoQFCmZ4cdXIR0872sFN5UioGyd3_bILnXQtIiWQ4o9HdM49_i2WoIeR9cqfErs7SgkTHuWUChGb74cU087e6gSoEvaFTZS_Sq6DZMqChmq/s1600/57618-1005-3ww-l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="505" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtxSlEGtWfR-I7Dde5G-TXJOHh1aoFCc-j1JoQFCmZ4cdXIR0872sFN5UioGyd3_bILnXQtIiWQ4o9HdM49_i2WoIeR9cqfErs7SgkTHuWUChGb74cU087e6gSoEvaFTZS_Sq6DZMqChmq/s200/57618-1005-3ww-l.jpg" width="168" /></a><a href="https://www.fiskars.com/en-us/kids-and-school/products/kids-scissors-ages-4">Fiskars Scissors</a>-there are a lot of kids scissors out there but many of them are poorly made which could lead to kids getting really frustrated and giving up easily when you present them with cutting activities. The Blunt Tip (made in both left and right hand options) have been my go-to since I started as an occupational therapist. Some people thing I am crazy, but teaching preschoolers to learn how to cut in a safe and appropriate way is a very important thing to me. As a pediatric OT how many times I have seen kids walk into my sessions with chopped up bangs and wished that more schools taught kids the appropriate ways to use scissors in order to avoid this. I have a lot of great cutting activities and resources that I will be sharing with my families as I begin remote therapy. If you want to<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pfMb1HiHbV_CjMQ4FGSFDSuaB-a_6W8af9XBETzJ_jbpg4hlD7GEXZ7cxqHOkzD-Nnq1tOgpWxp4rt-GyuIZDZoc3295vGdN6tZiVySR5qUAedgera4CtqgHu8Tca1uduPx3_GLyXmTN/s1600/download-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8pfMb1HiHbV_CjMQ4FGSFDSuaB-a_6W8af9XBETzJ_jbpg4hlD7GEXZ7cxqHOkzD-Nnq1tOgpWxp4rt-GyuIZDZoc3295vGdN6tZiVySR5qUAedgera4CtqgHu8Tca1uduPx3_GLyXmTN/s200/download-3.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://funandfunction.com/discovery-putty.html?utm_medium=search&gclid=CjwKCAjw3-bzBRBhEiwAgnnLCrMuFlWEUZB3Gm_V7cFJnTcnK1nRIVnySnOhtbqezPYdHA_xPjnZrBoCI8UQAvD_BwE">Discovery Putty</a>-<a href="http://www.funandfunction.com/">Fun and Function</a>'s Discovery Putty is another one of my favorite and most recommended items when parents ask for activities to do at home. Theraputty is perfect for working on increasing grasp strength, improves fine motor, manipulation and grasping skills and encourages bilateral coordination skills. There are a bunch of different themes to choose from with different resistance depending on your child's hand strength. Kids have just as much fun finding the hidden objects as they do when I challenge them to hide them for whoever is going to use it next. Putty can also be used for other things. If you remove all the hidden objects, you can roll it into a snake and practice cutting it into pieces. You can also use putty to practice making letters, numbers and shapes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOpGM3NlzxJadFMbhHUmvL90xOgUrZ5Zx1GMVJwwcYb7EnCzOmDLXp-Tr3pHk293freVGjztxU-tyQdfx2Rw4DgASDephuAaMTBB45I5mAIF99MKOYq9Nm5ThXnakfbEn3QAwxCHSRBag/s1600/51FAcbwHCTL._AC_SY355_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="355" data-original-width="622" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQOpGM3NlzxJadFMbhHUmvL90xOgUrZ5Zx1GMVJwwcYb7EnCzOmDLXp-Tr3pHk293freVGjztxU-tyQdfx2Rw4DgASDephuAaMTBB45I5mAIF99MKOYq9Nm5ThXnakfbEn3QAwxCHSRBag/s200/51FAcbwHCTL._AC_SY355_.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Colored Paper</b>-don't underestimate how helpful a good supply of colored paper can be. I like to use thicker card-stock weight paper because it doesn't tear so easily and I also find it is easier for kids to cut through if we are practicing cutting. I plan on having kids set up some easy obstacle courses during our remote sessions and will be using colored paper for this.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhga33D2WajZzIfZrOzlyw2HYMIiHA85V5-V2lHkanRHCzZyxn2a95dzAPBoNFTIwalUbigJ-E53gSKeSQcaylwsURE_665EU2EUD_WBR6p918OETVvSBC7l4XcEi6Qa8UQxF8ViikkJbZ3/s1600/Lego-birthday-party-for-kids-1000x675.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="675" data-original-width="1000" height="135" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhga33D2WajZzIfZrOzlyw2HYMIiHA85V5-V2lHkanRHCzZyxn2a95dzAPBoNFTIwalUbigJ-E53gSKeSQcaylwsURE_665EU2EUD_WBR6p918OETVvSBC7l4XcEi6Qa8UQxF8ViikkJbZ3/s200/Lego-birthday-party-for-kids-1000x675.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Legos</b>-I have spent hours and hours scouring Pinterest and so excited to find that there are a million ways to incorporate them into my soon to be remote therapy sessions. My daughter had a thing for a long time with Legos so we have a massive amount of them lying around and it's amazing what you can do with them. We all know that Legos are a motivating hand strengthening tool, especially if you pick out the right set (we have a new Trolls set that we are going to tackle during our time at home) but there are so many other things you can do with them. Here are just a few things:<br />
-practice making letters and numbers with Legos on a baseplate<br />
-solve a secret code: using 26 different Lego pieces and a baseplate, assign a letter to each piece<br />
-this <a href="https://thatbricklife.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/31-Day-Spring-LEGO-Calendar.pdf">31 Day Spring Lego Calendar</a> provides you with a whole bunch of other things you can do with your Legos<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFYsjeOZ_sawTI5VvWzNmKIdBDY1VBQG0Ar-bSYZmT5HgCe8yPV-kp2nv4e-xRQR_R6AIEVnRaJOAcesvJeCQiCG6omT6dEck0IJE9xV2HIcc2mxkCqYKfJvr_Kkb4ipVbWQZKi5_AU98/s1600/e44546e34467bfe5ddd96e7ba3c72cf6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="236" data-original-width="236" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxFYsjeOZ_sawTI5VvWzNmKIdBDY1VBQG0Ar-bSYZmT5HgCe8yPV-kp2nv4e-xRQR_R6AIEVnRaJOAcesvJeCQiCG6omT6dEck0IJE9xV2HIcc2mxkCqYKfJvr_Kkb4ipVbWQZKi5_AU98/s200/e44546e34467bfe5ddd96e7ba3c72cf6.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.jaqjaqbird.com/collections/fresh-new/products/reusable-erasable-paper">JaqJaq Reusable and Washable Paper</a>-these are my new obsession and I can't think of a better time for us all to be trying to use less paper than now. Especially when doing handwriting or drawing apps, I always have kids practice when pen and paper immediately after practicing on the iPad. For example, when using LetterSchool, I have the kids practice the letter first on the iPad and then have them do hands on writing practice using this amazing product. You can use chalk, chalk markers, JaqJaq Butter Stix, or <a href="https://www.ooly.com/products/chalk-o-rama-dustless-chalk-crayons">ooly Dustless Chalk Crayons</a>. Easy to clean with a wet paper towel and can be used over and over again.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfMtkczYd2KHPpEO60ChMtczCQEPJ5eJgUP3aQxSWF7kKNmc1bODfBIYKftbp6Q0lxzNlukfs-wTGdPJ2Sd0L-yhFd38jDbJKAC7Tg44-PG59NREY2TP6tKT19I9MpLoPMqssAEWKmib4/s1600/ws537.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfMtkczYd2KHPpEO60ChMtczCQEPJ5eJgUP3aQxSWF7kKNmc1bODfBIYKftbp6Q0lxzNlukfs-wTGdPJ2Sd0L-yhFd38jDbJKAC7Tg44-PG59NREY2TP6tKT19I9MpLoPMqssAEWKmib4/s200/ws537.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.wikkistix.com/">Wikki Stix</a>-another classic, inexpensive and really versatile therapy tool that I have been using for years. I have been using these for as long as I can remember to and the kids love them and could be used for so many things. Wikki Stix are pieces of yarn dipped into a safe, non-toxic wax that can be manipulated for open-ended creating. One of my favorite things to do with Wikki Stix, other than making a pair of eye-glasses, is to have kids practice making shapes, letters and numbers. Make sure to have a pair of scissors handy so you can cut them into the smaller pieces. It's amazing to see how motivated kids are to practice these things when they have fun, sensory materials to engage in more challenging activities.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAr7l6fxN_zUlAdw2Zfo5i3qxAeCNXOXuDQtwXasqtMGbUd351Ql2tQD98ML-33D_tb0Zt80F5qkxwjaoce5KJiqcuoJbKbMLuzIwjfAhRqy-b1ZUVGT2CreL2SCBZoJd-WTPgfC1y7fp/s1600/41b-FsEOa3L._AC_SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="441" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlAr7l6fxN_zUlAdw2Zfo5i3qxAeCNXOXuDQtwXasqtMGbUd351Ql2tQD98ML-33D_tb0Zt80F5qkxwjaoce5KJiqcuoJbKbMLuzIwjfAhRqy-b1ZUVGT2CreL2SCBZoJd-WTPgfC1y7fp/s200/41b-FsEOa3L._AC_SX425_.jpg" width="192" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Hog-Wild-Sticks-Party-Pack/dp/B0026P4ZQM">Zoo Sticks</a>-love, love, love these and I know that you can buy them at Stationary and Toy World and Lulus in Park Slope. Another one of my most favorite and most recommended tools for parents. These child-friendly chopsticks have different objects on the top that connect the sticks together. There are a variety of animals, car, etc. so if you find the right one, your kids will love using them. They are a great way to improve grasp strength and manipulation skills, encourages hand eye and bilateral coordination and can work on motor planning skills. Kids can eat with them or they can be used to pick up small objects in games. For example, I like to use them when playing Kerplunk or Tumbling Monkeys instead of them using their fingers to pull the sticks out. One of the kids favorite things to do is to use them to pick up these <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fun-Express-Assorted-Sticky-Stretchy/dp/B003C0BPHW/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=fun+express+squishy&qid=1585060190&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-5">Squishy Animals</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFvy9ACNjTmJr2TyE8KBH4-YYys_sJge2HvJBnMhBOfjRME1f3waW2qND0MgoIEcdsz6kDZr765BNWuSSFcclm8cnkqSRJmCELCJbWxZYENZx5lcAMVnJXj1tm9mClJOH3Kycczt88AAn/s1600/c1aaf3567bf9eff460564bc57629ffff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkFvy9ACNjTmJr2TyE8KBH4-YYys_sJge2HvJBnMhBOfjRME1f3waW2qND0MgoIEcdsz6kDZr765BNWuSSFcclm8cnkqSRJmCELCJbWxZYENZx5lcAMVnJXj1tm9mClJOH3Kycczt88AAn/s200/c1aaf3567bf9eff460564bc57629ffff.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Dry Erase Board</b>-I have a feeling that this is going to come in really handy with my upcoming remote sessions. Whether it be to write out the session plan, practice letters or play games, I know my dry erase board is going to come in very handy and have asked parents to make sure they have one handy for their children. I'm looking forward to playing Tic-Tac-Toe, Hangman and other games with my kids using this! An added benefit of using a dry erase board is that if it is hung up on the wall, working on a vertical surface is great for working on improving upper body strength and encourages proper wrist positioning when writing.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdsTKh9GPZYgXreZf4oAPG8nNsYQLQ-XguVLPOJGTKRtgZg2wklpBKOfT3a_I9Qg4MUx0LLY3Bw0HCpEUypqY6Dy8R0lMRdxHkjyj3kBKWcmvl7KJk_JVaKmsOVZyRk44OBNxaL1du_go/s1600/img_0194-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfdsTKh9GPZYgXreZf4oAPG8nNsYQLQ-XguVLPOJGTKRtgZg2wklpBKOfT3a_I9Qg4MUx0LLY3Bw0HCpEUypqY6Dy8R0lMRdxHkjyj3kBKWcmvl7KJk_JVaKmsOVZyRk44OBNxaL1du_go/s200/img_0194-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Playdoh</b>-I have to admit that I have never been a fan of traditional Play Doh, but the kids love it and it is an easy to find and inexpensive sensory material that can be used in a ton of different ways. Playing with playdoh is great for improving grasp strength and manipulation skills, improves hand eye and bilateral coordination and encourages creativity and imagination skills. Practice cutting by rolling the playdoh into a circle and cutting out pizza slices. Roll the playdoh into snakes and turn them into shapes, letters or numbers. Throw out challenges and have them create different things: face, snowman, cars, buildings, etc..<br />
Since parents have a lot of time to fill during the day with their kids right now, homemade playdough is a fun thing to do with them. There are SO many recipes out there but I have tried this <a href="https://domesticsuperhero.com/best-homemade-playdough-recipe/">one</a> and it is great.<br />
If you are looking for something more natural, check out my post last week featuring the almost too beautiful to use <a href="https://macandtoys.blogspot.com/2020/03/land-of-dough.html">Land of Dough.</a><br />
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<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Patterned-Stacking-Montessori-Occupational-Preschooler/dp/B07STFXHH9/ref=sr_1_7?keywords=farm+pegboard&qid=1585151458&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-7">Pegboard</a></b>-pegboards are a pretty common toy that you will find in a therapeutic gym because they can be used in a bunch of different ways and work on a ton of goals. Great for increasing grasping and manipulation skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages hand eye and bilateral coordination. The pegboard I have linked comes with two double sided boards for different challenges such as matching and sorting. Add a gross motor challenge by having them stand on a balance board forcing them to go from standing to pick up pegs and squatting to place them in the board.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtW_2SX7qPl8bwk1xMrWm_TB57ryBIdzVxS5KxVMsWVXubjJpN-QMZJ0Ih0kUT-I8IdMcH4FMWKVG9eyOq0Lj3HK73WGVhCFJc9OIJ136T0RlWegbVYXBeAY_zqRRzFNUODVXXCCHTyUV/s1600/6837164-3x2-340x227.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="227" data-original-width="340" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtW_2SX7qPl8bwk1xMrWm_TB57ryBIdzVxS5KxVMsWVXubjJpN-QMZJ0Ih0kUT-I8IdMcH4FMWKVG9eyOq0Lj3HK73WGVhCFJc9OIJ136T0RlWegbVYXBeAY_zqRRzFNUODVXXCCHTyUV/s200/6837164-3x2-340x227.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Bubbles</b>-these are probably something that most of us have lying around and if not, go to your local drug store and get a giant bottle of them. First of all, kids just love bubbles and if you blow them for them, they can get some energy out by running around to pop them (great visual motor activity!). If you find that your kid's starting to feeling dis-regulated or anxious, taking deep breaths and blowing bubbles can help calm them down. A fun (outdoor) art activity would be to place a large piece of paper on the sidewalk or driveway, fill a bunch of paper cups up with bubble mix and add some food coloring to them and then blow different colored bubbles to make a picture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgAwMK3kQheAbrWC2rJwNK7rDiivd1ceMdWf5YfETexY9VTxWBzkHVIVPII-wcVEBSXQIf9DvfvSv9BumXUR-qYnVjgXiwP9MTzOJt8TQpQL5B8OK6RFkcDe81MjCQlcR9XwVyEhsNssZ/s1600/61Qiud0sF-L._AC_SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="429" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIgAwMK3kQheAbrWC2rJwNK7rDiivd1ceMdWf5YfETexY9VTxWBzkHVIVPII-wcVEBSXQIf9DvfvSv9BumXUR-qYnVjgXiwP9MTzOJt8TQpQL5B8OK6RFkcDe81MjCQlcR9XwVyEhsNssZ/s200/61Qiud0sF-L._AC_SX425_.jpg" width="198" /></a></div>
<b><a href="https://www.amazon.com/G3Elite-Rainbow-Tunnel-Indoor-Outdoor/dp/B07L28X7MS/ref=sr_1_4?crid=M3R6IQE46R7G&keywords=rainbow+tunnel&qid=1585090155&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=rainbow+tunnel%2Ctoys-and-games%2C144&sr=1-4">Rainbow Indoor Tunnel</a></b>-I like to make reasonable recommendations to families when it comes to gross motor toy ideas because the families I work with tend to not have a lot of space. This tunnel is great because you can do a lot with it and then fold it up and put it under a bed or next to the couch. A tunnel is a great thing to have to add to an indoor obstacle course and can be used with kids of all ages....new crawlers to big kids who need to move around and release some of their energy. Also great for increasing upper extremity strength, motor planning and coordination. Give it more of a sensory experience by putting it over beanbags, couch cushions, etc. and then having kids crawl through.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsvsTSeVS5_M8OWisO2j1bCnd7treL_U-5tFYjntCmXEREMBqPOJVvwKGfgo86F5wdj3fuaZEFjfMptBCsOqPsKrOPMR9ABj2Z3UYK0KQ_gM_msyw12Y9Fu0bzLOLAoZ_4loDp1O3ciGf/s1600/download-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAsvsTSeVS5_M8OWisO2j1bCnd7treL_U-5tFYjntCmXEREMBqPOJVvwKGfgo86F5wdj3fuaZEFjfMptBCsOqPsKrOPMR9ABj2Z3UYK0KQ_gM_msyw12Y9Fu0bzLOLAoZ_4loDp1O3ciGf/s200/download-2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<b>Balance Board</b>-I tend to add a balance board to some simple activities for my kids at work like completing simple puzzles or doing sorting activities. There are a bunch of different ones to choose from, from a low price point to more expensive. At the gym I work at we have the <a href="https://www.amazon.com/ALEX-Active-Monkey-Balance-Board/dp/B000N40SDC">Alex Monkey Balance Board </a> which is small and doesn't take up much room. The balance board is great for strengthening balance skills, improves trunk control, strength and coordination skills. While they are standing on the board you can play a game of catch for added fun. For my daughter, I have the <a href="https://normanandjules.com/search.php?search_query=wobbel&section=product">Wobbel Board</a> which I got from <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a> and just printed out the <a href="https://cdn.webshopapp.com/shops/112202/files/316710970/wobbelcards-en.pdf">Wobbel Cards</a> to add to our daily routine to get her up and moving around.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN1VfsnGxGRRJP96qfW-r3z8a1QppW8rvVo3hMTuoQqTEOkRdiTeGDr7D1tC3zSqNvtFmw0VrIXd1gPQ4dNSsn9VtEvxKNDefT_U-MleiAyy7ZyQ3nVy5sJLNE0nnZYKdYFhZ7Q0BY3Mh/s1600/download-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="190" data-original-width="266" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTN1VfsnGxGRRJP96qfW-r3z8a1QppW8rvVo3hMTuoQqTEOkRdiTeGDr7D1tC3zSqNvtFmw0VrIXd1gPQ4dNSsn9VtEvxKNDefT_U-MleiAyy7ZyQ3nVy5sJLNE0nnZYKdYFhZ7Q0BY3Mh/s200/download-4.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Playscene%C2%99-Sliding-Zoom-Ball-Family/dp/B019NO2YAC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=zoom+ball&qid=1585079372&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUExNENYTDBLNUFLMEdWJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMTM5OTAyM0pVOFJVUTY1VjdMNyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwOTI3MDIyNjlWWDE0OVJYUTZFJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ=="><b>Zoom Ball</b></a>-this is one of my all time favorite therapy tools and one of my most highly recommended gross motor toys on my annual gift guide. Safe to play indoors or outdoors and even though it is meant for two players, there are ways to set it up for a single child to play. Kids can work on improving upper extremity strength, motor planning and motor organization and encourages self-regulation, focus and attention. Make a game out of it by counting how many times they can pass it back and forth without messing up. I like to add a little challenge by having kids answer questions while we go back and forth. For example, name the days of the week in order every time you send it back, name different animals, colors, foods, etc..<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RMqOpeOogdduE-5NbuJm817ThzWyQRaSq1RUn5j00zC0aS2JgL85CbhFKZtUvWI568BMU_AyH5FZTGfU9GEWD_dNsXorzQux18tMkglyhhBa6zS3Lyhj8aRaG_c85JYrcpJWvaIdkN6n/s1600/sidewalk-chalk-1523975386.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="1200" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8RMqOpeOogdduE-5NbuJm817ThzWyQRaSq1RUn5j00zC0aS2JgL85CbhFKZtUvWI568BMU_AyH5FZTGfU9GEWD_dNsXorzQux18tMkglyhhBa6zS3Lyhj8aRaG_c85JYrcpJWvaIdkN6n/s200/sidewalk-chalk-1523975386.jpg" width="200" /></a><b>Sidewalk Chalk</b>-we are all pretty fortunate that the weather is getting warmer and that we can spend some time safely outdoors. I am feeling very grateful for our little Brooklyn front yard and have been encouraging my own daughter to go out and draw and write messages of hope to those who are out for some social distance walks. Practice letters, play games, make hopscotch boards, draw pictures or make draw a picture on a fence or wall if you have it. This kind of drawing is great for working on building those upper body muscles<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Learning-Carpets-LC-121-Hopscotch/dp/B00001OHEQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=hopscotch+board&qid=1585071286&sr=8-1]" style="font-weight: bold;">Hopscotch Board</a>-keeping our kids moving, especially those of us in New York City who are more limited by our smaller living quarters, is going to be crucial. But space and storage is also limited so we don't want big and bulky things. I am a big fan of a hopscotch rug as it can be used in a bunch of different ways and doesn't take up any space. And if you are outside of the city and have a driveway, you can use sidewalk chalk and draw your own! Check out this article from <a href="https://www.parents.com/fun/activities/hopscotch/">Parents</a> that teaches you how to play hopscotch and even provides some variations so you don't get bored!<br />
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<b><a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/arts-and-crafts-library">Craft Box</a></b>-crafting is going to become really popular during this time. I have always had a big collection of crafting materials for my daughter and in the office. I was inspired by Lizzie Assa from <a href="http://www.workspaceforchildren.com/">The Workspace for Children</a> years ago and have started to encourage open-ended crafting with not only my own child, but with the kids I work with and my kids in The Meeting House Juniors group. Guys...I highly recommend following Lizzie on Instagram for some amazing ideas...like really can't recommend enough! <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/arts-and-crafts-library">The Arts and Crafts Supply Library</a> from <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/">Kid Made Modern</a> would be a great thing for you to have at home. It comes with fuzzy sticks, wooden pieces, pom poms, wooden and plastic beads, googly eyes, glue, scissors and SO much more in a sturdy case so you don't have to worry about making a mess.<br />
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<b>Writing Journal-</b>this could be a great time for your older children to start journaling. My 10 year old daughter received a blank journal for her birthday and when all of this started, she decided to keep a Corona Virus Journal. At the end of each day she writes about what she did and rates her day. Giving children an outlet to talk about this time, share their feelings and vent is a really important thing, especially if they don't want to talk to you about it.<br />
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Preparing for remote therapy has been a really interesting and exhausting thing but it has also been very helpful in me feeling ready to start working with kids in this new format. I hope that this list of materials is helpful for all of you whether you are parents, teachers or therapists. I would love to hear from you guys on what materials and toys are most important to you. I am always a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from you all. I think one of the most important things is that we all help each other during this crazy time and look forward to reading about other peoples ideas and experiences.<br />
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<br />Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-39052995837215265502020-03-23T07:22:00.002-07:002020-03-23T07:22:19.021-07:00What's App 2020 Quarantine EditionDuring this crazy time, many of my families have reached out to me for tips on keeping their kids stimulated and their brains working. Over the years, I have found that there are some amazing apps out there that motivate our kids and I am going to share some of my favorites. Many of these have been on lists I have compiled in the past but many are new. I have also included some mindfulness and movement apps because while we are spending a lot more time inside right now, moving around and keeping active is critical to a child's ability to learn.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf68ocow_w9Ig3Bd6HABLq0p94s3EBG9-c2zKWL7Bxn5FQmW72oQfYg2WTq-zYbxv-8dHyI03myzyXY3uHkjYBgknDdRJD3QdScK61aESmXvbmv7WMTfY0I2nr2CdvTLgOu9xoAOuhf2D7/s1600/letterschool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf68ocow_w9Ig3Bd6HABLq0p94s3EBG9-c2zKWL7Bxn5FQmW72oQfYg2WTq-zYbxv-8dHyI03myzyXY3uHkjYBgknDdRJD3QdScK61aESmXvbmv7WMTfY0I2nr2CdvTLgOu9xoAOuhf2D7/s200/letterschool.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.letterschool.org/">LetterSchool</a>-not sure when I started using this handwriting app, but it is used multiple times per week. When I first discovered this app, it focused on learning upper and lowercase letters and numbers. In the past few years, they have added many other learning components such as shapes/pictures, cursive, sight words and more. I love how motivating and engaging this app is. Kids learn how to write letters through a 3-step process. As they finish each step, they get to watch the letter come to life in a really fun way.<br />
<b>Tap</b>-tap the dots and watch the lines come to life to create the letters. The letter won't come to life unless you hit them at the right place and in the right order<br />
<b>Trace</b>-now that you know where to start your letters, you will now trace/drag lines at the dots to form letters.<br />
<b>Write</b>-this is a chance for your child to practice writing the letter they have practiced with fewer prompts. The chalkboard portion of this app is a great last step to learning how to write letters, numbers or shapes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFgvdbqZYBwSqWutiirxart8Q5jgJ7ueby4Ixf-jDAq-NITzGwXxnOTfJ6LCcMPQtJaCXGpbGUlcvq7UoZ8ps506F8CTxrurLUBQ5Jm_4ZmgvQTSeRl9ovPaYhCsM7ryn9yWb9BrCgFfG/s1600/avokiddo-thinkrolls-gallery-9-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpFgvdbqZYBwSqWutiirxart8Q5jgJ7ueby4Ixf-jDAq-NITzGwXxnOTfJ6LCcMPQtJaCXGpbGUlcvq7UoZ8ps506F8CTxrurLUBQ5Jm_4ZmgvQTSeRl9ovPaYhCsM7ryn9yWb9BrCgFfG/s200/avokiddo-thinkrolls-gallery-9-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://avokiddo.com/apps/thinkrolls-app/">Avokiddo Thinkrolls</a>-this is easily one of my favorite apps for the older children on my caseload and is great for working on developing executive functioning skills. At this point, there are several to choose from but I am partial to the original two and the most recent one, Space. I think it's important to say as much as I love this app, kids ask to play it all the time. The purpose of the game is to move your chosen character/Thinkroll through a variety of obstacles in brightly patterned mazes. As they move through the chapters, they are introduced to new objects with unique physical properties that they have to problem solve in order to move through the maze. For example, there may a balloon in their way; by looking at the maze, they see they can move the balloon over so it goes up in the air and pops via spikes on the ceiling. Each of the apps provides something unique, but all help the children work on problem solving, organizational skills, sequencing all while teaching them about science. Here are links to all four of the Thinkrolls games:<br />
<a href="https://avokiddo.com/apps/thinkrolls-app/">Thinkrolls</a><br />
<a href="https://avokiddo.com/apps/thinkrolls2/">Thinkrolls 2</a><br />
<a href="https://avokiddo.com/thinkrolls-space/">Thinkrolls Space</a><br />
<a href="https://avokiddo.com/apps/thinkrolls-kings-queens/">Thinkrolls: Kings and Queens</a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDQvaYSuvNPQBFbck2pJhlXQ1Ejsl3iGhyphenhyphenbGpHnpYFVI3_ze2jFvtHNt6PiqJvXOgVTdG0Xb3ao9kIn0AFuUd8d51rmsmt39uBDVzIGETLofM1e-DdpAm8lYVYuCuAr9LFi3uYkEOvgFc/s1600/download-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbDQvaYSuvNPQBFbck2pJhlXQ1Ejsl3iGhyphenhyphenbGpHnpYFVI3_ze2jFvtHNt6PiqJvXOgVTdG0Xb3ao9kIn0AFuUd8d51rmsmt39uBDVzIGETLofM1e-DdpAm8lYVYuCuAr9LFi3uYkEOvgFc/s200/download-2.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.originatorkids.com/?p=982">Endless Learning Academy</a>-another engaging, motivating, interactive and fun educational app that provides comprehensive early learning preparation for children between ages 2 and 6 years old. Through thousands of interactive learning activities, children will learn their letters and numbers, how to read, vocabulary, phonics, spelling, counting, sequences and so much more. I have been obsessed with the Endless Alphabet game for years and it is nice to have all of the games in one place. The kids on my caseload have learned how to identify letters, learn their sounds, practice matching letters and so much more with just the Endless Alphabet Game. This app from <a href="https://www.originatorkids.com/">Originator</a> is one of those apps that requires an annual subscription but I think it is totally worth it considering you can use it for so many kids at different levels of learning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgQHHmOn8oyVp87_VoQiernzP-Sl8wXZIEHF7nn1UZc3xZCq5U7cgycf598Ms7tpueECNs-Z09VJ8FpbisUeM4WOBSJrnhNs-4PINxsv-_MaURjHKuaxGvW-0tzzxuWK3R5SiMSgcVkg6/s1600/643x0w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhgQHHmOn8oyVp87_VoQiernzP-Sl8wXZIEHF7nn1UZc3xZCq5U7cgycf598Ms7tpueECNs-Z09VJ8FpbisUeM4WOBSJrnhNs-4PINxsv-_MaURjHKuaxGvW-0tzzxuWK3R5SiMSgcVkg6/s200/643x0w.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.originatorkids.com/?p=1008">Math Tango</a>-another great app from <a href="https://www.originatorkids.com/">Originator</a> that helps learning math interactive and fun! This app is targeted at children between the ages of 5 and 10 years old and focuses on learning addition, subtraction, multiplication and division. Kids will progress through dozens of math lessons as they earn monsters and robots, complete missions and build fun worlds. There are over 500 math games with over 40 levels of play. Once they conquer the structured levels, they have the option of practicing their math skills through free play mode.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqGgYG6WK2U6baQxtx892R5UIfqIn_soKAMn7l3iS5Wq7P5MA3zzZK0kVITtkB034StmS-IwIvwi574EXTyOsUTDzoronbgmE5hl1XXARdv8rcbgq-BtxNkhtE2SvvAq-mxnTZXpoGNBl/s1600/3-food-sort-600x450.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKqGgYG6WK2U6baQxtx892R5UIfqIn_soKAMn7l3iS5Wq7P5MA3zzZK0kVITtkB034StmS-IwIvwi574EXTyOsUTDzoronbgmE5hl1XXARdv8rcbgq-BtxNkhtE2SvvAq-mxnTZXpoGNBl/s200/3-food-sort-600x450.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://sagomini.com/en/sagominiworld/">Sago Mini World</a>-Sago Mini apps have been a long time favorite of mine to use with my littlest friends. This is definitely worth the subscription fee. There are 30 mini games for the kids to play that encourage open-ended play and critical thinking skills. Some of the skills that can be worked on with the mini games are color recognition, painting and storytelling skills, develop numeracy (counting, 1:1 correspondence, etc.), improve hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills, encourage fine motor and manipulation skills and so much more.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8V_7wKmjEHzA7dwVUz0uidZayGP_bprRnZOiDXPycbQimJOboTT9THXVuxpTMAa80LuKvVrKbqCnLXdAG8bU8FDo_anUPBT1L9_F_yZGfIeQFgdTLnjjJdqGaQJ7MnqjT01PwE9sf0n3/s1600/643x0w-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="92" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix8V_7wKmjEHzA7dwVUz0uidZayGP_bprRnZOiDXPycbQimJOboTT9THXVuxpTMAa80LuKvVrKbqCnLXdAG8bU8FDo_anUPBT1L9_F_yZGfIeQFgdTLnjjJdqGaQJ7MnqjT01PwE9sf0n3/s200/643x0w-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.littlebitstudio.com/bugsandbuttons/">Bugs and Buttons</a>-this is an app that I have loved for years but wasn't available for a while because of the operating system on my iPad. <a href="http://www.littlebitstudio.com/">Little Bit Studio</a> has recently updated the app and I am so excited to introduce this game to a whole new batch of kids. I love how engaging and interactive the 18 educational games are and how they were on a variety of developmental skills. Some of the developmental skills that can be worked on are improving fine motor and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills, number and letter recognition and SO much more. Other games from <a href="http://www.littlebitstudio.com/">Little Bit Studio</a> are:<br />
