OT Tips

Summer 2026 Related Services Tips: 

A Taste of Summer: Building Skills One Smoothie At A Time!

Summer is the perfect time to build important skills through fun, everyday activities! Participation in everyday home routines provides children with meaningful opportunities to grow, learn and gain confidence in a natural and engaging way. 

Simple activities such as completing a recipe together at home can support development while also encouraging independence, communication, problem-solving and family connection. A great example of this can be making a Smoothie! 

Making a smoothie is more than just a tasty treat — it encourages independence and family participation while providing opportunities to support speech and language skills and build occupational therapy skills. 

 

Here’s how: 

Speech & Language Skills 

Building Vocabulary 

Introduce and expand descriptive words and actions: 

  • Ex: Blending, Combining, Mixing, Pouring, Scooping  

Talk about different ways to describe the same action: 

  • Ex: Cutting, Chopping, Dicing, Slicing 

Ways to support: 

  • Model new vocabulary naturally during the activity 

  • “Can you think of another word for cutting?” 

  • What does blending do to the fruit?” 

  • Encourage your student to describe textures, colors, tastes and actions. 

 

 

Expressive Language, Story Telling & Social Skills 

Encourage student to “tell the story” of what you did together. This can be back to you or to another family member/friend.  

  • Targets skills related to recalling information, organizing thoughts and explaining ideas clearly. Talking through the process supports both expressive language and sequencing skills. 

Provide support with sequencing words if needed:  

  • first we..., next we..., then we..., last we...  

Ask questions to encourage more details: 

  • What ingredients did you use? 

  • What happened after you put the fruit? 

  • What was your favorite part? 

  • Did anything go wrong? 

Monitor amount of information: 

Encourage your child to think about what the listener needs to know to understand the story. 

Planning & Problem Solving 

The “Get Ready, Do, Done” strategy encourages children to think about the end goal first and then work backwards to figure out what needs to happen to be successful. This strategy works because it helps children build important executive functioning skills such as planning, sequencing, organization, working memory, problem solving and self-monitoring. 

When making smoothies, parents can guide children through the process: 

  • Done: “What will it look like when we are finished?” (help student to picture the final smoothie ready to drink. 

  • Do: “What steps do we need to take?” (encourage student to explain the sequence of actions such as washing fruit, cutting ingredients, adding items to the blender, blending and pouring). 

  • Get Ready: “What materials do we need?” (ask student to gather ingredients and tools before beginning. 

  • Using pictures or drawing simple visuals for each step can make the process even more supportive and engaging. 

Occupational Therapy Skills 

Executive Functioning 

Executive functioning helps children plan, organize, remember steps and complete tasks. 

Smoothie making supports: 

  • List making → deciding what ingredients are needed 

  • Sequencing → following steps in order 

  • Organization → gathering tools and ingredients 

  • Problem solving → figuring out what to do next 

  • Attention and memory → remembering recipe steps 

Try this: Work together to create a visual list with numbered steps to use throughout the task. 

Sensory Processing: 

Trying new foods and textures can help children become more comfortable with sensory experiences in a low-pressure and fun environment.  

Create a multi-sensory experience: 

  • Different textures (smooth, icy, chunky) 

  • Smells and tastes 

  • Various colors 

  • Cold temperatures 

  • Loud blender sounds 

Try this: Let your child touch, smell or taste ingredients before blending. Even helping without tasting is great participation!

Fine Motor Skills: 

Kitchen tasks are excellent for strengthening growing hands and improving coordination. 

Children can practice: 

  • Peeling bananas or oranges 

  • Cutting soft fruit with supervision 

  • Opening containers 

  • Pouring liquids 

  • Scooping ingredients 

  • Stirring and mixing 

  • Holding cups steady 

These activities build hand strength, bilateral coordination (using both hands together) and motor control needed for school tasks like writing, cutting and managing classroom tools.

You can keep it simple or get creative and try out new ingredients and combinations. Having your children participate in any or all steps of planning, preparation, completion or clean-up is a great way to support skills while spending time together. Feel free to apply these concepts to other summer activities to promote learning while having fun or sharing a tasty treat together. 

Wishing you a summer filled with sunshine, smiles and lots of tasty learning adventures! 

 

Spring Cleaning & Organization 

As children’s brains are developing, they require support and practice for higher-level executive functioning skills required for organization. At Newmark, we use the R.O.A.R. (Remove, Organize, Assess, Replace/Recycle) system to clean out and maintain binders. This system, along with the color code, helps children identify, categorize, and prioritize the contents in their binders to keep organized. As the new season approaches and families prepare for ‘Spring Cleaning’ we encourage you to apply these similar concepts at home in order to promote an opportunity for practice and a transfer of learning. 

