Books may seem old-school to some but the power of books is undeniable. Another overlooked aspect about books is the benefits they have on development just by being read aloud. Language exposure, increased vocabulary and an introduction and increase into imaginations are just a few of those benefits.

The sun did not shine.

It was too cold to play.

So we sat in the house

all that cold, cold, snowy day.

Initial Evaluation: At your first appointment at Therapy OPS, you will first meet your therapist in the lobby where they will introduce themselves to both you and your child. Next, you and your child will go back into an office to start the evaluation. The evaluation will begin with questions …

As hard as setting boundaries can be, boundaries are essential in helping children develop and become successful with age-appropriate activities and with transitions. Yet, we all have moments where we wonder whether or not the boundary we have created is really worth all the growing pains.

Toe walking is the failure of the heel to initially contact the floor while walking. There are a variety of reasons for this, but if there is no medical reason for it, then it is called idiopathic toe walking.

We spend a fair amount of time working with preschool children who demonstrate articulation and/or phonological impairments. A review of various treatment approaches by researchers in our field, revealed that what is treated may be more important than how it is treated.

Caregivers, we see you. We are so fortunate to encounter caregivers daily. We have the opportunity to work with them, talk with them and listen to them. They care so much for their children that they come first in their life no matter the circumstance. Since it is National Family Caregivers Month…

Thanksgiving time brings families together and many new foods to the table. Picky eaters experience many challenges during this time. Together our occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists have compiled a list of strategies to make the holiday enjoyable.

Fall is upon us and winter is just around the corner. The leaves are beginning to change colors and the temperatures are quickly decreasing. With these changes, we also need to adapt to the seasons by adjusting our clothing choices, exploring other ways to engage in physical activity and finding strategies to maintain good mood and behavior with far less vitamin D intake.

Tummy time is an important part of development. By spending time on their tummy, babies develop muscles in the neck, back, arms, and hips. Each of these muscles are necessary to work toward developmental milestones like holding the head upright, rolling, sitting, crawling, and walking. Additionally…

October is bullying prevention month and we wanted to pass along a really great blog from the the website stopbullying.gov. While all forms of bullying should not be tolerated, kids with behavioral, emotional, or developmental disabilities are twice as likely to be bullied as typical kids.

Children’s ability to regulate sensation-the process of noticing, organizing, and integrating information from the environment and their body and then processing and responding appropriately-greatly contributes to self-regulation.

Typically, simple sentences emerge between 24-26 months of age. At this time, a child transitions from simply combining words (more please) to using short sentences that have a subject and verb (I eat). As they progress, you will notice…

Did your child eat their recommended amount of fruits and vegetables today? I am going to guess not, because the CDC stated that from 2007-2010, 9 out of 10 children did not eat their recommended daily value of vegetables!

Unsure of what to do with those empty shoe boxes or empty plastic milk jugs? What about the pressure of having the need to go and buy the latest and greatest toy? Have no fear! With the help of our Speech Pathologists, not only have we identified everyday objects found around the house but ways you can incorporate learning and language that will engage your child and hopefully, forget the need to buy the hot new toy at the store

Can you smell the food yet? It is that time of year already, the Great Minnesota Get-Together! The state fair offers a variety of food, rides, animals, shops and more. The Minnesota State Fair has been around since 1859, making it a family tradition for many.

When you think of daily occupations for your child, does your mind tend to wander towards activities such as them getting ready in the morning, working on homework, participation in school, eating meals, etc.? Sleep may not come to mind, but believe it or not, sleep is a daily life occupation, and a very important one at that!

A common concern that we hear at Therapy OPS is, “my child’s vision is fine, they have 20/20, so why are the still having a hard time reading, writing and learning?!” While 20/20 vision is great to have, there is quite a bit more that goes into vision than meets the eye (see what I did there?).

Social-emotional development includes a group of skills that are established at a very young age. These skills include the ability to create and maintain positive relationships with others and how the child experiences, expresses and manages their emotions.

Scooter boards are something you may see us use often at Therapy OPS. We use them frequently because they are not only a TON of fun and motivating for the kids, but they also promote a variety of skill building!