<a href="http://www.littlebitstudio.com/bugsandbubbles/">Bugs and Bubbles</a><br />
<a href="http://littlebitstudio.com/bugsandbuttons2/">Bugs and Buttons 2</a><br />
<a href="http://littlebitstudio.com/bugsandnumbers/">Bugs and Numbers </a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkBuQxBT8QWCH0L87-dSoENFAdsfn49cIBsH33-SyhGxvq4_Ic4d_GVkqguZAp-1MlD5ifAnkQPA_gOj4GbsszWE6tLT10wLn9at6Q300xjmOTJ9Ht67QwMZ8V9e9n9xSTJfQIaTvzkK8/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidkBuQxBT8QWCH0L87-dSoENFAdsfn49cIBsH33-SyhGxvq4_Ic4d_GVkqguZAp-1MlD5ifAnkQPA_gOj4GbsszWE6tLT10wLn9at6Q300xjmOTJ9Ht67QwMZ8V9e9n9xSTJfQIaTvzkK8/s200/maxresdefault.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://tocaboca.com/app/toca-pet-doctor/">Toca Boca Pet Doctor</a>-this app is still one of the most requested by my kids at the gym after years and years on my iPad. Kids get to help take care of 15 different animals who are sick or injured. Once they are all taken care of, they get to feed them their favorite foods. The bunny rabbit has booboos and needs bandaids so kids have to find the matching bandaid for each booboo. The dog has fleas so you have to catch them and put them in a jar. This game is great for working on developing fine motor and grasping skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on improving focus, attention and other executive functioning skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5rfRIrYij1gHrv0AgBP_hyDInfHyD10aATGk_E1tI1rqNbvgBtD5q1qKpuA1UT__JwuzmUcRCmCWqbWPSSiDL7IlS9lK692B4ENk1xSbpRVkWmbRVZyAoXj-UhxqqnMDtP4JHsdg0PWj/s1600/mqdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy5rfRIrYij1gHrv0AgBP_hyDInfHyD10aATGk_E1tI1rqNbvgBtD5q1qKpuA1UT__JwuzmUcRCmCWqbWPSSiDL7IlS9lK692B4ENk1xSbpRVkWmbRVZyAoXj-UhxqqnMDtP4JHsdg0PWj/s200/mqdefault.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.foxandsheep.com/apps-for-kids/kids-app-little-fox-animal-doctor/">Little Fox Animal Doctor</a>-another one of my favorite educational apps. And again, more importantly, a huge favorite with the kids that I work with. This game takes place in a magical doctor's office in a treehouse in the woods and lets children help 7 different adorable animals dealing with over 20 different ailments and injuries. There are so many great things about this game but I really like how it is different each time because you never know why each of the animals is waiting to see the doctor. In addition to being great for working on improving fine motor, visual motor, visual perceptual and executive functioning skills, it also works on improving speech and language skills. Before you start to take care of each pet, you have to watch a short video which explains why they are at the doctors office. I use this an opportunity for kids to tell a story. The other great thing about this app is that there are visual instructions they have to follow so they work on improving organizational and sequencing skills at the same time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8WBEopACGdOv1nQWisyOK9QhRN25Tc2dATF7ARv0P56Y-3b2NYWFyEvCRWsDoF58MWYv-JFNsXxi6VzGqY375qhM8RkwjjrtdKC_YuqLMxUOXfreFM3LLN1Skf80TGIR4w4XznV01-2N/s1600/750x750bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn8WBEopACGdOv1nQWisyOK9QhRN25Tc2dATF7ARv0P56Y-3b2NYWFyEvCRWsDoF58MWYv-JFNsXxi6VzGqY375qhM8RkwjjrtdKC_YuqLMxUOXfreFM3LLN1Skf80TGIR4w4XznV01-2N/s200/750x750bb.jpg" width="112" /></a><b><a href="https://www.pepiplay.com/apps/pepi-doctor/">Pepi Doctor</a></b>-this app by <a href="https://www.pepiplay.com/">PepiPlay</a> is another that has been on my must have app list since I discovered it years ago. In this app, kids get to play the doctor to three different patients (Amber, Eva and Milo). Each one of the kids has the same 5 ailments that need to be taken care of: a cold, a toothache, earache, broken bone and clean up cuts from a fall. Each ailment requires them to complete several tasks in order for their patients to feel better. Some of the tasks are putting the bone back together, brushing teeth, putting bandaids on scrapes and many, many more. This app is great for improving visual motor and perceptual skills, hand-eye coordination, focus, attention and organizational skills. It's also a great app to work on improving language skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETurjOP5WRzRt-eMN44SGs8JdEs6zMyUgBSDOjEd4Hx8SBYw0RvQn8lk1DymU7TFKmmm3osECcCwEvaYu_Kt3fuC5_0W8MKApuKWO2yug47416v-NkBrONP67JLe07Trjz-KXiOIvNhOt/s1600/750x750bb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiETurjOP5WRzRt-eMN44SGs8JdEs6zMyUgBSDOjEd4Hx8SBYw0RvQn8lk1DymU7TFKmmm3osECcCwEvaYu_Kt3fuC5_0W8MKApuKWO2yug47416v-NkBrONP67JLe07Trjz-KXiOIvNhOt/s200/750x750bb.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.littlebitstudio.com/atomicpuzzles/">Atomic Puzzles</a>-puzzles are a huge part of my therapy sessions as they are great for working on so many different developmental skills. Our closet at Heads Up is filled with all kinds of puzzles but there isn't enough room to store as many as we would like, especially the larger interlocking puzzles our older kids use. Atomic Puzzles from one of my favorite app creators, Little Bit Studios, not only comes with almost 100 puzzles (3D/Live puzzles that come to life once completed, 2D puzzles with animated endings and mystery puzzles) but offers you the chance to make your own puzzles from your collection of pictures which can be so motivating and exciting for kids. This is a great app for working on improving visual motor and perceptual skills, focus and attention, organizational skills and working through frustration tolerance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPu7E_fafESrljG2AUBl7Ilx5Fyl9cw7KSfy2Ox_lvjwhGPM4Ot_4CZqXMVsrOI3SuVuo49J6SBb4YqteURCjBGxUgDodrOOD5KsLtQhrO92qY3K-FNESUw79dBYo38SKoiAHKQmGEepR/s1600/unnamed.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="113" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnPu7E_fafESrljG2AUBl7Ilx5Fyl9cw7KSfy2Ox_lvjwhGPM4Ot_4CZqXMVsrOI3SuVuo49J6SBb4YqteURCjBGxUgDodrOOD5KsLtQhrO92qY3K-FNESUw79dBYo38SKoiAHKQmGEepR/s200/unnamed.png" width="200" /></a><a href="http://toonia.com/apps/differences/">Toonia Differences</a>-I love a good spot the differences game, especially for children who need to work on improving visual skills. Toonia Differences is a fun and motivating educational game where kids have to race the clock to spot the differences between two pictures. Kids have to visually track and focus carefully to noticed the 8 things that are different. It can be a flower is a different color, a character is facing a different direction or a change in the animals in pictures. There are dozens and dozens of puzzles to choose from with a variety of themes. In addition to working on improving visual skills, Toonia Differences works on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organizational skills and changing attentional skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClQ5v5zjYOUYlLhH8YmEqSm3VxVPOJAN05HZcSON_Nk9mP3dsc0kLjUEnznNVMhFqYBRhScLFZ9mpAiRMMXvpkwNycKOe8j8rVuk5l9xgGx0u2jxcJ_58-Q8G6BCl4VJbW78acj9nYJkT/s1600/MV5BMzg3ZjI1NWUtNDQ3NC00ZDBmLWEzZjMtZDc2Yzc4OWViNjc0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODY3NzM5MjY%2540._V1_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiClQ5v5zjYOUYlLhH8YmEqSm3VxVPOJAN05HZcSON_Nk9mP3dsc0kLjUEnznNVMhFqYBRhScLFZ9mpAiRMMXvpkwNycKOe8j8rVuk5l9xgGx0u2jxcJ_58-Q8G6BCl4VJbW78acj9nYJkT/s200/MV5BMzg3ZjI1NWUtNDQ3NC00ZDBmLWEzZjMtZDc2Yzc4OWViNjc0XkEyXkFqcGdeQXVyODY3NzM5MjY%2540._V1_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://pbskids.org/apps/peg--cat-tree-problem.html">Peg+ Cat Tree Problem</a>-another great app from PBS Kids based on the adorable cartoon, Peg + Cat. This math app is intended for kids 3-6 years old and teaches them early math and problem solving skills. There are 50 levels to play and 10 worlds for them to explore. The activities become more challenging as they move through the games. If you have kids who are eager to learn early math schools, this is a great game for them. Also, I think that kids are way more motivated to learn more challenging skills from some of their favorite characters.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiax4kXUPp87Sa3Zh2BBXeo2vTO4eWVxpkPyw1peH3ebhPPNVQAWVWIPJZWwmsD-cKq_bXcmfqU7tWL6Cjl3vxTLDYGElVZqcitNBlc95YCvcHlq9jkDvCh7CSvqkBIOM0TobjsjbgzD4PH/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiax4kXUPp87Sa3Zh2BBXeo2vTO4eWVxpkPyw1peH3ebhPPNVQAWVWIPJZWwmsD-cKq_bXcmfqU7tWL6Cjl3vxTLDYGElVZqcitNBlc95YCvcHlq9jkDvCh7CSvqkBIOM0TobjsjbgzD4PH/s200/maxresdefault.jpg" width="200" /></a><b><a href="http://www.triloapps.com/trilo-spelling/">Trilo Spelling</a></b>-when my daughter was finishing up kindergarten and preparing for first grade, I started to really panic about her reading skills. I knew developmentally she was where she was supposed to be but living in NYC, academic expectations are higher. I had spent a lot of time looking for the right app and each time I thought I had found it, she didn't like it. So when we found this one, we were both thrilled! In Trilo Spelling, there are five levels of spelling and reading fundamentals with each level introducing kids to a different letter blends. Within each level, there are three different games/challenges they can play. The graphics and monsters within the app are fun and friendly, motivating children to want to learn how to spell. In addition to learning how to spell, children can work on improving executive functioning skills, hand eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclp3rLf4pk5Zi1jl9p_LuC99fDPvglSX_61VU8UkM3ZDfXsU2fA0u_fnBrpvrwFxiQ0aXIuINcH2aVur1Zr2eCU-GpJI-gaYWnBpW3Yvwbrq7dCM8Gu247hm0v1BRWOiSTnSh9_nBvj7-/s1600/images.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="194" data-original-width="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgclp3rLf4pk5Zi1jl9p_LuC99fDPvglSX_61VU8UkM3ZDfXsU2fA0u_fnBrpvrwFxiQ0aXIuINcH2aVur1Zr2eCU-GpJI-gaYWnBpW3Yvwbrq7dCM8Gu247hm0v1BRWOiSTnSh9_nBvj7-/s1600/images.png" /></a></div>
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/dexteria-jr.-fine-motor-skill/id624918435?mt=8&ign-mpt=uo%3D4" style="font-weight: bold;">Dexteria Junior</a>-this is a great app for working on developing fine motor and grasping skills with your little ones. What I love about this app is that the creators worked with occupational therapists to make it. Perfect for preschoolers and getting them ready for school. There are three different games:<br />
<b>Squish the Squash</b>-encourages children to use their pointer finger to squish squashes. There are 15 levels for the kids to work through.<br />
<b>Pinch the Pepper</b>-encourages children to use their thumb and pointer fingers to pinch the peppers. Great for developing a fine pincer grasp which is important for the developing proper pencil grips later on. There are 10 levels that become increasingly more challenging.<br />
<b>Trace and Erase</b>-kids can learn how to draw various lines and shapes. They first trace the lines and then use an eraser after. Once they finish erasing the lines, they can take a silly selfie of themselves which my kids love. I have my kids use a stylus with this particular game to encourage proper grasp patterns when holding a writing instrument.<br />
In addition to what I have already mentioned, this game is great for working on hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, focus, attention and planning and organizational skills.<br />
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<b>Social Emotional/Mindfulness/Movement Apps</b><br />
I think that we are all looking for tools to help our children get through this crazy time. Making sure our kids get opportunities for movement, mindfulness and social emotional learning on a daily basis will be very important, not only for them but for all the grownupsThere has never been a more critical time to spend time focusing on social emotional learning. Here are some great apps, some recommended to me by colleague, Dr. Chelsea Deng, from <a href="https://www.milestonespsychology.com/">Milestones Psychology</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_Kn5T8ArAMqq3aumR8VOvpv40F1iEJpIjqrq6N6K2MyucQsxesM-V_TyYazA8OyNW_zZFo9TETCoLbtabz0HZulnHseFhtLutUpM1vjN-wgIHCrmq2c7wAx4zujyhN6HHuoFZZoK9IAa/s1600/photo+1+%25282%2529.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX_Kn5T8ArAMqq3aumR8VOvpv40F1iEJpIjqrq6N6K2MyucQsxesM-V_TyYazA8OyNW_zZFo9TETCoLbtabz0HZulnHseFhtLutUpM1vjN-wgIHCrmq2c7wAx4zujyhN6HHuoFZZoK9IAa/s200/photo+1+%25282%2529.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://adventuresofsuperstretch.com/">Super Stretch Yoga</a>-I've used this one over the years and the kids really enjoy it and are able to follow along with it pretty independently. Move, play and breathe as Super Stretch introduces you to his friends and their yoga poses. Using storytelling, animation and video examples, kids move through 12 yoga poses and earn a star after each one. Yoga is a great way to help kids work on build overall body strength and motor planning, encourages healthy habits and is a quick and easy way to help them to be able to focus and attend to other tasks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqH1SNPx5qg_xAQUkMd3VEDkkHl4HAAtSRF8yLZfFKK-6KJt7eqVvVZo77jU0cCME3my0dI-bmNMXfwk5DMJmYPUWDdafo9PuWm5iO8Kv6hGpJWR65r965iPyJrfrnx-SCGV0ccSzqdkj/s1600/GoNoodle-t-shirt_graphic_NO_border_1000.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="71" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNqH1SNPx5qg_xAQUkMd3VEDkkHl4HAAtSRF8yLZfFKK-6KJt7eqVvVZo77jU0cCME3my0dI-bmNMXfwk5DMJmYPUWDdafo9PuWm5iO8Kv6hGpJWR65r965iPyJrfrnx-SCGV0ccSzqdkj/s200/GoNoodle-t-shirt_graphic_NO_border_1000.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.gonoodle.com/">GoNoodle Kids</a>-this app is intended for classroom use and offers a tremendous resource of brain and body breaks during the school day. Now that your children will be working/learning from home and the amount of time we should spend outside is drastically limited, it's important for not only them, but you as their grownups, to have these scheduled breaks. I highly encourage parents to engage in some of these movement activities as they are working from home.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxfUhXy_Phl9Qr12HdTxA6FGlawoG6elDCET7hGKZC9932IokDhhFmHRJ-yXcgHJXMTupOBPeytB6mUYR6Xe0NgUgObXTx0Me3fGzE967ZkwLN-7izknqBmAwaSt8s-VkLtGC41exPYpD/s1600/899193797xscreenipad1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwxfUhXy_Phl9Qr12HdTxA6FGlawoG6elDCET7hGKZC9932IokDhhFmHRJ-yXcgHJXMTupOBPeytB6mUYR6Xe0NgUgObXTx0Me3fGzE967ZkwLN-7izknqBmAwaSt8s-VkLtGC41exPYpD/s200/899193797xscreenipad1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://pbskids.org/apps/daniel-tigers-grr-ific-feelings.html">Daniel Tiger's Grr-iffic Feelings</a>-Daniel the Tiger is a big hit with many of my younger children and I have been a fan of the PBS Kids apps I have used in the past. Right now, kids are surely feeling a lot of feelings and emotions but may not be able to express that effectively and this app is perfect to help them. There are four games:<br />
Trolley Game-drive the trolley to discovered more than a dozen mini-games about feelings<br />
Sing-Along-choose from 18 of your favorite Daniel Tiger songs, each one fully animated<br />
Drawing Easel-use paints, crayons, stickers and more to express yourself<br />
Feelings Photo Booth-take pictures of yourself that show lots of different feelings. Daniel will help you pose!<br />
Kids can work on developing fine motor, graphomotor, visual motor, visual perceptual and hand-eye coordination skills while learning all about feelings and emotions.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYSZ4g0S5BJO_wfAHH7HsOOjJVv9BXVVz2ImzDkWEE4KdIzUuHVQ2gOjkG0LzIE4o5t0vLwwea-uKQPTDwlAHtew84A2qlyn6uNCoJNPN0QCHiQ3_Zr0MlhithI2hyphenhyphen5h8LqWAdg2m2SMd/s1600/hqdefault-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFYSZ4g0S5BJO_wfAHH7HsOOjJVv9BXVVz2ImzDkWEE4KdIzUuHVQ2gOjkG0LzIE4o5t0vLwwea-uKQPTDwlAHtew84A2qlyn6uNCoJNPN0QCHiQ3_Zr0MlhithI2hyphenhyphen5h8LqWAdg2m2SMd/s200/hqdefault-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://apps.apple.com/us/app/id721853597">Breath, Think, Do With Sesame</a>-t<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">his fabulous app from Sesame Street's in Communities program is a great way to teach kids strategies on how to calm down, identify their feelings and work through their problem. Big feelings are totally normal but they can also makes kids feel scared. Kids will laugh and learn as they help a Sesame Street monster friend calm down through a variety of relatable situations: putting on shoes, saying goodbye to parents/caregivers, fixing a knocked down block tower, waiting in line or going to sleep. They play an active role in helping them choose what strategy would be best for the monster and then get to see the plan in action through a little video. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFdBPQLwmptY3ld2tQqNVkiptN8qes2Rq4n52MQAZbOEErO7cRFDAEoaaG1-W2AyjhV4XmP1Vvh7PslVNGHTi6cWc8tcVr0YdPW3tm3hmiVE6F-cet7diCXQiIGuONCng2EUPrzH63hdJ/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="154" data-original-width="326" height="94" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFdBPQLwmptY3ld2tQqNVkiptN8qes2Rq4n52MQAZbOEErO7cRFDAEoaaG1-W2AyjhV4XmP1Vvh7PslVNGHTi6cWc8tcVr0YdPW3tm3hmiVE6F-cet7diCXQiIGuONCng2EUPrzH63hdJ/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.headspace.com/meditation/kids">Headspace for Kids</a>-this subscription based app may be a really good investment, especially if your child is feeling overly anxious or worried right now. For professionals, the app is now free through the end of the year for anyone all public health providers! Headspace for Kids focuses on the following areas: Calm, Focus, Kindness, Sleep and Wake Up. For each area, there are three age groups to choose from (5 and under, 6-8 years and 9-12 years). Kids can practice breathing exercises, visualizations even try some focus-based mediation. Quirky cartoons engage kids while the calming voice of the co-founder of the app offers guidance throughout. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://kidsapp.stopbreathethink.com/parent">Stop, Breathe, Think</a>-here is another great app for younger children that works on self-regulation and teaches them about feelings and </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRmN5J_r3XaaJ5nI7nTIHN2MUhDlklhcg4ZDck2sWD3BODlkGLC7Id061F9u1z9AOE-wnrzc_Rl7xJI0xJ9Or0K85f5ZecxsO2QLEU0uGZCQO7tyBcSw_Stt5SydgOGdfA01banHpjWJx/s1600/image-asset.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirRmN5J_r3XaaJ5nI7nTIHN2MUhDlklhcg4ZDck2sWD3BODlkGLC7Id061F9u1z9AOE-wnrzc_Rl7xJI0xJ9Or0K85f5ZecxsO2QLEU0uGZCQO7tyBcSw_Stt5SydgOGdfA01banHpjWJx/s200/image-asset.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">emotions and appropriate mediation strategies to help them work through different situations. Kids pick a mission to find a guided mindfulness activity based on how they are feeling right now (they can choose up to three emojis to express how they are feeling). Missions are between two and seven minutes and made up of expressive narration, sometimes with quiet background music and simple animations. Missions demonstrated by different characters will lead you through mindful movements. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVaBeIG7-sed6CHMrrqSaL8FkW009rgS5E6X5CXkdNegeA_EC2HsEP0_3_Y4gYm5tQNYqf6RnE4TcW946e8gf6c1Uwyr7KKGXsj7lw9y-zzvXRwU8X3ObC_EEnAOO_aSgRu1ZTibg9wDC/s1600/643x0w.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwVaBeIG7-sed6CHMrrqSaL8FkW009rgS5E6X5CXkdNegeA_EC2HsEP0_3_Y4gYm5tQNYqf6RnE4TcW946e8gf6c1Uwyr7KKGXsj7lw9y-zzvXRwU8X3ObC_EEnAOO_aSgRu1ZTibg9wDC/s200/643x0w.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.ideotoylab.com/balloonimals">Balloonamils</a>-I've been using this app for a while with my younger kids, particularly when they have a whole lot of energy or when they might be feeling anxious. Kids blow into the microphone of the iPhone and watch a variety of balloon animals come to life. One the balloon is fully inflated (about 3 deep breathes), they shake the phone a couple of times and they watch the animal come to life. Once done, they can interact with the animal and see what kinds of tricks they can do. When they are done with that animal, they tap it a few times and he will pop. Not only great for helping kids to calm down but helps with hand-eye coordination, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages grasping and manipulation skills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>iPad Use Tips</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;">I know and understand that there are many parents who have been resistant in using iPads/screens for learning but if used the right way, it is an incredibly effective and motivating tool. Below, I share some tips when using an iPad. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: times, times new roman, serif;"><a href="https://www.jaqjaqbird.com/collections/fresh-new/products/reusable-erasable-paper">JaqJaq Reusable and Erasable Paper</a>-especially when doing handwriting or drawing apps, I always have kids practice with pen and paper immediately after practicing on the iPad. For example, when using </span><a href="https://www.letterschool.org/">LetterSchool</a>, I have the kids practice the letter first and then have them write it again using "pen" and paper. In an effort to limit wasting of paper, I have recently begun using this amazing product. I like to use the ooly <a href="https://www.ooly.com/products/chalk-o-rama-dustless-chalk-crayons">Dustless Chalk Crayons</a> because they clean up quickly and easily and I have found that even my kids who have very weak hands have great success with these. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://www.studioneat.com/products/cosmonaut">Cosmonaut Stylus</a></b><span style="font-family: Times;">-for a variety of reasons, kids spend more time on tablets these days. As with all things, as long as you don't overdo it, working on the iPad can provide a lot of benefits. One of the things I recommend to all parents is that if they are going to let their kids use an iPad or other kind of tablet, be sure to have them use a stylus as much as possible to help develop fine motor and grasping skills. I think this is especially important if your child is doing any kind of handwriting or drawing apps. There are a lot of different stylus' to choose from but the Cosmonaut is my favorite. It is a little pricier than some of the other ones made for children but it is far more durable. I have had mine for several years and it still looks brand new. The barrel of the stylus is thicker which encourages a tripod-like grasp when holding it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times;"><b>Work Vertically</b>-when possible, I have my kids use the iPad by propping it up so it is vertical (lean it against an easel). Working on a vertical surfaces is important for the following reasons:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times;">-when you prop up the iPad on a vertical surface, it is in a better position and height which promotes visual attention</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times;">-improves hand-eye coordination</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times;">-encourages proper wrist positioning which helps with appropriate grasping on writing instruments</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times;">-strengthens shoulder, arm and and hand muscles</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: Times;">I have tried to include a variety of learning apps that will motivate your little ones and also tried really hard to choose ones that parents would have fun doing with their kids. This list is just a small sampling of the apps that I use so if parents are looking for certain apps, please do not hesitate reaching out to me. Also, I am always looking for new apps to use with the kids on my caseload so if you have any recommendations, please be sure to pass them along. I am always a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from all of you. </span></span><br />
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Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-3308115964561289332020-03-19T08:32:00.000-07:002020-03-19T08:36:39.413-07:00Land Of Dough <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15B5e03QdRoBXUyzXZvaS0eAU_Z6jyDnz4-mibKqMzRGqABsm7z3V3BF8Kh9Hp-hikyyaL6VAGcO4jDIyUyk9EPBrexMnsswWdjhy1j6cJjyZggglok35yg6-rLrfZjP6ZxOIVThQeijC/s1600/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="266" data-original-width="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj15B5e03QdRoBXUyzXZvaS0eAU_Z6jyDnz4-mibKqMzRGqABsm7z3V3BF8Kh9Hp-hikyyaL6VAGcO4jDIyUyk9EPBrexMnsswWdjhy1j6cJjyZggglok35yg6-rLrfZjP6ZxOIVThQeijC/s1600/download-1.jpg" /></a></div>
Seems like right now is a good time to start this blogging thing again and I couldn't be more excited about partnering up with my dear friends Courtney and Avi, the owners of the magical Park Slope toy store, <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a>. Each week I will be sharing a new product of theirs and talking to you all about the developmental benefits of it and different ways you can play with it.<br />
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As most of us, I'm trying to find the good in what we are all going through right now. While it may be difficult at times, I do want to be able to focus on the good as much as possible. So far for me, the good thing about all that is going on is that I have had to reacquaint myself with some of my daughter's toys so we can fill up her school days with more opportunities to play. She has always been a fan of play dough and even at 10 years old, she can spend a lot of time playing with it. Her new favorite play dough is from our favorite Park Slope toy store, Norman and Jules. Land of Dough makes the most beautiful collection of that I have ever seen and the best part is that it is eco-friendly! Using plant-based colors, compostable glitters and adding scents using essential oils to help add a calming effect while they play, they create the most visually pleasing dough. From <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/unicorn-sparkle-glitter-dough.html">Unicorn Sparkle Glitter </a> to their limited edition Easter collection, <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/eggelent-limited-edition-glitter-dough.html">Eggcelent Dough</a> and <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/chickety-chick-limited-edition-glitter-dough.html">Chickety Chick Dough,</a> each one is a work of art. So much so, I usually order two of each one so we can play with one and keep the other! Another great feature of Land of Dough dough is that even once it starts to dry out a bit after a couple hours of play, you can easily rehydrate your dough by wrapping it in a damp paper towel in the container overnight.<br />
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The developmental benefits of playing with Land of Dough is significant. First of all, this is an open-ended activity which is crucial for the development of social and emotional intelligence, encourages problem solving skills, creativity and imagination and independence. It also works on the following developmental skills:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHR8j3CWx7fg9B0HLDTC1MlbdjlPDcxqx5p-HlHKlxQAOtm5zn3LTR-nnlww_W9fx_H8DXnPzYpx3F6SA3X9A3YfP3N0Zfog63fWolrwFEGifZTARIuFRals787VGhbautSUcCKmNDePbm/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHR8j3CWx7fg9B0HLDTC1MlbdjlPDcxqx5p-HlHKlxQAOtm5zn3LTR-nnlww_W9fx_H8DXnPzYpx3F6SA3X9A3YfP3N0Zfog63fWolrwFEGifZTARIuFRals787VGhbautSUcCKmNDePbm/s320/images.jpg" width="320" /></a>*improves fine motor and manipulation skills while increasing strength in your little ones hands<br />
*improves pre-writing skills<br />
*develops hand-eye coordination skills<br />
*playing with dough can have a calming effect on children when they might be feeling scared or anxious<br />
*improves social skills when you are sharing materials and taking ideas from others you are playing with<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQL9l6oJtuVbRHIf6Ehdj6vwc6u06ZE8dnUv_leN1IJYSebtcg5yw5n3hleW4HFPuHjUSuxwHvVzFsDyTk7MRq7X7iDCzVDuiLJ88C9kQ_NWGLjlpN2aeHZEcY6qtcMkkxRvdKYYl7qnb/s1600/img_0194-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOQL9l6oJtuVbRHIf6Ehdj6vwc6u06ZE8dnUv_leN1IJYSebtcg5yw5n3hleW4HFPuHjUSuxwHvVzFsDyTk7MRq7X7iDCzVDuiLJ88C9kQ_NWGLjlpN2aeHZEcY6qtcMkkxRvdKYYl7qnb/s200/img_0194-1.jpg" width="200" /></a>Here are a couple quick and easy activities you can do with your Land of Dough:<br />
-practice making shapes, letters and numbers by rolling your dough into long snakes with both hands. You can make flash cards for younger kids and can put the snake along the lines and for older kids have them do it freehand<br />
-work on improving cutting skills by cutting those long snakes into little pieces<br />
-gather some loose materials (dry pasta, googly eyes, pipe cleaners) and have your kids create faces or animals<br />
-find small, thin pegs or use birthday candles to poke into the dough and then have them pull them out using just their thumbs and pointer finger to help develop grasping skills<br />