Attached in the link below is a list of spring cleaning and organization tips to help children develop and improve their organizational abilities. By engaging kids in these tasks, you help them develop a sense of responsibility, improve their physical coordination, and establish lifelong organizational habits—all while making spring cleaning a fun and structured experience! 

OT Tips for Spring Cleaning & Organization 

  1. Break Tasks into Smaller Steps 

  • Why: Large tasks can overwhelm children and cause frustration. Breaking them down helps them feel a sense of accomplishment as they complete each step. 
  • How: For example, instead of saying "clean your room," break it down into "put clothes in the hamper," and "make your bed." 

  1. Create a Visual Schedule 

  • Why: A visual schedule helps children understand what needs to be done and stay on task. 
  • How: Use pictures or symbols and place these in sequence on a poster or board. This gives kids a clear structure and reduces uncertainty. 

  1. Use Timers for Focused Cleaning Sessions 

  • Why: Many children benefit from working in short bursts. Timers also help kids with attention and time management. 
  • How: Set a timer for 10–15 minutes of cleaning, followed by a short break. 

  1. Incorporate Movement 

  • Why: Physical activity helps children stay engaged, especially if they have high energy or difficulty focusing. 
  • How: Incorporate tasks that involve motor planning, like “marching to the laundry basket” or “jumping to pick up toys.” Use a dance or movement break in between tasks to help with attention regulation. 

  1. Provide Sensory-Friendly Cleaning Tools 

  • Why: Some children may have sensory sensitivities, and certain cleaning tools (like noisy vacuums or strong-smelling sprays) can be overwhelming. 
  • How: Choose soft, ergonomic cleaning tools with child-friendly grips. If possible, opt for natural cleaners with light scents or unscented options. 

  1. Create Sorting Systems with Labels and Colors 

  • Why: Labeling helps with categorization, a key cognitive skill. Color-coded bins also make the process visually stimulating and help children organize. 
  • How: Use bins for different categories (toys, books, art supplies, etc.). Label with words, colors, or pictures so that children can understand where each item belongs.  

  1. Make It Fun with Music 

  • Why: Music can provide structure, rhythm, and energy during tasks, which helps kids stay on track and motivated. 
  • How: Play upbeat music and create a "cleaning playlist" for kids. Make it a fun challenge, like "Can we finish cleaning before the song ends?" 

  1. Establish Routine Cleaning Habits 

  • Why: Routine helps with consistency and encourages children to develop healthy habits. 
  • How: Make cleaning part of a regular routine and encourage your child to do simple tasks daily to prevent things from piling up. 

  1. Organize by Activity or Interest 

  • Why: Kids tend to enjoy engaging with items based on their interests, which makes organization more meaningful. 
  • How: Organize toys, books, and supplies by category (e.g., art supplies, building blocks, etc.). You can even ask the child to organize based on what they like most or use most often. Make It a Family Activity 

10. Make It a Family Activity 

  • Why: Cleaning as a family helps children feel part of a team and makes the task less burdensome. 

  • How: Schedule a family spring cleaning day where everyone pitches in. Turn it into a bonding experience with shared tasks and teamwork. 

Summer Sensory Development

As the school year ends, it’s important to continue fostering sensory experiences for our children over the summer. Sensory processing opportunities are abundant during this time, offering unique chances for our elementary and middle school students to explore, learn and develop in fun and engaging ways. By incorporating sensory experiences into your child’s summer routine, you can help promote their sensory development, regulate their nervous system and ensure a summer filled with exploration, growth and joy. 

1. Outdoor Adventures: Encourage your child to explore the great outdoors! Nature provides an array of sensory experiences such as feeling different textures like grass, sand and rocks under their feet, hearing the sounds of birds chirping and leaves rustling in the wind, and experiencing the varying temperatures and smells of the environment. Take trips to parks, beaches and hiking trails to immerse your child in these sensory-rich experiences. 

2. Water Play: Water play is not only refreshing but also an excellent sensory activity. Whether it’s swimming, playing in a sprinkler or simply splashing in a kiddie 

pool, water activities provide opportunities for tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular input. Water play can help regulate your child’s sensory system and promote relaxation and fun at the same time. 

3. Sensory-Friendly Events: Look out for sensory-friendly events in your community. Many local organizations and businesses host sensory-friendly movie screenings, museum days and other activities designed specifically for children with sensory processing differences. These events often feature reduced lighting and noise levels, providing a comfortable environment for children who may be sensitive to sensory stimuli. 

4. Gardening and Planting: Engage your child in gardening activities to stimulate their senses and foster a connection with nature. Planting seeds, watering plants and harvesting fruits and vegetables provide opportunities for tactile exploration, visual stimulation, and olfactory experiences. Gardening also promotes fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and a sense of responsibility. 

