Tag Archives: babies

Coming Soon: “One Thing” Thursday

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I’m excited to announce the newest addition to the MamaOT blog!:

“One Thing” Thursday

MamaOT

Every Thursday, I will feature one quick tip that you can implement to help improve some aspect of your child’s development. I will keep it as focused as possible so it’s short, sweet, and easy to use. The age range addressed will vary from week to week, so there will be something for everyone throughout the month.

Cool? Let me give you the back story real quick:

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I do my best to give my little clients’ parents ideas for how they can carryover their child’s therapeutic program throughout the rest of the week. Though it’s tempting to give them a bunch of ideas so they can leave their child’s session armed and ready to go for the next several days, I find it’s often more effective to only suggest ONE THING. Sometimes that ONE THING is very specific (e.g., give him a deep massage with lotion after bath time every night). Sometimes it’s pretty broad (e.g., find opportunities to engage her in fine motor activities that will continue to encourage development of her pincer grasp). And, yes, I’ve even referred a parent to Pinterest before for sensory and fine motor play ideas via Kid Blogger Network. God bless Pinterest.

Anyway…

I have found that giving families more than ONE THING to do each week can be overwhelming and impractical and, more often than not, families are less likely to carryover therapist suggestions when they are given too many ideas to choose from, no matter how fun or great they are. And, honestly, sometimes it’s even difficult for parents to try out that ONE THING. Factors such as limited time, space, energy, or finances can get in the way, and it’s totally understandable. I’m a parent. I get it. Raising a family is tough work. That’s why I try to keep it simple.

Similarly, I want to provide tips and tricks on this blog that are practical and easy to use. Sometimes a list of five or ten things is great. But other times ONE THING is enough.

That’s why I’m creating “One Thing” Thursday.

Be sure to stop by for next week’s first installment of “One Thing” Thursday. I’ll give you a clue…it’s about babies.

If you haven’t yet subscribed to the blog or followed MamaOT on Twitter or Facebook, now’s your chance! You don’t want to miss out on all the great tips and tricks you can use for those crazy, quirky, sweet, special children in your life.

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Five No-Mess Arts and Crafts for Kids

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arts and crafts for kids

This weekend I decided to take my little one with me on some errands and, like any curious parent/therapist, I found myself wandering through the arts and crafts aisle at Target. I find that, if nothing else, these meanderings are a good way for me to stay informed of all the latest products out there on the market. As I slowly scanned this entertaining aisle, I was so excited to see that good ol’ Crayola is doing its best to get babies and toddlers in on some arts and crafts fun…without the mess!

Check it out:

arts and crafts stampers

1. Self-Inking Washable Stampers: No stamp pad. No ink on the face. Just an easy-to-hold cute little character that leaves its footprints wherever those little hands take them.

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arts and crafts markers

2. No-Mess Marker and Paper: Young toddler wants to color on the couch, floor, and walls? No problem! These magical markers only work on the special paper included in the kit. Wow.

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arts and crafts finger paint

3. No-Mess Fingerpaint: Say, what?!?! Like the no-mess markers, this magic goop is specially designed to only work on the special paper. Double wow.

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arts and crafts coloring

4. Washable Musical Rub-Art: Kind of like a MagnaDoodle, with a toddler twist. And there’s music so, hey, that’s always exciting.

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arts and crafts toddler bath crayons

5. Washable Bath Crayons and Canvas: Maybe you’ve seen Crayola’s big kid bath crayons that color directly on the bath tub wall (and sometimes stain the grout), but have you seen this? It comes with a canvas that just sticks to the wall so little ones can color on the canvas during bath time and then wipe it clean.

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Needless to say, I just HAD to get one of these fun no-mess arts and crafts supplies so I could try it with my 13-month-old baby boy and then, of course, report back here to the blog to let you know how it worked.

