Entering occupational therapy as a new graduate can be daunting, and mentorship plays a crucial role in easing this transition. It offers personalized support, career guidance, treatment ideas, and assistance with work-life balance. The OT Latina Mentoring Program specifically caters to new grads, providing affordable and targeted support to build confidence and professional growth.
Navigating pediatric home health as an occupational therapist can be rewarding and challenging. In this blog, you’ll find home visit tips, equipment recommendations, home health daily routines, how many patients you see on a day to day basis, and what it’s like to work from your car, designed to support new grads and seasoned OTs alike. Learn how to engage families, set functional goals, and use everyday routines for meaningful therapy. Whether you’re transitioning from a clinic or just starting your OT journey, this resource is packed with tools to help you thrive in home health.
Starting out in feeding therapy can feel a little overwhelming, especially when it comes to understanding how to support oral
Spending time outdoors enhances sensory development for children with Autism and ADHD. Engaging in natural activities like leaf painting, scavenger hunts, rock stacking, gardening, and mindfulness fosters sensory integration and promotes skills such as problem-solving, body awareness, and emotional regulation. These activities can be tailored to fit children’s needs and interests.
Looking for fresh sensory treatment ideas for your occupational therapy sessions? This post shares 10 unique activities to engage children in sensory integration, from peanut ball exercises for proprioceptive input to fun cooking tasks that encourage tactile exploration. Discover creative ways to incorporate auditory, vestibular, and oral motor activities to help children regulate and develop essential skills. Whether you’re working in a clinic, school, or home setting, these sensory strategies will make therapy both effective and fun!
New grad pediatric OTs, boost your skills with these top CEU courses for 2025! Learn about stimming, polyvagal theory, interoception, handwriting motor supports, and idiopathic toe walking. These evidence-based courses help you understand sensory processing, self-regulation, and motor development to enhance therapy outcomes. Stay updated on neurodiversity-affirming care, improve differential diagnosis, and gain practical treatment strategies. Invest in your professional growth and provide the best support for children. Explore these must-take occupational therapy courses today!
Not all OT jobs are as great as they seem! Watch for red flags like unclear job expectations, high turnover, unrealistic productivity demands, lack of mentorship, or ethical concerns. If a company pressures you to overwork, cut corners, or operate without support, it may not be the right fit. Trust your instincts—your career growth and well-being matter!
Read more to learn how to spot and avoid these red flags before accepting an offer.
Looking for fun and effective balance activities for pediatric occupational therapy? These engaging exercises help improve motor skills, coordination, and core strength using equipment like balance beams, wobble boards, and stepping stones. From obstacle courses to therapy ball weight shifts, these activities make therapy sessions exciting while enhancing postural control and stability. Perfect for OTs working with kids with sensory processing or motor delays. Try these balance exercises today!
Water play activities are a fun and engaging way to support fine motor skills, sensory exploration, and child development. Simple activities like scooping alphabet letters, spraying water, transferring colored water, blowing bubbles, and squeezing wet pom-poms help strengthen hand muscles, improve coordination, and enhance sensory processing. These activities provide valuable tactile, proprioceptive, and visual motor input, making them perfect for toddlers and preschoolers. Try these easy water play ideas to encourage learning through play while building essential developmental skills!
Struggling with feeding challenges? These feeding therapy activities help improve oral motor skills, support sensory food exploration, and encourage a smooth transition to solid foods. From chewy tube exercises to sensory food painting, these playful strategies make feeding therapy fun and stress-free. Activities like mirror play, playdough food creations, and gross motor sensory play help children build confidence with food. Whether you’re an occupational therapist or a parent, these techniques will support your child’s feeding journey in a positive way!