at-home therapy activities

Celebrate National Family Day With 3 Fun Activities
Celebrate National Family Day With 3 Fun Activities 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

Did you know that National Family Day is on September 28th? Spending time together with your little ones allows you to make lasting memories together and strengthen your family bond. Whether you are looking to get moving, spark creativity, or simply enjoy some laughter, there are plenty of fun activities out there to try. To give you some inspiration, our team wanted to share 3 therapy-based activities that your whole family is sure to enjoy. We hope these activities bring lots of smiles and joy.

1. Get Silly With Charades

Charades is a great game as it encourages communication, turn-taking, and imagination. To begin, take turns with your child acting out different animals, characters, or pretend like you’re doing an everyday activity, such as brushing your teeth. Remember to keep the clues simple and don’t be afraid to get a little goofy! Being silly is all part of the fun.

A Great First Step: Instead of playing charades by just performing actions, make sounds and noises to make it easier for the guesser.

2. Enjoy a Family Board Game Day

There are so many wonderful board games to try that are great for all ages. Bring a few games out to the living room, and get ready to enjoy a family board game day. Allow your child to choose which game they want to play first, and keep the focus on having fun rather than winning. Some of our favorite games include Candy Land, Chutes and Ladders, Memory Match, Go Fish, and Hi Ho! Cherry-O. 

A Great First Step: Choose games with simple rules and short turns so everyone can join in.

3. Have a Picnic at the Park

Before the weather starts cooling down, why not get outside and have a picnic at the park? Let your little one help put together the tasty treats that will come along with you, and get everything ready for a relaxing picnic. While you’re eating, work with your child to see how many birds, flowers, or butterflies you can find, and talk about what you’re seeing. Being out in nature is the perfect way to spend an afternoon with your kiddos.

A Great First Step: Have your child practice following directions by saying things such as “Put the blanket on the grass” or “Take the sandwiches out of the basket.”

Take a look at our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout the month of September as we celebrate family and the moments that bring us closer together. Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you think your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our compassionate team is here to support you and your little ones however we can.

Play, Explore, Grow: 3 Great Outdoor Activities to Try This Summer
Play, Explore, Grow: 3 Great Outdoor Activities to Try This Summer 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

Are you ready for some fun in the sun? We are!

Getting outside for playtime allows you and your kiddos to stay active and make lasting memories as a family. The best part? Many outdoor activities support developmental skills, including movement and play, sensory fun, and speech-building. To help you make the most of the season, we’ve put together three simple, therapy-based ideas for outdoor activities to try this summer. Not only are they enjoyable for the whole family, but they’re also designed to support your child’s growth through play.

Water Balloon Target Toss

Cool down in the summer heat by setting up a water balloon target toss. For starters, you’ll want to fill up a few water balloons and place some buckets outside. Now, have your child toss the balloons one at a time, and see how many they can make into the target zone. This works on hand-eye coordination, sensory exploration, and gross motor skills, all while giving your little one the opportunity to be silly and have fun with water play.

A Great First Step: Place a large bucket directly in front of your child and encourage them to gently drop or toss the water balloon in. Once your kiddos get the hang of this movement, you can then increase the distance of the bucket to make it slightly more challenging.

Playground Adventure

Turn a trip to the playground into the ultimate summer adventure. Encourage your child to run around and explore, and try equipment that they haven’t used before. Your kiddos can use their imagination and pretend like they’re climbing a mountain, crossing a bridge, sliding down a waterfall, or escaping lava by jumping from one spot to the next.

A Great First Step: If the playground feels overwhelming or intimidating to your child, take it one piece of equipment at a time. Encourage your little one to go at their own pace, and slowly build up to more challenging movements.

Summer Walk and Talk

Going on a walk around your neighborhood or through a local park is the perfect way to work on your child’s communication and speech-building skills. Encourage your child to point out things they notice while walking, and use summer-themed vocabulary, such as “flower”, “butterfly”, “tree”, “slide”, “pool”, and “sun”, to describe what they see. 