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Be sure to check back weekly for my collaboration with <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a>. While their physical doors may be closed, they are working as hard as ever to make sure our kids are entertained during these crazy times. You can order toys to be delivered or for safe pick-up during their designated hours. You can still reach out to them for their expert opinions on what toys would be best to keep your kids stimulated and learning at the same time.Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-59136596939281581112019-12-04T05:25:00.002-08:002019-12-04T14:43:05.340-08:002019 Holiday Gift Guide-Building Toys and Manipulatives<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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In today's gift guide, I share some of my favorite building and manipulative toys for children of all ages. Some are intended for a particular age group, while others can grow with your children from toddlers to tweens. I tried to share as many open-ended building toys as I could because I think the importance of this type of play is critical to child development. Open-ended play allows for children to be in control of their materials which encourages creativity, imagination and executive functioning skills. It also has been proven to help children with their cognitive development. In a time when children are being told what to do and how to do it more often than not, I think it is important for us to provide them the opportunities at home/during play to feel more in control.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-sRfx3Z6GwuNOPyoVKg3qblWHN-pkW4Rx6efA4WXEhCAy-7OfgAA5XYqKW_1A87VJOjGl43fdUfOXNTBU9h6f0MA3TqPSVXpymanbWw7pf9ohJxDphVs3xivO03V4jzxMfjEzwUOl7_s/s1600/Lalaboom_1024x1024.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil-sRfx3Z6GwuNOPyoVKg3qblWHN-pkW4Rx6efA4WXEhCAy-7OfgAA5XYqKW_1A87VJOjGl43fdUfOXNTBU9h6f0MA3TqPSVXpymanbWw7pf9ohJxDphVs3xivO03V4jzxMfjEzwUOl7_s/s200/Lalaboom_1024x1024.webp" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/lalaboom_48_pc_set.cfm">Lalaboom Popbeads</a>-we all know about the traditional plastic snap lock beads from Fisher-Price that have been around for as long as I can remember. They have been a staple in my OT tool box since I began working, especially with my younger kids. During one of my Fat Brain Toys website searches, I stumbled upon the Lalaboom Popbeads and was an immediate fan. I quickly became obsessed by how they took an already awesome toy and made them even more awesome. This set of 48 snap and twist-together beads work on developing fine motor, grasping and bilateral coordination skills, improve visual motor and perceptual skills while introducing kids to a variety of sensory experiences. The beads are interchangeable by twisting them apart, finding two sides you like and putting them back together.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV3PjNJu6GEIYiyYABEA0dAYlefrF87_qPSvwzjxtDrYy6yeeOHltmtH_KtUuXakk0oK09pzz-bbYoCZGuctcL_6t7sFQaagDuoLmDYBoG-5Fsi7kjxFWRE0HOcKdcpwFZT6QlzKQ_MZW/s1600/BX1482_dp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkV3PjNJu6GEIYiyYABEA0dAYlefrF87_qPSvwzjxtDrYy6yeeOHltmtH_KtUuXakk0oK09pzz-bbYoCZGuctcL_6t7sFQaagDuoLmDYBoG-5Fsi7kjxFWRE0HOcKdcpwFZT6QlzKQ_MZW/s200/BX1482_dp.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://mybtoys.com/product/elemenosqueezetm/">Elemenosqueeze Blocks</a>-these are a great first set of blocks for your baby as young as 6 month old. There are 26 animal themed blocks, 1 animal for each letter of the alphabet. Since they are BPA free, you don't have to be worried if a teething baby/toddler chews on them. They are all different shapes and have different textures on each of them. I love that these can grow with your child by using them for different reasons throughout their development. As a baby, they can learn how to grasp and manipulate blocks. As they get older, they learn how to stack and build and as a preschooler, they can be used to teach your kids the letters of the alphabet. Kids of all ages can work on developing grasping, fine motor and manipulation skills, improve bilateral and hand-eye coordination and improve visual motor and perceptual skills while encouraging creativity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzSxFU78S0g9wNHFdmEwoS7exgJJ87V-r1kuuzUl8ENuGUXLiQWbcHnRv8oaBvy6Kef9nVw8PKf7wfM8v8zzNoSypZBGYrmvl_OX9E9_HkY0CijU9UYoEY0N0UtKAw7pxqRtTT7V992wi/s1600/KHT-01550-CB_600x.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="352" data-original-width="500" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilzSxFU78S0g9wNHFdmEwoS7exgJJ87V-r1kuuzUl8ENuGUXLiQWbcHnRv8oaBvy6Kef9nVw8PKf7wfM8v8zzNoSypZBGYrmvl_OX9E9_HkY0CijU9UYoEY0N0UtKAw7pxqRtTT7V992wi/s200/KHT-01550-CB_600x.webp" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Romper-Room-Popoids-Pc-Kit/dp/B071YQN6RF/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1I9MB6O1AFH81&keywords=popoids+60+pc+kit&qid=1575050962&sprefix=popoids%2Caps%2C128&sr=8-1">Popoids</a>-I've had these on the shelves at my gym for years and they are a constant favorite with the kids (and me). This set from Romper Room comes with 60 colored mini poptubes and different kinds of connectors and encourages creativity and imagination. This open-ended building set comes with suggestions on things you can make but they really are an invitation to create whatever comes to mind. Popoids are great for working on developing fine motor and grasping skills, increased grasp strength and manipulation skills, encourages bilateral coordination and works on developing hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills all while encouraging creativity and imagination.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eu0LM9lIOgWupgjO8NeSHw9RZO63lAAdXl_xPWJz32E4UerkpzJE5KshsA5SqIuBuB4e2bl-E9EOVFwtZbWNL-bHLn8O9Byiypqf_Wk9_7yGeIapJ5NyR0UXT915JPifGKeLEUtvR8R9/s1600/71uUo51Nm6L._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5eu0LM9lIOgWupgjO8NeSHw9RZO63lAAdXl_xPWJz32E4UerkpzJE5KshsA5SqIuBuB4e2bl-E9EOVFwtZbWNL-bHLn8O9Byiypqf_Wk9_7yGeIapJ5NyR0UXT915JPifGKeLEUtvR8R9/s200/71uUo51Nm6L._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/squigz_20_36_piece.cfm">Squigz 2.0</a>-I have been obsessed with all things Squigz since they first came out years ago and didn't think they could get any better until I saw Squigz 2.0. Essentially the same concept as the originals but these have the ability to stick to each other in more ways because of the new design. This 36-piece set comes with a variety of new shapes and are great for teaching young children about colors. Additionally, they work on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination skills while also encouraging creativity and imagination skills. These can be used on a variety of surfaces including the bathtub, walls, windows, mirrors and so much more. Easy to throw in a bag to keep kids entertained while at a restaurant, in the car or waiting for appointments.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoLZRTysY4aU0syL1xvPDAklKNA0itAlEXz9FrXocYv9ovwDq9_cjHGfUzo1AT99-4thq1sZbIhrMgSx233G8fbLlLg7orhBMcUqA_AwfcI0FovQFEZcevs-mJz7QkNIKy5LPv9f4a-lz/s1600/BX1175_pr_web.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIoLZRTysY4aU0syL1xvPDAklKNA0itAlEXz9FrXocYv9ovwDq9_cjHGfUzo1AT99-4thq1sZbIhrMgSx233G8fbLlLg7orhBMcUqA_AwfcI0FovQFEZcevs-mJz7QkNIKy5LPv9f4a-lz/s200/BX1175_pr_web.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://mybtoys.com/product/bristle-blocks-stackadoostm/">Bristle Blocks Stackadoos</a>-another great open-ended building set from <a href="https://mybtoys.com/">B. Toys</a>, this set is recommended for kids 2 years and older but can definitely be used with younger children who are being supervised by an adult. These chunky, soft pieces are easy to connect and offer a multi-sensory experience for little hands. This set comes with 68 assorted colored and shaped bristle blocks and a booklet with building ideas that can be stored in the sturdy jar that they come in. Great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, increasing grasp strength, improves bilateral, hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages creativity and imagination.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4KJo7pKjJGTFJIaQDw-L3Mmg1NOk1YYZk3PLmwtb4sSbjHUrEEs-SCXaBPkvIcyxz-R4W-cESaCIOgrO7uQcF45Bxje-Jrc3YrcfOT4na6hp6oZvh0fmdsQwYlFX8k8GCXqw7hUNcWuN/s1600/dg546.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="375" data-original-width="500" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih4KJo7pKjJGTFJIaQDw-L3Mmg1NOk1YYZk3PLmwtb4sSbjHUrEEs-SCXaBPkvIcyxz-R4W-cESaCIOgrO7uQcF45Bxje-Jrc3YrcfOT4na6hp6oZvh0fmdsQwYlFX8k8GCXqw7hUNcWuN/s200/dg546.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.magnatiles.com/">MagnaTiles</a>-another staple to my holiday gift guide. MagnaTiles are pricey but worth the investment and will last you for a lifetime. My daughter is almost 10 years old and we still have her original set of MagnaTiles and are still in perfect condition. She may not use them as much but they are pulled out from time to time. MagnaTiles are also a huge hit with my kids in my social skills group and are a great tool to encourage creativity and imagination skills while also working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination. I like to have my kids at work use different characters and work together to build something for them to then play with the dolls. For example, I have seen kids use them to build a castle for the Disney Princess Magic Clip Dolls. It's so fun to watch them not only create together, but then come up with a story for the princesses. One thing I was excited to learn was that in 2020 they will be releasing a series of <a href="https://createon.com/">new products</a> that will have images on them that will encourage them to build different structures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3EseqFNUBrEeaH7iwMC9r-zhDeIby4T9p-C-SMEu-SXgUp6cE6zD8lCBS7EdfBWZ24KTjGKJ7aXIRpAE8anYXEKnWLWfEwkOgju6DUWbXLxvmSLZ6IduwLH4P07oThdipAamn5TEls1y/s1600/Candycar_BlueRacer_Lifestyle-2_6fb20d83-c381-4544-abc1-b1452fbc2377_800x.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="495" data-original-width="800" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi3EseqFNUBrEeaH7iwMC9r-zhDeIby4T9p-C-SMEu-SXgUp6cE6zD8lCBS7EdfBWZ24KTjGKJ7aXIRpAE8anYXEKnWLWfEwkOgju6DUWbXLxvmSLZ6IduwLH4P07oThdipAamn5TEls1y/s200/Candycar_BlueRacer_Lifestyle-2_6fb20d83-c381-4544-abc1-b1452fbc2377_800x.webp" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.roseandrex.com/collections/way-to-play/products/candylab-x-way-to-play-city-speedway-set">Way To Play City Speedway Set</a>-totally love this collaboration by <a href="https://us.waytoplay.toys/">Way To Play</a> and <a href="https://us.waytoplay.toys/">Candylab</a>. If you have a transportation lover in your life, this is the perfect gift. I have used the Way To Play road pieces with the kids in my social skills group and they loved them. It was so fun to see how they would work together to put their road together, adding twist and turns and then take cars for a ride. This particular set comes with 12 Road Pieces that can be connected to make a closed loop and 2 Candylab Race Cars. This open-ended set is great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination and works on developing executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning and organization. And as previously mentioned, this is a great building set to work on encouraging social skills such as teamwork, flexibility and working with other people's ideas.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn60fUSexISmMzA3oohoS1TLM5To9tqLxPFe6xO0TLQshapnQOWE3crkyoTHMgsAoNd_EjLCmpNGFQUJ71JT81UDu1EWPy80oUbMxxJgdxPiWxiA0KR_QIc1pyOXOoZoS2bleLp6vHgzPX/s1600/fa228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn60fUSexISmMzA3oohoS1TLM5To9tqLxPFe6xO0TLQshapnQOWE3crkyoTHMgsAoNd_EjLCmpNGFQUJ71JT81UDu1EWPy80oUbMxxJgdxPiWxiA0KR_QIc1pyOXOoZoS2bleLp6vHgzPX/s200/fa228.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/build_it_blueprint_puzzles.cfm">Build It Blueprint Puzzles</a>-in these clever puzzles, children get to build a structure by following the blueprint. On one side of the puzzle there is a blueprint image and on the other is the exterior of what they are building (doghouse, birdhouse, a cabin or barn). The chunky pieces are great for little hands. I like that kids work on developing bilateral and hand-eye coordination skills while also working on improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills. While putting the pieces together, they are also working on increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills. Another great feature is that once they are done, the can take it apart and store the pieces in the board.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4jrcPfM6p4GuXWbCifnQtNhzsNiiFrZmpsSuVi59kqQAFBEh945OpDslbqvL_QEp6MIh2ur7kgyEQxhIUEWRegFfTuSyu9SgiZvMSrQRHqyO3w8cf9g20UlLPqCB-_PiizEUmGEy2ls5/s1600/51gkVe51uAL._SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="351" data-original-width="425" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim4jrcPfM6p4GuXWbCifnQtNhzsNiiFrZmpsSuVi59kqQAFBEh945OpDslbqvL_QEp6MIh2ur7kgyEQxhIUEWRegFfTuSyu9SgiZvMSrQRHqyO3w8cf9g20UlLPqCB-_PiizEUmGEy2ls5/s200/51gkVe51uAL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/People-Blocks-Classic-Color-Set/dp/B06XD5QQ7V/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=people+blocks+classic+colors&qid=1575071416&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFRODZXUlVFM1Y1UVImZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAzOTk4NTYxSFRFN0ZTMkZFMUI0JmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA1NTMyMTdPQ0xVWENCT0ZLMFImd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl">People Blocks</a>-I have been a longtime fan of magnetic blocks, especially for younger children who have developmental delays. This cute set from <a href="https://www.peopletoy.co/">People Blocks</a> is intended for children starting at the age of 18 months. The way in which children will interact with these blocks will expand over the years. This open-ended building toy works on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills and encourages problem solving, creativity and imagination.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmgvhy6DGkRdWqjG_pksbd4LRiBTO6vfzE53DHYe3nbnMb2vSpd4nmCGJPnVJNG1TL_O2TEnLIlLwz0_XMQHsfrHtyRzXhoxk98MKGZ_x-cfhO5Lepz8w7_G5AXvyUsVnwtiaGoGk-GrU/s1600/81%252BEA%252BkKYrL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1500" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmgvhy6DGkRdWqjG_pksbd4LRiBTO6vfzE53DHYe3nbnMb2vSpd4nmCGJPnVJNG1TL_O2TEnLIlLwz0_XMQHsfrHtyRzXhoxk98MKGZ_x-cfhO5Lepz8w7_G5AXvyUsVnwtiaGoGk-GrU/s200/81%252BEA%252BkKYrL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.educationalinsights.com/design-drill-174-my-first-workbench-gray">Design and Drill My First Workbench</a>-I am obsessed with this workbench from <a href="https://www.educationalinsights.com/">Educational Insights</a>! It makes a great gift for kids as young as 3 years old and I can say through experience that kids as old as 6 and 7 still enjoy playing with some of my other Design and Drill sets. This workbench (which comes in two different color choices) includes an electric bolt driver, a hammer, 60 bolts and 60 nails in a variety of colors and a guide that includes 10 different patterns all which can be stored in the built-in drawer under the work area. This is great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, increases grasp strength, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills and encourages focus, attention, planning and organizational and task completion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xTeHIFY-qNibzSvojgrhETGj_0l6Vs598l0iFH66j1ifccEjwF4hgojKwQxJz8oaAiq5s8FuZdIabSs9iWiEPOPq9e948kjPsdjykLr83XqN9o5vfMV9ax41igkF0yfRxnVQeHwAHcMr/s1600/prod4176_3_lg5d0a3fd4b2858.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="450" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xTeHIFY-qNibzSvojgrhETGj_0l6Vs598l0iFH66j1ifccEjwF4hgojKwQxJz8oaAiq5s8FuZdIabSs9iWiEPOPq9e948kjPsdjykLr83XqN9o5vfMV9ax41igkF0yfRxnVQeHwAHcMr/s200/prod4176_3_lg5d0a3fd4b2858.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.educationalinsights.com/design-drill-174-tech-space-circuits">Design and Drill Space Circuits</a>-this STEM set from <a href="https://www.educationalinsights.com/">Educational Insights</a> is the perfect set to introduce children as young as 5 to basic engineering. Kids can use the battery operated drill (which they absolutely love doing) to complete 20 space-themed, circuit building challenges that lights, spinning simple motors and more. I have had other of the Design and Drill sets and my kids just can't get enough of using the drill to screw in the bolts. I love how this works on developing executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, problem solving, organization and task completion while also working on improving grasping, fine motor and manipulation skills and encourages bilateral and hand-eye coordination skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy-krVAS9aqYFI31EYAChJewXGKo2LJuobzWLS3G49oGcudWNoa5QGOlm2k3xJ0A-eZfnVGWjTnzJaOkoq_pvxGl2o_p5MTZia_O0UytXkhtsAJGPlPRPWe2MBROghoUYQYUrgD_dSXWW/s1600/71MxdMfH-yL._SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="263" data-original-width="425" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhy-krVAS9aqYFI31EYAChJewXGKo2LJuobzWLS3G49oGcudWNoa5QGOlm2k3xJ0A-eZfnVGWjTnzJaOkoq_pvxGl2o_p5MTZia_O0UytXkhtsAJGPlPRPWe2MBROghoUYQYUrgD_dSXWW/s200/71MxdMfH-yL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Smart-Builder-Toys-Connectors-Construction/dp/B006HZX1P8/ref=sr_1_6?crid=1HCCZGKSZQXRT&keywords=straws+and+connectors+building+and+construction+set&qid=1575051735&sprefix=straws+and%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-6">Straws and Connectors Building Sets</a>-this simple open-ended building toys have been a staple in my social skills for years and I am always amazed at what the kids will build, especially when they are working together. This set comes with 750 straws, connectors and wheels in 4 different colors, an idea book and a sturdy storage container to keep everything contained. The straws are completely flexible so they can make curves for whatever your children decide to build. Straws and Connectors is great for encouraging creativity and imagination skills while also working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on developing executive functioning skills such as motor planning, organization and task completion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3_brS9BKuNPLWRqdsZfRiugPdj-oWw8xOnsLLiMn-UVXT9zFJnOYWmR9Tu8i7l28PaUSKAXC08TQTG1nRujtz6Og5h_4KxS99tsVSjPohaERKzpYjw9UAx5MMWjiIoSMf1P_BlpR-Gx_/s1600/a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="645" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr3_brS9BKuNPLWRqdsZfRiugPdj-oWw8xOnsLLiMn-UVXT9zFJnOYWmR9Tu8i7l28PaUSKAXC08TQTG1nRujtz6Og5h_4KxS99tsVSjPohaERKzpYjw9UAx5MMWjiIoSMf1P_BlpR-Gx_/s200/a.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/bamboo_builder_marble_run.cfm">Bamboo Builder Marble Run</a>-this is another one of those items I would consider an investment piece that your children will use for years and years. There are a variety of sets to choose from and all can be used with each other. Kids can follow along with the book or make their own design. The kits come with a variety of hand-crafted carbonized tracks, bamboo cylinders, and wooden spirals that connect to each other. Some sets even come with special pieces that make music as the marble goes flying down the tracks. Kids can work on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improve hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills and work on visual motor and visual perceptual skills when playing with the marble run. This is also a great activity for kids to work on together and collaborate on what to build, take turns adding pieces and be able to be flexible and take ideas from others.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIHa__-RpLYj5659vESKCEuWrnJ1mt1i8qUZ8dirG74REsB20wh4MwMngf-1Sb7gl_F2aTLDbb2_1ApGTz2FmNOpTm-iB3utuL1gBbzwq65aYlZOrtH-mQSV_JAhhpFAubfWShGGjEHCv/s1600/13826657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQIHa__-RpLYj5659vESKCEuWrnJ1mt1i8qUZ8dirG74REsB20wh4MwMngf-1Sb7gl_F2aTLDbb2_1ApGTz2FmNOpTm-iB3utuL1gBbzwq65aYlZOrtH-mQSV_JAhhpFAubfWShGGjEHCv/s200/13826657.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.mindware.orientaltrading.com/young-architect-house-designer-a2-13826657.fltr?categoryId=553515+2319">Young Architect House Designer Set</a>-this is a great activity set for kids 8 and older and introduces kids to the world of architecture. Kids get to build their own 3-D house using acrylic walls, corner blocks, tracing paper and a handful of other tools. Kids can make their own floor plan, including figuring out where furniture should go. Great for working on improving graphomotor skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization, problem solving and task completion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusDvkE2_Vs9CpIAcaM-Hl6sKyn0ACwgpc9dzgm-TmdvUUsyvv4Z2VHQ5KBMXU8N1xvPFSJCz3Ngvc9SYGc9UTspg5nfz9aJpR39fRJ-GvqatSeuunjxMNLu9iXBSMOuVzG3z-q1cYluaR/s1600/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiusDvkE2_Vs9CpIAcaM-Hl6sKyn0ACwgpc9dzgm-TmdvUUsyvv4Z2VHQ5KBMXU8N1xvPFSJCz3Ngvc9SYGc9UTspg5nfz9aJpR39fRJ-GvqatSeuunjxMNLu9iXBSMOuVzG3z-q1cYluaR/s200/download-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/search.cfm?q=jixelz">Jixelz</a>-these small and colorful-jigsaw shaped building pieces are definitely intended for older children who don't have significant fine-motor delays. There are a variety of sets to choose from including, but not limited to, animals, robots and mythical creatures. Kids can use the templates to create something or use their imagination and create something of their own. They can work on improving fine motor, grasping and in-hand manipulation skills, increases grasp strength, improves hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on developing executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning, organization and task completion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtQ520VRBfy3pDjI5RQ05CAS2oPJfcnwO_B0F6JxOtB4qTlra1ii3ZDi7DvuVxD562LszctOPnPQOo6Vlf7vQdHMakxSR-xQZBzRh_phjt_aB8WgLCz9JEM_dwTf6t8xLGPOXNK9tXc3K/s1600/Plus-Plus-Mini-Basic-Knights-Castle-760-Pieces_11216190_e8bc352556d6d7911951e4544629157e_t.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="269" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijtQ520VRBfy3pDjI5RQ05CAS2oPJfcnwO_B0F6JxOtB4qTlra1ii3ZDi7DvuVxD562LszctOPnPQOo6Vlf7vQdHMakxSR-xQZBzRh_phjt_aB8WgLCz9JEM_dwTf6t8xLGPOXNK9tXc3K/s200/Plus-Plus-Mini-Basic-Knights-Castle-760-Pieces_11216190_e8bc352556d6d7911951e4544629157e_t.jpg" width="168" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.plus-plus.us/">Plus Plus Blocks</a>-another open-ended building set that encourages creativity and imagination skills in children of all ages. These manipulative toys are awesome for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills while encouraging creativity and imagination and working on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning and organizational skills. There are several sets to choose from, including different size Plus Plus Blocks for younger and older children. In my <a href="https://macandtoys.blogspot.com/2019/11/2019-holiday-gift-guide-stocking.html">Small Gifts/Stocking Stuffer Gift Guide</a>, I recommended the tubes for on-the-go fun but here I recommend the larger sets that come with a baseplates for some more advanced building opportunities.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX_nm7CPcQrOz2QJyjntec-1DH39VqBkVqNGeX2_ZAPpNVXsQMXNxRrxRPmJcMh68GxbGJFb5XUP_bp4hu7ReTU5XZ7egWGEV7mWvqQM55UJ5OXwgdH4s2ZZlBpkv-Zdai-yoaCs-Q2PO/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmX_nm7CPcQrOz2QJyjntec-1DH39VqBkVqNGeX2_ZAPpNVXsQMXNxRrxRPmJcMh68GxbGJFb5XUP_bp4hu7ReTU5XZ7egWGEV7mWvqQM55UJ5OXwgdH4s2ZZlBpkv-Zdai-yoaCs-Q2PO/s200/download.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/stores/page/1045D075-88D0-4CFB-BCD4-4B2EF089715D">Engino Discovery Stem Kits</a>-looking for something for some of the older kids on your list? This STEM set is a great option as it can be used to build 50 unique motorized machines, from race cars and motorcycles to bouncing mechanical creatures. Kids snap pieces together and turn things into moving objects. Great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, encourages hand-eye and bilateral coordination, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on developing executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning, organization. While the set comes with directions for 4 models, you can go online to find the directions for 46 others.<br />
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There are so many great building toys out there that help children develop a crazy number of developmental skills. It was hard to weed out my favorites, especially since there are so many new things hitting the shelves each year. One of the things I did try and do were find things that could last a bit longer and could grow with your child. If you are looking for something a bit more specific for your child, don't hesitate reaching out to me. I am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from you all. Also, if you have building sets and manipulative toys that you think are fabulous, please send along! Not only am I always interested to hear what is out there, I know my readers are as well.<br />
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<br />Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-64876029756460450092019-11-25T19:33:00.002-08:002019-11-25T19:33:58.854-08:002019 Holiday Gift Guide-Stocking Stuffers/The Small Stuff <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is one of my most of all my holiday gift guides to put together. I think there are a lot of people who need to pick up little gifts during the holidays and there are so many to choose from. The problem with a lot of the little gifts out there are that they can be used once which can be really frustrating. In this list, I have tried to put together a variety of toys, crafts and activities that can either be used again and again or when created, can be used for a long period of time. Many of them are great for keeping kids entertained when on-the-go or out and about. All of them were hand-picked because I know that they will help the children on your gift-giving list develop a variety of skills. More importantly, they were chosen because I know that kids enjoy playing with them without knowing that they are actually "working". Below, you will find over 20 of my favorite stocking stuffer/small gifts.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGdcBZCFLD_ZF9ptjKdQDQXVp5zDUiGthv7xkVYdsFLuRdsiG4GH6YWQp-eEC7Dtdg8HfwlIWTglxpILm2-UBB-OpW2XnuzOJvqbGQ7BrhYw1fOuevwXNv8BGcOseLW0I0LOUqSaUO05a/s1600/Totally-80-s-by-cbwhitesell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="1000" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHGdcBZCFLD_ZF9ptjKdQDQXVp5zDUiGthv7xkVYdsFLuRdsiG4GH6YWQp-eEC7Dtdg8HfwlIWTglxpILm2-UBB-OpW2XnuzOJvqbGQ7BrhYw1fOuevwXNv8BGcOseLW0I0LOUqSaUO05a/s200/Totally-80-s-by-cbwhitesell.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.plus-plus.us/tubes">Plus Plus Tubes</a>-these manipulative toys are just awesome and make a great stocking stuffer or small gift for those on your list this year. There are several themed tubes to choose from depending on what your child's interests may be and they are all great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improving hand-eye and bilateral coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on a variety of executive functioning skills. Kids can follow the step-by-step directions and create whatever they suggest or can use their imagination and make their own creation. I love how you can throw these into your bag for on-the-go entertainment.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAdgaMpo4q_8J0b_Gfq3BrRoiwolFJsaWni_04UBzN2eHsnu2NEPlkXpf6QEXvQENZa0mGSIZoOo6JWpb_pjeUipMblhKaUOqPvc-fMIsVbOs6HqBAy8ngiHN5nyzReu-OlSkAW1a_Upb/s1600/161-039-Mini-Scratch-and-Scribble-Scratchboard-Art-Kit-Cutie-Cats-CU1_800x800.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnAdgaMpo4q_8J0b_Gfq3BrRoiwolFJsaWni_04UBzN2eHsnu2NEPlkXpf6QEXvQENZa0mGSIZoOo6JWpb_pjeUipMblhKaUOqPvc-fMIsVbOs6HqBAy8ngiHN5nyzReu-OlSkAW1a_Upb/s200/161-039-Mini-Scratch-and-Scribble-Scratchboard-Art-Kit-Cutie-Cats-CU1_800x800.webp" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=scratch+and+scribble">Scratch and Scribble Kits</a>-another great product from my favorite OOLY that would not only make a great stocking stuffer, but also great for keeping kids entertained while on-the-go. Each of these kits (there are a bunch of different ones to choose from and come in two different sizes) comes with 4 illustrated cards and a variety of blank cards that kids can make whatever designs they feel like creating and a special wooden tool. These are great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and graphomotor skills, improves hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages creativity and imagination skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzzIZ3zmQXAF6sns6EVGgmuAe7-OGO8wnEL-dgQvyQkpOPHoqTjbj7YXb8UZEBETzu9BuytG2MEsxDdD082rtYQshg3Qicfk8rboeKoqTz6wKDpp-HWAEfP6UDp6TPX8NkdM_JOuIHnTq/s1600/NEW_HOLIDAY_DIY_4cda5960-afdb-434b-b1c7-2c3097a25d02_720x.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="884" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrzzIZ3zmQXAF6sns6EVGgmuAe7-OGO8wnEL-dgQvyQkpOPHoqTjbj7YXb8UZEBETzu9BuytG2MEsxDdD082rtYQshg3Qicfk8rboeKoqTz6wKDpp-HWAEfP6UDp6TPX8NkdM_JOuIHnTq/s200/NEW_HOLIDAY_DIY_4cda5960-afdb-434b-b1c7-2c3097a25d02_720x.webp" width="162" /></a></div>
