Summer Activities for Kids with Autism
Splashdown! Camp is in full swing and homework is long forgotten. For children with special needs...
Tips for Sensory-Friendly Bath Time
As the end of the day draws near and it’s time to take a bath, many parents find that their...
The Best Games to Improve Visual Perceptual Skills
You’ve probably never given any thought to the fact that you can see words on a billboard and...
5 Tips For Mealtime Success
Feeding and mealtimes are often stressful for a variety of reasons. Your toddler might be going...
So You Think You Stim?
Stimming is most commonly associated with autism. However, we all engage in some sort of...
Object Attachment and Autism
What Is Object Attachment?Object attachment is when someone is emotionally attached to an...
Heel First! Strategies to Prevent and Reduce Toe Walking
Does your child walk on the toes or balls of the feet? Toe walking can lead to falling, and may...
Signs of Sensory Processing Disorder in a 3-Year-Old
Are you troubled by some behaviors that you are seeing in your 3-year old? Chances are they may be...
Resources for Student Wellness
Today’s students face increasingly more challenges each year. Students are expected to achieve...
Four Strategies to Improve Toileting Through Interoception
What Is Interoception?Interoception, otherwise known as the eighth sense, is the awareness of how...
How to Establish a Healthy Sleep Routine
Is your child sleeping enough? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends that 6-12...
Are Sensory Spaces for Adults?
A sensory processing disorder is not something you simply outgrow, the way you would an old...
The Four Most Popular Skill-Building OT Tools
If your child is receiving occupational therapy, you know firsthand that your therapist is an...
Sensory Hallways Help Refocus Attention and Learning
For many kids, having to sit still and be quiet through an entire school day can seem like an...
Making Air Travel a Sensory-Friendly Experience
Jump To:Aren’t Airports Already AccessibleInclusive Solutions from Door to DoorThe airport...
How to Build Your Own Sensory Break
Incorporating sensory breaks throughout the day can make a huge difference for your child. If you...
What Is a Sensory Deficit?
A sensory deficit is when someone’s senses do not function properly. It happens when the sensory...
Flapping or Jumping? How to Cope with Sensory Overload
When your body receives sensory information, your brain processes it and determines the...
Four Ways to Practice Using Utensils
People often take the skill of eating with utensils for granted, but it is actually not an...
How to Balance Types of Play
“You can play after you finish your homework.” “Eat dinner and then go play.” “Let’s...
How to Choose Flexible Classroom Seating
Do you struggle with sitting still? Movement can help students learn better, making flexible...
Does Handwriting Matter?
In our modern digital age, handwriting seems like a thing of the past. When typing is faster,...
What is a Sensory Seeker?
Sensory seekers under-respond to sensory input, so they generally crave extra input. This is...
Not Just Vests: 6 Compression Strategies
Does your child have sensory integration disorder (SPD)? If so, you may be familiar with the...
What is Visual Perceptual Delay?
Visual perception is the ability to process information that you see. It’s common to have a...
Time to Swing!
Make time to swing regardless of the weather! You can set up a sensory swing system indoors or...
6 Benefits of Jumping
Can you jump six inches or a foot high? Can you land on a specific spot? Jump over a log or off a...
6 Strategies for Executive Function Disorder
Are you familiar with Executive Function Disorder (EFD)? In layman's terms, it's a chronic pattern...
2021 Holiday Gift Guide: Shop by Sensory Type
Good things come in different packages! Find the perfect gift for playful activities, calming or...
Holiday 2021: New & Popular Gifts
It’s that time of year again! Whether you’re a sensory pro or new to the game, finding that...
Autism and Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is just around the corner! If you have a family member with special needs, then...
How to Advocate for Real Inclusion
In celebration of Down Syndrome Awareness Month, Fun and Function interviewed Jodi Samuels, known...
What is Tactile Defensiveness?
Touch allows us to process information from our surroundings through receptors on our skin. Some...
What is Fine Motor Delay?
Fine motor skills depend on the use of the small muscle groups in your hands. By coordinating...
What is Sensory Play?
Any activity that engages our senses is a type of sensory play. Along with the five commonly...
What is Oral Motor Delay?
Oral motor skills refer to controlling the mouth muscles for speech, eating, and forming...
What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurological disorder. Typically...
What is Cerebral Palsy?
Cerebral Palsy (CP) is the most common childhood motor disability caused by abnormal brain...
What is Hypotonia?
Also known as “low muscle tone,” hypotonia refers to a decrease in the amount of tension in...
Surpassing the Diagnosis
Surpassing the DiagnosisIt’s not every day that a parent of a child with autism turns his...
What is a Sensory Bin?
Sensory bins are containers filled with a variety of sensory materials for kids to explore....
What is Social-Emotional Learning?
Social-emotional learning, or SEL, is the continuous process of learning and developing skills...
What is Sensory Integration?
The nervous system sends sensory input to the brain, where it all needs to be processed,...
What is Stimming?
What is Stimming?“Stimming” is short for “self-stimulation.” These repetitive behaviors...
What is Sensory Overload?
Sensory overload is when your brain is receiving more input from your senses than it can...
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Sensory processing disorder (SPD) means that you have trouble processing input from your senses...
How to Ease the Transition to Kindergarten
Change, no matter when it happens, can be hard. As parents we often wonder what we can do to make...
The History of Fidget Toys
As humans, we have an innate need to self-soothe. According to Dr. Karlesky of the University of...
How Sensory Spaces Promote Social-Emotional Learning
Jump to:How do you teach kids to visually identify emotions? How do you provide emotional...
Sensory Survival For Teens
This post was originally posted on 06/19/2017. It was updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness...
Constipation and Sensory Processing Disorder
This post was originally posted on 01/5/2008. It was updated for accuracy and comprehensiveness...
Key Components of a Successful Sensory Corner
Key Components of a Successful Sensory CornerGood things come in all shapes and sizes. While...
Library Sensory Rooms
For a parent of a child with autism or a sensory processing disorder, visiting a library with your...
Vest On, Vest Off? Wearing Times for Weighted Vests
We are frequently asked: "How long should my child wear the weighted vest?" "How much weight does...
Autism Awareness Month
There’s an energy that emerges with the Spring season, and it seems that the darker and longer...
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5 Benefits of Bean Bag Chairs
Bean bag chairs may not be your first choice for seating. But should they be? Studies show that...
6 Common Household Items that Sensory Seekers Love
Is your child a sensory seeker? If they seem to be constantly on the lookout for more sensory...
Building Social Skills While Social Distancing
As lockdowns, school closures, and changing restrictions continue, a question many parents...
Do Fidgets Help Kids Transition?
Transitions always have their challenges. Kids find comfort in familiarity and routine, meaning...
How to Create a Sensory Room: A Complete Guide
You may have heard the term “sensory room” mentioned but did you know exactly what it...