If you have already liked MamaOT on Facebook, then you probably already know which arts and crafts product I snagged because I posted a picture of it on Saturday. But if you missed the picture or haven’t yet liked MamaOT on Facebook (what are you waiting for?!), be sure to subscribe to the blog or stop by tomorrow to find out what we did and how it went!

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Fun sensory play with J-E-L-L-O!

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sensory play

Getting messy is a hallmark of childhood, but did you know it’s also really good for kids? Exposing kids to lots of different sensory experiences and textures early in their lives helps develop their tactile system, which is important for the development of body awareness, hand skills, and even healthy eating habits. This means sensory play is both fun and educational! 

We recently had fun during our first wet sensory play experience with some good ol’ fashioned Jello! After several hours of waiting for that gelatinous goodness to solidify, I sat my little one down in the bath tub with a bowl of black cherry Jello and a few spoons and let him go to town.

sensory playSensory PlaySensory PlaySensory play

Here are a few tips for facilitating your own Jello sensory play experience:

1. Because Jello must be refrigerated for several hours before it’s ready, it is REALLY cold when it’s time to play. Give it some time on the counter after it’s hardened so your little one won’t feel like they’re plunging their hand into a bucket of ice water when they’re supposed to be having fun.

2. If your child is hesitant about touching the slimy stuff once it’s available, try giving them a “tool” such as a spoon or other utensil. This will provide some distance between them and the messy medium and will give them time to get comfortable with it.

3. If your child doesn’t warm up to it, that’s fine. Don’t force it. Put the bowl back in the fridge and try again another day.

4. If your child is all about sensory play, then try hiding things or playing with toys in the Jello. It could be bath toys, plastic letters, or other small toys that can be easily washed. Follow your child’s lead and encourage their imagination.

5. DO NOT allow kids to stand up in the tub after they’ve been playing with the Jello. It is super slippery and the last thing you need is a fun-time-turned-accident. Closely supervise during this experience.

6. Maybe try to avoid using Jello that is also the same color as blood. Like I said, I used black cherry flavor, and I didn’t realize how bad the color was until my baby started smearing it all over himself. Yeah. Looked like he was on the set of some sort of slasher movie. Not cool.

7. Wash all surfaces that have been covered in Jello so they aren’t sticky or slimy anymore…including baby!

Sensory playSensory Play

What are some other fun ways you can play with Jello? Please share in the comment box below!

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Guest Post for HGI Healthcare

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Had the privilege of writing as a guest blogger for a company called HGI Healthcare the other day! They are a healthcare staffing company that provides job placements for registered nurses and rehabilitation therapists (such as occupational and physical therapists), and they were kind enough to ask me to pitch in and provide their healthcare professionals with some tips and tricks. So fun!

Check out the post by clicking here, and read the slick bio they put together by clicking here.

Thanks for reading and have a great weekend!

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Activity Ideas for Kids: Pinterest!

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Last week I introduced you to four fantastic websites that all do a great job of sharing ideas for activities to do with kids:

1. Monday featured No Time for Flash Cards (read post here).
2. Tuesday was all about Productive Parenting (read post here).
3. Wednesday we dove into Growing a Jeweled Rose (read post here).
4. And on Thursday I introduced you to hands on : as we grow (read post here).

I hope you’ve had a chance to check out at least one of these websites and have found something that strikes your (or your little one’s) fancy. Haven’t found what you’re looking for? Can’t get enough of the activity ideas I’ve already given you? Well, have I got the treat for you.

One word: Pinterest.

For those who don’t know, Pinterest is a website where you can organize (or “pin”) all the ideas you and your friends find on the internet by creating virtual “pinboards” for your stuff. You can follow other people’s boards and they can follow yours. WARNING: Pinterest is extremely addicting!!!

Among other things, Pinterest is the perfect place to find and organize activity ideas for kids. While I wouldn’t recommend just going on Pinterest and typing in search terms for activities (that would take waaaayyyy too long), I do think it’s worth investing a bit of your time into finding a few core people/organizations who can provide you with everything you’re looking for in terms of activity ideas.