A Great First Step: If your child isn’t using many words just yet, narrate what you see on your walk. For example, you could say, “I see a big green tree” or “ooh, pretty flowers” while pointing to the objects. 

Be sure to keep an eye on our social media pages (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout July as we share more outdoor activities for you and your kiddos to try this summer. Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us if you think your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. We’re always here to support you and your family however we can.

3 Activities to Try During National Speech-Language-Hearing Month
3 Activities to Try During National Speech-Language-Hearing Month 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Speech and communication is very important for young kiddos, as it helps them express their feelings, thoughts, and emotions. In honor of this wonderful month, we thought it would be the perfect time to share some of our favorite speech-based activities with you. Even just working with your little ones on their speech and language development a few times each week can make a big difference. 

From trying a fun twist on charades to creating a mystery sound box and more, here are 3 speech-based activities to try during National Speech-Language-Hearing Month and beyond.

1. Emotion Charades

Being able to share your feelings and emotions is something that every kiddo should feel comfortable doing. To help them learn how to better express themselves, try playing charades, but with a twist. In this version of the game, you can start by acting out simple emotions and having your child guess what each one is. Then, switch roles, and this time you have to guess what emotion your child is trying to act out.

2. Mystery Sound Box

Grab a box or bin that you have laying around the house and place 5-10 random items inside that your child can identify. Then, have your child choose one item at a time, and ask them questions such as “is it hard or soft?”, “what color is it?” or, “is it big or small?”. You can also encourage your little one to answer in full sentences, and have them tell you what the item is used for.

3. Category Time

For this final activity, come up with some simple categories and write them down on a piece of paper. Then, sit with your child, and work together to try and think of as many things that fit inside the category as possible. For example, some easy categories could be animals, colors, fruits, or things at the park. At the end, see which category had the most answers, and celebrate your great teamwork!

Wishing you a very happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Make sure to follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout May for tips, resources, and more! Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support your family however we can.

3 Simple Occupational Therapy Activities to Try at Home
3 Simple Occupational Therapy Activities to Try at Home 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

April is Occupational Therapy (OT) Month, and we are so excited to highlight the incredible impact that OT has on children’s lives. Occupational therapy is so important to the growth of our little ones, as it can help them develop key skills, gain independence, and boost their confidence. In honor of this wonderful month, we wanted to share 3 simple OT activities that use simple items you probably have at home. These easy-to-try ideas are a wonderful way to spend meaningful time together while supporting your child’s therapy goals.

1. Tape Path Adventure

For this first activity,  you’ll need to get a roll of painter’s tape. To begin, find a spot on the floor where you can place the tape and create “balance beams” for your child to walk on. Try to make all different kinds of patterns, including a straight line, zig zags, or unique shapes. Then, once you’re all done, have your child try to walk or jump along each path. You can even time your child and see if they can beat their previous time!

Bonus Tip: If this seems too easy for your little one, have them try to march, jump, or hop across each path.

2. Sock Ball Toss

Something that we love about this next activity is that it’s very easy to set up, and all you need are a few pairs of socks and an empty laundry basket. Have your child start close to the basket, and encourage them to throw the balled-up socks into the basket. Then, once they successfully make the shot, have them take a few steps back. Repeat the process and see how many shots they can make, and measure how far back they can go!

Bonus Tip: Use baskets of all different sizes for an added challenge, or count how many shots they can make in a row.

3. Toy Rescue 

Gather some of your child’s favorite small toys and get ready to use your imagination. Your little one’s toys are stuck and need some help! To set up this activity, use painter’s tape to secure the toys to the ground, wall, or table, and tell your child that they are a superhero who needs to save the day. They will then have to rescue them by pulling or peeling the tape, freeing their toy friends.

Bonus Tip: Try positioning the toys both up high and down low to promote balance and coordination.

Wishing you a happy Occupational Therapy Month! Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout April for tips, toys we love, and more. Additionally, please feel free to contact us to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our caring and compassionate team is here to support you and your child however we can.