<a href="https://gunnerandlux.com/products/diy-holiday-ornament-necklace-kit">Gunner and Lux DIY Holiday Ornament Necklace Kit</a>-a perfect little gift for your fashionistas. This adorable DIY Necklace Kit from Gunner and Lux comes with the wooden ornament, beads, tassel, a marker (but you can use any of your favorite markers to complete the ornament) and rope. Kids color their ornament in any way they want, add beads and the tassel and then tie the rope to the desired length. This is a great activity for working on developing fine motor, manipulation and graphomotor skills, improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages creativity while working on developing executive functioning skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxNi1vN68Dzj1pXEssuG9FLKi_CDIjDu9hIW2SXH5ROLI6nfyre6kPjsHZKrlinnSsJBUjs1Fwuh3-38mQ68oGKg4g60L68iBZUloVGNB1UlR8TgefPBkacptCzfrrQz0yd9ObCpDoZqm/s1600/71bCJyEwR2L._SX466_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="465" data-original-width="466" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxNi1vN68Dzj1pXEssuG9FLKi_CDIjDu9hIW2SXH5ROLI6nfyre6kPjsHZKrlinnSsJBUjs1Fwuh3-38mQ68oGKg4g60L68iBZUloVGNB1UlR8TgefPBkacptCzfrrQz0yd9ObCpDoZqm/s200/71bCJyEwR2L._SX466_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.schylling.com/p/squiggle-wiggle-writer?pp=24">Squiggle Wiggle Pen</a>-this is something I have loved and used in my therapy sessions for as long as I can remember. The Squiggle Wiggle Writer is a battery operated vibrating pen that allows children to turn straight lines into loops, circles, curves and a variety of other things depending on the amount of pressure you use while drawing. It comes with 5 different color refills that you can switch in and out as you please. While this is a fun writing instrument, it is a great therapeutic tool as the vibrating helps with focus and attention. It is also great for working on developing fine motor and grasping skills and encourages creativity and imagination.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4B4p8_toDL5gS_roWsfjK2KdxiKTjPobPouSdpSVJAigWYHZwKxAGcGOj-2AJnVY9aV6Aw4U85vGxTRC6IOEg4dQ4m4ESBs7LOjdr_b2jdx-64kGy0aCl_Q3c19R3mlNwWISq0gZeJoL/s1600/81PBwdIPtCL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="1500" height="93" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgR4B4p8_toDL5gS_roWsfjK2KdxiKTjPobPouSdpSVJAigWYHZwKxAGcGOj-2AJnVY9aV6Aw4U85vGxTRC6IOEg4dQ4m4ESBs7LOjdr_b2jdx-64kGy0aCl_Q3c19R3mlNwWISq0gZeJoL/s200/81PBwdIPtCL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.relevantplay.com/mad-mattr/quantum-pods">Mad Mattr Quantum Pods</a>-this is one of my 9 year old daughters favorite things in the whole world. I should mention I am kinda obsessed with Mad Mattr as well. From the makers of Kinetic Sand, Mad Mattr is a non-toxic, oderless dough that flows and never dries out. Made out of a polymer-dough mix, this sensory material can be used to help kids with tactile defensiveness, increase grasp strength and manipulation skills and encourages creativity and imagination. Use it with cookie cutters and other tools (I like to use some of my tools from playdough sets) to encourage bilateral coordination skills. For parents who worry about sensory materials making a mess, this is your thing. This is a super clean sensory material that doesn't stain hands or your furniture.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfepVcUuuBvqkmg5CSKB4160Nb41fIXjnjS5hzEeGpK22gC3ZFL0NbJMH8uli54K6mNf2ADdCK2v5hFE4Qw7YiZMSi-3N_wEWLoqVgeI__Mr7VvAuC5kLjsLM7nAvFivnJ57MIEsjWzm_J/s1600/81EEF1MGJuL._SL1280_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1280" data-original-width="1197" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfepVcUuuBvqkmg5CSKB4160Nb41fIXjnjS5hzEeGpK22gC3ZFL0NbJMH8uli54K6mNf2ADdCK2v5hFE4Qw7YiZMSi-3N_wEWLoqVgeI__Mr7VvAuC5kLjsLM7nAvFivnJ57MIEsjWzm_J/s200/81EEF1MGJuL._SL1280_.jpg" width="186" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.relevantplay.com/build-a-bot/unicorn">Build-A-Bot Unicorn Robot Toy</a>-I can't speak for anyone else's kids but my daughter is a big fan of all of the small interactive animal toys out there. We have had more Little Live Pets, and even at almost 10 years old doesn't want to part with them, then I can count. As the mother of a huge unicorn fan, I wish this S.T.E.M. kit had been around when she was younger. Kids can build their very own Unicorn robot. Each kit comes with over 20 pieces and stickers for your kid to build their very own pet unicorn that you an interact with. Great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination and works on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning, organization and task completion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Xie1It860x1_EDCprZzo8a25hBBdseQ97E2HWg9U4ay4pAHnW6TaQyQmwXuWSx_iuhW49hGbT9986DUAiS4-zFd2vi42VE2YclNmHk8kJrgCshKWh4iW2ONel2CDwj0Wcom1ok6ZPsy_/s1600/580200-3_DIY-Pins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1040" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Xie1It860x1_EDCprZzo8a25hBBdseQ97E2HWg9U4ay4pAHnW6TaQyQmwXuWSx_iuhW49hGbT9986DUAiS4-zFd2vi42VE2YclNmHk8kJrgCshKWh4iW2ONel2CDwj0Wcom1ok6ZPsy_/s200/580200-3_DIY-Pins.jpg" width="130" /></a><a href="https://www.alexbrands.com/product/arts-crafts/shrinky-dinks-diy-pins-project-pack/">Shrinky Dinks DIY Pins Project Pack</a>-I am a long time fan of all things Shrinky Dinks. I love that things from my own childhood are still a thing now and that I can enjoy them with my own daughter. This set comes with some images images of cute animals, food and other things that you can trace onto two types of Shrinky Dinks sheets but you can also trace your favorite book characters or images you like. Cut out the design, color it in and follow the bake and shrink directions provided. Once it is cooled off, you can add a glitter sticker to the back to give it a shiny metallic look, glue on the tie-tack and put it on your favorite jacket, your back pack or anything else you think could use a little extra bling! Great for working on improving fine motor and graphomotor skills, encourages creativity and imagination and works on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and task completion.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1HJdlwBEL2t1sbg27xlLFOm0tnMNMKpF34ni7p9lKNtfnVYyc8_nwrEPVJFdOQcQrQe8eG6_huC5nnBL14kipyJ_YT7oGqkQfsyV1oEeLc9wr5g8IYjmbtf745DQPyMVZ8pHlVUzIlg1/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy1HJdlwBEL2t1sbg27xlLFOm0tnMNMKpF34ni7p9lKNtfnVYyc8_nwrEPVJFdOQcQrQe8eG6_huC5nnBL14kipyJ_YT7oGqkQfsyV1oEeLc9wr5g8IYjmbtf745DQPyMVZ8pHlVUzIlg1/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nee-Doh-Schylling-Squishy-Stretchy-Complete/dp/B07YCTRJ86/ref=sr_1_11?keywords=nee+doh+balls&qid=1574544172&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-11">NeeDoh Bubble Glob Groovy Glob Ball</a>-I am pretty much obsessed with any and all sensory/squishy balls. One of the most popular things at my gym is this giant container of sensory balls and tools and many of them are from the NEEDOH line. Thanks to my monthly subscription to <a href="https://www.sensorytheraplaybox.com/">Sensory TheraPlay Box</a>, I have learned about a lot of great sensory tools including the extensive collection of squishy balls from <a href="https://www.schylling.com/k/search?q=needoh">Schylling</a>. <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Nee-Doh-Schylling-Squishy-Stretchy-Complete/dp/B07XZW5XLQ/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=needoh+changing+color&qid=1574562699&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-1">Color changing</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Schylling-Snow-Crunch-Stress-Squeeze/dp/B07HN89TDM/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=needoh+snowball&qid=1574562756&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-1">Snowball</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Schylling-NeeDoh-Squishy-Squeezy-Stretchy/dp/B07FY16XTB/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=needoh+gumball&qid=1574562784&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-1">Gumball</a>, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Schylling-Squishy-Squeezy-Stretchy-Complete/dp/B07RP2XLC6/ref=pd_sbs_21_t_2/145-7632192-8206233?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07RP2XLC6&pd_rd_r=ce0768a0-7032-4c74-830f-87bf7994ded7&pd_rd_w=3ZnjG&pd_rd_wg=w8dzp&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=29VARF2EME6F2N8R8VR0&psc=1&refRID=29VARF2EME6F2N8R8VR0">Cool Cats</a>.....there are so many to choose from and they are all pretty fabulous. Other than the overwhelmingly good feeling of squeezing them, squishy balls are great for reducing stress and anxiety in children while working on increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxaBAeTdKo76qJ0rHmdJpPqBVTwjHu4JqzjhMPexVCgRV3IfoP5Ia2SXpmUwD62DU9d5CQ_50LXWekS9Up8rPh69AFIfmZjWaD5RotolF860qrCz5D5USE_i-f8mbJk5Pg706ftYHmMqm/s1600/box-contents_aea52cac-7886-4fbe-9258-11b732727b20_650x650_crop_center.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="650" data-original-width="650" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdxaBAeTdKo76qJ0rHmdJpPqBVTwjHu4JqzjhMPexVCgRV3IfoP5Ia2SXpmUwD62DU9d5CQ_50LXWekS9Up8rPh69AFIfmZjWaD5RotolF860qrCz5D5USE_i-f8mbJk5Pg706ftYHmMqm/s200/box-contents_aea52cac-7886-4fbe-9258-11b732727b20_650x650_crop_center.webp" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/on-the-go-drawing-kit">Kid Made Modern On-The-Go Drawing Kit</a>-if you don't know about Kid Made Modern On-The-Go kits, you are missing out on some pretty awesome stuff. When my daughter was little, I was always carrying around a bag of random things to keep her entertained when we were out and about. I wish that these little kits had been available to us because we would have gotten so much use out of them. The first kit I will share is the Drawing Kit. This kit comes with a 32-page sketch book with drawing prompts, 12 mini colored pencils and a pencil sharpener which can be stored in the fabric carrying case. This on-the-go drawing set is great for developing fine motor and graphomotor skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills, helps with improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and organizational skills while encouraging creativity and imagination.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0Eps8UjmWVTAMyPOYvIV8uHCST8x7olm1ZEEKRbF-vufltwg8cy9PwubtOyCulZgKM7w-71vC427v-gqDfddwl6QBEgfczxC9QWcUlSz2MFGxWj9nWKw_KYb87A26FJpiY_jBz4JQWDV/s1600/KMM_OTGJeweleryKit_BOX_AND_CONTENTS_WITH_SHADW_2000x2000_crop_center.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik0Eps8UjmWVTAMyPOYvIV8uHCST8x7olm1ZEEKRbF-vufltwg8cy9PwubtOyCulZgKM7w-71vC427v-gqDfddwl6QBEgfczxC9QWcUlSz2MFGxWj9nWKw_KYb87A26FJpiY_jBz4JQWDV/s200/KMM_OTGJeweleryKit_BOX_AND_CONTENTS_WITH_SHADW_2000x2000_crop_center.webp" width="200" /></a><a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/on-the-go-jewelry-making-kit">Kid Made Modern On-The-Go Jewelry Making Kit</a>-another one of my favorite on-the-go gifts. I actually got a handful of these last summer and brought them to the beach for my daughter and her friends when they needed some down time. Great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination, works on improving focus, attention and organizational skills while also encouraging creativity. Each kit comes with over 100 multicolored acrylic beads and 2 colors of cording which can be stored in the fabric carrying case.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9UtCL9VG4b1bh0G6mNHoZATe8LkWTSzHl-sw90gOHq0r-bESsDDKsqzBDdLhUoKyJpcgyaUAmpzwOSx3BC5UBp7anjbedwUQfTnVuzoMk0_dPHQw88FISJi-O-KK5mOEMUpawe_6irD-/s1600/atsuyo-et-akiko-accessories-gold-heart__41247.1565890936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9UtCL9VG4b1bh0G6mNHoZATe8LkWTSzHl-sw90gOHq0r-bESsDDKsqzBDdLhUoKyJpcgyaUAmpzwOSx3BC5UBp7anjbedwUQfTnVuzoMk0_dPHQw88FISJi-O-KK5mOEMUpawe_6irD-/s200/atsuyo-et-akiko-accessories-gold-heart__41247.1565890936.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.alexbrands.com/product/arts-crafts/shrinky-dinks-diy-pins-project-pack/">DIY Charms Accessories Kit</a>-this is another great on-the-go crafting kit that works on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills, encourages creativity and can help with letter recognition. This craft set comes with 50 assorted plastic letter beads, charms and multi-colored jewels and string to make bracelets, necklaces, keychains and other accessories.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaQwfxGXNX6ltcg4JoBttOWWZxqjE76VbWufVOD-WjsWjcamevQez-BpcohvIV_1ILMX4k-EDNjTL9qKFsb8auDhYboL2U1TgUskZvF5APcap81d1_2MqPzk1idSjrnuRXAU-zcFMJrv_/s1600/wee-gallery-32-ways-dress-wild-animals-3__85407.1555952544.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdaQwfxGXNX6ltcg4JoBttOWWZxqjE76VbWufVOD-WjsWjcamevQez-BpcohvIV_1ILMX4k-EDNjTL9qKFsb8auDhYboL2U1TgUskZvF5APcap81d1_2MqPzk1idSjrnuRXAU-zcFMJrv_/s200/wee-gallery-32-ways-dress-wild-animals-3__85407.1555952544.webp" width="150" /></a><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/32-ways-to-dress-wild-animals.html">32 Ways to Dress Wild Animals Book</a>-as the mother of a budding fashion designer and an animal lover, I was so excited to find these at Norman and Jules a couple of years ago. This adorable book is another awesome on-the-go activity book that works on developing fine motor and graphomotor skills, encourages creativity and imagination, works on visual motor and visual perceptual skills and helps develop executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and planning skills. This little activity book comes with 32 perforated and removable black and white illustrations with upper bodies and feet/shoes and allows your little artist to draw the perfect outfit for each animal. Can be used with your favorite writing instrument but I highly recommend the ooly <a href="https://www.ooly.com/collections/gel-pens/products/yummy-yummy-scented-glitter-gel-pens">Yummy Yummy Scented Gel Glitter Pens </a> or ooly <a href="https://www.ooly.com/collections/colored-pencils/products/sketch-and-color-colored-pencil-set-28-piece-set">Sketch and Color Colored Pencil Set</a>.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_Htd5Ikp17TtCwAbRFu8Z2obiAZTeDJ-QgVZRSI3qUdqcf7xXIDPLoFg-p7lNJeUV24J6EfbGbV49s2WX28KYp8Tm88qblawHN7PkRDews9suUS562rP8XS1KTA21OnjrvJQ_z5cUOJA/s1600/wakka-water-game.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="458" data-original-width="458" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio_Htd5Ikp17TtCwAbRFu8Z2obiAZTeDJ-QgVZRSI3qUdqcf7xXIDPLoFg-p7lNJeUV24J6EfbGbV49s2WX28KYp8Tm88qblawHN7PkRDews9suUS562rP8XS1KTA21OnjrvJQ_z5cUOJA/s200/wakka-water-game.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/kiko-wakka-game-pink-pouch.html">Kiko + Wakka Game</a>-love this little game that and totally takes me back to my own childhood with our little water games similar to this. The point of the game is simple: there are a bunch of little hoops floating in the water and by pushing the two buttons, you try and get them onto the the spikes. This little hand-held game which you can pick up from <a href="http://www.normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a> in Park Slope is great for working on improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills, increases grasp strength and manipulation skills and works on developing executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and improves frustration tolerance.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdu056vTwxNnOdhmouLQtcPIfgRhgknI6AAv41zapyxa76yCs6TRDD_g8YWBH_L3Q3p2XplFOGrXmjI2-shh3JVELlqcu-4NDhv-eiYb4ITkJX5iFI7tAPFB-1AhXQq2EX-ApHzjidZL2/s1600/613FdDpu2LL._SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="425" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOdu056vTwxNnOdhmouLQtcPIfgRhgknI6AAv41zapyxa76yCs6TRDD_g8YWBH_L3Q3p2XplFOGrXmjI2-shh3JVELlqcu-4NDhv-eiYb4ITkJX5iFI7tAPFB-1AhXQq2EX-ApHzjidZL2/s200/613FdDpu2LL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/wikki_stix/wikkidoodle_fun.cfm">Wikkidoodle Fun</a>-these are another item that has made my gift guide year after year. I recently got a fresh new set of Wikki Stix and introduced them to one of my kids who has been really struggling with learning how to write letters. It was so much fun to watch him twist and turn the Wikki-Stix into letters and shapes and I could see his confidence increasing with this simple multi-sensory approach to learning. The Wikkidoodle Fun kit is another great on-the-go gift to keep kids entertained while in the car, on a plane or at a restaurant. It comes with 36 Wikki Stix and a 32 page doodle pad. The doodle pad doesn't require any crayons or markers, just the Wikki Stix and your child's hands. Kids work on developing fine motor and grasping skills, improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination while twisting, turning and bending the Wikki Stix into the shapes they see on the pad. I love how it also encourages creativity and imagination by giving them a prompt with a line or a squiggle and has them turn it into something else.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO258Og760-Z-g1pj2Gt6wIEnao7_0HoNgeBRmRLKdcGQIUBoo6YVWT7KdwP0faM39XfF6Ud4iMjCEkWDCZzv_W4ezAMgIpGxjwmcGlZ7gYLU1E83KRJ6Se9IjBMoJw0Rojsg__omTs7rf/s1600/81tArvjECBL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1411" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO258Og760-Z-g1pj2Gt6wIEnao7_0HoNgeBRmRLKdcGQIUBoo6YVWT7KdwP0faM39XfF6Ud4iMjCEkWDCZzv_W4ezAMgIpGxjwmcGlZ7gYLU1E83KRJ6Se9IjBMoJw0Rojsg__omTs7rf/s200/81tArvjECBL._AC_SL1500_.jpg" width="188" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Disney-Princess-Small-Royal-Multipack/dp/B07MFVWRXJ/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=disney+magic+clip+dolls&qid=1574708950&sr=8-2">Disney Princess Magic Clip Dolls</a>-these are easily one of the most asked for toy at my gym and would make your princess loving kid so happy. These little dolls can be purchased individually (I picked up most of mine at Lulu's Cuts and Toys in Park Slope) or in an 8 pack for a larger gift. These tiny little dolls work on developing so many skills such as improving grasp strength and manipulation skills, develops hand-eye coordination, visual motor and perceptual skills and works on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning and organizational skills. I have been using them with my kids in my social skills group and paired them up with Magna-Tiles, having them build a castle with the Magna-Tiles and then watch them play.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0WvhwBXvY9o6F-XNxTgWkyHYPdgyMYwXx6DL7j55MbNFp7RY_4-G-n5PDmuzdFu5F8-LyQCZcY6YxUxYgd9Iym3GNocXas79urEvJXZuabs1kKKD86ReoztYUXBVc5JI1miBB1sZQJsf/s1600/072681.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju0WvhwBXvY9o6F-XNxTgWkyHYPdgyMYwXx6DL7j55MbNFp7RY_4-G-n5PDmuzdFu5F8-LyQCZcY6YxUxYgd9Iym3GNocXas79urEvJXZuabs1kKKD86ReoztYUXBVc5JI1miBB1sZQJsf/s200/072681.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://shop.crayola.com/toys-and-activities/scribble-scrubbie-pets-beauty-salon-and-vet-sets-BTYVETSS01.html">Scribble Scrubbie Pets Beauty Salon and Vet Sets</a>-I picked these up on a whim last week at <a href="http://stationeryandtoy.com/shop/">Stationery and Toy World</a> on the UWS of Manhattan and these are now a new favorite of mine. More importantly, the kids absolutely love them. These adorable sets from Crayola work on developing fine motor and graphomotor skills, helps to improve bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination and visual motor skills while encouraging creativity and imagination skills. Using the special scrubbie markers, kids can color their pets any way they want. When they are done, they can use the little spray bottle to wet the animals down and then scrub them clean with the brush provided. When used in my social skills group, we worked on cooperative play by having them color them together and help each other with cleaning and drying off their pet.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa71ctY8wqtTZFYhzRPObB2v0LHwAVqp2p8kYp5RgosWvNZ82-DgOcig98F4t0ODhIbArTI-_1AX9SNzdW2ZdQI2lAZduLqbopUMOdR9DBASND2OqKKKe45gKsQ-4yKXN-Q5KtdwVayum/s1600/6-0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1304" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa71ctY8wqtTZFYhzRPObB2v0LHwAVqp2p8kYp5RgosWvNZ82-DgOcig98F4t0ODhIbArTI-_1AX9SNzdW2ZdQI2lAZduLqbopUMOdR9DBASND2OqKKKe45gKsQ-4yKXN-Q5KtdwVayum/s200/6-0239.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.tigertribe.com.au/activity-sets/colouring-sets/">Tiger Tribe Coloring Sets</a>-I have picked up a few of these sets from one of my local stores, <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/">Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store</a> in Park Slope, and they have been really wonderful for keeping my daughter entertained in the car and in restaurants. There are a ton of different themes to choose from so you are sure to find one perfect for your kid. Each set comes with a book of 36 coloring pages, 2 handy storage drawers, 3 sheets of stickers 3 double sided markers. I really like the included markers because they are a good size and encourage a tripod grasp. Not only great for keeping kids entertained but also works on developing fine motor and graphomotor skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages creativity and imagination skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7F8ap93Pw44nUajvp2w5OizoEfale4Yv5PtDrh0lFlISaC9d8VdgMx1NjwsaQo_OkjPzhCAl1FhSJXLav_n00_QL3u4EsYSl-uQkukkXoeo7lHJen9nK38f4Jmmdyj-f-dRhqqCNcsZa/s1600/MP_Bag_Magic_Tricks_2048_1080x.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS7F8ap93Pw44nUajvp2w5OizoEfale4Yv5PtDrh0lFlISaC9d8VdgMx1NjwsaQo_OkjPzhCAl1FhSJXLav_n00_QL3u4EsYSl-uQkukkXoeo7lHJen9nK38f4Jmmdyj-f-dRhqqCNcsZa/s200/MP_Bag_Magic_Tricks_2048_1080x.webp" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/collections/gifts-for-kids/products/bag-of-magic-tricks">Bag of Magic Tricks</a>-looking for something a little off the beaten path for one of the kiddos this year? I love this Bag of Magic Tricks that I have seen at <a href="https://blueribbongeneralstore.com/">Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store</a> in Park Slope. The set includes over 15 tricks packaged in a fabric bag making it easy to take on the go to entertain people over the holidays. It also includes a 20-page magician booklet so your child can master the magic. This is great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves bilateral coordination and is awesome for working on developing executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, sequencing, following directions, planning and organizational skills. While your kids are mastering these magic tricks, they are building confidence and self-esteem at the same time.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsP_O4HNrB8jnED2hGYjCY_okaKHUblyudkBPAQtQZhLOPicr8BkYt3tVVGrm0F0PVBi1O7A9r235XCVG9T_ZtWsRZ750Y5k0pLuXH_096HJ3577mN4Slb-VYyQwmi_9Gx287xPcA1J9sb/s1600/x1_b8f5038c2d98e41ff581088cdcddb8a5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="344" data-original-width="360" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsP_O4HNrB8jnED2hGYjCY_okaKHUblyudkBPAQtQZhLOPicr8BkYt3tVVGrm0F0PVBi1O7A9r235XCVG9T_ZtWsRZ750Y5k0pLuXH_096HJ3577mN4Slb-VYyQwmi_9Gx287xPcA1J9sb/s200/x1_b8f5038c2d98e41ff581088cdcddb8a5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://shop.toysmith.com/p/melting-snowman">Melting Snowman</a>-this simple little gift will bring hours of entertainment to your children while also working on increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills, improves bilateral coordination and visual motor and perceptual skills while also working on learning about body parts and improves body awareness. This melting snowman kit comes filled with reusable melting putty, hat, scarf, eyes, nose and arms for your kids to make their own snowman over and over again. It is so much fun to watch their delight each and every time the snowman goes from standing tall to being a puddle.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2UC8ey7Ezd7m4anMtg_MT90B-g8az1xonD2UeRIB_RW9Hcot_Gvz-UzNpXniBwkD5powWifK_Z8lE53Yu7COuHqEThe4sTBUJX5_SthhxAYeW5AWmynYLHzn4i9kbuONcrkQX-DYCkJ0/s1600/161-001+creatibles+diy+eraser+kit+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy2UC8ey7Ezd7m4anMtg_MT90B-g8az1xonD2UeRIB_RW9Hcot_Gvz-UzNpXniBwkD5powWifK_Z8lE53Yu7COuHqEThe4sTBUJX5_SthhxAYeW5AWmynYLHzn4i9kbuONcrkQX-DYCkJ0/s200/161-001+creatibles+diy+eraser+kit+1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.ooly.com/collections/diy-crafts/products/creatibles-diy-eraser-kit">Creatibles D.I.Y. Eraser Kit</a>-another one of my favorites from my <a href="http://www.ooly.com/">OOLY</a> is not only great for working on developing a variety of skills, but also a very useful end product for school age kids. My daughter is constantly on the search for erasers and I have to believe (or at least hope) that she's not alone. This easy make and bake eraser kit helps children use their imagination to make their own erasers. Creatibles comes with 12 pliable clay colors that can be mixed together to make any color they want. Kids can use their hands or tools and their imagination to make their very own erasers. Once they are made, they get thrown in the oven to cook and then they can be used to assist with homework! This kit is great for working on increasing fine motor skills, grasp strength and manipulation skills, improves bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination and visual motor skills and encourages creativity.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeo4moKJErjVVwHXJaBxzd03nwlHcmC94Q5qwYKwssFpXsqGnjwHqoRH8_8sQgp0AfKASYWuvHRCXdYusBmSFBqlI6hP_F0Wi6RwDc7hwA1YT2l9wT_W_npGcyDFAuhEubbmznU8f-SAS/s1600/LEE-PUZA_6db90fff-9b55-4a49-87cd-47be3380c995_1024x1024%25402x.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1098" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmeo4moKJErjVVwHXJaBxzd03nwlHcmC94Q5qwYKwssFpXsqGnjwHqoRH8_8sQgp0AfKASYWuvHRCXdYusBmSFBqlI6hP_F0Wi6RwDc7hwA1YT2l9wT_W_npGcyDFAuhEubbmznU8f-SAS/s200/LEE-PUZA_6db90fff-9b55-4a49-87cd-47be3380c995_1024x1024%25402x.webp" width="136" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.leemagicpen.com/collections/sticker-puzzles">Lee Sticker Puzzles</a>-I discovered these awesome sticker puzzles years ago at another one of my local toy stores, Little Things in Park Slope, and have always had a handful of them in my work closet since. These are one of my most recommended on-the-go/travel activities when people ask. There are many different books to choose from and each one comes with 8 puzzles. I love that they start simple with books that have fewer and larger pieces and go up to more challenging puzzles with smaller pieces and higher numbers. This simple book of puzzles works on so many skills including developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, works on number recognition and matching skills, works on improving visual motor, visual perceptual and visual tracking skills and helps with developing executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and organizational skills.<br />
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I had so much fun putting this part of my gift guide together. One of the things I thought about when putting it together was how I could support my local small businesses. While I do more shopping online than I am proud to admit, I also do my best to support my local New York City small businesses. I love my local toy stores and encourage you all to support your local toy stores when possible.<br />
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If you have any other amazing small gifts/stocking stuffer that the kids in your life have loved, please send them along. If you need some specific recommendations for the kids on your gift-giving list this year, send them along. I am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing and learning from you all.<br />
<br />Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-23560835509213199802019-11-22T10:56:00.001-08:002019-11-22T10:56:45.134-08:002019 Holiday Gift Guide-Social Emotional Toys<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of the most important shifts I have witnessed in my career as on occupational therapist is the increased focus and attention put into social emotional development in children as young as preschool. While always an important issue, there has been a lot of research done in the last few years that show that teaching social emotional intelligence at an early age help children become more successful as they get older. With this increased attention to social emotional learning, there has also been an uprise in the products available to young children that help facilitate a better understanding of feelings, emotions, empathy and self-awareness.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In this portion of my 2019 Holiday Gift Guide, I share some of the amazing products out there that can help children learn about feelings and emotions, learn about empathy and kindness while working on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills and can build confidence and self-esteem. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.crateandbarrel.com/plan-toys-build-a-robot-emotional-development-toy/s448449">Build a Robot Emotional Developmental Toy</a>-teaching kids about emotions can be difficult, especially in the moment when they are feeling big feelings. This educational robot toy not only works on helping children learn about emotions but helps with developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills. This robot comes with one body and four interchangeable heads with different emotions. Great to use with young children when talking about their feelings. I love how each of the heads is a different shape and offers a variety of tactile experiences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emojinks-Emoji-Card-Games-Families/dp/B072J9Y6G8">Emojinks Emoji Card Games</a>-<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have been a big </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=spot+it&i=toys-and-games&ref=nb_sb_noss_1">Spot It</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> fan for years and years and now that I run a social skills group, I tend to try and find games that have some kind of social emotional learning component. So try and imagine how happy Emojinks makes me! Very similar to Spot It, Emojinks is a game of speed where you try and be the first to find the matching Emoji. The nice thing about this game is that there are two different levels, beginner and advanced, so you can use it will all members of your family. Another great thing, the game is compact and easy to take on-the-go for non-screen-time entertainment. Emojinks is perfect to help your children learn about feelings and emotions while also working on developing focus, attention, visual motor skills, visual perceptual skills and visual tracking skills, improves fine motor and manipulation skills and works on social skills such as being a good winner/loser, taking turns and being flexible.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/make-a-face.html">Make A Face</a>-I first learned about this social emotional toy from my friends at Norman and Jules in Park Slope and fell in love with it immediately. Make A Face is a beautiful wooden toy that helps children create hundreds of expressions. Kids can use this 9-piece set to not only work on learning about emotions, feelings and expressions but also work on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills. This toy shows kids how a simple change in the eye or mouth positioning can change the way someone sees them and makes them think about what they are feeling. While this toy was originally created for free play, Moon Picnic has realized that they could do more with it and have created a set of <a href="https://uk.moonpicnic.com/make-a-face-supplementary-downloads/">free downloadable flash cards</a> that can add to the importance of playing with this toy.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://shop.eeboo.com/k/search?q=pretend+play+stickers">eeBoo Pretend Play Stickers</a>-pretend play is critical for the development of a variety of social skills. Through cooperative pretend play, children learn how to take turns, share responsibility, creatively problem-solve, be flexible with friends and can encourage creativity and imagination skills. I discovered the eeBoo Pretend Play Stickers last year and thought how awesome it was that these reusable stickers could be used with cardboard boxes (and we know how many of these we accumulate over the holiday season) and instantly transform them into a kitchen, spaceship or a car. Each set comes with four giant sheets of reusable stickers that will turn a plain cardboard box into a prop for kids to spend hours playing with. Not only are these great for developing social skills, they are great for working on developing fine motor and grasping skills and improve visual motor and visual perceptual skills. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://apennyforyourthoughtscards.com/">Penny For Your Thoughts Games</a>-this is an amazing game that includes 80 hand-illustrated cards that were designed to increase connection between kids and adults, encourage more positive ways to communicate feelings and teach social and emotional skills that lead to success at home, school and various environments with friends. Using the cards, kids identify how they are feeling, other people who may be involved and learn to problem solve on how to get through some really challenging situations and deal with big feelings. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://playsillystreet.com/">Silly Street</a>-this game began as a Kickstarter project a few years ago and I was really excited about. Silly Street helps children with developing social and communication skills, encourages creativity and builds confidence and resilience all through play! As an occupational therapist, I love how they have also incorporated ways to work on developing fine motor and grasping skills and improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills. I also love that this is a multi-sensory game that gets kids up and moving and encourages them to get their sillies out while building confidence, creativity, empathy, flexibility and resilience.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://shop.eeboo.com/p/lion-in-my-way/jigsaw-puzzles-games_cooperative-games?pp=24">Lion In My Way</a>-in this cooperative game by eeBoo, players work together to help the lion who is on a journey overcome hazards and barriers. By using a variety of objects, kids have to decide which one would be best to help the lion stay on his way. There are a tremendous amount of benefits from exposing children to cooperative games. First of all, by elimination the competition, the pressure of having to be the winner is taken away. These kinds of games also encourage kids to problem-solve together, accept ideas from others and be flexible in their thinking. Lastly, this game is great for encouraging communication skills with peers.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8DtHR3F2cQnPkaB8PmB0VNe2VgXR-hf-ykzYgboxbU1u9Oec2C9V4EzEUMZmPO9ndIiTJiXj75D-iKt6S2XfGmX0rS9hIubED0jkF_jGr9KeQNvcet1kRfNrdiEkambH9Fvu81ND1Ks0/s1600/calmmindkit0031_3_800x.