Here is a short list of three great groups to follow on Pinterest if you’re looking for activity ideas for kids:

1. “Kid Blogger Network Activities & Crafts” : this one will pretty much dominate your home page because it’s a collaborative pinboard, which means lots of specifically selected bloggers can contribute kid-friendly pins…hence, “kid blogger network”.

2. “PediaStaff on Pinterest” : they are a therapy staffing company that supports their therapists in part by creating and organizing hundreds of pinboards related to activities used in pediatric therapy…everything from speech and language development, to fine motor and sensory processing skills, to holiday-themed activities…honored to have a few of MamaOT’s blog posts repinned by PediaStaff!

3. “AOTA Inc – Children: Developmental Activities” : the official pinboard of the American Occupational Therapy Association, so you know it’s gonna be good…very honored that some of MamaOT’s blog posts have made it onto here, too!

And, of course, you can always follow MamaOT on Pinterest for additional actvitiy ideas! I pin resources from the above three sources frequently and also have a handful of other sources that knock my socks off. Click here to see my pins and follow along.

Who are some of your favorite people to follow on Pinterest in order to find great activity ideas for kids?

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Activity Ideas for Kids: “Growing a Jeweled Rose”

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If you’ve been following MamaOT this week, then you know we’re working on expanding your kids’ play repertoire by featuring different websites that focus exclusively on fun and educational activities for kids. Monday featured “No Time for Flash Cards” (read post here), Tuesday was all about “Productive Parenting” (read post here), and today we will show you the ropes on how to have fun getting MESSY!

You have absolutely got to check out this blog called Growing a Jeweled Rose: Learning and Loving Through Messy Play, which can be found at www.growingajeweledrose.com.

Growing a Jeweled Rose (GAJR for short) is written by a mom named Crystal who has two girls named “Jewel” and “Rosie” (hence her cleverly titled blog), and she primarily writes about how she and her kids explore and learn through sensory play, which often includes getting really, ridiculously, unbelievably messy! Crystal is the queen of messy play and she also rules the school when it comes to glow-in-the dark fun, especially during bath and water play.

Messy play is a very important part of childhood but I find that many parents are either afraid to let their kids get messy (understandably) or they are okay with it but they just don’t know where to start. I give Crystal major props for having the courage not only to allow her girls to engage in full-body mud baths (oh yes she does!), but also to share her ideas, experiences, and awesome pictures of how to do it all. Additionally, I am in love with the fact that she hosts messy play dates for her kids and their friends!!

Here are some of my favorites from Growing a Jeweled Rose (click on title for link):

I am seriously thinking about starting to host messy play dates myself and if you and I live in the same town…watch out…things are about to get messy.

Head on over to Growing a Jeweled Rose and join in on the goopy, muddy, slimy, messy fun!

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Activity Ideas for Kids: “No Time for Flash Cards”

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Last week I asked you to tell me what ages and topics you wanted to learn more about here on MamaOT.com. I learned that many of you are looking for play and activity ideas for your little ones. To be honest, there are TONS of blogs out there (it’s overwhelming, really) that offer a multitude of ideas for creative crafts and activities for kids. And since MamaOT is a “Tips and Tricks” blog that sometimes features activity ideas (rather than focusing on them exclusively), I thought I’d share some helpful resources for those of you looking for a creative boost. I’ve decided to devote this entire week (how lucky are you?!) to telling you about some fantastic resources out there on the world wide web that have already put together fun lists of things to do with kids of all ages!

The first website you should check out is called No Time for Flash Cards: Learning and Play for Babies, Toddlers, and Kids. It can be accessed at www.notimeforflashcards.com.

