Category Archives: Education

Spring Purchasing Trends in Education

May 15, 2025Daily Living, Education, Occupational Therapy, Resources for Professionals, Sensoryclassroom tools, Occupational Therapy, OT, self care, sensory, STEAM, STEMAllyson Locke, M.S., OTR/L

Spring Purchasing Trends in Education are in full bloom as educators and therapists look to refresh learning spaces and support student success. This season brings a surge in demand for tools that foster development, promote sensory regulation, and encourage hands-on learning. Explore the top trends shaping spring purchases—along with Therapro’s expert product recommendations to meet each need.

Spring Purchasing Trend #1: Sensory and Emotional Regulation

Products that aid sensory processing and emotional regulation are essential for creating inclusive and focused classrooms. These tools help students manage sensory overload and improve concentration.

Child wearing the ProPower Compression vest for sensory regulation

Therapro Recommendations:

ProPower Compression Vest for Kids: Offers deep pressure to help students self-regulate.
Calming Clips by Bouncyband®: These sensory fidget tools are designed to provide soothing relief in moments of overstimulation, whether at school, home, or on the go.

Spring Purchasing Trend #2: Inclusive and Adaptive Learning Tools

With a continued focus on inclusivity, schools are purchasing adaptive tools that cater to students with special needs.

Therapro Recommendations:

Adapted Scissors: A wide range of adapted scissor options are available to support students’ diverse needs- from tabletop scissors that support one-handed use to spring-loaded scissors for hands with decreased grip strength.
Visual Timers: Visual timers and schedules are an essential support for young learners and especially for learners still developing executive function skills.

Push down scissors assistive technology solution

Spring Purchasing Trend #3: Classroom Organization and Flexibility

Flexible classroom setups are increasingly important, and educators are investing in furniture and tools that can be easily adjusted to suit different learning styles.

Kore Kids Wobble Chair for dynamic movement while seated

Therapro Recommendations:

Kore Design Wobble Chair: Provides flexible seating that supports focus and comfort.
Collapsible Slant Boards: Easy to store and perfect for various learning activities. Helps with writing posture and provides stability for students with handwriting challenges.

Spring Purchasing Trend #4: STEM and STEAM Learning Materials

With the increasing focus on STEM and STEAM education, schools are investing in hands-on products that promote problem-solving, creativity, and critical thinking. These tools help foster engagement and deeper understanding of core concepts.

Therapro Recommendations:

Design & Drill Marble Maze: This interactive kit lets students design their own mazes, combining engineering, problem-solving, and fine motor skills to create a fun and challenging learning experience.
Flexitables: These innovative educational tools are designed to make learning math a hands-on and engaging experience.

Spring Purchasing Trend #5: Self-Care and Daily Living Skills

As health and hygiene continue to be top priorities, there is a growing emphasis on teaching students essential self-care skills. Products that support hygiene routines and promote independence are in high demand this spring.

Therapro Recommendations:

Self-Care with Flair!: This fun and engaging curriculum helps children develop essential self-care skills, such as grooming, dressing, and personal hygiene, in an interactive and empowering way.
Webber® Activities of Daily Living Tips and Teaching Companion: A comprehensive resource for educators and therapists that supports effective teaching of essential self-care skills while accommodating diverse learning styles.

Spring purchasing trends in education highlight a focus on inclusivity, flexibility, and hands-on learning. From sensory regulation tools to STEM resources, these products help create dynamic and engaging learning environments. With Therapro’s range of specialized products, educators and therapist can find the right tools to meet the unique needs of their students and ensure a successful school year ahead.