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="533" data-original-width="799" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn8DtHR3F2cQnPkaB8PmB0VNe2VgXR-hf-ykzYgboxbU1u9Oec2C9V4EzEUMZmPO9ndIiTJiXj75D-iKt6S2XfGmX0rS9hIubED0jkF_jGr9KeQNvcet1kRfNrdiEkambH9Fvu81ND1Ks0/s200/calmmindkit0031_3_800x.webp" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.roseandrex.com/products/calm-mind-kit">The Calm Mind Kit</a>-I have been a fan of <a href="http://www.roseandrex.com/">Rose and Rex</a> for years and years so when I heard they were developing their very own product that worked on mindfulness and meditation, I was completely sold. This amazingly thought out kit was designed for children as young as 3 years old and can be used by grownups as well. The kit teaches techniques that can help people who are feeling anxious, have difficulty staying still and a variety of other common emotional struggles. This kit was thoughtfully created by childhood development and wellness experts to provide children with a variety of tools for emotional development and well-being that will help them learn now to focus, self-regulate and most importantly, build confidence and self-esteem. This well-crafted kit contains three handcrafted toys and a deck of beautifully illustrated Calm Mind Activity Cards that teach people how to use the tools provided. As an occupational therapist, I love how this kit helps children get into the right state of mind to work on more stressful or challenging activities by providing them with the tools. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0Ui7cMl7iRZKdBaR20RE7pb2ToKrpPTTHvvkECuXUQS-T9FVfyyAd3SwO10NBUgZMdPsss1VvvTVDgC4ZmFCgfVR4xhjCwMpHV6W98EaVZJ8g85u5IfZx9-J1gzXqK8QyO9uf8WsXvT3/s1600/il_794xN.1895194463_rnxt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz0Ui7cMl7iRZKdBaR20RE7pb2ToKrpPTTHvvkECuXUQS-T9FVfyyAd3SwO10NBUgZMdPsss1VvvTVDgC4ZmFCgfVR4xhjCwMpHV6W98EaVZJ8g85u5IfZx9-J1gzXqK8QyO9uf8WsXvT3/s200/il_794xN.1895194463_rnxt.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/653043763/feelings-and-emotions-peg-doll-set?ref=shop_home_feat_1&frs=1">Feelings and Emotions Peg Doll Set</a>-I love when a simple toy can help children develop a deeper understanding of their own emotions. This beautiful set of feeling peg dolls are perfect for pretend play while also helping children gain a better understanding of feelings and emotions. Included with the set are 5 birch discs with the feelings sad, calm, angry, happy and worried etched on them so kids can work on being able to match and discuss these emotions. These can be perfectly matched with the Hope Learning Toys <a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/634304304/the-friend-ship-social-emotional-toy-for?ref=shop_home_active_4&frs=1">The Friend Ship</a> which is another beautiful homemade product that was developed to help children learn about their feelings. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymG0B8lPsZwuG7xhpkyhYZCpW1pXeK71Ux03H0qVcoimvBnHcuqDEQkVNovg7cY2CsKcTNUY-3wb_03mDPhqXuukr6KqGBYG8_WEu7kn39iNR6PM6lTPsiWTze35YRI6eIZGkZoKC7DKu/s1600/410PrwYBM0L._SX232_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymG0B8lPsZwuG7xhpkyhYZCpW1pXeK71Ux03H0qVcoimvBnHcuqDEQkVNovg7cY2CsKcTNUY-3wb_03mDPhqXuukr6KqGBYG8_WEu7kn39iNR6PM6lTPsiWTze35YRI6eIZGkZoKC7DKu/s200/410PrwYBM0L._SX232_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="156" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymG0B8lPsZwuG7xhpkyhYZCpW1pXeK71Ux03H0qVcoimvBnHcuqDEQkVNovg7cY2CsKcTNUY-3wb_03mDPhqXuukr6KqGBYG8_WEu7kn39iNR6PM6lTPsiWTze35YRI6eIZGkZoKC7DKu/s1600/410PrwYBM0L._SX232_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiymG0B8lPsZwuG7xhpkyhYZCpW1pXeK71Ux03H0qVcoimvBnHcuqDEQkVNovg7cY2CsKcTNUY-3wb_03mDPhqXuukr6KqGBYG8_WEu7kn39iNR6PM6lTPsiWTze35YRI6eIZGkZoKC7DKu/s1600/410PrwYBM0L._SX232_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://l6961.myubam.com/p/7419/unworry-book-the-ir">The Unworry Book</a>-unfortunately, there are too many children who have a hard time talking about their feelings and anxieties.</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Having an outlet to express these feelings can be incredibly helpful for children (and their parents). The Unworry Book is filled with amazing activities for your anxious child. One of the most important things to do is allow children to express these feelings.</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This illustrated, write-in book is an unworry toolkit, for distracting you from any anxieties, calming you down, and providing a place to sort through your worries and thoughts. It includes a variety of activities, from things to write, color and design, to calm-down tactics and relaxation exercises.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmjtabKKovqURKTX6sSrw-H4qJt7so2pCdNEANasME0b1nGWLKSlmq0ezhxZsYZetT-WWQN0OCW8EDusq-FsWa1LCshjfSyuAVt_wSYmoqktHcyVxgyjbJoaUKk3T0DiqYksTf9uIEc76/s1600/aa377.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="800" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGmjtabKKovqURKTX6sSrw-H4qJt7so2pCdNEANasME0b1nGWLKSlmq0ezhxZsYZetT-WWQN0OCW8EDusq-FsWa1LCshjfSyuAVt_wSYmoqktHcyVxgyjbJoaUKk3T0DiqYksTf9uIEc76/s200/aa377.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/products/ca/p/AA377/?utm_source=google&utm_medium=ppc&utm_campaign=PLA&gclid=Cj0KCQiAiNnuBRD3ARIsAM8KmluRk2lzJa_-BO7RaUDuZdIXSUwpNAseUfwv-lFXkSlA3ooEh_DOEhgaAg99EALw_wcB">Lets Talk! Conversation Starters</a>-sometimes getting kids to talk about or express their feelings can be really difficult. I can't tell you how many times I have heard parents complain that they can't get their kids to talk to them about things that have to do with how they are feeling. This conversation starter kit from <a href="https://www.lakeshorelearning.com/">Lakeshore Learning</a> is designed for children starting at age 5 but could easily be adapted for younger children. The box contains 50 open-ended questions that help parents and children talk about their feelings, ideas and so much more. Also great for working on conversation skills.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.mindware.orientaltrading.com/guess-it-get-it-gumballs-a2-GM117.fltr?categoryId=555711+2890">Guess It. Get It. Gumballs</a>-this fun and engaging from Peaceable Kingdom teaches young children learn about feelings, develops empathy and encourages cooperation. Kids take turns spinning the spinner and then use the gumball-grabbing mirror to choose a matching color gumball. Look in the mirror and make the face that you think you might have grabbed. If you guess correctly, add the gumball to the scoreboard. If not, put it back in the gumball machine and try and remember what it is. In order for everyone to win, the players work together to collect a rainbow of gumballs before finding the stink face card. In addition to the social emotional learning that takes place, kids will also work on improving memory skills and improves visual motor skills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: helvetica neue, arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Putting together this gift guide was a particularly meaningful one for me. I run a social skills group for young children so I know how important having fun and motivating tools have helped them. All of these suggestions are ones that can easily be used in groups or at home. If you have any specific questions or are looking for something else, please reach out to me. I am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away </a>and love hearing from you all. I would also love to hear from any of you if you have any wonderful tools that can be used to deepen children's social emotional intelligence. </span><br />
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</style>Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-16840418564380595732019-11-15T15:13:00.001-08:002019-11-15T15:13:21.668-08:002019 Holiday Gift Guide-Crafty Kids!I think one of the things that I love most about being a pediatric occupational therapist is that I get to play and craft throughout my work day. I love having a job that I get to find products that are not only fun but ones that work on achieving occupational therapy related goals. Crafting with kids can be a fun and effective way of working on developing fine motor skills, increases dexterity, improves hand-eye coordination, boosts self-esteem, encourages self-expression, helps in developing social skills, encourages imagination and creativity, enhances decision making skills and works on developing flexibility.<br />
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Discovering new arts and craft activities and projects fills me with such satisfaction. Watching kids play with them and show off their completed projects is another awesome thing to witness. Completed art projects help children feel more confident and encourages them to try more challenging activities down the line.<br />
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Below, I have shared some of my favorite craft kits. You'll see that there are a variety of sets intended for children of all ages.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxg0EtClsqGx1eQGy4pQtvEpGNkjeuU-Ww5aFoP-QcT0-m7z4b9XpC_lGFozuwGU9QnUUaWALadydKadjiDIyTPPHII8DJkd0SPEgzCupML07A4tyxUd18ainQkcYfhZmOubrvbt0hn1Pj/s1600/763960.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="195" data-original-width="209" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxg0EtClsqGx1eQGy4pQtvEpGNkjeuU-Ww5aFoP-QcT0-m7z4b9XpC_lGFozuwGU9QnUUaWALadydKadjiDIyTPPHII8DJkd0SPEgzCupML07A4tyxUd18ainQkcYfhZmOubrvbt0hn1Pj/s200/763960.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=razzle+dazzle">Razzle Dazzle DIY Gem Art Kits</a>-these are a new addition from <a href="http://www.ooly.com/">Ooly</a> and they are an awesome gift for older kids on your list this year. My 9 1/2 year old daughter and her friend spent so much time working on these during a playdate and they look awesome. There are 4 different sets to choose from (Llama, Unicorn, Fox and Lion) and come with all the supplies, including a picture frame to put it in once it is completed, you need. Kids use glue and a little pen to place the different size and colored gems onto the correct letter. This activity is great for working on SO many skills such as improving fine motor and grasping skills, improves visual motor and visual perceptual skills, visual tracking, visual attention, bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination and executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, frustration tolerance and organizational skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChELTsOcaVKBT4t3n70xkCwkijMQsbp7ofO99_l-dlICzbsdD9ax89PHIOuwceGf1cyBWQtd2YF_ffrcF4lT3ieal_xqpr5AvOYS-_8KHh_pBKzkBHakn5Gj-3hNFJZDjG7BHJIczRyfK/s1600/161-026-Scratch-and-Scribble-Scratchboard-Art-Kit-All-Styles-E1_800x.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjChELTsOcaVKBT4t3n70xkCwkijMQsbp7ofO99_l-dlICzbsdD9ax89PHIOuwceGf1cyBWQtd2YF_ffrcF4lT3ieal_xqpr5AvOYS-_8KHh_pBKzkBHakn5Gj-3hNFJZDjG7BHJIczRyfK/s200/161-026-Scratch-and-Scribble-Scratchboard-Art-Kit-All-Styles-E1_800x.webp" width="200" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=scratch+and+scribble+kits">Scratch and Scribble Art Kits</a>- t-another fun little arts and crafts kit from from <a href="http://www.ooly.com/">Ooly</a> that work on developing fine motor, graphomotor skills and visual motor and perceptual skills. There are 8 different sets to choose from (dinosaurs, unicorns and dogs are just a few of them) based on your child's interests. Each set comes with 6 scratch and scribble sheets, 4 with designs already on them and 2 blank ones for them to come up with their own designs. These are also great for on-the-go entertainment as they are small and lightweight enough to throw in a bag.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LpvzLeo1o1IuHkLNfFXMn_pg412j7XTrZQ4MgCiM57aJ6tztocgL31RMF635pEtw-5VjWIje5lUX4ntrkQTiIXY7CxNhQ-QFtXXyDXBu981agjgMG7VzesbAEX9rVt7dqNYbZWAiEGVL/s1600/A13tDwyxKuL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1254" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4LpvzLeo1o1IuHkLNfFXMn_pg412j7XTrZQ4MgCiM57aJ6tztocgL31RMF635pEtw-5VjWIje5lUX4ntrkQTiIXY7CxNhQ-QFtXXyDXBu981agjgMG7VzesbAEX9rVt7dqNYbZWAiEGVL/s200/A13tDwyxKuL._SL1500_.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Klutz-Make-Your-Puffy-Stickers/dp/133821019X">Klutz Make Your Own Puffy Stickers</a>-this is another big hit with my daughter and some of my older clients at work. It's funny how happy a sticker can make even older kids. This set comes with all of the materials to make 60 puffy stickers. There are many designs for them to color in but also comes with some that are already colored in. Using a special tool and following the easy to understand directions, kids will make their own stickers. Great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, encourages graphomotor skills when you color the sticker in and great for executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, planning and organization.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTgO0slviuN8ypYopDhvj5wLC87oEWvlDKIDXar4un-3YLXuYkSV6VMseHUWQp6htpMXLuyI8rkqw3J7fYOz6hgy3twenB1xT8xin5HC_KMb3GHqFzZhmGpYHPDKqPO5YW6sYErliReb2/s1600/maxresdefault.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="1280" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLTgO0slviuN8ypYopDhvj5wLC87oEWvlDKIDXar4un-3YLXuYkSV6VMseHUWQp6htpMXLuyI8rkqw3J7fYOz6hgy3twenB1xT8xin5HC_KMb3GHqFzZhmGpYHPDKqPO5YW6sYErliReb2/s320/maxresdefault.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/arts-and-crafts-library">Kid Made Modern Arts and Crafts Library</a>-while some children really benefit from structured art projects with a definite beginning and end to it, others do much better with more open-ended and creative kind of activities. This amazing collection of art materials comes in a sturdy carrying case and features all kinds of materials (including glue and scissors) that encourage creativity in children age 7 and up. Some of the fun materials you will find in the box are feathers, felt pieces, buttons, pom poms, beads, googly eyes and SO much more. This kit encourages children to use their imagination and be creative while also encouraging the development of fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and improves executive functioning skills such as organization, planning a project and completing it.<br />
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<a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/my-first-arts-and-crafts-library">My First Arts and Crafts Library</a>-I love that Kid Made Modern realized that younger children would benefit from different kinds of materials and created another arts and crafts library that is better suited for 4-6 year olds. Just like the original Arts and Crafts Library, this kit offers children the opportunity to use a variety of art materials that encourages creativity. The pieces in this kit are a bit larger and easier for smaller hands to manipulate. Kids will use straws, stickers, buttons, pipe cleaners, beads and so many other materials to create. This kit encourages young artists to use their imagination while developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills.<br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=orb+factory+sticky+mosaics&i=toys-and-games&ref=nb_sb_noss_2">Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics</a>-these make my gift guide every year and for good reason, they are awesome! There are a variety of sets for both toddlers and big kids with themes ranging from unicorns and rainbows to dinosaurs and sports. Sticky Mosaics are great for working on a ton of developmental skills such as color and number recognition, improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and works on a variety of visual skills such as visual tracking, visual attention, hand-eye coordination and visual motor skills. Kids gain confidence and self-esteem as they match the coordinating colored stickers with the number on the picture. When they are done, they have a piece of art they can display at home. Be sure to check out your local toy stores as they tend to have a large selection of these kits.<br />
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<a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/klutz/klutz_clay_charms.cfm">Klutz Clay Charms</a>-Klutz has made making these cute little charms for a charm bracelet easy by providing simple step-by-step directions. Kids get to work on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, increase grasp strength, work on following visual directions and improve focus, attention, planning and organizational skills when making their charms. Each kit comes with a clay shaping tool, special glaze, 9 bright clay colors, the supplies needed to turn each clay creation into a charm bracelet, a charm bracelet, a display stand and a detailed instruction book.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2uUSiwub5irINudhYcv00s_bMAml-sqEXUIYGt1zPc37Gmk_FuCfMsVDyjUKQuRQJc13g2Lxoi6vLCLl6cPtn1V8DIUvHxbh9sj_7fJ5RzPdd4zF3z5pJJQbvpi1hnkEn8ye_i26TwpE/s1600/81DiK4TuvAL._SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="510" data-original-width="425" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv2uUSiwub5irINudhYcv00s_bMAml-sqEXUIYGt1zPc37Gmk_FuCfMsVDyjUKQuRQJc13g2Lxoi6vLCLl6cPtn1V8DIUvHxbh9sj_7fJ5RzPdd4zF3z5pJJQbvpi1hnkEn8ye_i26TwpE/s200/81DiK4TuvAL._SX425_.jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07C2YPYBM/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=toptenselect-20&camp=1789&creative=9325&linkCode=as2&creativeASIN=B07C2YPYBM&linkId=89077957d3b8491ed9b98b12d34cb67c">Unicorn Smile Kit</a>-my daughter never got into the whole slime thing (which I have always been grateful for), but I know it continues to be a big thing with a lot of kids. I love that this kit comes with everything you need, including a sturdy storage box, to make tons of different slime. The kit includes glue, unicorn beads, ink, different kinds of textured materials to put in the slime, slime containers, scents and so much more. It also comes with different slime recipes for your kids to try out. Making slime is great for working on improving fine motor and manipulation skills and works on executive functioning skills such as planning and organizing, task completion, following directions and focus and attention. The great thing about slime is that it can be used to help build grasp strength when they are playing with it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A7vItPpTcnro860YJWytRPyhzAKF_gXFght02D6-IVSvDe_v5V_XT1yQ90XzmU1YzAxEuBJshDLmnCCEOHSxWYcAJ7Fa8icF_XC2gQr6Dtd3MhhMEGik75q8w26iDQbqId_uym-mqlhu/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="336" data-original-width="336" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0A7vItPpTcnro860YJWytRPyhzAKF_gXFght02D6-IVSvDe_v5V_XT1yQ90XzmU1YzAxEuBJshDLmnCCEOHSxWYcAJ7Fa8icF_XC2gQr6Dtd3MhhMEGik75q8w26iDQbqId_uym-mqlhu/s200/images.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://puttyworld.com/collections/great-thinking-putty-gifts/products/hypercolor-mixed-by-me-putty-kit">Aaron's Thinking Putty Mixed By Me Thinking Putty Kit</a>-like<br />
slime, I find putty to be another big hit amongst kids of all ages and I couldn't be more excited about this kit from Crazy Aaron's. Kids can create their very own color changing Thinking Putty in this newest addition to their line of Mixed by Me kits. Each kit comes with 5 tins of clear putty, three Chiller concentrates, three Thriller effect putties and a mat that has all the directions to make a heat sensitive Thinking Putty. The cool thing about this kit is that it comes with a variety of recipes for different ages. This kit is great for working on increasing grasp strength, improves fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, motor planning, task completion and organizational skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zi1U03Ax1ud_fjpOkDpCN_HitIBkoMUoDSwRPFrZ7MNlscpELJE_p4UiNQupCdID6bACSZWapxi5XR2kYnBmSas7UFMYiBkGt4siMr_wupixVgCM9A8-GSrE0Knvk6uN94NvHdzAYSqD/s1600/images-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zi1U03Ax1ud_fjpOkDpCN_HitIBkoMUoDSwRPFrZ7MNlscpELJE_p4UiNQupCdID6bACSZWapxi5XR2kYnBmSas7UFMYiBkGt4siMr_wupixVgCM9A8-GSrE0Knvk6uN94NvHdzAYSqD/s200/images-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/trading-card-kit">Trading Card Kit</a>-I discovered these DIY when my daughter became obsessed with making her own Pokeman cards. While she was making those, I thought about what a great activity it would be to have kids make their own trading cards during sessions. This awesome kit from Kid Made Modern comes with 36 blank trading cards, 12 gel pens, 3 foil bags (for those kids who love to open blind packs, this will be a huge hit) and a sticker sheet. There are so many fun things you can do that encourage creativity while working on developing fine motor, graphomotor and visual motor skills with this kit. Here are some ways to use these cards:<br />
*have kids create a trading card with a picture of themselves on one side and all their important information on the other side<br />
*have kids make their own superhero cards. Draw pictures of their superheroes on one side and then have them fill in important information about them on the other side<br />
*if they have trading cards that they love to collect, have them make their own. Baseball cards, Pokeman Cards, etc. Encourage them to think about things that they love and make their own unique trading cards.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpG0kCvZUtwmvh2kN6D3Rmf2ni_7EaUhWdDXVYfsHmBm2Hm4k5OcrATVUyJYdzPVvjPd1eS_dDoONlvUEbv3lt340jbBAl2AuOVP5lyNhnvjr8jJd8gY756cnrkOFS5hnEG4BZKtUOOjG/s1600/box-content_6034608f-8c4f-4ee8-af63-fc9fcf7e281a_2000x2000_crop_center.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpG0kCvZUtwmvh2kN6D3Rmf2ni_7EaUhWdDXVYfsHmBm2Hm4k5OcrATVUyJYdzPVvjPd1eS_dDoONlvUEbv3lt340jbBAl2AuOVP5lyNhnvjr8jJd8gY756cnrkOFS5hnEG4BZKtUOOjG/s200/box-content_6034608f-8c4f-4ee8-af63-fc9fcf7e281a_2000x2000_crop_center.webp" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/rainbow-weaving-kit">Rainbow Weaving Kit</a>-Kid Made Modern has done it yet again with this fun weaving kit for kids 5 and up. As a child, I remember learning about weaving by making pot holders with those stretchy cotton bands and those plastic looms. I was introduced to this kit when shopping at Stoopher and Boots on the UWS last spring and they were a huge hit with my kids at work. Each kit comes with enough materials to make 4 projects. The frames have double sided tape on the edges so there is no glue necessary. Kids can choose their colors or you can encourage them to make a pattern for an added challenge. This is a great activity to work on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye and bilateral coordination and works on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, task completion, planning and organization.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCejB4E8BmANWXxkioxZILfqYelRkRHGIIbKsOIeeGIh9wV49vxrRL0CqF7DMeqUQQR5L1XniS9gDMHsONYzt7Tn58wkblUD8LOFjUqh2lrfJWkC3X5_zUup82o2ENjZgHcQC3bDko0DrR/s1600/images-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="230" data-original-width="175" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCejB4E8BmANWXxkioxZILfqYelRkRHGIIbKsOIeeGIh9wV49vxrRL0CqF7DMeqUQQR5L1XniS9gDMHsONYzt7Tn58wkblUD8LOFjUqh2lrfJWkC3X5_zUup82o2ENjZgHcQC3bDko0DrR/s200/images-2.jpg" width="152" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.purlsoho.com/classic-friendship-bracelet-kit.html">Classic Friendship Bracelet Kit</a>-this is another awesome craft kit for some of the older kids. I feel like the older I get, the more nostalgic I get about things from my childhood coming back. I have vivid memories of my collection of embroidery thread and all of the friendship bracelets I made. It makes me so happy that kids today still get enjoyment out of this activity. Not only is it amazing that we have physical ways to show how important friendship is, it is such a great activity to work on developing fine motor and manipulation skills, improves bilateral and hand-eye coordination and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, task completion, planning and organization. This kit from Purl Soho includes 5 spools of Chinese Knotting Cord, a safety pin and the pattern to make 9-18 friendship bracelets and comes in 6 different color schemes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSALxcIVT87t1MpTOxReZ51SPIs6zaX_o9DSjtordm2mIGHUpaoxV0fShLADyHNgFYjGfh6ln4sT0HNfYOrmN7r-Ui7ZjLPV0Dn-vUUQ1xzuuB07GvDqyFNc8tfN2zKKn9w04VQOqKTmz/s1600/Olli-Ella-Fairytale_Playpa_1__82871.1563560393.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSALxcIVT87t1MpTOxReZ51SPIs6zaX_o9DSjtordm2mIGHUpaoxV0fShLADyHNgFYjGfh6ln4sT0HNfYOrmN7r-Ui7ZjLPV0Dn-vUUQ1xzuuB07GvDqyFNc8tfN2zKKn9w04VQOqKTmz/s200/Olli-Ella-Fairytale_Playpa_1__82871.1563560393.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
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Olli Ella Playpa Coloring Rolls (<a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/playpa-forest-coloring-roll.html">Forest Coloring Roll</a>, <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/playpa-faritytale-coloring-roll.html?refSrc=31086&nosto=nosto-page-product1">Fairytale Coloring Roll</a>)-these came highly recommended to me by the owner of one of my favorite Park Slope toy stores, <a href="https://normanandjules.com/">Norman and Jules</a> and she has never steered me wrong. I've always been a fan of large coloring posters as they are great for kids to work on together and to be used as a bit of a long term group project. Kids can work on developing visual motor and visual perceptual skills, work on grasping skills and develop hand eye coordination and improve focus, attention and organizational skills. I love that you can hang these on the wall with the coordinating <a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/paper-holder.html?refSrc=31086&nosto=nosto-page-product1">paper roller</a> and then you add the benefit of being able to work on increasing upper extremity strength.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2uCEEBZyvcqsSN-DN_a6GA4yblZNYugG1QBk8IdShdZHjK9FLF9uOmqCeMSVvfC3w7MNZcUUB7WgH3HDx4NbHHM-Z5jK60HNIs7BtVZbUgSMPs48stLO7_ZLpau0athIdtfI8GCzCC2T/s1600/ENFANTILLAGES-DIY-Monster-1__42009.1560524540.webp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2uCEEBZyvcqsSN-DN_a6GA4yblZNYugG1QBk8IdShdZHjK9FLF9uOmqCeMSVvfC3w7MNZcUUB7WgH3HDx4NbHHM-Z5jK60HNIs7BtVZbUgSMPs48stLO7_ZLpau0athIdtfI8GCzCC2T/s200/ENFANTILLAGES-DIY-Monster-1__42009.1560524540.webp" width="150" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://normanandjules.com/products/diy-monster-kit.html">DIY Monster Kit</a>-another great craft kit for children 8 and older. Using just a few simple materials, kids can create their very own monster. If you have kids who are interested in sewing and creating, this is a great gift for them. The kit includes a small cushion, two yes, a felt ball, an embroidery hook, needle and strands of acrylic and wool in a variety of colors. Kids work on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improve planning, organization and task completion, work on bilateral coordination and hand-eye coordination. Additionally, this is a great craft kit for encouraging creativity and imagination and when they finish their monster, giving them increased confidence and self-esteem.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKn8wicwFmZQL9WP1D-NJfqzB0PAazLqkVBnk-H7HkoeOeOJTkGoS5IsaGLqDZnSgv_W_A3u2D3Z35x3jxYyzLeLw8b71J3QX4HaA5vAY-azKSt3HV_JcOm0jjuwHXctJnSSu1bk3HwSL/s1600/1851_frontcomp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnKn8wicwFmZQL9WP1D-NJfqzB0PAazLqkVBnk-H7HkoeOeOJTkGoS5IsaGLqDZnSgv_W_A3u2D3Z35x3jxYyzLeLw8b71J3QX4HaA5vAY-azKSt3HV_JcOm0jjuwHXctJnSSu1bk3HwSL/s200/1851_frontcomp.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/alex/tots_art_start.cfm?country=US&source=google_pla&kwid=AL276-1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAk7TuBRDQARIsAMRrfUa-pFBrlAsujD10jOVhHShGe3_n-V65R_Scc1arR71m7lJ0FBZGTOIaAohAEALw_wcB">Tots Art Start</a>-this is such a great starter art kit by Alex Jr. for toddlers who are still acquiring fine motor skills and working on the ability to focus and complete tasks presented to them. This kit comes with all the materials needed for 6 activities...shaped paper for decorating, shredded paper for adding to collages, doilies, colored tissue papers, triangle-shaped crayons (great for encouraging a proper grasp), stickers and two frames around peel and stick center areas. This art kit is great for working on developing fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills in toddlers, works on building focus, attention and task completion and encourages creativity and imagination using a variety of different materials and offers sensory exploration in toddlers which is essential for the development of a variety of skills.<br />
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Putting this list together was a lot of fun. Personally, I love doing crafts with my own daughter and was so happy to find some new craft kits that even she at 9 1/2 years enjoyed doing. So many kids prefer to spend time in front of some kind of screen but if you find the right art and craft project, you may be able to tear them away for a little while.<br /><br />If you are looking for some other kinds of ideas when it comes to arts and crafts, don't hesitate reaching out to me. If you have some favorite craft kits that have been a huge hit with your children, I would love to hear about them. I am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from you all.<br />