3 Heart-Healthy Activities to Get Kids Moving This February
3 Heart-Healthy Activities to Get Kids Moving This February 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

February is American Heart Month, which makes it the perfect time to help your little ones learn how to care for their hearts in fun and meaningful ways. From jumping and dancing to playful movement games, heart-healthy activities build lifelong habits while filling your day with laughter, joy, and connection. To help get you started, we wanted to share 3 of our favorite heart-healthy activities that you and your kiddos are sure to love. These simple ideas are wonderful to try at home, while supporting growing, healthy hearts.

1. Don’t Drop the Balloon

This first activity is easy to set up and provides endless fun for kids of all ages. Simply get a balloon and encourage your little one to use their hands, feet, head, and elbows to continuously hit it up back into the air, keeping it off the ground for as long as possible. For an added challenge, count how many times they hit the balloon or set a timer and see if they can keep going until the clock runs out.

2. Dice Adventure

Children love this game because every roll of the dice brings a new movement surprise. Start by creating a list of simple actions that your kiddos can perform, and assign each to a number on the dice. Some ideas include jumping jacks, marching in place, walking like a crab, or doing a silly dance. Once your little one completes the task, they get to roll again and continue on their dice adventure. 

3. Paper Animal Rescue

For this final activity, work with your child to draw 5 colorful animals on separate sheets of paper. Tape each one to the wall at different heights, placing some high up and the rest down low. Your child will have to reach up high to save the animals “stuck in trees” and bend down low to save the animals on the ground. Once all of their friends have been rescued, celebrate by enjoying a heart-healthy snack.

Happy American Heart Month! Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month for heart-healthy activities, toys we love, and more! As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your child in any way we can.

How to Support Your Child’s Therapy Without Feeling Overwhelmed
How to Support Your Child’s Therapy Without Feeling Overwhelmed 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

Finding time to work on your child’s therapy can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when the pressure of setting New Year’s resolutions starts to set in. Fortunately, supporting your child doesn’t have to mean adding more to your plate. There are plenty of ways that you can incorporate your child’s therapy into your everyday routine, helping to take some stress off of your shoulders in the process.

From using car rides to build language skills, to creating a consistent bedtime routine and more, here are 3 simple ways to support your little one’s development without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Use Car Rides to Build Language Skills

Whether you’re driving your kiddos to daycare, taking them with you to run errands, or are heading to the park, car rides are the perfect opportunity to work on building your little one’s language skills. Take turns spotting different colors, animals, or letters, narrate what’s going on around you, or simply check in and ask how they’re feeling and what they did that day. These small moments can truly make a big impact.

2. Turn Clean-Up Time Into Playtime

Turn clean-up time into playtime! Rather than taking on all the work by yourself, get your kiddos involved. You can ask them to gently toss their toys into the bin, reach up high to put their toys back on the shelf, or play pretend and have the toys walk back to their home. When you’re all done, celebrate with a high-five, or have a silly dance party.

3. Create a Consistent Bedtime Routine

One of the easiest ways to work on your child’s developmental goals without adding any extra pressure is to create a consistent bedtime routine. Start off by building language and fine motor skills during bath time, encourage independence by allowing your child to pick out and put on their pajamas, and work on speech and communication by reading a bedtime story. Your child will love the familiarity of having the same routine each night, and you’ll love how it turns the end of the day into a calm, connected moment for both of you.

From all of us at Pediatric Therapy Network, Happy New Year! Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) during January for more ways to work on your child’s therapy without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support your family in any way that we can.

3 Activities to Get Your Little Ones Moving During National Physical Therapy Month
3 Activities to Get Your Little Ones Moving During National Physical Therapy Month 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

There’s a chill in the air and the leaves are slowly starting to change colors. This can only mean one thing… Fall has arrived! With the weather cooling down, it’s a great opportunity to warm up by enjoying some playful movement. It’s also the perfect time to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month! This wonderful month is a reminder of how physical therapy can help children build strength, confidence, and independence.