5. Sensory-Friendly Crafts: Get creative with sensory-friendly crafts that engage multiple senses. Activities such as finger painting, playing with kinetic sand and making DIY sensory bottles allow children to explore different textures, colors and materials while enhancing their fine motor skills and creativity. Pinterest and educational websites offer a plethora of ideas for sensory-friendly crafts suitable for all ages. 

Summer Sensory Activities Archives - The Chaos and the Clutter 

Occupational Therapy Skills 

Summer Sensory Activities

Sand, sun, wind and water are all part of the summer months. They are also all amazing sensory experiences. This is a great time of year to enjoy many different types of sensory input. Many times, the best type of sensory experience is messy so now that the weather is warm, it is time to go outside and have some fun.  

If the beach is overwhelming, try using a container of sand to allow your child to become more comfortable with how it feels. Swimming in the ocean or the pool is a fantastic way to cool off and it provides resistance that can improve overall strength. It can also help to regulate your sensory system with all that proprioceptive input.  Being still and taking time to feel the warmth of the sun on your face, or the cooler night air while listening to wildlife is a way to help to quiet your sensory system and bring overall calm. The smell of an outdoor fire and the taste of sticky, sweet, melted marshmallows is a summer sensory experience for everyone to try. Learn 17 Cool Summer Sensory Activities That Help Kids.

The Holiday Season and the Sensory System 

The holidays are upon us. This season brings with it an abundance of sensory input. The lights, the smell and taste of unfamiliar food, the hugs from relatives and friends, the sounds of holiday songs or the many voices of large gatherings may be a part of your holiday traditions. Some of these sensory experiences are welcome, some are tolerable, and some go so far as to send a sensitive sensory system into overload. At the point of sensory overload, some children may overreact, and some may shut down. It is difficult for a child to regulate his/her responses to sensory input especially during times when there are changes in typical family routines.  

If new foods can be difficult, prepare a trial meal so Thanksgiving dinner will not be the first time your child is exposed to the smells and tastes of the meal. 

If lights, sounds and touch can be difficult, there are some things you can do to prepare your child. Plan time in a sensory limited environment. For example, resting in a quiet, dark room with a weighted blanket. This can help by decreasing all forms of sensory input which will help to regulate the sensory system. You may want to do this before the gathering. It can also be helpful after all the fun, to help your child return to a place of calm.

 Making a plan with your child on how to take a break during a holiday gathering can also be helpful. Let them know if they need a break, to ask and you will be able to help them find a quiet place to settle their sensory system.  For more information about the sensory system, watch this short video. What is Sensory Processing?

 

Food for Thought: What do ice cream sundaes and sensory processing have in common? 

We all have our preferences and make choices about what to add to our ice cream for the perfect sundae. Some people may prefer chocolate ice cream with sprinkles, while others may choose vanilla ice cream with hot fudge and whipped cream. Similarly, we all have individual sensory preferences that help us to remain regulated so that we may participate in our daily activities.  Every time we make a sundae, we do not necessarily make it the same way.  When it comes to seeking and/or avoiding certain types of sensory input, that also may shift and change.   

 

An Ice cream sundae has many choices just like the choices of sensory input:
  • Proprioception: Sense of deep pressure - jumping, weighted blanket 
  • Vestibular: Sense of movement - swinging, spinning  
  • Auditory: Sense of hearing - music, silence, alarm 
  • Visual: Sense of sight - lighting, colors 
  • Tactile: Sense of touch - fidgets, putty, different textures 
  • Olfactory: Sense of smell - aromatherapy, food 

We all seek out or avoid different types of sensory input regularly throughout our day.  Sensory strategies are things we can use or do to provide comfort, stimulation, or minimize sensory information.  Sensory integration happens when our sensory system is regulated and supports our emotional and behavioral regulation.  It is helpful to recognize the role that our sensory system plays in our overall ability to participate in our daily activities

 

OT Transitioning Tips

As we transition from the winter months to spring, it gives us a chance to think about switching from one thing to another. Transitions can be difficult for children. Ending one thing and beginning something different requires the ability to stop and shift. When a child is doing something they prefer, it can be much more difficult when they need to change over to something they do not like to do.   

To help them with this, we can provide them with some strategies. For example, providing your child with clear expectations prior to asking them to shift will give them time to process what is coming next. Sometimes using a timer is helpful to give them a visual representation of time passing.  

Having them picture themselves making the shift can also help. For example, when it is time to transition from a device to dinner, ask your child to describe what they need to do. For example, your child can say, “I will start by exiting my game, and I should then shut down the device.” Envisioning these steps may help them to make the shift with more ease.  

Quick Tips for Transitioning: 

  • Set clear, concise expectations ahead of time 
  • Help child visualize transition by having them tell you what they will do 
  • Set a timer 5-10 minutes before transitioning and allow child to watch time pass 

 

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