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<br />Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-65545294332177327462019-11-11T11:27:00.001-08:002019-11-13T06:52:46.926-08:002019 Holiday Gift Guide-Game's On! <span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No matter how technologically advanced we get, there will always be a reason to have board games in your home. In my family, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Rummikub-Original-Rummy-Tile-Game/dp/B00000IZJB/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3AQZ42CJAHL2Y&keywords=rumikube+game&qid=1573263920&sprefix=rumi%2Caps%2C149&sr=8-1">Rummikub</a> and <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Boggle-Classic-Board-Bundle-Drawstring/dp/B07YBYMKZQ/ref=sr_1_7?crid=1AJ40D6X3WNZY&keywords=boggle+classic+game&qid=1573263946&sprefix=bogg%2Caps%2C143&sr=8-7">Boggle</a> hold a special place during family game nights. To this day, countless hours are spent playing one of these games when a sister is in town to visit and the enjoyment I get from playing these games is hard to describe. In addition to the nice 1:1 time spend with my sister, I love how my brain is working and I feel </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a tremendous number of benefits of playing board games besides entertaining people. Here are just a few of the many benefits of board games:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">1. Improving memory formation and cognitive skills- did you know that the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of the brain are responsible for complex though and memory development? </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2. Stress Reducer-according to online research and surveys, there is a number of people who play games to unwind, relax and relieve stress. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">3. Encourage child development-board games help children develop their logic and reasoning skills, improve critical thinking and boost spatial reasoning. Increased focus and concentration are also linked to playing games. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">4. Improves developmental skills-playing board games help children develop a variety of fine motor and manipulation skills. Additionally, they can work on improving coordination, dexterity and grasp strength.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Below, I share a handful of games that I use at home and work, recommend to parents and think are just awesome. I have tried to share games that can be played as a family because I think it's so important to schedule time together because everyone has such busy and hectic lives. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3hJteMSjIgQ0nRG5yjKKscLHt9HcCKeKNA3xeibreviu9XvJ6FusxEhhyk-bM-DqsgBUfNKLqKJehjhn7fOYDc519Wrg2-JNtXHtzMMUcyphCKT8i4BBiA3uwuKH4gd8WRbPewRgyXPB/s1600/71CzpxJmnyL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu3hJteMSjIgQ0nRG5yjKKscLHt9HcCKeKNA3xeibreviu9XvJ6FusxEhhyk-bM-DqsgBUfNKLqKJehjhn7fOYDc519Wrg2-JNtXHtzMMUcyphCKT8i4BBiA3uwuKH4gd8WRbPewRgyXPB/s200/71CzpxJmnyL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Mouth-Feed-Frog-Game/dp/B001DTRD4S/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=mr.+mouth&qid=1573342612&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-2">Mr. Mouth</a>-I found this classic game a few weeks ago at Barnes and Noble and it has quickly become a favorite of so many of my kids. The goal of the game is pretty straight forward: the first player to feel all their flies to Mr. Mouth wins. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great for working on executive functioning skills such as focus and attention, improves hand-eye coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on developing fine motor and manipulation skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, self-regulation, organization and self-monitoring. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/morphy.cfm">Morphy</a>-this is one of my favorite games for the older kids on my caseload. The goal of the game is to collect the most number of discs by finding a disc with an attribute that is different. The game comes with 60 discs that have a color, pattern and a center circle hole that varies in size. Start with a green disc with stripes and a large center circle and you can move it to an orange disc with stripes and a large center circle or to a green disc with dots and a large center circle. Morphy is a fast-paced game that works on improving visual motor and visual perceptual skills, visual discrimination, visual tracking, pattern recognition, sequencing and improves executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and self-monitoring. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8N-TexEgKQ0hS6uqx35hAXq9JoJ6YRnhJrOk45bigDOTCxbyUHOr0M0REiFEucNFbnjbexDjpDrel-twgnRzXjw4CiRuxdA55AsXn6IJo_s6dS9xQwgA6jwUvKDZKm8WmlzhZ90RcZzk/s1600/919VL-6-a0L._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf8N-TexEgKQ0hS6uqx35hAXq9JoJ6YRnhJrOk45bigDOTCxbyUHOr0M0REiFEucNFbnjbexDjpDrel-twgnRzXjw4CiRuxdA55AsXn6IJo_s6dS9xQwgA6jwUvKDZKm8WmlzhZ90RcZzk/s200/919VL-6-a0L._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Colorforms-1112-Silly-Faces-Game/dp/B07P4PG517/ref=pd_sbs_21_img_0/145-7218281-5980813?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B07P4PG517&pd_rd_r=4825f6c5-f3c9-49f0-8a63-690ee83881a4&pd_rd_w=XMaRn&pd_rd_wg=FiSGl&pf_rd_p=5cfcfe89-300f-47d2-b1ad-a4e27203a02a&pf_rd_r=X5F2K90BRADD3F7KYEMX&psc=1&refRID=X5F2K90BRADD3F7KYEMX">Colorforms Silly Faces Game</a>-this is a game recommendation for younger children (age 3 and up) who are learning about colors, shapes and parts of the face. It doesn't require any reading which is perfect for the little members of your family. Silly Faces can be played with 2-6 players as they compete to build their silly face first. Kids spin the spinner and choose a Colorforms piece that goes with the category and stick it on their silly face card. There are some unexpected moments in the game which works on being flexible and resilient: if you land on the swap space, they must switch their card with another player who may move ahead in the game. Also, there is an un-stick space where you lose one of your face pieces and to replace it with another one. In addition to learning about shapes, colors and parts of the face, kids can work on developing fine motor and grasping skills, improve hand-eye and bilateral coordination skills all while encouraging kids to have fun, be silly and think outside of the box. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8-ROT9LiKrNLeBhsgGZbKSpsOJ8bphqfd0gvOLusdlT-jGnqgeSrT8BevvnWclCKxqYUUzoa3qgButpu_hsB6qK3tUmAL4a4xkI7aUnzfja7NOKBX74r49dACXt6wbTDbW88Ix8jTWLb/s1600/s-l600.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy8-ROT9LiKrNLeBhsgGZbKSpsOJ8bphqfd0gvOLusdlT-jGnqgeSrT8BevvnWclCKxqYUUzoa3qgButpu_hsB6qK3tUmAL4a4xkI7aUnzfja7NOKBX74r49dACXt6wbTDbW88Ix8jTWLb/s200/s-l600.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Games-25220-Boom-Blast-Stix/dp/B06XNRJ3XY/ref=sr_1_1?crid=12F8UA0QTZ7OY&keywords=boom+blast+stix&qid=1573256929&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=boom+blas%2Ctoys-and-games%2C138&sr=1-1">Boom Blast Stix</a>-I was introduced to this game by one of my occupational therapy colleagues a few Christmas' ago on a Facebook post and I immediately bought it. Warning...this is not a game for those who are easily startled! The point of the game is to clip the triangle-shaped pieces together and carefully stack them on top of each other (the container you store the pieces in doubles as a game board) without making them become undone and causing all of the other pieces to explode. This simple game works on so many occupational therapy skills such as improving fine motor and manipulation skills, increases grasp strength, encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention and self-regulation. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3V_VKp0z1AyvG3TqcFW8JgGMk4Q0bCneSsmf0p5NEbneTHbbSbLxEp75LrkKo3SnjvEerdlsf0lL7YrjfOQO-3_04YKdSbqKSrwPA8dL8-azMVo9JvqN9caY93_yPO-4ZYlbMZPq9E-0/s1600/51einYKp0hL._SX425_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ3V_VKp0z1AyvG3TqcFW8JgGMk4Q0bCneSsmf0p5NEbneTHbbSbLxEp75LrkKo3SnjvEerdlsf0lL7YrjfOQO-3_04YKdSbqKSrwPA8dL8-azMVo9JvqN9caY93_yPO-4ZYlbMZPq9E-0/s200/51einYKp0hL._SX425_.jpg" width="200" /></a>
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<a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toys/head_to_head_scramble_pop.cfm" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Head to Head Scramble Pop</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-one of my go-to favorite games from when I began practicing has been </span><a href="https://shop.hasbro.com/en-us/product/perfection-game:7EA8C49D-5056-9047-F53E-18830B4E0183" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Perfection</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. I have to be honest with you all that I still get startled every time the timer runs out and the pieces pop out. One of the things I have always wanted to change about Perfection is that it could be more than a one person game. So when I saw that Fat Brain Toys had a two-person version of this shape matching game, I was hooked! Think fast, move fast and scramble like mad to match all the shapes into the board first and before time runs out. Whoever gets all of their pieces into the board first wins the game. This game is ideal for working on improving hand-eye coordination, visual motor, visual perceptual and visual tracking skills, works on matching and identifying shapes and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, motor organizational skills and self-regulation.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55g7wCOhRMNmz9fWRQn9vKyK_4avU1sMtwtyU-9fewNOhu7b4A_wSCyXyo7B9AsbLPxhAtqQX49Lm5n4a5KXTd0pO7PWNJSLgjYJA4lzpotvvWYfD2jfe0YfcXHrqavHBORTgaX9d6K8b/s1600/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55g7wCOhRMNmz9fWRQn9vKyK_4avU1sMtwtyU-9fewNOhu7b4A_wSCyXyo7B9AsbLPxhAtqQX49Lm5n4a5KXTd0pO7PWNJSLgjYJA4lzpotvvWYfD2jfe0YfcXHrqavHBORTgaX9d6K8b/s1600/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg55g7wCOhRMNmz9fWRQn9vKyK_4avU1sMtwtyU-9fewNOhu7b4A_wSCyXyo7B9AsbLPxhAtqQX49Lm5n4a5KXTd0pO7PWNJSLgjYJA4lzpotvvWYfD2jfe0YfcXHrqavHBORTgaX9d6K8b/s200/download-1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.northstargames.com/products/dirty-pig">Dirty Pig Card Game</a>-I am a big fan of card games because they are portable and easy to take with you when you are on the go...like keeping kids entertained while at a restaurant or in a waiting room. This is an easy-to-lear game with the goal being to be the first player to dirty all your pigs. Each player begins with 3-5 clean pigs in front of them and three cards in their hands. Each turn a card is played. By playing a "Dirty Your Pig" card, one pig can be send into the mud. One of the pig cards is flipped over to show a dirty pig on the back. Rain cards clean all the pigs, even your own. Barn cards are used to protect your pigs from the rain and the lightening cards destroy the barns but lightening rod cards protect barns from lightening cards. Farmer cards are used to dirty someone else's pigs....he likes a clean pig! Pigs in a barn that are protected with a barn door are safe from the farmer. A pig in a barn, with a door and a lightening rod is completely protected! Great game to work on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, working memory and organizational skills. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO5qVNC5CDc1lZWSuUR24YlEmBH6B_1AwBe0XOaMXucI-kC6c1FvJX-sGZAQ5KhA6PJ5QiIrskAJowOjer1PFAzaVj92jbRRNuXq1AOxh-Id5oT1AAA9dCIPPMhR76sm8l1hSY6tGhfc0/s1600/greedygrannysleeping-001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiO5qVNC5CDc1lZWSuUR24YlEmBH6B_1AwBe0XOaMXucI-kC6c1FvJX-sGZAQ5KhA6PJ5QiIrskAJowOjer1PFAzaVj92jbRRNuXq1AOxh-Id5oT1AAA9dCIPPMhR76sm8l1hSY6tGhfc0/s200/greedygrannysleeping-001.jpg" width="200" /></a>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Goliath-Greedy-Granny-Board-Game/dp/B076H6KJDD">Greedy Granny</a>-this is a recommendation from my 11-year old niece who says . This non-battery operated game is a simple but hilarious game that will keep players engaged. The goal of the game is to swipe as many treats from Granny's tray without waking her up. Kids take turns taking a piece of food from the tray and then press the button all while hoping Granny won't wake up. The game is intended for kids as young as 4, but as my niece proves, fun enough to keep your older kids entertained as well. Great for working on social skills such as taking turns, being a good sport when winning and losing and can improve fine motor and manipulation skills. You can add a little challenge by having kids use tongs or kid's chopsticks to remove the treat from Granny's tray. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EUkN13AN_28vzeJjpAxXi03OxfgwEqbvqxm30ImAw-lfTLdFmppPw-7mv8YYA0eAo9VFHS9qUrT-SRZdrm-SPUH9K7w09tQm_z0rE_i2ekaeR1APEg3haxyeJfJBN2M19lo9oiJ6cf8J/s1600/SN02365-main-530Wx530H.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EUkN13AN_28vzeJjpAxXi03OxfgwEqbvqxm30ImAw-lfTLdFmppPw-7mv8YYA0eAo9VFHS9qUrT-SRZdrm-SPUH9K7w09tQm_z0rE_i2ekaeR1APEg3haxyeJfJBN2M19lo9oiJ6cf8J/s200/SN02365-main-530Wx530H.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/poof_slinky_inc/whats_in_neds_head.cfm">What's In Ned's Head</a>-this game has been around for ages and one of my all-time favorites to work on developing tactile recognition skills. Place the 16 silly objects in Ned's head, give it a good shake and then pass out a card face down to each player. All turn their cards over at the same time to see what object they have to find and quickly race to be the first person to find the correct object. In addition to the cards for the objects that come with the game, it includes 12 blank cards so you can add your own objects which is awesome because it keeps the game interesting and novel each time. In addition to working on tactile recognition skills, What's In Ned's Head can work on improving grasping and manipulation skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organizational skills, improves frustration tolerance and works on self-regulation skills. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Gt5Sg3PgxJY6-jw0w_H5tfKQ_WhAKN4Sw70d6lxDKftARoi_L6gRrn7M-HfPD_fYPKqo-gbSN1Q0US50FqDCo49CkaCDlMz9_rkfya1Xg2_cL3D9CmCtDy92r_pt5c41cRzd8LQuzYtF/s1600/roller-coaster-challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9Gt5Sg3PgxJY6-jw0w_H5tfKQ_WhAKN4Sw70d6lxDKftARoi_L6gRrn7M-HfPD_fYPKqo-gbSN1Q0US50FqDCo49CkaCDlMz9_rkfya1Xg2_cL3D9CmCtDy92r_pt5c41cRzd8LQuzYtF/s200/roller-coaster-challenge.jpg" width="166" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/thinkfun/roller_coaster_challenge.cfm">Roller Coaster Challenge</a>-this logic game is a huge hit with my older kids and great for working on developing executive functioning skills. Kids can build up to 40 different roller coasters ranging from beginner to super challenging. Kids pick a card and set up the posts and tracks according to each challenge. They then collect the remaining pieces (listed at the bottom of the card) and have to figure out where they all go in order to complete the roller coaster. Once the roller coaster is put together, they can test it out by running the car along the track. In addition to working on focus, attention, organizational skills, this game works on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves visual-spatial skills, logic, creativity, problem solving and critical thinking. One of the greatest things I see when kids successfully create the roller coaster is that their confidence and self-esteem seam to soar and it encourages them to try the more difficult challenges. I also like to make this game a social opportunity for kids to work together and collaborate on the actual building of the roller coaster. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfjMwhOGoGVCY-exwqLjHvxsSrsiNp20f9CUblxwWsLOPXMnjA6TmqkM9OeCvmg83aVCN-MrbDHYDYdFsenGOw7mJdCjJfYRBIWLaxCjw1xk0Xsbue-jMw5gdySeO3TrDsQxLVOrv-y6Y/s1600/42503835-1-f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGfjMwhOGoGVCY-exwqLjHvxsSrsiNp20f9CUblxwWsLOPXMnjA6TmqkM9OeCvmg83aVCN-MrbDHYDYdFsenGOw7mJdCjJfYRBIWLaxCjw1xk0Xsbue-jMw5gdySeO3TrDsQxLVOrv-y6Y/s200/42503835-1-f.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Pop-Pig-Game-Improved-Belly-Busting/dp/B07T7HSVWH/ref=sr_1_5?crid=LZKQJEOS91OH&keywords=pop+the+pig+game&qid=1573433544&sprefix=pop+the+pig%2Caps%2C136&sr=8-5">Pop The Pig</a>-this is not one of my favorite games but it is one that makes the kids at work SO happy and actually works on a variety of developmental skills so felt like it had to be included this year. While we play it at the gym with just one kid and match it with some kind of gross motor activity (obstacle coarse, climbing up the incline mat to collect the burgers, etc.) it is actually intended to be a multi-player game (a fan favorite with my kids at The Meeting House Juniors). Players take turns rolling the die, finding a burger of the same color, turning it over to see the number, feed the pig and then push down on his head the correct number of times. With each pump, his belly will grow bigger and bigger until he pops! Even though the point of the game is to not be the one to make his belly pop, the kids want to be the one to make it happen! Pop The Pig works on number and color recognition, counting skills, works on improving upper extremity strength, grasping and manipulation skills and encourages executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, organization and self-regulation. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtfkczowPOrifzmoxI5N2_QKZkQf0iFleniCP-r4G-sVYrwkiCptNIzsKzWUpuyrdLjNoi3OJgFST1_uMQ0pyu8t-kMDHFmuYosC-AI8VLlxdGeO38bXFnWk5SO_d2tBHcVZ-QKm0DHoU/s1600/6955_YetiForgetti_Contents.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPtfkczowPOrifzmoxI5N2_QKZkQf0iFleniCP-r4G-sVYrwkiCptNIzsKzWUpuyrdLjNoi3OJgFST1_uMQ0pyu8t-kMDHFmuYosC-AI8VLlxdGeO38bXFnWk5SO_d2tBHcVZ-QKm0DHoU/s200/6955_YetiForgetti_Contents.png" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.playmonster.com/product/yeti-forgetti/">Yeti Forgetti</a>-one of my favorite games a couple years ago was another Yeti game, <a href="https://www.playmonster.com/product/yeti-in-my-spaghetti/">Y</a></span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.playmonster.com/product/yeti-in-my-spaghetti/">eti In My Spaghetti</a>, so when this game arrived in my monthly <a href="https://www.sensorytheraplaybox.com//?gclid=CjwKCAiAh5_uBRA5EiwASW3Iapr9-Coc5CJx40Qbgp8gXClrIXlcpGIhSamrbAKSj2IJaIWQlQbjURoC7wMQAvD_BwE">Sensory TheraPlay Box</a> (I will talk about this amazing subscription box in a later gift guide) a couple of months ago, I was super excited. This newest game from <a href="https://www.playmonster.com/">PlayMonster</a> is another hit with my kiddos at work. One of my favorite things is that it is small and doesn't take up a lot of space which is great for on-the-go entertainment. Kids hide the yetis and snow crab under the igloos and move them around so nobody knows which is which. They then draw a card and what they say-guess where a certain yeti is, peek inside the igloo, reveal a location or mix them up again. Try and remember where the yetis are to collect cards but do all you can do not find the snow crab or else you will lose all the cards you have collected. The player who collects the most cards is the winner. This is a great game for working on improving executive functioning skills such as focus, sustained attention, working memory, flexibility and self/emotional regulation. </span><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Emojinks-Emoji-Card-Games-Families/dp/B072J9Y6G8/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=emojinks&qid=1573437131&sr=8-1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Emojinks</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-I have been a big </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=spot+it&i=toys-and-games&ref=nb_sb_noss_1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Spot It</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> fan for years and years and now that I run a social skills group, I tend to try and find games that have some kind of social emotional learning component. So try and imagine how happy Emojinks makes me! Very similar to Spot It, Emojinks is a game of speed where you try and be the first to find the matching Emoji. The nice thing about this game is that there are two different levels, beginner and advanced, so you can use it will all members of your family. Another great thing, the game is compact and easy to take on-the-go for non-screen-time entertainment. Emojinks is perfect to help your children learn about feelings and emotions while also working on developing focus, attention, visual motor skills, visual perceptual skills and visual tracking skills, improves fine motor and manipulation skills and works on social skills such as being a good winner/loser, taking turns and being flexible.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj6M3iD2g29ZzyK9Et9UJ3zNYJXKRT9-dt1vQlHTqxPzTDavO7PvF-yzpScboKtWDYJO2UFlsUYuDzEyYnKoTDForoLv7gJCd6M0lvys-Nocx9B9YYbL_Bp4viNXTw3r5WQYr9GPqx2tn/s1600/PK350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFj6M3iD2g29ZzyK9Et9UJ3zNYJXKRT9-dt1vQlHTqxPzTDavO7PvF-yzpScboKtWDYJO2UFlsUYuDzEyYnKoTDForoLv7gJCd6M0lvys-Nocx9B9YYbL_Bp4viNXTw3r5WQYr9GPqx2tn/s200/PK350.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peaceable-Kingdom-Friends-Neighbors-Development/dp/B01CCIS41O">Friends and Neighbors: The Helping Game</a>-Peaceable Kingdom has a variety of beautifully made games and are known for their cooperative games (meaning you need to work together and not strive for being the winner). Friends and Neighbors works on developing a better understanding of emotions and feelings in young children (recommended for children starting at 3 years of age) and encourages empathy. Kids will learn to read emotions and problem solve how to help a variety of people in different situations. Teaching our kids how to not only understand their own feelings and emotions but also recognize how others might feel is a truly important life lesson. In addition to being able to better understand feelings and emotions, Friends and Neighbors works on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye coordination and encourages social emotional development. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBVt9PoSv6sQyso-V79HhzMoVKK8qPJFG5lkUyoT2oWdSOSLaRV1NBdD9WiKwN6LpMgaSTTewgRJSbvD2tB2T-69EPE1munLmCD6OjEYh_SClnI2YvA-DdC8ruaL1kb7-5_56Svw2moyf/s1600/download-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="225" data-original-width="225" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBVt9PoSv6sQyso-V79HhzMoVKK8qPJFG5lkUyoT2oWdSOSLaRV1NBdD9WiKwN6LpMgaSTTewgRJSbvD2tB2T-69EPE1munLmCD6OjEYh_SClnI2YvA-DdC8ruaL1kb7-5_56Svw2moyf/s200/download-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/ThinkFun-Heads-Tails-Preschool-Girls/dp/B07P3NMC68/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1B5VBAX0AESG8&keywords=heads+talk+tails+walk+game&qid=1573497482&s=toys-and-games&sprefix=heads+%2Ctoys-and-games%2C173&sr=1-1">Heads Talk Tails Walk Card Game</a>-this silly game of sounds and movement was recommended by NYC speech therapist, <a href="https://www.jbspeech.com/">Jacki Barredo</a>. Players try to match hidden head tiles to the correct body tiles. If they can't make a match, they have to try walk and talk like the mismatched tiles. Great for kids 3 and up and works on developing critical skills such as visual perception skills, reasoning skills, bilateral coordination and while encouraging gross motor development. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZK3gDdb0F0NE9ZvckZ8YAhBPuEdP5BkKL7iNzcSs1cIAOF4yEixhv7vofA1MDo6OMlgH_5WWh62cbjP5Ch7DhXVgodkJsNSlAVB_ndaayi8rUvCAhNE4LxAIfuwi8WftU1HrHLiFBz5k/s1600/Cauldron-Quest-by-Peaceable-Kingdom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="522" data-original-width="1024" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikZK3gDdb0F0NE9ZvckZ8YAhBPuEdP5BkKL7iNzcSs1cIAOF4yEixhv7vofA1MDo6OMlgH_5WWh62cbjP5Ch7DhXVgodkJsNSlAVB_ndaayi8rUvCAhNE4LxAIfuwi8WftU1HrHLiFBz5k/s200/Cauldron-Quest-by-Peaceable-Kingdom.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Peaceable-Kingdom-GMC6-Peacable-Cauldron/dp/B00S28895K/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?keywords=cauldron+quest&qid=1573499324&s=toys-and-games&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&smid=A1B7M9EQGNCLQA&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzVk03R0EyQTRLRjZUJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwODU5MjgxMjExOFZES1ZUNDUxNCZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwNTA2MDM2M0I3Q01INDZDMlJUSiZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=">Cauldron Quest</a>-another fabulous recommendation from <a href="https://www.jbspeech.com/">Jacki Barredo</a>. This cooperative game is geared towards older children. The object of the game is to get the three correct ingredients into the cauldron before all six of the paths are blocked. The evil wizard has cast a spell to destroy the kingdom and you have the power to create a potion to break the spell but the kids must work together. The quest is to find the three correct ingredients hidden under the potion bottles and move them up the paths and into the cauldron before the wizards blocks all of the paths. I love cooperative games because kids must work together to achieve a common goal and not compete against each other. Some other social-emotional skills that can be worked on are making decisions together and being open to other people's ideas and recommendations. Also great for working on developing executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, working memory and problem solving. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3U6YrOyavIK_j9GK8n9VxjoAyxjlSToYUrQGqNvg3C0d0L1TtOTc1RFwCfew9lf3fPxYicqp3KjIgEFXBGjRdJcxI3K1CePBTdYG29U8VF_45zEShd0Xy5KpBbYiBlOmdTnzOuuF9Vj0H/s1600/ceaaab_71926b37d3364494bc0577a3d12b8273_mv2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="300" data-original-width="300" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3U6YrOyavIK_j9GK8n9VxjoAyxjlSToYUrQGqNvg3C0d0L1TtOTc1RFwCfew9lf3fPxYicqp3KjIgEFXBGjRdJcxI3K1CePBTdYG29U8VF_45zEShd0Xy5KpBbYiBlOmdTnzOuuF9Vj0H/s200/ceaaab_71926b37d3364494bc0577a3d12b8273_mv2.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Orange-Thumbs-Dexterity-Game/dp/B00TTX4UXW/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=thumbs+up&qid=1573502908&sr=8-5">Thumbs Up</a>-I just recently pulled this game out of my closet and so excited to be usi</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ng it again at work. Thumbs Up is a fast-paced game where kids try to be the first to stack colored rings in the right sequence on their thumb. The game comes with colored rings and challenge cards. Each card has 4-7 pictures with numbers and colors and all the players race to be the first to stack the rings in the correct order. Whoever is the first to stack their rings collects the card; the player with the most cards at the end is the winner. This is a great game for on-the-go play because it can be thrown right into a bag. Thumbs Up is great for working on developing fine motor and grasping skills, finger isolation, improves hand-eye coordination, bilateral coordination, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages focus, attention, motor planning and organizational skills. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrsOnvUYa_IkbVPQ-jNgOMHfuKEoUGIaryH-h6I2W7Io7T9xCEkxzp3aRmvvD4RDgSls2-jFCbymhUGq6WzfwpFZbrPuyLBs768Sq59IT6zQy8RB8VK86iMolby64EUjDff693eengj13/s1600/Googly-Eyes1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="603" data-original-width="561" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrsOnvUYa_IkbVPQ-jNgOMHfuKEoUGIaryH-h6I2W7Io7T9xCEkxzp3aRmvvD4RDgSls2-jFCbymhUGq6WzfwpFZbrPuyLBs768Sq59IT6zQy8RB8VK86iMolby64EUjDff693eengj13/s200/Googly-Eyes1.png" width="185" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Exclusive-Bonus-Googly-Eyes/dp/B07QTDK144/ref=sr_1_2?gclid=CjwKCAiAqqTuBRBAEiwA7B66hRNFkNWMsJEzjMwfKusVMboby8RmjVe-p54OAydEdJY1IlQQ-4OoyxoCjH4QAvD_BwE&hvadid=174238132940&hvdev=c&hvlocphy=9004077&hvnetw=g&hvpos=1t1&hvqmt=e&hvrand=9618699876672521698&hvtargid=kwd-66701211040&hydadcr=4094_9338726&keywords=googly+eyes+game&qid=1573503519&sr=8-2">Googly Eyes</a>-this is another recommendation from my niece, Lila and one that I know is a favorite of so many people. This family game is one that involves drawing while wearing zany, vision-altering google eye glasses. Your team tries to guess what you are drawing which results in some hysterics from all players. There are three different sets of lenses for the glasses ranging from a mild to pretty crazy alteration in your vision. Googly Eyes is great for working on improving graphomotor skills and encourages focus and attentional skills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I tried to cover a variety of different games on this post for kids of all ages and ones that could be good for families to play together. In a day and age where kids are spending more and more time in front of some kind of electronic device, I love that there are so many game options out there that can keep kids entertained while also working on developing a variety of skills. If you would like any other recommendations for games to work on specific skills, I have plenty more out there to share with you. I would also love to hear from any of you if you have games that are a huge hit with your kids or at work. I am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from all of you. </span><br />
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Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-27307612575924083562019-11-08T09:36:00.000-08:002019-11-08T12:15:12.799-08:002019 Holiday Gift Guide-Children’s Books<style type="text/css">