Creating a Successful, Sensory-Friendly, Learning Environment

August 9, 2024Assistive Technology, Education, Sensoryassistive technology, assistive technology for kids, back-to-school tips, educational tools, Home learning, home learning environment, learning spaces, Occupational Therapy, occupational therapy products, organization for learning, OT, sensory, sensory-friendly space, student focus toolsGuest Blogger

As the new school year approaches, setting up an effective, sensory-friendly, home learning environment is essential for your child’s success. A well-organized and sensory-friendly space can enhance focus, reduce stress, and make learning more fun. Adapting a learning environment to your child’s specific needs and learning style are crucial elements for a happy, productive learning experience. Therapro offers a wide range of products designed to meet the unique needs of every child, ensuring a smooth and successful back-to-school transition. Here are 5 strategies that will help your child sail smoothly into Fall:

1.) Designate the Ideal Learning Space: Choosing the right location for your child’s learning space is the first step. It should be quiet, well-lit, and free from distractions, such as visual clutter and noise. Ergonomic furniture is essential to ensure comfort and proper posture during study sessions. Therapro’s seating solutions, including Kore Kid’s Wobble Chair and Wiggle Seat Sensory Cushions, are perfect for creating a customized learning environment that grows with your child. Choose from several different sizes of the Wobble Chair to accommodate your child’s height while allowing movement back and forth, front to back, and all around without tipping. The Wiggle Seat comes in 4 colorful shapes to help your child stay focused and stable when seated.

Kore Kids Wobble Chair for a Sensory-friendly learning environment — Wiggle Seat Sensory Cushion

2.) Provide Organizational Tools for Success: Organization plays a key role in effective learning. A consistent routine helps children feel secure and understand what to expect each day. Establishing a daily schedule that includes time for learning, breaks, and play is essential. Visual schedules, planners, and other organizational tools help children understand their daily tasks and manage their time efficiently. Therapro offers a variety of these tools from SchKiDules that are engaging and easy to use. The magnetic 2-Sided Star Board is a versatile tool that unfolds into three 6 inch panels to build a daily visual schedule. Time Timer Original 3-inch timer provides a 60 minute countdown to keep your child on track.

Schkidules visual schedule display — Time Timer

3.) Set Up a Sensory-Friendly Environment to Enhance Focus and Attention: Many children benefit from a sensory-friendly learning environment. Addressing sensory needs can help improve focus and reduce anxiety. Therapro provides a range of sensory products, such as fidgets, weighted items, and sensory materials to create a calming and supportive space for learning. Be sure to check with your child’s occupational therapist to collaborate on what sensory tools would be best for your child. The weighted Sit -Tight Lap Pad’s gentle pressure helps children achieve calm and focus. It easily fastens around the waist with a clip. The adorable Puppy Shoulder Wrap helps active, younger children stay calm and focused as well.

Sit Tight Weighted Lap Pad in a Sensory-friendly learning environment — Sit Tight Weighted Lap Pad

weighted Puppy Shoulder Wrap in a sensory-friendly learning environment — Sit Tight Weighted Lap Pad

Maintaining focus can be challenging for many children. Simple strategies, like using Noise-Canceling Headphones to block out distractions, or visual timers to manage breaks, can make a significant difference. Therapro’s focus tools, including concentration aids and stress-relief items, are designed to help children stay on task. Universal Bouncy Band for Home and School Chairs is a heavy-duty rubber bungee cord that attaches to chair legs allowing the student to support their feet and move, resulting in greater productivity because they are attending to the task.

Bouncy Band for Elementary School Chair — Hush-Buddy Earmuffs

4.) Incorporate Assistive Technology: Assistive technology can greatly enhance a child’s learning experience. Therapro offers a variety of technological aids that cater to different learning needs and styles. These tools not only support academic success but also boost confidence and independence. The compact GoTalk Button records a 10 second message and has a built-in magnet for display on the refrigerator or on any metal surface. Teaching Rings is a tool that provides a fun new technique in teaching and keyboarding or touch typing skills for all ages and skill levels. The child wears 8 teaching rings to teach them the “Home Row” of keys where fingers should always rest when not typing. As the child learns all the keys that each finger types, they can remove the rings.

GoTalk Button — Animal-Shaped Computer Mouse

5.) Offer Parental Involvement and Support: Parents play a crucial role on the school team in their child’s education. By being involved and providing support, you can help your child navigate challenges and celebrate successes. Therapro offers resources and products designed to support parents in creating a positive learning environment at home. Ongoing consultation with your child’s teachers and occupational therapists can help guide you in selecting the best tools for your child’s learning environment at home.

