All posts by Allyson Locke, M.S., OTR/L

2022 By The Numbers!

January 3, 2023General, UncategorizedTheraproAllyson Locke, M.S., OTR/L

As we make the transition out of the year 2022 and into the year 2023, the team at Therapro took a moment to reflect on some of the many accomplishments that made the previous year great. The numbers say it all!

Live and in-person conferences started to gain traction again in 2022, and the Therapro team was excited to get back out there. Therapro joined attendees at 3 in-person conferences and 1 virtual conference this year. In 2023, we hope to continue to build on that momentum. We are excited to explore new conference opportunities, including ATIA 2023, where we plan to exhibit our latest and ever-growing selection of assistive technology products.

Therapro had the opportunity to support 30 different organizations through donations in 2022. As a team of therapists, supporting our professional state organizations has always been one of our core missions. Through 2022, Therapro received requests for support from professional organizations like the Kansas Speech-Language Hearing Association, the Washington Occupational Therapy Association (WOTA), the Texas Occupational Therapy Association (TOTA), the Massachusetts Occupational Therapy Association (MAOT), and the New Hampshire Occupational Therapy Association. 2022 also brought us some unique opportunities to help. Boxes full of the games Trunks and Novenops made their way to to a group supporting the Marshall Fire victims in Boulder Valley, Colorado and many chews were sent to support a service trip to Belize.

Ensuring our professionals and parents have access to the most up-to-date products available is a top priority at Therapro. Over the last year, Therapro added over 115 new products to our website including Happy Senso, My Motor Mats , the Busy Bee Sensory Plush, Just Right! A Sensory Modulation Curriculum®, and Comfy Chairs. With this, we have expanded the selection of the products available in our articulation, social language, and math categories. We have also worked toward making sure the most updated versions of publications are available including, Is It Sensory Or Is It Behavior? 2nd Edition. New products are added often. Be sure to check the new products section of our website regularly for updates!

Staying connecting is important to all of us at Therapro. Our many social media outlets have allowed us to stay up to date on what is happening on the ground and has provided us with the opportunity to share Therapro updates as they are happening. In 2022 we shared 600+ posts across our LinkedIn, Twitter, Pinterest, Facebook, and Instagram pages. We have also sent out 50 Theragrams, our biweekly newsletter. Stay connected with us by following @Therapro and signing up for our Theragram!

Therapro’s free webinar series launched back in 2019 and has been gaining attention ever since. In 2022 we covered topics including sensory, treatment strategies, conversational skills, bike riding, assistive technology, and math skills. This year we had 3,860 people register for the 10 free webinars we offered. The 2023 webinar lineup is shaping up to be another stellar year; we are looking forward to bringing you topics including apraxia, dyslexia, trauma-informed care, and many more sensory topics!

2022 has been a great year for Therapro, and we are looking forward to all that 2023 will bring. Therapro wishes our many customers a happy and healthy New Year!

Activities That Build Fine Motor Skills

November 30, 2022Fine Motor, Uncategorizedfine motor, hand skills, Occupational Therapy, OTAllyson Locke, M.S., OTR/L

Fine motor skills are vital for many functional activities like zippering our coats, writing our name, and opening lunch containers. In this post we will take a dive into fine motor skill development and explore toys and activities that are appropriate for every skill level.

Level 1

Fine motor skill development begins with the simplest hand movements; reaching, swiping, and gross grasp. As development progresses things like visually guided reach, purposeful release, and a better ability to hold medium and small sized objects develops. Poking, pointing, and the ability to use the thumb and first fingers to hold small objects are major milestones during this period. For children at this developmental stage activities that support the growth of the proximal muscles (core and shoulders) are important because it is these muscles that will support later fine motor skills. Activities that are done while on the tummy and activities that involve pushing and pulling are great choices at this stage.

Level 2

The next stage of fine motor development is marked by the ability to begin to use simple tools like crayons, scissors, and spoons. Activities like the Smartmax games and Lock Boxes are still great choices but now simple arts and crafts, lacing, and building activities can also be enjoyed. These increasingly more complex activities will lend to the development of the hand skills that are needed for greater independence with self care activities like feeding and dressing.