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;">Even though my daughter has outgrown picture books, I still have a massive collection and continue to purchase them. Every once in a while, I will find her looking at some of her old favorites (which I figured would happen and refused to get rid of them!) with a smile on her face. I’m not sure about all of you, but there are books on our bookshelf that were mine growing up and are</span><span class="Apple-converted-space" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: initial;"> still my favorite. </span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">In the last couple of years, I have been using children’s books in my social skills group to help teach children about a variety of social emotional issues. One of the things I have discovered over the years is that young children tend to have difficulty recognizing their social difficulties but can identify characters in books who are struggling. Reading books with children can open up conversation about the characters and their difficulties and open up the opportunity to problem solve and help come up with solutions for the characters to help them have successful social experiences. I have a huge collection and can’t wait to share this year’s top picks. Some of them are repeats and others are new but they are all awesome.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> This list is just the tip of the iceberg and covers issues such as making mistakes, being a good friend, talking about empathy and being brave and trying new things. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0689711735?pf_rd_p=183f5289-9dc0-416f-942e-e8f213ef368b&pf_rd_r=XR66VGEBSEGHT5HREEQR">Alexander and the Horrible, Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst</a></span><span class="s1">-This one is a classic and one of my all-time favorites growing up.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">His best friend deserted him. There was no dessert in his lunch bag. And, on top of all that, there were lima beans for dinner and kissing on TV!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Oops-Barney-Saltzberg/dp/076115728X/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2I3HHXZEIGAEC&keywords=beautiful+oops&qid=1573228659&s=books&sprefix=beautiful+oops,stripbooks,154&sr=1-3">Beautiful Oops by Barney Saltzberg</a></span><span class="s1">-A spill. A smear. A smudge. A tear. When you <i>think</i> you have made a mistake, think of it as an opportunity to make something beautiful!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1">A life lesson that all parents want their children to learn: It’s OK to make a mistake. In fact, hooray for mistakes! A mistake is an adventure in creativity, a portal of discovery. A spill doesn’t ruin a drawing—not when it becomes the shape of a goofy animal. And an accidental tear in your paper? Don’t be upset about it when you can turn it into the roaring mouth of an alligator</span><span class="s3">.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Be-Kind-Pat-Zietlow-Miller/dp/1626723214/ref=sr_1_2?crid=166TVIQKUCX5O&keywords=be+kind+pat+zietlow+miller&qid=1573226815&s=books&sprefix=be+kind+,stripbooks,135&sr=1-2">Be Kind by Pat Zietlow Miller</a></span><span class="s1">-When Tanisha spills grape juice all over her new dress, her classmate wants to make her feel better, wondering: What does it mean to be kind?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">From asking the new girl to play to standing up for someone being bullied, this moving story explores what kindness is, and how any act, big or small, can make a difference―or at least help a friend.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigv_R7Y3LS0ZxC1nHoBA0gYwhDHCBNMGHv_N5yeFFbcpNbLnUW0v196TxL8kl-OvPaLyDE4wdMbYKI7xCPgFWM5gvHcJ-XlA_NhTYEh1u2AUNrq6tG42kGXUEAocB__SUVCT3FsdGBFJZT/s1600/919pp00lE%252BL-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigv_R7Y3LS0ZxC1nHoBA0gYwhDHCBNMGHv_N5yeFFbcpNbLnUW0v196TxL8kl-OvPaLyDE4wdMbYKI7xCPgFWM5gvHcJ-XlA_NhTYEh1u2AUNrq6tG42kGXUEAocB__SUVCT3FsdGBFJZT/s200/919pp00lE%252BL-1.jpg" width="153" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Beautiful-Day-Neighborhood-Poetry-Mister/dp/168369113X/ref=sr_1_2?crid=RNX5CZ51VL1T&keywords=mr.+roger%27s+neighborhood&qid=1573228902&s=books&sprefix=mr.+roger%27s+nei,stripbooks,140&sr=1-2">A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood: The Poetry of Mister Rogers</a></span><span class="s1">-From funny to sweet, silly to sincere, the lyrics of Mister Rogers explore such universal topics as feelings, new siblings, everyday life, imagination, and more. Through these songs—as well as endearing puppets and honest conversations—Mister Rogers instilled in his young viewers the values of kindness, self-awareness, and self-esteem. But most of all, he taught children that they are loved, just as they are. Perfect for bedtime, sing-along, or quiet time alone, this beautiful book of meaningful poetry is for every child—including the child inside of every one of us.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f3gY5aScvPItpgp-43M6pv365LjYVRt9iriYotkWAvc7ZIgexJhT9nbPEFzQe2z8fWAbYGabZSUoKPh3xvrCmpIBg0hJVfG67HCj46mhZnBeOJQkRsNRUmOUdfk29_y6NhFRLBoabv9y/s1600/51-764t1T7L._SY367_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f3gY5aScvPItpgp-43M6pv365LjYVRt9iriYotkWAvc7ZIgexJhT9nbPEFzQe2z8fWAbYGabZSUoKPh3xvrCmpIBg0hJVfG67HCj46mhZnBeOJQkRsNRUmOUdfk29_y6NhFRLBoabv9y/s1600/51-764t1T7L._SY367_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5f3gY5aScvPItpgp-43M6pv365LjYVRt9iriYotkWAvc7ZIgexJhT9nbPEFzQe2z8fWAbYGabZSUoKPh3xvrCmpIBg0hJVfG67HCj46mhZnBeOJQkRsNRUmOUdfk29_y6NhFRLBoabv9y/s200/51-764t1T7L._SY367_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Noodlephant-Jacob-Kramer/dp/159270266X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3VG1CSNPBMLAW&keywords=noodlephant&qid=1573226859&s=books&sprefix=noodlep,stripbooks,134&sr=1-1">Noodlephant by Jacob Kramer</a></span><span class="s1">-Famous for her pasta parties, Noodlephant is shocked when the law-loving kangaroos decide noodles are only for them. Noodlephant won’t let this stand―Noodlephants can’t survive on sticks and branches, after all. Determined to do something to push back against an unjust law, she and her friends invent a machine that transforms pens into <i>penne,</i> pillows into <i>ravioli,</i> and radiators into <i>radiatori.</i> With that, the pasta parties are back! But that very night, the kangaroos come bounding through the door… ready to enforce their unjust laws. A zany tale full of pasta puns, friendship, and one Phantastic Noodler, <i>Noodlephant, </i>explores a community’s response to injustice.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXPXmXUq6KxgIgG_Uwj9W-r85MeMMu8zgYA2tOeu7q7m-wxIZVaJ1Kldvh68jaDNyIL9KEVAyPIkGQNFACv1IObXZ3wE4ZLppRNAJcJko_aTS9Q3McABVqRfY5HQTwXHWfDPhn6-0j9ha/s1600/43572575.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXPXmXUq6KxgIgG_Uwj9W-r85MeMMu8zgYA2tOeu7q7m-wxIZVaJ1Kldvh68jaDNyIL9KEVAyPIkGQNFACv1IObXZ3wE4ZLppRNAJcJko_aTS9Q3McABVqRfY5HQTwXHWfDPhn6-0j9ha/s200/43572575.jpg" width="157" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Oscar-Seeks-Friend-Pawel-Pawlak/dp/191137379X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=36KS6EGXA56FU&keywords=oscar+seeks+a+friend&qid=1573230866&s=books&sprefix=oskar+seeks+%2Cstripbooks%2C136&sr=1-1">Oskar Seeks A Friend by Pawel Pawlak</a></span><span class="s1">-What if you could turn the world the other way around and take a peek at what's on the other side? Perhaps you'll find something you never expected. Such as friendship. The sad little skeleton on the cover of this book might not look very promising, but when Oscar meets a lonely little girl, it's the start of an adventure for both of them. Together they make an unusual journey to two very different worlds, each beautiful and necessary. And it all begins when the little girl's tooth falls out . . .</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGg7qZ0Ykk38Z-VOzZowojMSWgQwXqRi7incoW9rZOO2m5zJBoJ2_04NeKpqvv64FSryqxKBgqMMk89iys9tZl-lrHmsZa3nPfbaP1gaOcPceDFE7m2QYFpmFLGZn5DQr8wg1gOiq5nsG/s1600/51FbQPDILOL._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGg7qZ0Ykk38Z-VOzZowojMSWgQwXqRi7incoW9rZOO2m5zJBoJ2_04NeKpqvv64FSryqxKBgqMMk89iys9tZl-lrHmsZa3nPfbaP1gaOcPceDFE7m2QYFpmFLGZn5DQr8wg1gOiq5nsG/s200/51FbQPDILOL._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="155" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/After-Fall-Humpty-Dumpty-Again/dp/1626726825/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3QASNMBM6NQ8D&keywords=after+the+fall&qid=1573227184&s=books&sprefix=after+,stripbooks,166&sr=1-1">After The Fall by Dan Santat</a></span><span class="s1">-Everyone knows that when Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. But what happened <i>after</i>? Humpty Dumpty, an avid bird watcher whose favorite place to be is high up on the city wall―that is, until <i>after</i> his famous fall. Now terrified of heights, Humpty can longer do many of the things he loves most.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Will he summon the courage to face his fear?<i>After the Fall (How Humpty Dumpty Got Back Up Again)</i> is a masterful picture book that will remind readers of all ages that <i>Life begins when you get back up</i>.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExmPBVekoC-7Wq2hS0Xtuj_MYKtb_2sm2QmO0LmdFMFhXJZ0H72qzbZtU4xiWvT9r-AVV15k9C8VvlXL8uPZu6p7w3xDsSh-ckpKvW0iwqgu4NwQ40i7m8yQQV0GIK92B5sb7kxWkr6EW/s1600/81r1O4SE%252BHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExmPBVekoC-7Wq2hS0Xtuj_MYKtb_2sm2QmO0LmdFMFhXJZ0H72qzbZtU4xiWvT9r-AVV15k9C8VvlXL8uPZu6p7w3xDsSh-ckpKvW0iwqgu4NwQ40i7m8yQQV0GIK92B5sb7kxWkr6EW/s1600/81r1O4SE%252BHL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1554" data-original-width="1600" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiExmPBVekoC-7Wq2hS0Xtuj_MYKtb_2sm2QmO0LmdFMFhXJZ0H72qzbZtU4xiWvT9r-AVV15k9C8VvlXL8uPZu6p7w3xDsSh-ckpKvW0iwqgu4NwQ40i7m8yQQV0GIK92B5sb7kxWkr6EW/s200/81r1O4SE%252BHL.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Sticks-Diane-Alber/dp/1732934614/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=Sticks+by+diane+Alber&qid=1573228415&s=books&sr=1-3">Sticks by Diane Alber</a></span><span class="s1">-A heartwarming story about finding your place in the world<b>.</b> Sticks is about a Popsicle that accidentally melts and becomes just a plain stick. He has a hard time adjusting to his new normal but with the help of some new friends (who happen to be sticks too) he realizes that everything happened for a reason and that melting was part of his journey. Sticks is a story that almost anyone can relate to. It's about finding yourself in a situation that didn't turn out like you expected and having your friends and family help you find he courage to pick yourself back up and persevere.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Bug-Wish-Karen-Scheuer/dp/1628577053/ref=sr_1_1?crid=RGYBMJK4DVQS&keywords=a+bug+and+a+wish&qid=1573228382&s=books&sprefix=a+bug+and+a+,stripbooks,135&sr=1-1">A Bug and A Wish by Karen Schuer</a></span><span class="s1">-When Tyler is teased by the other boys, his good friend, Danae, encourages him to give the boys A Bug and a Wish. When Tyler finds a ladybug and a dandelion seed, he is convinced that this is what Danae means. As his friend helps him learn the true meaning of her advice, Tyler soon discovers the solution to his problem. A bug and a wish is a great way to help children express their frustrations and offer a solution to problems with their siblings or peers.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1454917296/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyWFBOVzJUSDQ0OUQxJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzU2NTk1MlRUOThESEJRR0NYQyZlbmNyeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODI4NDkxMUhQWlc3TkxWQUlORyZ3aWRnZXROYW1lPXNwX2RldGFpbCZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=">The Color Monster: A Pop Up Book of Feelings by Anna Llenas</a></span><span class="s1">-We teach toddlers to identify colors, numbers, shapes, and letters—but what about their feelings? By illustrating such common emotions as happiness, sadness, anger, fear, and calm, this sensitive book gently encourages young children to open up with parents, teachers, and daycare providers. And kids will LOVE the bright illustrations and amazing 3-D pop-ups on every page!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CzSeWYD-kaQ0xFuuXpaO7FkuYTf5cTTpUERvdQ5aksMt8TFVXvxxEL5I0U_TR2kqfbptoujOxYq087mtbZ27BLuLq8cAIZnXvNdchdKVmWtJ6jRh-F2EKmxNG7KEYLkawBgI_wBXHLdg/s1600/51TVUBh6fML.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8CzSeWYD-kaQ0xFuuXpaO7FkuYTf5cTTpUERvdQ5aksMt8TFVXvxxEL5I0U_TR2kqfbptoujOxYq087mtbZ27BLuLq8cAIZnXvNdchdKVmWtJ6jRh-F2EKmxNG7KEYLkawBgI_wBXHLdg/s200/51TVUBh6fML.jpg" width="192" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Heart-Feelings-Growing-Hearts/dp/1419713108/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_img_15?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=G4ZYCGKDBQ7510654Y1K">In My Heart: A Book of Feelings by Jo Watek</a></span><span class="s1">-Happiness, sadness, bravery, anger, shyness . . . our hearts can feel so many feelings! Some make us feel as light as a balloon, others as heavy as an elephant<i>. In My Heart</i> explores a full range of emotions, describing how they feel physically, inside. With language that is lyrical but also direct, toddlers will be empowered by this new vocabulary and able to practice articulating and identifying their own emotions. With whimsical illustrations and an irresistible die-cut heart that extends through each spread, this unique feelings book is gorgeously packaged.<span class="Apple-converted-space"> </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Say-Something-Peter-H-Reynolds/dp/0545865034/ref=sr_1_3?crid=1LBFBRER1C3TI&keywords=say+something+by+peter+h.+reynolds&qid=1573228360&s=books&sprefix=say+something+by+pet,stripbooks,140&sr=1-3">Say Something by Peter Reynolds</a></span><span class="s1">-an empowering story about finding your voice, and using it to make the world a better place. If you have a brilliant idea... say something! If you see an injustice... say something! In this empowering new picture book, beloved author Peter H. Reynolds explores the many ways that a single voice can make a difference. Each of us, each and every day, have the chance to say something with our actions, our words, and our voices. Perfect for kid activists everywhere, this timely story reminds readers of the undeniable importance and power of their voice. There are so many ways to tell the world who you are... what you are thinking... and what you believe. And how you'll make it better. The time is now: SAY SOMETHING!</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_AyVbeP9ifvjbmNH6f68G7D6YMr2WBt9TNcgc4aIjkwbbRTfEtTu6FzNJml9sAkLU8EUMY7qLo1rWXF01SJCcMM209SpRvPTxiggWBwr_I6Hc7e-yv0Q4ERe2ItBUoA9ibOKiMPcbauw/s1600/91EgtUQXbJL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi_AyVbeP9ifvjbmNH6f68G7D6YMr2WBt9TNcgc4aIjkwbbRTfEtTu6FzNJml9sAkLU8EUMY7qLo1rWXF01SJCcMM209SpRvPTxiggWBwr_I6Hc7e-yv0Q4ERe2ItBUoA9ibOKiMPcbauw/s200/91EgtUQXbJL.jpg" width="181" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/When-Sadness-at-Your-Door/dp/0525707182/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1L8A46KWHZXZ5&keywords=when+sadness+is+at+your+door&qid=1573228331&s=books&sprefix=when+sadne,stripbooks,130&sr=1-1">When Sadness Is At Your Door by Eva Eland </a></span><span class="s1">-Kids often struggle to understand and cope with their emotions, especially the hard ones like anger and sadness. Talking about our feelings helps us process them, and this book gives parents a tender and comforting way to work through sadness with their kids.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Feelings-Pull-Play-Alice-Henand/dp/2408007925/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3H0DJ97DXFU3G&keywords=feelings+pull+and+play&qid=1573228304&s=books&sprefix=feelings+pull+and+,stripbooks,135&sr=1-2"><span class="s2">Feelings (Pull and Play) by Alice Le HĂ©nand</span></a>-It's never too early to encourage children to talk about how they feel. This newest title in the Pull and Play BooksTM series provides reassurance and support through gently humorous situations. Children will identify with feelings voiced by Little Crocodile and his friends. Using pull-tabs to control the changing pictures, children are empowered to apply their newly learned knowledge to their own experience.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wordy-Birdy-Tammi-Sauer/dp/1524719293/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2XUJE24NLDXCB&keywords=wordy+birdy+book&qid=1573228284&s=books&sprefix=wordy+bir,stripbooks,136&sr=1-1">Wordy Birdy by Tammi Sauer</a></span><span class="s1">-Wordy Birdy LOVES to talk. “Hello, sunrise. Hello, pink sky. Hello, orange sky!” But does she love to listen? <i>NOPE</i>. One day, while she’s walking through the forest, her gift of the gab gets her into hot water: “That’s a pretty tree and that’s a pretty tree and that’s a pretty danger sign and that’s a pretty tree. . . .” Will this inattentive bird walk right into danger? Will her faraway thoughts lead her along a path of doom? It’s up to her long-suffering, heard-it-all-before pals Squirrel, Raccoon, and Rabbit to save their distracted friend.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Fair-Sonny-Varela/dp/1494904047/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2Y50UGBJJPVPE&keywords=fair+is+fair+by+sonny+varela&qid=1573228235&s=books&sprefix=fair+is+fair,stripbooks,133&sr=1-1">Fair is Fair by Sonny Varela</a></span><span class="s1">-“It’s not fair!” This is the lament of countless children when they perceive that a sibling or classmate is receiving more. Do special needs for one mean less love for another? This is the question explored in this short children's story of three zoo animals. They learn that being equally loved doesn't necessarily mean that they're treated the exact same. Rather, true love is expressed when each animal gets what they need.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Little-Bit-Different-Claire-Alexander/dp/0711245452?pf_rd_p=dd4f5b57-ba5b-418b-a348-64ec62df14cc&pd_rd_wg=5sEkG&pf_rd_r=66Q3AK2HHPKA8X6QQZKV&ref_=pd_gw_cr_simh&pd_rd_w=ePcRX&pd_rd_r=d3eb4c16-3abb-4fd9-bccf-a2c4aac55c10">A Little Bit Different by Claire Alexander</a></span><span class="s1">-Meet the Ploofers. The Ploofers have been practicing something special which they all want to do at the exact same time – but wait! What’s that? One of them does something different! When one little Ploofer goes against the usual flow of things, the rest of them turn their backs on him. But all it takes is for one person to recognize the beauty in being different to spark a change in attitude of everyone.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIN4jZjgPhzUPyLLBV01Htx-F57pNlJ4IY8UzKYPjkM1q2mRVT6o0rYLGcWeozO6BGF6cuIRBykd62eFxHEhtsp7Gb4vcg_qCDxPZvQHgMsQzpB1JFuYt3wTCjGFuh_RHwDMagHrg-DC8/s1600/71q0XVjZaRL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIN4jZjgPhzUPyLLBV01Htx-F57pNlJ4IY8UzKYPjkM1q2mRVT6o0rYLGcWeozO6BGF6cuIRBykd62eFxHEhtsp7Gb4vcg_qCDxPZvQHgMsQzpB1JFuYt3wTCjGFuh_RHwDMagHrg-DC8/s200/71q0XVjZaRL.jpg" width="137" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSIN4jZjgPhzUPyLLBV01Htx-F57pNlJ4IY8UzKYPjkM1q2mRVT6o0rYLGcWeozO6BGF6cuIRBykd62eFxHEhtsp7Gb4vcg_qCDxPZvQHgMsQzpB1JFuYt3wTCjGFuh_RHwDMagHrg-DC8/s1600/71q0XVjZaRL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ball-Balloon-Rob-Sanders/dp/1534425624?pf_rd_p=dd4f5b57-ba5b-418b-a348-64ec62df14cc&pd_rd_wg=5sEkG&pf_rd_r=66Q3AK2HHPKA8X6QQZKV&ref_=pd_gw_cr_simh&pd_rd_w=ePcRX&pd_rd_r=d3eb4c16-3abb-4fd9-bccf-a2c4aac55c10">Ball & Balloon by Rob Sanders</a></span><span class="s1">-A ball must learn to deal with his envy when a floating balloon has him feeling down in this simple and relatable story that reminds little ones that being different is what makes you special.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Balloon can soar, he can fly, he can dip, duck, and hover—all on his own.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Balloon is full of gas. He knows it, too. It makes Ball feel grounded by gravity.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Balloon is super special. What if Ball is not so special?</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Turns out Ball’s got some moves of his own.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0rDqkDOmtj8-1ILubNWmM8BPkKYqdYLCB54cCAfp4Bek3H8aLDLaPaAB-vDuMpllP_aCPVx9m9kQcBZfXmgWljPUDaiXoPILt8FNVbNfFVe0dbYDDdr-WRvaxBaNt57x6z6Cz5zAMeoZ/s1600/511kn7uWniL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj0rDqkDOmtj8-1ILubNWmM8BPkKYqdYLCB54cCAfp4Bek3H8aLDLaPaAB-vDuMpllP_aCPVx9m9kQcBZfXmgWljPUDaiXoPILt8FNVbNfFVe0dbYDDdr-WRvaxBaNt57x6z6Cz5zAMeoZ/s200/511kn7uWniL.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
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<span class="s2" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mama-Lion-Wins-Race-Muth/dp/054585282X/ref=sr_1_1?crid=3MOI9BG9J97F1&keywords=mama+lion+wins+the+race&qid=1573228194&s=books&sprefix=mama+lion+,stripbooks,146&sr=1-1">Mama Lion Wins The Race by Jon J Muth</a></span><span class="s1" style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-Start your engines: The race is on! And Mama Lion and Tigey are off -- with their cool goggles and snazzy sports car!</span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Racing teams gather from far and wide for this madcap race. But who will take home the big trophy? Will it be the playful Flying Pandinis? The mischievous Knitted Monkey crew? Or will Mama Lion and Tigey speed past the finish line in first place?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1">While everyone hopes to win, it's the journey itself -- filled with joy, beauty, fun, and friendships -- that is the best prize of all</span><span class="s4">.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOE2u426uSRW4tnYItv5hzKaqH57wDk9PW3tB6xVFWajtO_NGBwuh_nl3hCsegpzZG_DYJ7j0Bk0BwZNdfTQeDdG2JoakhBaLOJTd7caMPyZjZ2hM5DQBRouIgISK1XtEyginDGsS8veg/s1600/417MAEloiEL._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOE2u426uSRW4tnYItv5hzKaqH57wDk9PW3tB6xVFWajtO_NGBwuh_nl3hCsegpzZG_DYJ7j0Bk0BwZNdfTQeDdG2JoakhBaLOJTd7caMPyZjZ2hM5DQBRouIgISK1XtEyginDGsS8veg/s200/417MAEloiEL._SX258_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s2"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Ping-Ani-Castillo/dp/0316424641/ref=sr_1_1?crid=376MS6ZCAY103&keywords=ping+by+ani+castillo&qid=1573228258&s=books&sprefix=ping+by+ani+,stripbooks,127&sr=1-1">Ping by Ani Castillo</a></span><span class="s1">-In the era of social media, communication feels both more anxiety-producing, and more inescapable, than ever before. This clever, comforting picture book debut explores the challenges and joys of self-expression and social connection.</span></span></div>
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<span class="s1"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">Using an imaginative visual metaphor to bring to life how we send out (<i>ping!</i>) and receive (<i>pong!</i>) communications, Ani Castillo's words and pictures will empower and inspire anyone who has experienced the fear of sharing themselves with the world.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIAPRJXpl-sVuHTvpEkub5cwGoYkvBo56C_Ch85aHsF5qA9EIZUEukpLD484sfn83ehphn2bD2wYYxlbVCKmrjW8rhV6aDyMkGey0HOLX0LgeMDHBUyJFQU2Jlyc74xA5KE3rnHb8HBTc/s1600/91ulrFec5fL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1310" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJIAPRJXpl-sVuHTvpEkub5cwGoYkvBo56C_Ch85aHsF5qA9EIZUEukpLD484sfn83ehphn2bD2wYYxlbVCKmrjW8rhV6aDyMkGey0HOLX0LgeMDHBUyJFQU2Jlyc74xA5KE3rnHb8HBTc/s200/91ulrFec5fL.jpg" width="163" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="s1"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/My-Mouth-Volcano-Julia-Cook/dp/1931636850/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=2H6CK1WQVIOSJ&keywords=my+mouth+is+a+volcano+book&qid=1573229127&s=books&sprefix=my+mouth+is+a+%2Cstripbooks%2C137&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFTVjkwWjExRTM5NE8mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAyNTkxNjgxM0c0VUtQTEE3NFdCJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA2OTExNTMzUEZaSFZPUkpXSFdCJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==">My Mouth is a Volcano by Julia Cook</a>-</span><span style="color: #333333;">Louis always interrupts!</span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><em style="color: #333333;">All</em><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">of his thoughts are</span><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><em style="color: #333333;">very</em><span style="color: #333333;"> </span><span style="color: #333333;">important to him, and when he has something to say, his words rumble and grumble in his tummy, they wiggle and jiggle on his tongue and then they push on his teeth, right before he ERUPTS (or interrupts). His mouth is a volcano! But when others begin to interrupt Louis, he learns how to respectfully wait for his turn to talk. My Mouth Is A Volcano takes an empathetic approach to the habit of interrupting and teaches children a witty technique to help them manage their rambunctious thoughts and words. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Am-Not-Scared-Anna-Kang/dp/1503937453/ref=sr_1_2?keywords=I+am+%28not%29+scared&qid=1573233339&s=books&sr=1-2">I Am (Not) Scared by Anna Kang</a>-Two fuzzy friends go to the amusement park. They try to convince each other that there are much scarier things than the roller coaster. Hairy spiders! Aliens! Fried ants! They soon discover that so</span></span></span><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">metimes being scared isn't as "scary" as they thought. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVbEeX5YluglO9z8XAVqu59YiZhuB6mvmx8h3MdM9B1TvkBVwjUxIx6gXQY9pGXOkXavI-sUYUIYDbCk2L6EZ8hJrGU4Dr7FHvUL_S04Vf8Xhsz8GscxXB8idbkef6S5sNnHHdaByEj5q/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1309" data-original-width="1600" height="163" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNVbEeX5YluglO9z8XAVqu59YiZhuB6mvmx8h3MdM9B1TvkBVwjUxIx6gXQY9pGXOkXavI-sUYUIYDbCk2L6EZ8hJrGU4Dr7FHvUL_S04Vf8Xhsz8GscxXB8idbkef6S5sNnHHdaByEj5q/s200/0.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Stone-Sat-Still-Brendan-Wenzel/dp/1452173184">A Stone Sat Still by Brendan Wenzel</a>-A Stone Sat Still tells the story of a seemingly ordinary rock-but to the animals that use it, it is a resting place, a kitchen, a safe haven...even an entire world. This is a great book to help children understand the concept of perspective, perception and the passage of time, with an underlying environmental message that is timely and poignant. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-6GfxNMAWA7cLRBp2jp4iO-8TUwkTBsUXtVecOZ5BsesXyFBcJGsmQBV0a4lcj2M6Rxoi4ZPnOks-XRiSZiTYSv0cKOF8zW3kx-pDrpQ4a_Tr5HCt2bmedoCj0ORm1WZI30tnsKfAS_Z/s1600/81qUeh-HiJL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE-6GfxNMAWA7cLRBp2jp4iO-8TUwkTBsUXtVecOZ5BsesXyFBcJGsmQBV0a4lcj2M6Rxoi4ZPnOks-XRiSZiTYSv0cKOF8zW3kx-pDrpQ4a_Tr5HCt2bmedoCj0ORm1WZI30tnsKfAS_Z/s200/81qUeh-HiJL.jpg" width="155" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Normal-Pig-K-Fai-Steele/dp/0062748572/ref=sr_1_1?crid=JL8U6RDIMYCS&keywords=a+normal+pig&qid=1573242878&s=books&sprefix=a+normal+%2Cstripbooks%2C137&sr=1-1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A Normal Pig by K-Fai Steele</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- Pip is a normal pig who does normal stuff: cooking, painting and dreaming about what she will be when she grows up. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But one day a new pig comes to school and starts pointing out all the ways in which Pip is different. Suddenly she doesn’t like any of the same things she used to...the things that made her Pip. </span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A wonderful springboard for conversations with children, at home and in the classroom, about diversity and difference.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GFB9Y3CGd9AzcG2i8oey20TmDDP_c9dOlR2R19cVSXZMTnrEaDOj9fkNWaGSwiBQGCySrqMD8aCw1Xyc6xr8KvugZnbo9jg8ogq3oip-UUkz6PHFBBzawonjhLthB0w8I8AWjiFgxxF9/s1600/8163i%252BdkZqL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7GFB9Y3CGd9AzcG2i8oey20TmDDP_c9dOlR2R19cVSXZMTnrEaDOj9fkNWaGSwiBQGCySrqMD8aCw1Xyc6xr8KvugZnbo9jg8ogq3oip-UUkz6PHFBBzawonjhLthB0w8I8AWjiFgxxF9/s200/8163i%252BdkZqL.jpg" width="133" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Small-City-Sydney-Smith/dp/0823442616/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=small+in+the+city&qid=1573243223&s=books&sr=1-1" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Small in the City by Sydney Smith</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It can be a little scary to be small in a big city, but it helps to know you're not alone.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When you're small in the city, people don't see you, and loud sounds can scare you, and knowing what to do is sometimes hard. But this little kid knows what it is like and knows the neighborhood. And a little friendly advice can go a long way.<br />Alleys can be good shortcuts, but some are too dark.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or, there are lots of good hiding places in the city, like under a mulberry bush or up a walnut tree.<br />And if the city gets to be too much, you're always welcome home where it's safe and quiet. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This beautiful book helps to teach children about being brave and resilient. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Saturday-Oge-Mora/dp/0316431273/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1XD50TCSTU8ZO&keywords=saturday+by+oge+mora&qid=1573243763&s=books&sprefix=saturday+b%2Cstripbooks%2C144&sr=1-2">Saturday by Oge Mora</a>-Today would be special. Today would be splendid. It was Saturday! But sometimes, the best plans don't work out exactly the way you expect....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In Saturday, a mother and daughter look forward to their special Saturday routine together every single week. But this Saturday, one thing after another goes wrong--ruining storytime, salon time, picnic time and the puppet show they'd been looking forward to going to all week. Mom is nearing a meltdown....until her loving daughter reminds her that being together is the most important thing of all. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was so much fun putting this list together and only wish that I could have included even more of them. I have a tremendous collection of books so if you need other recommendations, please don't hesitate reaching out to me. I would also love to hear from all of you if you have family favorite books that you want to share with me. I am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from you all. </span></div>