A well-organized, sensory-friendly, and technology-equipped home learning environment can significantly impact your child’s academic success. By exploring and incorporating Therapro’s extensive range of products, you can tailor a positive learning space that meets your child’s unique needs and fosters a love for learning.

Guest Blogger: Filomena Connor, MSOT – Retired

Boosting Skills with Games!

December 19, 2023Activities, Education, Fine Motor, Gross Motor, Handwriting, Occupational Therapyeducational games, executive functioning, fine motor, Handwriting, language, Occupational Therapy, OT, physical therapyGuest Blogger

In the world of education and therapy, finding engaging and effective tools to boost skills can be a game-changer. Fortunately, Therapro has developed a trio of unique games designed to not only boost skills but to also make learning an exciting adventure. In this blog we are exploring how the games Trunks, Letter Treasure Hunt, and Novenops are helpful tools for boosting skill development.

Trunks: The Game of Motor Memory

“Remember, perform, and succeed!”

Trunks®: A Game: boosting Motor-Memory skills

Trunks is the brainchild of an occupational therapist, carefully crafted to promote memory, motor sequencing, and cognitive skills. The concept is simple yet brilliant: players draw a card, study the given action, and then perform it from memory. But here’s the twist – on their next turn, they draw an additional card and must execute both actions in the correct order without peeking.

The real magic lies in the creation of a “trunk,” a series of four cards that, when combined, forms an elephant’s trunk. Through this engaging game, players not only sharpen their memory and sequencing abilities but also enhance their attention to detail and focus. Trunks is an excellent therapeutic tool for those seeking to strengthen cognitive and motor skills in a fun and interactive way.

Watch the short video below for a review of Trunks by physical therapist, Laurie Gombash!

Letter Treasure Hunt: A Multisensory Learning Adventure

“Learning to write, one treasure at a time.”

Letter Treasure Hunt game: boosting handwriting skills

Letter Treasure Hunt is a game that seamlessly blends handwriting skills, gross motor challenges, and language development. It’s an exciting adventure where children explore the world of letters while engaging in activities that improve their handwriting and motor coordination.

In this game, kids embark on a quest to discover hidden treasures, all while completing ‘captain’s orders’, fun gross motor tasks that challenge balance, coordination and strength. This dynamic blend of gross motor challenges not only keeps children active but also enhances their physical development. Moreover, the game fosters language skills by encouraging communication among players.

Letter Treasure Hunt is the perfect example of how education can be both fun and effective, making it an excellent choice for parents, teachers, and therapists looking to boost various skills in an engaging manner.

Watch the short video below for a review of Letter Treasure Hunt by physical therapist, Laurie Gombash!

Novenops: Mastering Grammar through Play

“Grammar made fun, one card at a time.”

NOVENOP is an acronym created from the words NOun, VErb, NOun, and Phrase and is a board game for children of ages 6 and up

Novenops is a game that focuses on enhancing the player’s understanding of the basic elements of grammar. With 60 carefully designed cards, this game creates a captivating learning experience that continuously reinforces sentence structure concepts. As players progress, their word familiarity improves, subsequently boosting their reading and writing skills.

The beauty of Novenops lies in its ability to turn grammar lessons into an enjoyable activity. By gamifying language learning, it removes the traditional barriers associated with grammar education and replaces them with excitement and engagement. It’s an ideal tool for educators and parents who want to transform grammar from a chore into a rewarding adventure.

Watch the short video below for a review of Novenops by physical therapist, Laurie Gombash!

Therapro’s games— Trunks, Letter Treasure Hunt, and Novenops —are shining examples of how education and therapy can be both effective and enjoyable. These games are not only designed to boost skills but also make the learning process a memorable and fun experience. Whether you’re a therapist, educator, or parent, consider incorporating these games into your toolkit to unlock the full potential of skill development. With Therapro, learning is an adventure waiting to be discovered!