SMART Pediatrics

SMART Pediatrics Smart Pediatrics is a pediatric occupational therapy practice that works with children in the home,

Pediatric occupational therapy clinic specializing in sensory processing disorders and reflex integration techniques

Try This InsteadShorter holds: 20 to 30 seconds, then resetElevate the hips: Sit on a cushion or yoga block so the hips ...
02/26/2026

Try This Instead

Shorter holds: 20 to 30 seconds, then reset

Elevate the hips: Sit on a cushion or yoga block so the hips are higher than the knees

Offer other stable options: Kneeling at a low bench, chair sitting, or feet out in front

Quick hip opener: Butterfly stretch with gentle forward lean for 15 seconds

Save This For The Next Time Circle Time Turns Into A Full Body Struggle.

Why Do Some Kids Write “Better” On A Whiteboard Than On Lined Paper?Because lines can be a lot of rules, too soon.Here’s...
02/25/2026

Why Do Some Kids Write “Better” On A Whiteboard Than On Lined Paper?
Because lines can be a lot of rules, too soon.

Here’s what we see all the time at SMART Pediatrics: early writers get so busy trying to “stay in the lines” that their brain has no space left for the actual skill of forming letters.

When Lined Paper Can Make Writing Harder

Kids focus on the line, not the letter

Letter size gets messy because spacing is not established yet

Their hand tightens up and writing becomes work instead of practice

They avoid writing because it feels like constant correction

What Often Works Better First

Blank paper: lets kids learn shapes and strokes without pressure

Big boxes (draw a square and write inside): supports size control without tiny lines

Highlight “writing zones” (one thick line on bottom): gives a clear anchor point

Vertical surfaces (easel, wall, whiteboard): boosts wrist position and shoulder stability

Before kids can master neat writing on lines, they need the foundations: posture, strength, visual spacing, and letter formation.

Save This For The Next Time Lined Paper Turns Into A Meltdown.

02/24/2026

🛴 Rope Pull On A Scooter Board (AKA “Scooter Board Tug”)

In this video, the kiddo is sitting on a scooter board and pulling a rope hand over hand to move their body forward. Simple setup. Powerful brain and body work. 💪🧠

What They’re Working On:

Motor Planning: Figuring out how to coordinate pull, shift, move, repeat

Core Strength + Postural Control: Staying upright while the body is moving

Bilateral Coordination: Two hands working together in a smooth rhythm

Visual Attention: Tracking the rope and staying on course

Proprioception (Heavy Work): Deep body input that supports regulation and focus

Why We Love It In OT:

✅ Builds endurance for school tasks (sitting, writing, staying engaged)

✅ Organizes the sensory system through purposeful movement

✅ Strengthens shoulders and hands for fine motor follow-through

SMART Pediatrics is hiring pediatric therapists. Apply or DM us.

🖐️ Why Does Your Child Squeeze The Pencil Like It’s Trying To Escape?Sometimes it’s not “bad handwriting” or “weak hands...
02/19/2026

🖐️ Why Does Your Child Squeeze The Pencil Like It’s Trying To Escape?
Sometimes it’s not “bad handwriting” or “weak hands.” It’s a reflex that never got the memo to move on.

Palmar Reflex 101 (The Grasp Reflex) 👶

When you press a baby’s palm, their fingers automatically grab.

This reflex should fade by about 6 months.

If it sticks around, the hand can default to “grip first, control later.”

What A Retained Palmar Reflex Can Look Like

✏️ A super tight pencil grip

🖍️ Pressing hard when writing or coloring

✋ Trouble moving the fingers without the whole hand tensing

😤 Hand fatigue during homework or crafts

✂️ Awkward scissor skills (because the hand wants to hold on, not grade pressure)

Simple Things To Try (Easy Wins)

Squeeze and release a sponge in warm water (slow and controlled, not a death grip).

“Pick up, place, let go” games with small objects (pom-poms, coins, mini erasers).

High fives and gentle hand presses, then “open like a starfish.”

Short writing bursts, then a quick hand reset (shake out, stretch fingers).

Save this if you’re experiencing tight grips, tired hands, or messy fine motor skills that just won’t come together.

To gently build flexibility (without a power struggle):🎯 Practice flexibility during calm moments, not during a meltdown...
02/17/2026

To gently build flexibility (without a power struggle):
🎯 Practice flexibility during calm moments, not during a meltdown
🗓️ Use “first, then” language so the change feels predictable
🔀 Offer two acceptable choices, so they still feel some control
🧩 Do tiny “planned changes” on purpose: same routine, one small switch
📩 Dm us if you want a simple script to use when plans change.

02/16/2026

This is a classic “Theraputty Treasure Hunt” (also called Putty Pick Ups).

In the clip, the child is pinching, pulling, and digging small items out of theraputty using fingertips. It looks like play, but it’s sneaky-good OT work.

Why we love it:
🖐️ builds hand and finger strength for pencil control and endurance
👌 targets pincer grasp and finger isolation (less “whole hand” grabbing)
🧠 supports motor planning and attention while staying fun
🌿 adds calming tactile input for kids who need their hands busy to focus

We’re hiring at SMART Pediatrics. If pediatric OT is your thing, DM us “HIRING.”

