Jamie Wilkins - Occupational Therapy Services

05/01/2021

In honor of OT Month, I made this free download available through the GLAD Box!

It’s a fun themed Springtime digital activity pack
for your child, students, or clients to work on.....

🦋 Fine motor skills
🐛 Coloring
🐞 Math Skills
🐝 Handwriting
🐌 Gross motor skills

Happy Spring!

https://glad-box.com/products/hooray-for-spring

Download this fun Springtime themed packet to complete with your children, students, or clients. Complete with activities to address fine motor skills, coloring, handwriting, cutting, and gross motor skills!

03/10/2021

When a friend (who’s an awesome teacher) reaches out for additional fine motor strengthening ideas- look what happens! She gets a classroom full of Mr and Mrs. Mouths!

Each child was asked to bring a tennis ball to class. 🎾 The children glued on the googly eyes and the mouth was created by an adult. Now it’s ready to use!

Children use their hand strength to squeeze the sides of the ball to open the mouth and “feed” it. Swipe ⬅️ to see the children making tens!!

How else could you use this?
🔹 use tweezers to pick up “flies” or pompoms to feed the mouth (promotes pincer grasp and bilateral hand coordination)
🔸 use scoopers to feed it (scoopers have handles like scissors so you are working on scissor skills without actually providing your child with a pair!)
🔹 have a class debate about what color the tennis ball is.....is it green or yellow? 🤣 tell me what you think below! ⬇️

02/18/2021

Texas has been hit hard with winter weather, so I created this FREE winter themed download available through my GLAD Box website (or click the link below).

Use at home, in the clinic, or during teletherapy! Have fun and stay safe out there! ❄️

Winter has hit us here in Texas!! I put together this winter digital pack to help us all stay entertained during our time at home together. Download for FREE. I hope you staying safe and warm! Take a pic and tag me in it on social media (facebook) or (on instagram).

02/11/2021

Thank you The Doc Smitty - Dr Justin Smith, Pediatrician for this important reminder about car seat safety and cold weather! 🥶

The jackets allow more space between your child and their car seat straps (or seat belt) meaning that there is much more room for your child to travel during a crash prior to being restraint.

What can you do instead? As a previous Certified Passenger Safety Technician (CPST) we would recommend removal of the jackets and place them OVER the child and their straps. Have a car blanket for each child to keep them warm and warm up the car prior to leaving the house. (If your can squeeze their jacket or blanket between themselves and their straps, the straps on the car seat are not tight enough- do the pinch test).

Need more information? Check out safekids.org

01/24/2021

Being strong and courageous! This was my son’s first time rock climbing at an actually rock wall! He did amazing!

What skills does rock climbing work on?

1. Build confidence and mental strength.
2. Lots of problem solving and reflecting on their action. For example, “what could you do next to get a little higher?” “What could you do differently to achieve your goal?”
3. Following directions. Most rock walls have a route laid out for you to help make moving up the wall easier.
4. Motor coordination
5. Visual scanning of the hand holds above and beside you.
6. Great proprioceptive input. Proprioception is one of our 8 senses; it helps us know where we are “in space.” This is very important in rock climbing. We gain proprioceptive input mainly from when our joint are compressed. It sends messages to our brain and then back to the joint/muscle. It also has a calming effect on our bodies.

Have you tried rock climbing?

11/20/2020

What’s the best virtual learning or homework space set up in your home? I think the best thing is to have options! Check out the pictures below from AL-inclusive Therapy Services. There are some great tips and tricks!

11/05/2020

💯 Sometimes it takes validation of a feeling to make little ones feel heard, and other times, it’s about letting your child know you are there, that you love them, and you will wait until they are able to engage with you (I love how it’s worded on this image- maintain silence and a loving space). When I teach and mentor, we talk about what our own (as parents and therapists) unspoken communication is conveying. For example, is your body facing them (or are you turned away), are you sitting close to their eye level (or are you standing), are your hands open (or are they balled into a fist). Make sure you are creating that space of love. Which technique do you want to use tomorrow? It may not be perfectly executed and you may need to practice, however, the truth is, we all need practice expressing and reacting to emotions.



Photo credit
Reposted with

10/29/2020

Let’s chat about after school emotions (or after virtual school learning). The time after school can be a time of heightened emotions for our children when they are back home. Their brains and bodies have worked so hard to perform, learn, and socialize for an intense period of time. This article goes into more detail of the “why” and gives some suggestions on how to ease the transition home.

I want to try some of their suggestions with my own children- especially the ice and strawberry protocol. What will you try?

Help them feel relief at home instead of crashing and releasing all their tension on the family with a meltdown. 6 steps from the science of environmental enrichment to use at home to build resilience.

10/26/2020

It was getting a little chaotic today, so we played some meditation music and slowed down a bit. I left the room, and this is what I came back to! 🥰 Both of my boys with their eyes closed and actively resting. ❤️

10/08/2020

💯 YES! The power of play is amazing!!

10/01/2020

08/15/2020

I opened up my email this morning and had an email from the Cook Children’s News Room. My dear friend, Whitney Brosey, wrote this article! I’m so proud of her and all the work she has done (and continues to do) to help lessen the pain and anxiety associated with shots, office visits, and medical procedures. The whole experience can be less painful and traumatic for your child (and you!).

I have personally received training from Whitney Brosey, the Comfort Menu Program Coodinator at Cook Children’s, about comfort measures for my children during their routine and emergency doctor visits. Everything we have tried, works! My children have had a variety of procedures done and I truly believe that they don’t have any medical trauma because of the work and education that Whitney provides.

Please read this article that she wrote which includes tips on what you can do at your next visit. Parents, if nothing is offered, please ask them for this menu!

❤️Also, if you have received training from Whitney, please leave a comment at the end of the article. Your feedback is so important!