All posts by Guest Blogger

Levels of Whistle and Blow Toys Explained

Whistle and blow toys are more than just fun — they’re powerful tools in oral motor therapy that support breath control, lip closure, sensory regulation, and multisensory integration. Whether used by occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists, or other pediatric specialists, whistle and blow toys can be strategically selected and graded to match a child’s specific needs and abilities.

In the clinical guide M.O.R.E.: Integrating the Mouth With Sensory and Postural Functions, the authors explain how oral motor activities engage the sensory and postural systems simultaneously. Blowing activates the muscles of respiration and the oral-motor system while also stimulating alerting or calming effects, depending on intensity and pacing. Synchronizing breath with visual tracking or postural tasks further enhances body awareness and regulation. Selecting the right level of whistle or blow toy ensures that the activity challenges the child appropriately and supports therapeutic progress.

Understanding the Levels

Level 1 Whistles – Low Resistance, High Accessibility

These are ideal for children with reduced breath support or limited oral motor control. They require minimal pressure and allow success with less precise lip closure.

Echo microphone blow toy

Therapro Recommendations:

Level 2 Whistles – Moderate Breath Control Required


These tools are appropriate for children who have mastered basic breath activation and are ready to develop sustained airflow and coordination.

Therapro Recommendations:

  • Whistling Straws: Require focused airflow, ideal for mid-level strength building.
  • Floating Ball Game: Combines visual tracking with breath control, great for synchronizing breath and eye coordination.
Floating Ball Game blow toy

Level 3 Whistles – High Resistance, Advanced Control

These challenge even strong blowers. They demand powerful, sustained breath and refined control, activating deeper postural and respiratory systems.

Balloon Car Racer blow toy

Therapro Recommendations:

Therapeutic Benefits

  • Breath Support & Control: Essential for speech production, sustained phonation, and self-regulation.
  • Oral Motor Development: Enhances strength and coordination of the lips, cheeks, and tongue.
  • Sensory Regulation: Blowing can be alerting or calming, depending on resistance and activity structure.
  • Multisensory Integration: Eye-breath coordination and posture-breath synchrony help develop attention and motor planning.

Therapro’s full line of whistle and blow toys is organized to help therapists and parents choose developmentally appropriate tools that support targeted outcomes. For a deeper understanding of how oral motor input integrates with sensory and postural systems, consider adding M.O.R.E. to your resource library.

Explore Therapro’s oral motor therapy tools today and discover how simple, affordable tools can deliver powerful therapeutic results.

Guest Blogger: Karen Conrad Weihrauch, PhD, OTR/L

Assistive technology booth showcasing tools for classroom accessibility

Assistive Technology Solutions for Schools: Highlights from NYC AT Conference

Therapro recently had the privilege of exhibiting at the 2025 New York City Public Schools Assistive Technology Conference in Brooklyn, NY. This event provided an excellent platform to showcase Therapro’s assistive technology solutions for schools, designed to enhance student independence and participation across various school activities.

Enhancing Grasp and Functional Use with The Functionalhand and EazyHolds

Attendees were particularly impressed by The Functionalhand and EazyHolds. These adaptive devices facilitate improved grasp for individuals with limited hand function. Demonstrations highlighted their versatility in enabling students to hold items such as paintbrushes in art class, drumsticks in music sessions, pencils during lessons, and utensils at mealtimes. Combining The Functionalhand with EazyHolds further amplifies their utility, promoting greater independence in daily school activities.

Empowering Classroom Engagement with Switch-Adapted Tools

The PowerLink 4 Control Unit captured significant attention for its ability to make virtually any electrical device switch-accessible. By accommodating up to two standard switches, educators can adapt classroom tools to meet diverse student needs, fostering inclusivity in learning environments. Additionally, our range of switch-adapted activities demonstrated effectiveness in teaching cause-and-effect relationships and enhancing peer interaction, crucial components in cognitive and social development. These tools are essential assistive technology solutions for schools looking to improve accessibility for students with disabilities.

Therapro's Booth showing the Powerlink setup for switch access

Facilitating Fine Motor Skills with Adapted Scissors

Our collection of adapted scissors was well-received, particularly the Push-Down Table Top Scissors. Designed for individuals with limited hand strength or coordination, these scissors operate with a simple downward push, allowing one-handed use and promoting autonomy in art and classroom projects. The Dual Control Teaching Scissors also garnered interest for their unique design that enables educators to guide students through the cutting process, providing a supportive learning experience.

Push down scissors assistive technology solution

Improving Handwriting with Raised Line Paper

Experiencing our Raised Line Paper firsthand allowed attendees to appreciate its subtle tactile feedback. The raised lines assist students in maintaining writing alignment and spacing, benefiting those with visual impairments or challenges in handwriting legibility. This simple yet effective tool supports the development of fine motor skills and written communication and is a valuable assistive technology solution for schools seeking to enhance student success.

Participating in the NYC Assistive Technology Conference reinforced the importance of hands-on demonstrations in understanding the impact of assistive devices. Therapro remains committed to providing educators, therapists, and parents with practical solutions that empower students to achieve greater independence and success in their educational journeys.

Psymark Featured on the OT Schoolhouse Podcast: Exploring Digital Visual-Motor Assessments

Technology is transforming school-based occupational therapy, and the latest episode of the OT Schoolhouse Podcast highlights a game-changing tool that’s making assessments more efficient than ever. In this episode, Karen Silberman, creator of the Psymark Psymark Visual-Motor Progress Monitoring Apps, and occupational therapist Heather Donovan join host Jayson Davies to dive into the latest innovations in Psymark’s digital tools for visual-motor assessments. This tool not only saves time but also equips practitioners and educators with actionable intervention strategies—helping support students more effectively while reducing unnecessary referrals.

Psymark Visual-Motor apps

What You’ll Learn

In this episode, listeners will gain insights into Psymark’s groundbreaking research and the effectiveness of its digital tools. Highlights include:

  • Pencil-Finger-Stylus Study: Findings show that digital input methods produce nearly identical results to traditional pencil-and-paper tasks, reinforcing the validity of digital assessments.
  • Concurrent Validity Study: Recent research demonstrates that the Psymark Shapes test has a strong correlation with the Beery-Buktenica Developmental Test of Visual-Motor Integration (VMI), a widely recognized assessment tool.
  • Real-World Impact: A case study from a school district revealed a 48% increase in students reaching the Proficient range after a 12-week intervention, highlighting the effectiveness of targeted support using Psymark’s tools.

A Sneak Peek at an Exciting New Digital Visual-Motor Assessment

Listeners will also get an exclusive preview of the upcoming Psymark Visual Motor Screener (VMS), set to launch this spring! This powerful screening tool is designed for both occupational therapists and general education teachers, allowing them to efficiently assess large groups of students and provide tailored intervention strategies for those who need additional support.

The VMS toolkit will include:

  • The Visual Motor Screener (VMS)
  • A training video
  • A comprehensive manual

This new tool will empower professionals to quickly identify visual-motor challenges and implement targeted strategies to help students succeed.

Don’t Miss This Episode!

Hear how Psymark is leading the way in digital visual-motor assessments. visit otschoolhouse.com/episode171 to listen and discover how these advancements are shaping the future of occupational therapy and student success.

At Therapro, we’re committed to providing resources and tools that support therapists, educators, and families. Stay connected for more updates on the latest in assessments and interventions!