Category Archives: Therapist Resources

Comprehensive resources, strategies, and tools designed to support therapists in delivering effective care and ongoing professional growth.

Adapted Scissors Guide: Finding the Right Fit for Every Learner

Assistive Technology, Fine Motor & Hand Skill Development, School-Based Practice, Therapist Resources, ,

When it comes to developing essential cutting skills, adapted scissors for kids can make all the difference in supporting learners with physical, cognitive, or sensory-motor challenges. Therapists, educators, and parents know that one size rarely fits all—especially when it comes to fine motor tools. At Therapro, our wide selection of adaptive scissors offers tailored options to meet diverse needs, from improving grip and control to promoting bilateral coordination. This guide compares popular adapted scissors and offers practical tips for selecting the right tool based on each child’s abilities and goals.

1. Easi-Grip Loop Scissors:

Easi-Grip Loop Scissors

Ideal for children with weak grip strength or limited dexterity, Easi-Grip Loop Scissors feature a self-opening mechanism and a continuous loop handle that automatically reopens after each cut. These are particularly effective for learners who have difficulty with standard scissor action due to conditions such as cerebral palsy or low muscle tone. Tip: Position the paper vertically to allow more shoulder stability while cutting.

2. Mounted Table Top Scissors:

For learners with severely limited hand function or the inability to grasp, Mounted Table Top Scissors can be operated with the palm, elbow, or even a fist. They stay secured to a surface and allow for one-handed use, making them an excellent choice for children recovering from surgery or those with hemiplegia. Tip: Use with a non-slip mat to ensure stability and safety during use.

Mounted Table Top Scissors

3. Dual-Controlled Training Scissors:

Dual Control Teaching Scissors

Perfect for developing scissor skills with adult support, Dual-Controlled Training Scissors allow a therapist, teacher, or parent to guide the cutting motion alongside the child. This model is ideal for beginners who need extra hand-over-hand support while learning proper finger placement and control. Tip: Use these scissors for modeling open-close sequences before transitioning to independent use.

Therapist Tips for Success:

  • Start with snipping activities using short strips of paper to build confidence.
  • Reinforce midline orientation by centering the cutting activity.
  • Combine cutting with visual-motor integration tasks to strengthen tracking and planning skills.

Selecting the right pair of adapted scissors for kids can significantly enhance a learner’s sense of independence and participation in school and home activities. Visit the Adaptive Scissors Category Page for our full selection.

By choosing the right adapted scissors and using strategic therapist-informed techniques, you empower every child to achieve cutting success—one snip at a time.

Movement and Strength for Mental Health

Motor & Movement, Therapist Resources, , ,

Each year on October 10, the world recognizes World Mental Health Day, an important reminder of the need to support emotional well-being across all ages and abilities. Research consistently shows that movement and mental health are deeply connected—physical activity not only strengthens the body but also boosts mood, reduces stress, and fosters resilience. For therapists, educators, and parents, incorporating purposeful movement and strength-building activities into daily routines can be a powerful way to promote both physical and emotional wellness.

Why Movement Matters for Mental Health

Exercise stimulates the release of endorphins, improves focus, and helps regulate emotions. For children and adults alike, structured movement activities can provide healthy coping strategies, reduce anxiety, and build confidence. In therapeutic and educational settings, using the right tools can transform simple exercises into opportunities for engagement, regulation, and growth.

Tools to Support Strength and Emotional Well-Being

Therapro offers a wide range of resources in its Strength & Fitness category designed to integrate movement into therapy and learning environments. Here are three effective tools that promote both strength and mental health:

Cozy Caterpillar™ Compression Tube

Compression Tube – This stretchy, enclosed fabric provides calming deep pressure and encourages creative movement, making it an excellent choice for self-regulation and sensory integration.

TheraBand Resistance Bands – Lightweight and versatile, these bands help build strength, endurance, and flexibility while giving clients an accessible tool for stress relief through movement.

Weighted Balls – Perfect for tossing, lifting, and core exercises, these tools add resistance that can improve both physical strength and emotional regulation.

