MOTORvate KIDS Occupational Therapy

04/20/2026

🎨🚓 Badges & Brushes for Autism Acceptance Month! 🚓🎨

How fun is this? North Myrtle Beach is hosting a Badges & Brushes celebration on April 25th from 11–1, and it’s packed with creative, sensory‑friendly activities for the whole family.

Kids can paint a police car, explore sensory bins, enjoy a craft station, grab snacks, and dance along to music from DJ Scott Humphries. It’s a joyful way to connect with local first responders and celebrate inclusion.

Building community, creativity, and acceptance — one paint splash at a time. 💙

04/20/2026

Check out this fantastic find, featuring a treasure trove of Balance and Coordination Activities for your child. https://ilslearningcorner.com/balance-and-coordination-activities-for-attention-and-focus/

04/20/2026

Hope. And find those small victories and celebrate the moments of joy.

04/20/2026

Happy Motorvate Monday!

Live life to its fullest!

04/16/2026

Occupational therapy is more than a job. For many, it is a calling. We felt drawn to it. - Amy Lamb, OTD, OT/L, FAOTA

04/16/2026

Happy OT Month! 🌟 "Occupational therapy isn’t about fixing a child; it’s about embracing and empowering them." This quote perfectly captures the heart of OT. This month, and always, let's celebrate the power of OT to unlock potential and build independence.

04/16/2026

Underdeveloped “hidden” senses are contributing to…

Sensory Processing issues within a child’s environment.

If you have a child who experiences sensory defensiveness or sensory seeking behavior, their brain may be over or under stimulated with information around them.

There are also other senses that contribute to an immature sensory system when children struggle to do the following:

😔Filter out background noise
😔Fall out of their chair
😔Blurt out unexpectedly or interupt conversations
😔Tap, whistle or make other noises to stay regulated

Kids may be bothered by a number of other sensory issues or need more sensory stimuli to stay calm and keep their bodies regulated.

To learn more about the three “hidden” senses that could also contribute to sensory setbacks, leave a comment here and we’ll send you the link.

04/16/2026

Play is motivating for children. I think it's motivating for adults too.

04/16/2026

When people talk about kindergarten readiness, academics tend to get all the attention 📚
But the skills kids truly need to succeed in the classroom start long before worksheets ✨

We are breaking down the foundational skills that support learning, participation, and independence—like:

🧘‍♀️ regulating emotions and calming the body
🔁 transitioning between activities
🚽🧼 using the bathroom and washing hands
🧥🥪 managing clothing and lunch containers
👂📋 attending, listening, and following directions
🤝⏳ sharing, waiting, and taking turns

These are the skills that help children function in a real classroom—and they grow through play, daily routines, and supportive experiences over time 🎯

Kindergarten readiness isn’t about being ahead.
It’s about being ready for the day 💛

👉 Want the FREE Printable Checklist?
Drop a 🎉 below and we’ll send it your way!

04/13/2026

04/13/2026

Oculomotor Activities That Also Boost Executive Functioning
1. I Spy or Hidden Picture Puzzles
🔍 Supports: Visual scanning + attention + task completion- Kids must search systematically, stay focused, and remember what they’ve already found.

2. Mazes and Dot-to-Dot Pages
🧠 Supports: Planning, visual tracking, and inhibition- Encourages planning the best path, controlling impulses, and following steps.

3. Tracking with a Pointer or Finger
📖 Supports: Visual tracking + sustained attention- Use for reading or copying. This helps with staying focused and organized across lines.

4. Ball Toss or Balloon Volleyball
🎈 Supports: Visual tracking + self-regulation- Requires anticipation, inhibition (wait, aim), and eye-hand coordination.

5. Flashlight Tag or Laser Pointer Chase
🔦 Supports: Saccades + flexibility + working memory- The child follows a light quickly while adjusting to changes and remembering previous paths.

6. Target Games (like beanbags, Velcro darts)
🎯 Supports: Focused attention, inhibition, and decision-making- Helps with aiming, waiting turns, and adjusting based on results.

7. Tracing with Eyes Only
👀 Supports: Oculomotor control + mental focus- Have the child “trace” shapes or patterns with their eyes (no hands) then reproduce them.

Here is more information: https://www.theottoolbox.com/activities-to-improve-oculomotor/

Oculomotor control (how the eyes move, like tracking, scanning, and shifting focus) is tightly linked to executive functioning because both rely on frontal lobe activity in the brain. When kids engage in tasks that require coordinated eye movements, they’re also practicing:
🟢Sustained Attention- Looking at and following a moving object requires mental focus, just like sticking with a task.
🟢Inhibition (Impulse Control)- To track something accurately (like a moving ball or line in a maze), kids must slow down, resist distractions, and follow through, mirroring impulse control skills.
🟢Working Memory- Games like “I Spy” or flashlight tag require kids to remember what they’ve seen, hold it in mind, and act on that info, key to following directions and solving problems.
🟢Cognitive Flexibility- Oculomotor activities that involve shifting focus (e.g., scanning for different items) help kids practice adjusting their thinking and attention, a core executive function skill.
🟢Planning & Organization- Many visual-motor tasks (like mazes or dot-to-dots) require kids to mentally plan their next move and execute a sequence, skills used in homework, chores, and goal setting.

So while they seem like “just visual games,” oculomotor activities are actually training the brain to focus, process, and act thoughtfully, the foundation of executive functioning.

Here is more informaiton: https://www.theottoolbox.com/activities-to-improve-oculomotor/