What you’re seeing here:Increased views and reachMore profile visitsHigher engagementSteady follower growthAnd most impo...
02/12/2026

What you’re seeing here:

Increased views and reach

More profile visits

Higher engagement

Steady follower growth

And most importantly, progress that actually supports business goals.

Not every account starts in the same place.
Not every metric grows at the same speed.

That’s why we don’t chase vanity numbers.
We focus on clarity, trust, and showing up in a way that makes sense for the business behind the account.

If social media has felt unpredictable or frustrating, it’s usually not because it “doesn’t work.”
It’s because there hasn’t been a clear strategy behind it yet.

This is the kind of growth that comes from systems, not guesswork.

If you want help building something sustainable for your business, send us a message.

Hand flapping when a child is excited is often a type of stimming.In real life, I see it most when a kid feels flooded w...
02/12/2026

Hand flapping when a child is excited is often a type of stimming.
In real life, I see it most when a kid feels flooded with emotion, energy, or sensory input and their body needs a quick, reliable way to organize that feeling.

What stimming can do for the nervous system:
🧠 helping the brain manage big feelings without melting down
⚡ releasing extra energy when excitement feels too “full” inside the body
🧭 giving predictable input that helps the child feel steady and in control
💬 communicating emotion when words are not available in the moment

What usually does not help:
🚫 “stop doing that” without offering another way to regulate
That often increases stress and makes the body work harder to stay organized.

What can help instead:
✅ keep it safe (space, soft hands, no hitting)
✅ name the feeling simply: “Your body looks excited.”
✅ offer an option if they want it: “Want to squeeze a ball or do wall pushes?”

Save this post for the next time you see hand flapping and want a calmer, more helpful way to respond.

Finger isolation looks small, but it’s one of the biggest drivers of pencil control.When kids can move one finger at a t...
02/10/2026

Finger isolation looks small, but it’s one of the biggest drivers of pencil control.

When kids can move one finger at a time (without the whole hand joining the party), they can make tiny, precise adjustments while writing. That’s what helps letters look cleaner, spacing improves, and fatigue go down.

Here’s what finger isolation supports:
✏️ pencil stability so the pencil does not slide around in the hand
🖐️ better control of small lines like curves, corners, and diagonals
🧠 stronger motor planning, so writing feels more automatic
📄 neater letter formation without “giant” letters or heavy pressure

Quick OT tip to build it at home:
👉 play “one finger at a time” games: tap each finger to the thumb, pop bubbles using only the index finger, or push tiny objects across the table using just one finger.

📩 Dm us, and we’ll send 3 fast finger-isolation activities we use to support handwriting.

02/09/2026

This is a “stability ball beanbag sort” (aka a therapy ball scavenger hunt).

What you’re seeing: she’s straddling the therapy ball to stay balanced while reaching down to pick up beanbags and drop them into color bowls.

Why this matters:

🧠 Postural control + core strength: staying steady on a moving surface builds the “body stability” kids need for school and play

🤲 Hand strength + grasp: picking up and controlling a squishy beanbag is sneaky fine motor work

👀 Visual motor + aiming: eyes track, hands grab, brain plans and places

🔄 Motor planning + crossing midline: reaching without tipping takes real coordination

🧘 Regulation input: steady movement and hip pressure can help the nervous system organize

And here’s the part most people miss: after we build her postural control here, she is better able to bounce on the Hippity Hop without losing her balance or crashing to the floor.

That’s OT brain. We’re not just looking at whether a child can or can’t do something. We’re watching the details of how they do it, and what their bodies have to work too hard to compensate for.

We’re hiring. If you’re a pediatric OT or PT who loves noticing the details, DM us.

02/05/2026

This is a sensory-motor obstacle course (we call it a “Balance Beam to Trampoline Circuit”).

In this clip, the child is walking the balance beam, then stepping onto the mini trampoline to finish the sequence. It looks like play, but it is a whole-body brain workout.

Why we use it in OT:

🧠 Motor planning: Figuring out where to put feet next and how to transition safely

🧍‍♀️ Balance + postural control: Staying upright on a narrow surface without crashing

👀 Visual tracking + body awareness: Eyes and body working together to stay on the beam

💪 Core + leg strength: Stabilizing through the trunk while stepping and landing

🌀 Vestibular input: The trampoline adds movement input that supports balance reactions

🧩 Confidence + focus: A clear start-to-finish challenge helps kids stay engaged and feel capable

📩 We are hiring. If you are a pediatric OT or PT who loves movement-based therapy, DM us!

Here’s what shoe tying actually asks a child’s body to do:👀 visual tracking to follow laces and steps without losing the...
02/03/2026

Here’s what shoe tying actually asks a child’s body to do:
👀 visual tracking to follow laces and steps without losing their place
🧠 sequencing + motor planning to remember the order and move hands efficiently
✋ bilateral coordination so both hands do different jobs at the same time
🤏 finger isolation + pinch strength to form loops, hold tension, and pull through
💪 postural stability to sit steady while hands do precise work

📩 Dm us, and we’ll send a simple shoe-tying practice plan we use in sessions.

Address

1200 High Ridge Road
Stamford, CT
06905

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

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