RAPPER SNAPPERS AKA POP TUBES in purple, red, green, and blue — Rapper Snappers

Level 3

The next stage of development is marked by the ability to complete tasks that require the separation of the two sides of the hand; the ‘power side’ and the ‘skilled side’. The power side of the hand is what we use when we engage in activities that require strength like opening a jar; actions like squeezing a toy or playing in putty or playdough are great ways to develop these muscles. The skilled side of the hand is what we use when we engage in activities that require refined movements like writing, tying, or fastening a button. To develop these muscles we must engage in activities that predominantly require the use of the thumb and first two or three fingers; actions like winding the small knob on a wind up toy, using the first fingers to grab, grasp or manipulate objects, and using one finger to push a button or lever are all great ways to develop these muscle. The development of the separation of the two sides of the hands is important for academic and self care tasks.

Level 4

Hallmarks of this stage of fine motor skill development include the skilled coordination between the two sides of the body and a mature pencil grasp. Games like Froggy Feeding Fun and activities with Wikki Stix or Playdough are still great but now activities that require refined skill can also be introduced.

Choosing activities that are developmentally appropriate will ensure not only engagement but will also promote continued fine motor skill development.

Therapy Activities On A Budget: Rapper Snappers

October 6, 2022Activities, Autism, Body Awareness, Early Intervention, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Occupational Therapy, Oral Motor, Sensorimotor, Strength & Rehabactivity ideas, fine motor, hand skills, Occupational Therapy, OT, physical therapy, pop tubes, rapper snapper, sensoryAllyson Locke, M.S., OTR/L

Rapper Snappers are a multi functional therapy tool perfect for creating fun, budget friendly therapy activities! In this post, Physical Therapist and creator of the ABCs of Movement, Laurie Gombash, PT, M.Ed, shared five different ways to use Rapper Snappers (also known as Pop Tubes) as a therapeutic tool. Be sure to check out her video below!

Demonstration of rapper snapper activity: pulling a pink rapper snapper open

Arm Strengthening

Place hands on either end of the Rapper Snapper and pull! Work with the arms overhead to target shoulder strength or work with arms away from the body to target core strength. Target different muscles of the upper body by pulling in different directions. Try holding the rapper snapper in one hand, at hip level, and using the other hand to pull up and across the body. Alternatively, hold the rapper snapper at shoulder level and uses the other hand to pull down and across the body.

Pro Tip, using the fingers to scrunch the Rapper Snapper back to size is great for finger strengthening!

Self Regulation

Rapper Snappers are a fun way to learn about self regulation. Help kids visualize concepts like fast breathing or rapid heart beat by opening and closing the Rapper Snapper rapidly. Alternatively, demonstrate slow or rhythmic breathing by slowly pulling apart or closing the rapper snapper.

Pro Tip, the sound made by the Rapper Snappers as it is opening and closing provides great auditory feedback!

Demonstration of rapper snapper activity: squeezing a pink rapper snapper closed

Fine Motor & Motor Planning

Looking for a fun and engaging activity? Use Rapper Snappers to make a marble run! Bend and twist the Rapper Snapper to make a maze, drop the marble in, and let it run through. Using two or three fingers to grasp the marble and inserting it into the Rapper Snapper’s narrow opening is a great way to get the small muscles in the hand working. Planning a successful maze for the marble to run through takes planning abilities!

Pro Tip: This activity can be done holding the Rapper Snapper and moving the marble through or you can use Velcro or other adhesives to adhere Rapper Snappers to a wall or other vertical surface.

Demonstration of rapper snapper activity: blowing into a pink rapper snapper

Oral Motor

Shape the Rapper Snapper like a smile and try to imitate it with your lips, now flip it upside down to make a frown! Purse your lips, give a big blow, stick out your tongue! There are so many ways to use a Rapper Snapper to help build and strengthen oral musculature!

Academic Skills

Use the Rapper Snappers to build shapes, letters, and numbers. Connect multiple Rapper Snappers for bigger numbers or shapes. Work as a team to build a giant letter on the floor!

Rapper Snappers are a small, easy to transport, budget friendly tool that can be used across multiple settings and to target a variety of treatment goals making them the perfect tool when creating therapy activities on a budget!

Watch the Video!