No Time for Flash Cards (or NTFFC for short) is a fun blog that features tons of activity ideas for babies, toddlers, and kids. It has been around since 2008 and is run by a teacher/mom who loves to help other parents. You can search for activities based on:

  • AGE — infant, toddler (1-3), preschool (3-5), school-age (5+), big kid and parents (8+)
  • CRAFT — by theme and by age
  • ACTIVITY TYPE — cooking, fine motor, gross motor, math, pretend play, science, sensory, and songs

The philosophy of NTFFC is to make learning fun at home and in school…without the flashcards!

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I think the NTFFC blog is a great place to start for those who are looking for activity ideas that will engage kids’ brains and bodies without making them feel like they’re being “drilled”. The blog’s writers have backgrounds in literature, education, and crafting, so those are the kinds of ideas you’ll encounter. Though it’s not a site geared specifically toward reaching developmental milestones or sharing how to playfully work toward specific age-appropriate skills (such as fine motor milestones or handwriting development), I think you’ll find the ideas on NTFFC useful and practical, especially the page that outlines basic must-have craft supplies.

Here are some examples of activities featured on NTFFC (click on title for link to activity):

I hope you’ll stop by No Time for Flash Cards and try out some of the many fun ideas it has in store for you. Hopefully you’ll discover some new favorites. Let me know what you think of it!

Tomorrow I will be sharing another website I like that is filled with hundreds (maybe even THOUSANDS) of activity ideas for parents and kids to do together. Be sure to come back to check it out or, better yet, subscribe to MamaOT so you don’t miss out on future posts. See you tomorrow!

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MamaOT poll: What ages and topics do you want to read about?

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As you know, my goal here at MamaOT is to provide helpful tips and tricks for those of you who care for children. Though I try my best to address a diversity of topics and age groups, I really want to know what you are interested in learning about so I  can best meet your needs. After all, this blog is all about you, the readers!

Would you mind taking 10 seconds to answer the two questions below so I can get a clearer picture of what you want to learn about? I will take your answers into consideration as I plan my next several months of blogging and do my best to equip you to meet your children’s needs.

Thank you so much!

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MamaOT’s Makeover!

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It’s only been one month since the official launch of MamaOT and, already, exciting changes are coming. To those of you who have read, shared, linked to, or subscribed to this blog: THANK YOU! from the bottom of my heart. Thanks also to those of you who have commented, called, emailed, or Facebook messaged me to tell me how much you love the posts on MamaOT (you know who you are). This blog is for all of you!

You may have noticed MamaOT has undergone a bit of a makeover in the past few days. Well, I have two big announcements to make. Are you ready?

(drum roll, please…)

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER ONE:

MamaOT is now on Facebook and Twitter!

To get MamaOT in your Facebook news feed, click the “Like” button on the right-hand side of the Home screen, or go to www.facebook.com/MamaOTblog and click “Like”. This will give you additional access to helpful tips and tricks, as well as links to articles and other resources related to kid-life.

To follow MamaOT on Twitter, click the “Follow @mamaotblog” button on the right-hand side of your screen or click here.

You can still subscribe to MamaOT via email or Google Reader and follow on Pinterest, so what are you waiting for???

Okay, I know that was really exciting. Take a moment to collect yourself. Alright. Ready for MamaOT’s second big announcement? Here we go!

ANNOUNCEMENT NUMBER TWO:

For those of you who aren’t into the whole social media frenzy (or who just want good information, plain and simple), I’ve added a brand new page to the blog just for you!

“Recommended resources“ is MamaOT’s newest page and is all about, well, resources I recommend. It’s an ever-growing list with alphabetized categories covering everything from pregnancy to activity ideas for little ones to autism to feeding/speech-language skills to…well, I guess you’ll just have to hop on over and check it out for yourself, won’t you? Don’t see what you’re looking for? Leave a comment on the new page or send an email to mamaotblog [at] gmail [dot] com to let me know and I’ll see what I can dig up.

I hope you enjoy these two new additions to MamaOT and, hey, if they make you love the blog more than you already did, would you mind doing me a favor and taking a moment to subscribe or share this blog with someone who you think would love it, too? The more the merrier.

Thanks for reading!

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