Putting It Into Practice

Whether used in occupational or physical therapy sessions, classrooms, or at home, strength and movement-based activities can help clients of all ages build confidence, reduce stress, and foster a sense of accomplishment. By pairing intentional movement with supportive tools, therapists and caregivers can empower individuals to take meaningful steps toward better mental health.

This World Mental Health Day, let’s recognize the role of movement in emotional wellness and use therapeutic tools that support both mind and body.

How to Use a Fidget Kit Anywhere

Sensory, Therapist Resources, , , , ,

Support focus, reduce stress, and build fine motor skills anywhere with the Therapro Fidget Kit

Therapro's Fidget Kit

Fidget tools have become a must-have for therapists, educators, and parents working to support children’s focus, self-regulation, and sensory needs. Therapro’s Fidget Kit offers an assortment of engaging, therapist-approved fidgets—each selected to provide unique tactile input and promote fine motor development.

Whether you’re working with a student in the classroom or helping your child self-regulate at home, here are five practical and effective ways to use this fidget kit in different environments.

🏠 At Home: Make Fidgets Part of the Routine

Create a “fidget zone” near your child’s homework area or bedroom.
Use Ideas:

  • Let children choose one or two fidgets to use while reading or completing homework to boost focus.
  • Include fidgets in morning and bedtime routines to help manage transitions.
  • Use squeezable items like the Squeezie Ball or Silly Putty for calming during overstimulating moments.

💡 Tip: Rotate fidgets weekly to keep novelty high and support continued engagement.

🚗 On the Go: Fidgets for Travel and Outings

Fidgets are the perfect quiet companion for car rides, doctor visits, and waiting rooms.
Use Ideas:

  • Keep compact fidgets like the Tangle Jr. or Fidget Pencil in the car or backpack.
  • Offer a fidget during long rides to reduce restlessness and improve sensory regulation.
  • Use the Boink or Bendeez as a calming tool during overstimulating outings.

💡 Pro Tip: Pack a mini sensory travel kit with 2–3 fidgets in a zip pouch.

🧠 In Therapy Sessions: Enhance Fine Motor & Sensory Goals

The kit offers tools that align with OT goals for hand strength, bilateral coordination, and sensory modulation.
Use Ideas:

  • Use the Giant Nuts & Bolts to target fine motor precision and grip strength.
  • Incorporate the Rapper Snapper in activities that promote bilateral hand use.
  • Create a “choose your fidget” station at the start of sessions to increase autonomy and regulation.

💡 Tip: Use fidgets as part of a sensory warm-up or cool-down during therapy.

🧘 In Calming Corners: Promote Self-Regulation and Emotional Control

Every classroom or home benefits from a designated calm-down space.
Use Ideas:

  • Set up a calming corner with a few of the softer, quieter fidgets (Koosh Ball or Squeezie Earth).
  • Create visuals to help students select the fidget that best matches their sensory needs.
  • Allow students to access the kit proactively when they feel overwhelmed.

💡 Suggestion: Pair fidget use with deep breathing visuals or timers for structured breaks.

🎒 In the Classroom: Support Attention and Reduce Disruption

Fidgets can quietly increase student engagement and help meet sensory needs without distracting others.
Use Ideas:

  • Offer silent fidgets like the Fidget Pencil or Tangle Jr. during circle time or independent work.
  • Use a “fidget pass” system so students can access the kit as needed.
  • Incorporate fidget use into small group or station activities to enhance participation.

💡 Teacher Tip: Teach fidget rules early (quiet hands, eyes on task) to support responsible use.

Why the Therapro Fidget Kit Works

This all-in-one fidget set is more than just a box of toys—it’s a toolkit for supporting development, engagement, and emotional wellness. With varied textures, actions, and sizes, the Therapro Fidget Kit can meet a wide range of needs in children and young adults.

✅ Supports fine motor development
✅ Promotes calm and focus
✅ Portable and versatile for use across settings

🔗 Shop the Therapro Fidget Kit Now »

Whether you’re an occupational therapist building a treatment plan, a teacher creating a sensory-friendly classroom, or a parent supporting self-regulation at home, the Therapro Fidget Kit is a versatile tool you can count on.