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Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-89439531968634600022019-07-24T11:43:00.004-07:002019-07-24T11:43:46.984-07:00On The Go FunSummer is here and with August right around the corner, I know a lot of families spend a lot of time traveling. August also ends up being the time of the year where (some) parents begin to panic about the lack of work their kids have been doing all summer and not being properly prepared for the upcoming school year. Traveling is a great time to practice the whole "make learning fun" concept by packing the right kinds of toys. It can be so easy to just occupy their time by giving them some kind of device, which is fine, but there are so many ways to keep kids entertained without having to be looking at a screen. Below, I share some of my favorite products out there that are easy to take along anywhere. They aren't bulky, heavy or take up a lot of space which is a crucial thing when you are traveling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS1bLe2-0G73U1gTMIFD5TkWUl23GXZSC2gOVK9C5czl4aBAaOQEenbjDoy0A-pwjmiS4NaNtsSYRRlI0S4sOb3l7vFVK5zHs_8wh-YVHGO2r8Svwqe4nihTMT73bW9pAUD4YN-I7HmVG/s1600/91vKdMBSYLL._SY355_-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuS1bLe2-0G73U1gTMIFD5TkWUl23GXZSC2gOVK9C5czl4aBAaOQEenbjDoy0A-pwjmiS4NaNtsSYRRlI0S4sOb3l7vFVK5zHs_8wh-YVHGO2r8Svwqe4nihTMT73bW9pAUD4YN-I7HmVG/s200/91vKdMBSYLL._SY355_-1.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://kenleykids.com/collections/kids-travel/products/kenley-kids-snack-play-travel-tray?variant=21532094365754">Car Seat Travel Tray</a>-I haven't used this but wish I had had something like this for my daughter when she was younger. When she wasn't sleeping, she wanted to be drawing or playing on our long car rides and there was never an easy solution. This travel tray can be attached to your car seat (also can be used in a stroller or when out at a restaurant) over your child's lap and helps in keeping everything your child might need in their reach. This comes in especially handy if you are doing any kind of traveling without a spouse or someone who can be that person who can pick up dropped objects. This particular travel tray has sturdy walls and a raised front edge, has multiple storage areas and the waterproof tray is safe for your child to eat on. Be sure to stock your child's travel tray with their favorite art supplies, manipulative toys, stickers and anything else that will keep them entertained.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREUxSuc2Vp-Mw5OmsF9bPdaHwoEq6gnRMxfTS5y1hmPeZHbud4WwNxYWW34tdxl_5MAuGOu_uqJosaLjOC6VcNAQfGaGLo34QuUfUHhFWqV2DOd0opAcuJtaJMEzEoj6-huIXm-WcOzGD/s1600/zu70522532_alt_2_tm1560517278.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgREUxSuc2Vp-Mw5OmsF9bPdaHwoEq6gnRMxfTS5y1hmPeZHbud4WwNxYWW34tdxl_5MAuGOu_uqJosaLjOC6VcNAQfGaGLo34QuUfUHhFWqV2DOd0opAcuJtaJMEzEoj6-huIXm-WcOzGD/s200/zu70522532_alt_2_tm1560517278.jpg" width="166" /></a><a href="https://www.ooly.com/search?q=play+again">OOLY Play Again Reusable Sticker Sets</a>-these are one of my favorite new discoveries of this year. OOLY never disappoints me so when I saw these reusable sticker sets a couple of months ago, I bought them all. Think Colorforms reinvented for kids today. Choose from four different sets: Dragon Racetrack, Space Critters, Mermaid Magic and Princess Garden. These incredibly well made sticker sets come with over 60 reusable stickers with a double-sided trifold scene board and can be stored in the sturdy case they come in. Great for throwing in a bag to keep your kids entertained while traveling. These sets are great for working on improving grasping skills, bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination while encouraging creativity and imagination.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBpPtA8KJkYJZsHtZc6LtejQmcJljIkO8MJR1SLhNLdN6651pTVMJS_9g9A5jN7jQTNEzF9rjovafrrk6BNI2tYD739Lzc2ALJnPPW4bWwflvfj7Fjk-86dvfebNiECd0nzLXSOas6JJj/s1600/teebee-660x440.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbBpPtA8KJkYJZsHtZc6LtejQmcJljIkO8MJR1SLhNLdN6651pTVMJS_9g9A5jN7jQTNEzF9rjovafrrk6BNI2tYD739Lzc2ALJnPPW4bWwflvfj7Fjk-86dvfebNiECd0nzLXSOas6JJj/s200/teebee-660x440.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/teebee_play_store_toy_box.cfm">Teebee Play and Store Box</a>-I have loved this storage box since I first saw it on Kickstarter years ago and my own daughter has used it when traveling to keep her Legos all in one place or keep her arts and crafts supplies from going all over the place. The box has a great design with two hinged lids that fold out to create play trays that can rest over your child's legs and a handle for kids to be able to carry from the car to anywhere else. There is also another tray that can be removed to fit on the front edge of the box. If you want to use it for Legos, it comes with a brick plate that you can place in one of the lids. The Teebee box can be used for whatever you want, especially those open-ended toys like action figures, Squigz, beads, etc.. The Teebee box is a great place to store products that will work on increasing grasp strength and manipulation skills while also encouraging creativity and imagination skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HVpGNkXn-QKg4enxzK3wR1U9lcpoCHunHfHoMPb6BSZtwcGcx5har1vnt_L4ClWUH5cPccf7MmxepM86cntU_7JRsywajiRluLRY1Yc7jkiVrVeiODSScGpsopTw8L2z4MobHhxp4tNb/s1600/71rXgfujkcL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7HVpGNkXn-QKg4enxzK3wR1U9lcpoCHunHfHoMPb6BSZtwcGcx5har1vnt_L4ClWUH5cPccf7MmxepM86cntU_7JRsywajiRluLRY1Yc7jkiVrVeiODSScGpsopTw8L2z4MobHhxp4tNb/s200/71rXgfujkcL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.fatbraintoys.com/toy_companies/fat_brain_toy_co/squigz_20_36_piece.cfm">Squigz 2.0</a>-I've been a fan of Squigz since they first came out years ago and not only use them at work all the time, I gift them to kids almost as much! These open-ended suction cup building toys are as much fun for the grownups as they are for the kids and are so great for working on a variety of developmental skills. Just like the original Squigz, you can push them together to build creations. When you pull them apart, you get the most satisfying Pop sound! The Squigz 2.0 have been updated so that they can not only stick to each other, but the new flat centers allow them to connect in more places. Not only do they stick to each other, they stick to a variety of surfaces (think car window, airplane trays or tables when eating out) making them a perfect on-the-go toy. Squigz work on improving fine motor skills such as grasp strength and manipulation skills, encourages spatial reasoning, creativity, imagination and visual motor and perceptual skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmeJ-zcSQsEZoNtyaaZbK0JRs6afsux4Gf_hM7caOWuFvtKivyzcKRg8McdD2hjmZXFG1SfqDYV7J4nNEe1_fis9cyZHcCN_3x2DIqSMG41WazVMfBr5LPYBbzJL78K-KZkTPulYfyAFt/s1600/il_1588xN.1895194463_rnxt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmeJ-zcSQsEZoNtyaaZbK0JRs6afsux4Gf_hM7caOWuFvtKivyzcKRg8McdD2hjmZXFG1SfqDYV7J4nNEe1_fis9cyZHcCN_3x2DIqSMG41WazVMfBr5LPYBbzJL78K-KZkTPulYfyAFt/s200/il_1588xN.1895194463_rnxt.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.etsy.com/listing/653043763/feelings-and-emotions-peg-doll-set?ref=shop_home_active_6&frs=1">Feelings and Emotions Peg Doll Set</a>-sometimes vacations can be challenging for the children I work with. Being away from their comfortable place and not following their familiar routines can cause anxiety for some kids and lead to some meltdowns. When a child is in mid-meltdown mode, they can lose the ability to express themselves. I am loving this peg doll set from Hope Learning Toys that can help children get through difficult times by being able to label and discuss how they are feeling at different times. This set comes with 5 peg dolls (sad, calm, angry, happy, worried) and birch discs with the feelings written on them and comes in a bag making it perfect for traveling.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUVLE3zfwHT0vaG57VrYEkAnk6PraZn9rZwDR2v2hG5h9xkrJKPDBADu0HYDfQ-RESfE1wWw-mKCA5E2HheboNVUrbyTj_3Vt7gASeInI2UO5ZOhr4xTpUH5ac_kmdD6s9-4Jshq4kO9L/s1600/71FTh4fVhHL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUVLE3zfwHT0vaG57VrYEkAnk6PraZn9rZwDR2v2hG5h9xkrJKPDBADu0HYDfQ-RESfE1wWw-mKCA5E2HheboNVUrbyTj_3Vt7gASeInI2UO5ZOhr4xTpUH5ac_kmdD6s9-4Jshq4kO9L/s200/71FTh4fVhHL._SL1500_.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Potato-Head-Figures-Renewed/dp/B07S6FXYDR/ref=sr_1_24?crid=2QU369MLWSLR9&keywords=toy+story+4+mini+potato+heads&qid=1563836273&s=gateway&sprefix=toy+story+4+mini+po%2Caps%2C129&sr=8-24">Toy Story 4 Mini Potato Heads</a>-this is one of my favorite new purchases of the summer and they are a huge hit with the kids I work with. First of all, whenever a huge movie comes out, I check out what kinds of toys are being sold as they always end up being really motivating for my kids. With Toy Story 4 being one of the biggest movies of the summer, I was so excited to see they had come out with these adorable set of mini Potato Heads. I have had a pretty large collection of the superhero themed mini Potato Heads and they are a huge hit in the gym. These are a really great on-the-go toy because they don't take up much space and easily thrown into a travel or diaper bag. They are great for working on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills, improves bilateral coordination, visual motor and perceptual skills and works on executive functioning skills such as focus, attention, motor planning, organizational, problem solving and sequencing skills. An added bonus is that there can be some great opportunities for pretend play with these adorable figures.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SF78dUyTjilqCoaPR7i-XVzZ9q-CpxsJX-ykKe4jvOYy2AtLF3K-r5uGRoaNz6dwJl5iTLKQrOFIzANiCINuI-QXeljho0L0Vcq88sL7YWQhSiA2jBqDhmbMQuvtajZPvTmGIKlbDTPA/s1600/IMG_6910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="144" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6SF78dUyTjilqCoaPR7i-XVzZ9q-CpxsJX-ykKe4jvOYy2AtLF3K-r5uGRoaNz6dwJl5iTLKQrOFIzANiCINuI-QXeljho0L0Vcq88sL7YWQhSiA2jBqDhmbMQuvtajZPvTmGIKlbDTPA/s200/IMG_6910.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://www.ooly.com/products/chroma-blends-travel-watercolor-palette">OOLY Chromoblends Travel Watercolor Palette</a>-just because you are on the road, it doesn't mean your little artists can't keep creating. This awesome travel size watercolor set comes complete with 24 watercolors, two water brushes and a built in watercolor palette. The water brushes fill up so you don't have to worry about cups of water if you are in a restaurant or on a plane/in a car. I love how small the packaging is making it easy to throw into a beach or travel bag keeping your kids entertained without a screen when they need some down time.<br />
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<a href="https://www.leemagicpen.com/collections/sticker-puzzles">Lee Sticker Puzzles</a>-these sticker puzzles will always be a favorite of mine and are so perfect for travel. They come in different sizes making them appropriate for a wide range of kids. Look through the Sticker Puzzle collections and you will find all kinds of books featuring some of your kids favorite television and movie characters. Kids create pictures by placing a numbered sticker on the right place in the numbered grid. These are great for working on improving hand-eye coordination, visual tracking, visual motor and perceptual skills, grasping and manipulation skills and encourages focus, attention and organizational skills. The best part is that each book has 8 puzzles and will take up almost no room in your bags. Sets range from 15-42 stickers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBeICbbcEB_p21HasiZGSrMVgr9tmfaZxqE9xLIJggcBCOp3RFa7UGgKaKLCzVacBMjic3U06vP0geJRKK-Kim0umTH3Ew4d-bUovDdVCjQodZJ5Of3tV_98fRb_7sRkubHs4g42zFsDC/s1600/s-l640.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkBeICbbcEB_p21HasiZGSrMVgr9tmfaZxqE9xLIJggcBCOp3RFa7UGgKaKLCzVacBMjic3U06vP0geJRKK-Kim0umTH3Ew4d-bUovDdVCjQodZJ5Of3tV_98fRb_7sRkubHs4g42zFsDC/s200/s-l640.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://orbtoys.com/brands/sticky-mosaics">Orb Factory Sticky Mosaics</a>-another one of my all-time favorite things ever! I discovered the sticky mosaic sets years ago and they have been a staple in my OT tool box ever since. While I encourage you to look for these at your favorite local toy stores if you have that as an option, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/s?k=orb+factory+sticky+mosaic&crid=2WPH5IIKHOFNY&sprefix=orb+factory+sticky+mo%2Caps%2C126&ref=nb_sb_ss_i_1_21">Amazon</a> has a great collection for you to peruse if you don't. Whether your kid is into dinosaurs or princesses, there are so many great sets to choose from. They get to make a picture using the various stickers by matching colored sticker to the matching number on the picture.Once they have completed their picture, they can hang it up to display which makes a kid feel so confident!<br />
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Sticky Mosaics are a great way to work on developing fine motor and grasping skills, visual motor and perceptual skills, encourages bilateral coordination and executive functioning skill such as focus, attention, planning and organizational skills.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mUkk05wydCHZ5TyJS5UfGGAf55zXEiq-KPEuy93xQWiiV_F-vPiBucRj-kyJmUAKBK_K32FHg2uPVQihEsbYrj11DCrh-RAr9uQHhk_fHTFvUtSpcApJSVNemJLMiOgcLk3zk8tq-bpo/s1600/zu52700839_main_tm1510328040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_mUkk05wydCHZ5TyJS5UfGGAf55zXEiq-KPEuy93xQWiiV_F-vPiBucRj-kyJmUAKBK_K32FHg2uPVQihEsbYrj11DCrh-RAr9uQHhk_fHTFvUtSpcApJSVNemJLMiOgcLk3zk8tq-bpo/s200/zu52700839_main_tm1510328040.jpg" width="166" /></a><a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/beach-bash-jewelry-making-kit">Kid Made Modern Beach Bash Jewelry Kit</a>-I happen to have a kid who really loves to create anytime she can, especially accessories! I am kind of obsessed with all things <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/?gclid=Cj0KCQjwjrvpBRC0ARIsAFrFuV-OpLResIZrgTIOSpaM0hhXBdfhHqcNDffU3r_uw0bPutmUbo-9FAkaAkzGEALw_wcB">Kid Made Modern</a>. If you don't know about them, you need to! They have this amazing mission to inspire kids (and their grownups) to find and enjoy being creative. All of their products are designed to give kids the opportunity to realize their creative spark, use their imagination and express themselves by providing them with a variety of craft materials. While they provide them with ideas, they also encourage kids to use their imagination to come up with their own creation.<br />
While there are so many <a href="https://kidmademodern.com/collections/jewelry-making-kits">jewelry kits</a> to choose from, the Beach Bash Jewelry Kit is one of my favorites, especially for the summer. Each set comes with everything you need to make fun summer related accessories. The durable case comes complete with different colored hemp cords, shell pendants, seashells, wooden and acrylic beds and an instruction guide to motivate your little designer.<br />
These kits are awesome for working on improving fine motor and manipulation skills, bilateral coordination, hand-eye coordination, visual motor skills, encourages creativity and imagination skills and works on improving focus, attention and organizational skills. Another great thing is that as kids complete their jewelry, their confidence and self-esteem rise!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL7zIuzZke6N8hxq_kmSV1qJdx05dBKAhVgyGwjsjXcvoOV8Wnr7X-9wSAu7EvVb87_e5HoZgZRHSjzIAJwxnofqPUatVBHvqG118SxbyZbYvXOSImcd_xr9J8ajOaj5svU13eLwNFrAr/s1600/6-0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="122" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCL7zIuzZke6N8hxq_kmSV1qJdx05dBKAhVgyGwjsjXcvoOV8Wnr7X-9wSAu7EvVb87_e5HoZgZRHSjzIAJwxnofqPUatVBHvqG118SxbyZbYvXOSImcd_xr9J8ajOaj5svU13eLwNFrAr/s200/6-0239.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.tigertribe.com.au/neon-colouring-set-glow-friends">Glow Friends Neon Colouring Set</a><span style="color: #383838;">-sometimes my daughter is perfectly content with the coloring pages that you may get a children's menu on at restaurants but most of the time she wants more than a couple of crayons and whatever they give you to color. This coloring set by Tiger Tribe is a perfect for throwing in your bag, whether you are going out to eat or about to hop in a car or a plane for a long trip. Each set comes in a sturdy box with a magnetic top and contains 36 coloring pages, 2 storage drawers, 3 sheets of stickers and 3 double sided markers. Great for working on improving graphomotor skills, visual motor and visual perceptual skills and encourages creativity. </span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4LavrUoCEVRkRdHCRpEXfHOJO0Vgp0Rg3C-fzwZ60awDHzxwgX8NN1t2UoyMZ0eqwFgbQzTwHIWQsxvreiKsakoxQ0M__W2JriVJ-u24uF_9ipS_79I_UGllJMvZZ0g9y1fJ1zkWT0Fx/s1600/Take_Along_Games.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="98" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI4LavrUoCEVRkRdHCRpEXfHOJO0Vgp0Rg3C-fzwZ60awDHzxwgX8NN1t2UoyMZ0eqwFgbQzTwHIWQsxvreiKsakoxQ0M__W2JriVJ-u24uF_9ipS_79I_UGllJMvZZ0g9y1fJ1zkWT0Fx/s200/Take_Along_Games.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="color: #383838;"><br /></span>
<a href="http://www.mindware.orientaltrading.com/take-along-games-reusable-sticker-tote-a2-SP68.fltr?keyword=take-along+games&directSearch=true">Take-Along Games</a><span style="color: #383838;">-this set by Peaceable Kingdom is great for keeping kids entertained while in a car/plane, at a restaurant or those down times at the pool or beach. The set comes with 4 games that use reusable stickers (think Colorforms): Tic-Tac-Toe, Four-in-a-Row, Memory Match-up and On-the-Go Bingo. In addition to keeping kids entertained, these are great for working on improving grasp strength and manipulation skills, improves hand-eye coordination and visual motor and visual perceptual skills and works on executive functioning skills. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #383838;">These are just a handful of the awesome things out there that not only make learning fun, they are easy to take when you are on the go. I know there are a ton more out there so if you are looking for specific ideas for your children, let me know. If you have toys, games or activities that are hits with your kids for traveling, I'd love to hear from you. I am always a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from you all!</span><br />
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<br />Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5329915946896790048.post-75349245030626300832019-06-02T18:16:00.000-07:002019-06-02T18:34:52.711-07:00Write On! Summer Writing Ideas<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The end of the school year is just around the corner and there is a level of excitement in the kids that I work with that is hard to contain. Kids are looking forward to spending their summers at camp, going on vacations or just getting a break from the daily grind of school and homework. For many kids, s</span><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ummer is supposed to be about resting and relaxing and not thinking about school. However, since many of the older kids I work with don't come to occupational therapy during the summer because of long camp days or spending the summer out of the city, it's important for me to come up with ideas and activities to keep them writing so they don't lose all the skills they have gained over the summer months. Many parents want to give their kids a break but also want to make sure their kids are ready for the upcoming school year. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are a lot ways to make handwriting seem less like work for kids. I like when there are activities they whole family can get involved in that way a child doesn't feel like they are being punished. Here are a couple of fun handwriting games you can play as a family:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Crossword Puzzles</b></i>-these are great for practicing letter writing, sizing and spacing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Mad Libs</b></i>-these are still one of my daughter's favorite things to do when in the car for long car rides. They are great for working on spelling and learning about identifying parts of speech (verbs, nouns, adjectives, etc.). It's also great for working on sizing of letters so they fit in the space they provide. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i><b>Cryptograms</b></i>-a cryptogram is a type of word puzzle that consists of a code in which a symbol or number is assigned to each letter of the alphabet in order to solve the code. These are not only great for practicing writing letters, it's also great for working on improving visual motor and visual tracking skills. You can find them online for printing out or can check out this book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Secret-Codes-Kids-Cryptograms-Children/dp/1479217794/ref=sr_1_5?crid=31AOFWBJCY7XD&keywords=cryptogram+puzzle+books+for+kids&qid=1559331046&s=gateway&sprefix=cryptog%2Caps%2C132&sr=8-5">here</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition to the ideas above, I am sharing some of my favorite activity books, journals and other products that are great for working on handwriting over the summer months. These are meant to help my older children who need to prepare for the increased expectations that they will be faced with in the upcoming school year. Many of these provide writing and story prompts to make it a bit easier for my kids who struggle with coming up with ideas. Sometimes kids get really nervous about how to start a story, but once given a little push, they have great ideas on how to create a full story. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhDqD43Cg3P7aCa_ADNSSGK_t0icNrMAQgz685v0BrmlTZ8N9oKNjzuboveRib1TqClhHgwpaqDd37j3DkZlGDIFyAHgXc7IkPg0jtJM46HeWz1QXFR9HiqssmW8LIAMR0ft71oieViQ-/s1600/download.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="174" data-original-width="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYhDqD43Cg3P7aCa_ADNSSGK_t0icNrMAQgz685v0BrmlTZ8N9oKNjzuboveRib1TqClhHgwpaqDd37j3DkZlGDIFyAHgXc7IkPg0jtJM46HeWz1QXFR9HiqssmW8LIAMR0ft71oieViQ-/s1600/download.jpg" /></a>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Superpowers-collection-activities-questions-wonderful/dp/1943200750">Super Powers! A Great Big Collection of </a></span><br />
<a href="https://www.amazon.com/Superpowers-collection-activities-questions-wonderful/dp/1943200750" style="font-family: "helvetica neue", arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Awesome Activities, Quirky Questions</a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">-calling on all kids to turn on their superpowers! This fun-filled book offers tons of wonderful way for kids to discover what really interests them, what makes them unique and what makes them so amazing just the way they are. With invitations to declare a superhero name, create a superhero tool kit and even write their own superhero legend, this book will light up the imagination of young kids-boosting their confidence and opening up their minds to big possibilities. When completed, parents have a wonderful keepsake of their child's unique personality.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMuKTyFR79tv5tbQjkN_ApIRv4_oUciXf5fHuHA0Axnjy2d3iKq2WCNvCq1r5j86rVqIJ1i0-BPV9x7zroKJq1bhx6ucECBtN9vCyMsuXrvRHRye8rlz-TDkOxhQdx8TghVzHNIs6PLHu/s1600/and-then-story-starters1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="333" data-original-width="500" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOMuKTyFR79tv5tbQjkN_ApIRv4_oUciXf5fHuHA0Axnjy2d3iKq2WCNvCq1r5j86rVqIJ1i0-BPV9x7zroKJq1bhx6ucECBtN9vCyMsuXrvRHRye8rlz-TDkOxhQdx8TghVzHNIs6PLHu/s200/and-then-story-starters1.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Then-Story-Starters-M-H-Clark/dp/1935414712/ref=pd_sim_14_2/131-6895409-1372211?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=1935414712&pd_rd_r=24dd106d-82f0-11e9-8ec8-f37f2ab7fd5a&pd_rd_w=E92OD&pd_rd_wg=WZb73&pf_rd_p=90485860-83e9-4fd9-b838-b28a9b7fda30&pf_rd_r=5VEJWX43F45GSG0E15RT&psc=1&refRID=5VEJWX43F45GSG0E15RT">And Then Story Starter Cards</a>-And Then is a collection of 20 beginnings of stories that your children have to come up with how the story will end. Each of the cards in this box has a tantalizing start to a story that your child (with the help from friends, siblings or parents) will have to finish. After the And then...it's up to your kids to figure out what happens next. Encourages self-expression, creativity and confidence as they work on developing good writing skills. </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBdJWf261xNfw488Ey190rGGylXo3y9taD7V4bQ5vW3pKR7-5QDyHJ9WNcu1fVKyETQXqmX3ejaA2CNdvwUAceg6btMVKX1DqO9E2ukNZ49ua_HzUAimLOhlTbrDCwCRMPHpxEBeNv0ZB/s1600/81TUJ0XTMlL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBBdJWf261xNfw488Ey190rGGylXo3y9taD7V4bQ5vW3pKR7-5QDyHJ9WNcu1fVKyETQXqmX3ejaA2CNdvwUAceg6btMVKX1DqO9E2ukNZ49ua_HzUAimLOhlTbrDCwCRMPHpxEBeNv0ZB/s200/81TUJ0XTMlL.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Like-Activity-Book-M-H-Clark/dp/1938298810/ref=sr_1_1?crid=265L21YS7RX5J&keywords=i+like+a+great+big+book&qid=1559521267&s=gateway&sprefix=i+like...+a+great+b%2Caps%2C168&sr=8-1">I Like....A Great Big Book of Awesome Activities</a>-inspire kids of all ages to write all about themselves and they things they like in this whimsically illustrated activity book. Features creative activities, intriguing questions, writing prompts and wild artwork. This is great for working on handwriting and drawing with kids over the summer months, perfect for taking along when traveling and a great way for your kid to get to know themselves even more. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqA_txbSFIdgA7uyFBIu6i-O9tqZyKacczSLhFw6pwbnoVGYYz2sqb6xG3331Ugxao5omkkHk_mYaCy9TrMy-48PL4H3wK9cyQO2x10tfarNS0M-D-ndrYW3hONjZ7hmk5YDD9LuIsKG6/s1600/9780545315111_mres.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1039" data-original-width="800" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitqA_txbSFIdgA7uyFBIu6i-O9tqZyKacczSLhFw6pwbnoVGYYz2sqb6xG3331Ugxao5omkkHk_mYaCy9TrMy-48PL4H3wK9cyQO2x10tfarNS0M-D-ndrYW3hONjZ7hmk5YDD9LuIsKG6/s200/9780545315111_mres.jpg" width="153" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Cliffhanger-Writing-Prompts-Imaginations-Narrative/dp/0545315115/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=34KCQG03XBFWU&keywords=cliffhanger+writing+prompts&qid=1559339707&s=gateway&sprefix=cliffhanger+wr%2Caps%2C130&sr=8-1-spons&psc=1">Cliffhanger Writing Prompts</a>-this ready-to-use resource contains 30 exciting story starters that model good writing and help any student get past writer's block. The prompts provide scaffolding through rich characters, imaginative settings and and edge-of-your-seat cliffhanger. "And then...." students put their natural storytelling skills to work, dreaming up their own unique endings. Some of the writing prompts they will write about are: What's under the door in the floor? What are the voices in the root beer saying? What arrived via special delivery? </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoxVQD4aRPUU3NTY51UzeJJSlfB68ZhbtMXrjFvgKHLcDgbhvrUIQVrzIlzDsCGx7IHQrMBTl41cwal1E8JSiojNuyiR2x3PHws86CS9UK5aG6vruJMdNrHVclf3rDfrNR0kurXLyjUne/s1600/33-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcoxVQD4aRPUU3NTY51UzeJJSlfB68ZhbtMXrjFvgKHLcDgbhvrUIQVrzIlzDsCGx7IHQrMBTl41cwal1E8JSiojNuyiR2x3PHws86CS9UK5aG6vruJMdNrHVclf3rDfrNR0kurXLyjUne/s200/33-01.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Mindful-Activity-Book-Whitney-Stewart/dp/0807551465/ref=sr_1_2?crid=3UFS3E0F4O979&keywords=mindful+me+activity+book&qid=1559339896&s=gateway&sprefix=mindful+me+act%2Caps%2C124&sr=8-2">Mindful Me Activity Book</a>-being mindful won't take away your problems, but it can help you handle them. In this activity book, kids will learn to settle their thoughts and look inward through a series of fun writing prompts, games and meditation exercises. Serving as a guide to reflect upon the lessons learned in Mindful Me, it offers kids a place to record their reflections, creating a tangible account of how far they've grown in their meditation practice. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Like-Activity-Book-M-H-Clark/dp/1938298810/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1VH9SS4P0QL2S&keywords=i+like+a+great+big+book&qid=1559243960&s=gateway&sprefix=i+like+a+great+b%2Caps%2C163&sr=8-1"><br /></a></span></span>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5syk04GV0cBpKaKITf7PF7OeTOJ_wVZc8HjANcV9bPc7bp9NBy3LYZJBzfc920UhCp0MTHZ6rT13M2lz62rU3XxflwucE2R2loI04SZIJnN7yg8IlfLK4Nc1dtl4iCLxUOLOW0H7_0pe/s1600/9780143505044-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="760" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhx5syk04GV0cBpKaKITf7PF7OeTOJ_wVZc8HjANcV9bPc7bp9NBy3LYZJBzfc920UhCp0MTHZ6rT13M2lz62rU3XxflwucE2R2loI04SZIJnN7yg8IlfLK4Nc1dtl4iCLxUOLOW0H7_0pe/s200/9780143505044-3.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Wimpy-Yourself-Revised-Expanded-Diary/dp/0810989956/ref=sr_1_2?crid=307UXOGF7YUWN&keywords=wimpy+kid+do+it+yourself&qid=1559340222&s=gateway&sprefix=wimpy+kid+%2Caps%2C133&sr=8-2">Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book</a>-with the Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself book, your child is the author, illustrator and the main character. Filled with loads of interactive pages and plenty of space to write you own life's story, this book is all you need to create your masterpieces. Another great book for kids to take with them while traveling, at the beach or when at a restaurant. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaCcmK41maqP6OozxgKtapRdN6lY4N5yASuqqUNJiuG2ZMwVbiwjPap8ZTB1TBolCduDaKlNvNFbhbqel4D9nAiFl-9v0AYPwLpVQXQbtab1vd_hbMtz3u6WgqEurtQBRmRxIeNHjKext/s1600/ComicBookKit_Product_web_grande.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigaCcmK41maqP6OozxgKtapRdN6lY4N5yASuqqUNJiuG2ZMwVbiwjPap8ZTB1TBolCduDaKlNvNFbhbqel4D9nAiFl-9v0AYPwLpVQXQbtab1vd_hbMtz3u6WgqEurtQBRmRxIeNHjKext/s200/ComicBookKit_Product_web_grande.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://kidmademodern.com/products/comic-book-kit">Kid Made Modern Comic Book Kit</a>-this DIY comic book kit has everything you need to create your own comic book. Whether you are writing about a superhero or making up some other fun story....it's all right and all up to the writer. This kit is perfect for the graphic novel obsessed kid and provides endless possibilities to design their own colorful comic book. Your budding storyteller will have plenty of room to explore and customize their own 32-page comic book (or write a bunch of short comics). The set comes complete with a blank comic book, markers, stencil templates, rubber stamps, ink pads, bottles of ink and a storage box.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBIs9AoF6Q1EbFa-vm6MppFIBlW2Yz2r66LDnSndzpm8ymE2TyqD_oZzGTx_1ZYV3IfQaWbuh3sKpX9Jd8c83mRYpMjrLJ_dk4xJ2HggwAyUpuuLlFzTlmgFSGIejmJau6rBN9WCyrjHm/s1600/Fresh-Fruits-on-the-go-Stationery-Kit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="700" height="128" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguBIs9AoF6Q1EbFa-vm6MppFIBlW2Yz2r66LDnSndzpm8ymE2TyqD_oZzGTx_1ZYV3IfQaWbuh3sKpX9Jd8c83mRYpMjrLJ_dk4xJ2HggwAyUpuuLlFzTlmgFSGIejmJau6rBN9WCyrjHm/s200/Fresh-Fruits-on-the-go-Stationery-Kit.jpg" width="200" /></a>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.ooly.com/pages/search-results-page?q=on+the+go+stationery+kits">On The Go Stationery Kits</a>-a fun way to get kids writing is by setting them up with a pen pal of sorts. Summer is a great time for this because there are so many kids who go to camp or friends who go away. And what kid doesn't love getting actual mail in the mailbox?? I love these sets from OOLY. They make a great gift for kids who are heading off to camp. Each kit comes complete with 8 letter sheets, 4 envelopes , 4 postcards, a notebook, a mechanical pencil, a four color click pen, a sheet of stickers and an eraser which can all be conveniently stored in the sturdy case it comes in. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo7v9yK1OmnG77ElfLXUI52HsDqtYwrWtPHOr5N7xP-JeImQ71N6GpzemklOVwYwIRTwIbm7NVbhjVLbACNo4UoNtCXxxO9g2GpJ5ZnmeJlicmktfysaYEtAj4oX2yTeUh7MeN1tSHT5W/s1600/51uOPWeTn-L._SX342_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="344" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPo7v9yK1OmnG77ElfLXUI52HsDqtYwrWtPHOr5N7xP-JeImQ71N6GpzemklOVwYwIRTwIbm7NVbhjVLbACNo4UoNtCXxxO9g2GpJ5ZnmeJlicmktfysaYEtAj4oX2yTeUh7MeN1tSHT5W/s200/51uOPWeTn-L._SX342_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="137" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Share-Your-Smile-Rainas-Telling/dp/1338353845/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=share+your+smile&qid=1559521887&s=gateway&sr=8-1">Share Your Smile</a>-living with a 9 year old daughter who is completely obsessed with graphic novels, especially those written by Raina Telgemeir, we had to get this journal like book as soon as it came out. With guidance from Raina herself, kids get lots of tips from her about how to write and draw in this colorful, interactive journal. She teaches kids how to brainstorm ideas, make lists, paste in personal photos and encourages kids to use their imagination to create their own stories. In addition to all these great tips, there are a bunch of behind-the-scenes info from Raina and a sneak peak at her newest book coming out in the fall. This has been my go-to gift and it's been the biggest hit! I guarantee if you have a Raina fan in your life, they will be encouraged to write and create with this journal. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNACp6tflg2hGBD_7wQdTkbO2BuQPOCRXyD97wp_4Or6hkI-JrcqSiajFI6sUM-CMjDHne8YW3K6ESloKSEuQE1TdEDNZgnlh5ug9gRiZSVbSyrs5cYMoP8b8sFlAy1sS05S0m_jM5fR9/s1600/9780997895841-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTNACp6tflg2hGBD_7wQdTkbO2BuQPOCRXyD97wp_4Or6hkI-JrcqSiajFI6sUM-CMjDHne8YW3K6ESloKSEuQE1TdEDNZgnlh5ug9gRiZSVbSyrs5cYMoP8b8sFlAy1sS05S0m_jM5fR9/s200/9780997895841-2.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.rebelgirls.co/products/i-am-a-rebel-girl-journal">I Am A Rebel Girl Journal</a>-another recommendation based on my daughter loving it. We have been huge fans of the <a href="https://www.rebelgirls.co/products/rebel-girls-collector-gift-set">Goodnight Stories for Rebel Girls</a> books since they came out a couple of years ago (gladly been backing them on Kickstarter for each of their projects) and when the journal came out, we were psyched. This journal is filled with activities that challenge perspective, induce thoughts and prompt action. There are activities that encourage girls to love their bodies, write a letter to an elected representative and to interact with the absolutely beautiful artwork by female artists. This 224-page journal is perfect for working on developing writing skills while also empowering young girls. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So these are just a handful of the dozens and dozens of amazing products out there that can encourage young kids to want to write and create this summer. I chose ones that keep things light since it is summer and know that you have to motivate kids to work on these challenging things when they aren't being forced to. I also chose ones that allows them to use their imagination while also getting to know themselves a bit better. During the school year, their aren't too many opportunities to just write what you want which can often lead to kids resenting handwriting. By allowing your kids creative writing opportunities, you may find that they actually find it easier and will begin to develop a love for writing. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you have any other recommendations or ideas, please share them! I know that I am always on the lookout for great writing products and am sure my readers will love the suggestions as well. I am only a <a href="mailto:otmeghan@gmail.com">click away</a> and love hearing from you all! </span><br />
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Meghan Corridanhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15884766274605392275noreply@blogger.com4