Therapy OPS

04/22/2026

Today is International Earth Day and it’s also Occupational Therapy Month. Combine the 2 through gardening and you get a powerhouse of ways to celebrate both our OT’s as well as the Earth! Gardening offers so may ways to cross into some of the core areas of OT including:
- Fine motor skills - pinching w**ds, planting seed and using scissors to prune plants
- Gross motor skills – digging, carrying bags of dirt, carrying that heavy watering can and even those big shovels
- Bilateral coordination – digging a hole with one hand while planting the seeds with the other hand, holding leaves and branches while pruning and transplanting plants.
- Tactile input – feeling different textures like potting soil, dirt, leaves, flowers, grass, sticks and even w**ds.
- Executive functioning – such as following instructions or sequences (dig hole, plant seed, cover hole, water, w**d).

For some additional Earth Day and Occupational Therapy Month fun, please check out this article!
https://infinitykids.com/3-reasons-gardening-boosts-child-development/

Summer is here, bringing with it the irresistible urge to get outside and embrace nature. For families, this season offers a unique opportunity to discover

04/16/2026

In honor of National ASL Day today, reposting a video of Jenna reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See using American Sign Language! Please check it out, it's about 3 minutes long. Thanks Jenna!
https://youtu.be/nSVvH4bxsb8

In honor of ASL Day, Occupational Therapist Jenna is reading Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See using American Sign Language.

04/15/2026

Finding yourself stuck inside with the kids due to the weather, screens are winning the battle for your kid's attention or even because of a scary squirrel that has camped out near your door (why is he staring at the house)? Well, Occupational Therapist Mallory and Christine have you covered. This video is almost 5 minutes but it gives some really good ideas for getting kids moving indoors, getting them the sensory input they need and keeping the caregiver sane. How to make a crash pad, why chewy foods are best and what in the world is a hotdog roll activity? Check out the video and find out about these and so many more ideas for you!
https://youtu.be/sCm4pcNh_6c
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Finding yourself stuck inside with the kids due to the weather, a quarantine or even because of a scary squirrel that has camped out near your door and you a...

04/13/2026

Did you know that Therapy OPS offers a month support group for caregivers? It's true! Our support group has a general format and is open to all caregivers who have a person in their life who has different needs/abilities. This group is free for anyone to join, you do not need to be part of the Therapy OPS family.
The group meets the second Tuesday of every month at Therapy OPS in Inver Grove Heights from 5:30 to 7 pm. You can come to share your experiences, your wins, listen to other's experiences and connect with other caregivers. Please note, there is NO childcare available and there will be families in the building until 6 pm. Come join us!

04/11/2026

Just in time for Autism Acceptance Month!

04/10/2026

April is National Occupation Therapy Month! While we like to celebrate our team everyday, let's take some extra time to celebrate Dominique, Shayla, Kate, Elly, Meagan, Jodi, Lola, Celia, Christine and Britnee! Thank you for your creativity, passion and for keeping the local lycra companies in business. We love what you bring to the team, to our families and to each other. We appreciate you!

04/07/2026

Did you know that April is Autism Acceptance/Awareness Month and that there are a variety of activities and attractions in Minnesota that are ASD-friendly? While this is not an exhaustive list, please check out this quick read from a Mom who's an ASD parent! Geocaching, how much fun is that???
https://www.exploreminnesota.com/accessible-travel/sensory-friendly-attractions-for-kids

One of the first lessons you learn as a parent of a child with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is that nothing is impossible for a kid on the spectrum. You just might have to go about things a little bit differently. Here are some of my favorite sensory-friendly places in Minnesota to take my son t...

04/02/2026

Sound on!!!

🚨 Office emergency 🚨

The team found a “mouse” and, naturally, Chris was called in for removal duty.

He bravely approached the bucket… carefully transported it outside… while the rest of the team could barely keep it together inside 😂

Let’s just say—this “mouse” was a lot more tech-savvy than expected 🖱️

Happy April Fools’ Day from all of us at Therapy OPS!

04/01/2026

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03/30/2026

Last week our team took a break for a little Therapy OPS game night! 🎲🍕

We ate pizza, played some games (including Hues and Cues 🎨), and shared plenty of laughs. It was a fun night to relax, connect, and spend time together.

Grateful for such a great team! 💙