To kick off the celebration, we wanted to share 3 activities to get your little ones moving. We hope you enjoy partaking in these fun and silly games with your kiddos!

1. Ball Toss: With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get outside! This first activity allows you to do just that. Grab a ball of your choice, and make your way outdoors with your little one. Take turns tossing the ball to one another, and see how many times in a row you can catch it. Then, to make the game even more interesting, get a bucket, basket, or large container, and have your child try to toss the ball into it.

Bonus Tip: Incorporate balls of all different shapes, weights, and sizes.

2. Follow the Leader – Dance Edition: Follow the Leader is a classic game that you’ve probably played at least once, but have you ever tried the dance version? Not only is it perfect for getting your little ones moving, but it also lets them work on their balance and coordination. To start, have your child be the leader and shout out a dance move for you to follow. You both will have to perform that dance move until your child shouts out another move to try. Then, switch roles and have a turn at being the dance leader!

Bonus Tip: Play some of your child’s favorite music in the background to add even more excitement.

3. Yoga Safari: Clear a space in your house and lay down some blankets on the floor. Now, lead your child through some animal-inspired yoga poses. For example, you can round out your back like a stretching cat, squat down and hop like a frog, sit with your feet together and flap your knees to mimic a butterfly’s wings, or balance on one leg like a flamingo. Not only does this work on your child’s flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination, but it’s also a whole lot of fun.

Bonus Tip: Do your best to make the noise of each animal.

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long as we continue to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month. As always, please feel free to contact us to talk about if your little one could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your child however we can.

3 Therapeutic Activities That Encourage Bonding and Connection
3 Therapeutic Activities That Encourage Bonding and Connection 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

Our team knows how precious every moment with your little one is. That’s why, throughout September, we’ll be highlighting the importance of family time, starting with sharing 3 therapeutic activities to help you bond and connect with your kiddos. Each activity is simple, engaging, can be incorporated into your daily routine, and most importantly—fun!. The best part? You’ll be making memories together that you and your kids will cherish for years to come.

1. Go on a Walk: Taking a walk together as a family is the perfect way to get some fresh air and relax after a long day. You can take a mindful walk in the park, stroll around your neighborhood, or even just go around the block. Ask your child to describe what they’re seeing, smelling, and hearing while outside. Point out different shapes, objects, and colors, or take this time to talk about your child’s day.

Bonus Tip: Stop at the park and have a quick family yoga session to unwind after a long day.

2. Bake a Healthy Treat: Sit with your child and work with them to come up with a healthy treat that you can make. Some things that you could bake include banana oat cookies, yogurt parfaits, or veggie muffins. Have your child help prepare your delicious snack by measuring, pouring, and mixing the ingredients. Then, when you’re ready to eat, consider setting up a tea party and enjoying your creation. Make sure to invite your child’s favorite stuffed animals to the tea party!

Bonus Tip: Have your child count each ingredient as they put it into the bowl.

3. Have a Family Storytelling Circle: After dinner, get everyone in your family together, lay some blankets and pillows down on the floor, and sit in a circle. Start by having your child talk about their day. Ask them to describe the emotions they felt, what their favorite part was, and something that they’re looking forward to tomorrow. This is a wonderful way to bond, and allows your child to express their feelings.

Bonus Tip: Have your child draw a picture of their day as they’re describing it to you.

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long as we shine a spotlight on the importance of spending quality time together as a family. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

3 Speech-Based Activities to Help Kids With Language Development
3 Speech-Based Activities to Help Kids With Language Development 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and it’s the perfect time to highlight the importance of speech and communication—especially for young children. Communication is the foundation of everything we do, and there are plenty of ways that you can work on your child’s speech and language development at home. To help get you started, we wanted to share some activities that will help your kiddos with their speech, all while giving you the chance to spend time together as a family. From creating a story to playing with hand puppets and more, here are 3 of our top picks.

1. Create a Story: This first activity lets your child use their imagination while building important language skills. As your child comes up with their very own story, they will have to describe where it takes place, who the characters are, and what adventures they’ll have along the way. While they are explaining everything that’s going on, write it down on a piece of paper, and ask them to draw a picture to bring their story to life!

2. Play With Hand Puppets: Hand puppets can be utilized in many different ways, and are wonderful for supporting your child’s communication development. For starters, your kiddos can use hand puppets to express their emotions by telling you how they are feeling. Additionally, you can use hand puppets to talk through real-life scenarios with your child such as going to school for the first time or making new friends. This will help your child share their thoughts and feelings, alleviating some of their worries.

3. Have a Rhyme Time Challenge: This last activity is a playful way to boost your child’s speech skills. Start by sitting down together with your child and write a list of words on a piece of paper. Then, go through the list one word at a time, and take turns coming up with as many rhyming words as possible. Keep going until you’ve worked your way through the whole list! This is the perfect way to expand your child’s vocabulary, get their creativity flowing, and get in a laugh or too along the way.

Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long for tips, toys we love, and more! As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

3 Occupational Therapy Activities That Focus on Sensory Play and Fine Motor Skills
3 Occupational Therapy Activities That Focus on Sensory Play and Fine Motor Skills 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

April has arrived, which means that it’s time to celebrate Occupational Therapy Month! Occupational therapists (OTs) are wonderful, and the work they do truly makes a positive impact on so many lives. That’s exactly why we wanted to shine a bright light on OTs and highlight the difference they make and the incredible work they do. Thank you, Occupational Therapists, for the kindness, care, and compassion that you bring – we appreciate everything that you do.

In honor of Occupational Therapy Month, we wanted to share 3 activities that we know you’re going to enjoy trying with your kiddos. These activities focus on sensory play and are wonderful for helping your child work on their fine motor skills, all while giving you the opportunity to enjoy some fun together as a family. From creating a spring-themed sensory bin to making a paper flower and more, here are 3 fantastic activities to try during Occupational Therapy Month.

1. Create a Spring-Themed Sensory Bin: Creating a spring-themed sensory bin is the perfect way to engage your child’s senses all while celebrating this wonderful season together. First, gather the supplies that you’ll need to make the sensory bin. We recommend dyeing rice green to resemble grass, adding plastic bugs for a nature-inspired touch, and including measuring cups, spoons, and fake plastic tweezers. Once your sensory bin is complete, ask your child to identify the colors of the bugs and count how many are in the bin, scoop and pour the grass into cups, and use the tweezers to transfer the bugs from one end of the bin to the other.

Bonus Tip: Bury small items in the rice and have your little one try to dig them out with a spoon.

2. Make a Paper Flower: Making paper flowers with your kiddos is an excellent way to work on their fine motor skills while letting their creativity bloom. To begin, grab a piece of paper and draw the outline of a flower with a pencil. Then, have your little one use child-safe scissors to carefully cut out the flower. Your child will now have to rip and tear off pieces of the tissue paper and glue it onto the flower. Keep going until most of the flower is covered, let your creation dry, and then hang it on the fridge for everyone to see.

Bonus Tip: Attach a popsicle stick to the back and ask your child to “plant” the flower in a cup of playdough or rice. 

3. Hopscotch: Our featured therapist for Occupational Therapy Month, Beckett, suggested using child-safe chalk during playtime. Chalk is very versatile during playtime, and one of our favorite ways to use chalk is to play hopscotch. This is a great way to incorporate a movement break into your child’s play routine. Work with your child to draw a colorful hopscotch board, and then take turns stepping, jumping, or hopping to each numbered space. Then, if you and your little one are up for it, try hopping from space to space backwards!

Bonus Tip: Keep the fun going by having your child draw fun designs and shapes on the hopscotch board.

Happy Occupational Therapy Month! Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long for tips, toys we love, resources, and more. Furthermore, please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our kind and compassionate team is here to support you and your child in any way that we can.

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