Frames of Reference
Acquisitional Frame of Reference in OT: Skill and Role Acquisition with Examples
The acquisitional frame of reference: learning theory, task analysis, chaining, grading, Mosey's role acquisition, worked examples and a quiz.
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All articles
76 evidence-informed pieces across the breadth of occupational therapy practice.
Adult Rehab
Activities of Daily Living (ADLs) Checklist: Basic and Instrumental ADLs Explained
What activities of daily living are, basic ADLs vs instrumental ADLs with examples, how OTs assess them (Katz, Lawton, FIM), and a free printable ADL checklist.
Adult Rehab
Adaptive Equipment for Eating: An OT's Guide to Utensils, Plates and Cups
Adaptive eating equipment explained by an OT: built-up and weighted utensils, rocker knives, plate guards, scoop dishes and adapted cups.
Frames of Reference
Behavioral and Cognitive-Behavioral Frames of Reference in Occupational Therapy
The behavioral and cognitive-behavioral frames of reference in OT: ABC analysis, reinforcement, shaping, chaining, CBT techniques, examples and a quiz.
Frames of Reference
Cognitive Disability Frame of Reference: Allen Cognitive Levels Explained
Allen's cognitive disability frame of reference: the 6 cognitive levels, ACLS and RTI assessments, how to adapt tasks at each level, a case and a quiz.
Pediatrics
Cutting Activities for Preschoolers: Scissor Skills by Age and 30 Fun Ideas
How scissor skills develop by age, how to teach cutting, the right scissors, and 30 OT cutting activities for preschoolers, with free practice sheets.
Pediatrics
Executive Function Activities for Teens: 30 Strategies for School and Life
Practical executive function activities and strategies for teenagers: planning, time management, organisation, starting tasks, studying and emotional control.
Pediatrics
Hand Strengthening Activities for Kids: 40 OT Ideas for Better Grip and Writing
Why hand strength matters for writing, cutting and self-care, signs of weak hands, and 40 OT hand strengthening activities for kids of all ages.
Sensory & Autism
Heavy Work Activities for Kids: 50 OT Ideas for Home, School and Bedtime
What heavy work is, why it calms and focuses kids, and 50 OT heavy work activities for home, classroom, outdoors, toddlers and bedtime, with a free printable.
Frames of Reference
Kawa Model in Occupational Therapy: The River Metaphor Explained with Examples
The Kawa model explained: water, river walls, rocks, driftwood and spaces, how to use it with clients, worked examples, and a free Kawa river worksheet.
Frames of Reference
Motor Learning Frame of Reference: Motor Control, Skill Acquisition and Task-Oriented Practice
The motor learning frame of reference: Fitts and Posner's stages, practice schedules, KR vs KP feedback, task-oriented training, CO-OP and evidence.
Pediatrics
Motor Planning Activities for Kids: What Praxis Is and 30 OT Ideas
Motor planning (praxis) explained simply, signs of motor planning difficulties, and 30 OT activities for home, school and therapy.
Frames of Reference
Neurodevelopmental (NDT) Frame of Reference and Sensorimotor Approaches in OT
The NDT (Bobath) frame of reference explained, with Rood, Brunnstrom and PNF sensorimotor approaches, key principles, examples and what the evidence says today.
Frames of Reference
Occupational Adaptation Model (Schkade and Schultz): Concepts, Assessment and Examples
The Occupational Adaptation model: occupational challenge, press for mastery, adaptive response, relative mastery, assessment, a case example and a quiz.
Adult Rehab
Occupational Therapy Activities for Dementia: 35 Ideas by Stage
Meaningful occupational therapy activities for people with dementia, matched to early, middle and late stages, with evidence on OT programs and tips for carers.
Adult Rehab
Occupational Therapy Activities for Stroke Patients: 30 Evidence-Based Ideas
OT activities for stroke recovery: daily living practice, arm and hand activities, thinking and vision tasks, home ideas and what the evidence says.
Adult Rehab
Occupational Therapy for Adults with ADHD: Strategies for Work, Home and Life
How occupational therapy helps adults with ADHD: routines, time management, organisation, sensory needs, work and study strategies, and when to seek support.
Sensory & Autism
Occupational Therapy Goals for Autism: 40+ Examples (Neurodiversity-Affirming)
OT goals for autistic children: how to write respectful, functional goals, plus 40+ examples for sensory, self-care, feeding, play and school.
Frames of Reference
Occupational Therapy Models of Practice: PEO, CMOP-E, PEOP, EHP, MOHO and Kawa
Occupational therapy models of practice compared: PEO, CMOP-E, PEOP, EHP, MOHO and Kawa, how models differ from frames of reference, with diagrams and examples.
Adult Rehab
Occupational Therapy for Parkinson's Disease: Interventions, Strategies and Evidence
How OT helps people with Parkinson's: cueing, daily living strategies, handwriting, home safety, fatigue and evidence from a Lancet Neurology trial.
Pediatrics
Oral Motor Activities for Toddlers: Feeding, Chewing and Drooling (OT Guide)
What oral motor skills are, feeding milestones, signs of difficulty, and 25 safe oral motor activities for toddlers for chewing, drinking and drooling.
Pediatrics
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Goals: 60+ Examples by Skill Area and Age
A pediatric OT goal bank: how to write SMART and COAST goals, plus 60+ measurable examples for fine motor, handwriting, self-care, sensory and more.
Sensory & Autism
Proprioceptive Activities Before Bed: A Calming Bedtime Routine for Kids
Calming proprioceptive and heavy work activities to help kids wind down before bed, a sample bedtime routine and weighted blanket safety.
Sensory & Autism
Self-Regulation Activities for Kids: 35 OT Ideas to Calm, Focus and Cope
What self-regulation is, how it develops, co-regulation, the Zones of Regulation and Alert Program, and 35 OT self-regulation activities for toddlers to teens.
Sensory & Autism
Sensory Diet for ADHD: A Sample Daily Schedule and 40 Activities
How a sensory diet can help kids with ADHD stay calm and focused: a sample school-day schedule, alerting and calming activities and a printable.
Pediatrics
Toe Walking Exercises for Kids: 15 Stretches and Games to Try at Home
Simple toe walking exercises for kids: calf stretches, heel walking, squats and sensory games, how often to do them, plus a printable chart.
Adult Rehab
Trigger Finger Exercises and Occupational Therapy: Splints, Stretches and Tips
How OT and hand therapy treat trigger finger: splinting, tendon gliding exercises, activity changes, the evidence, and when injection or surgery helps.
Pediatrics
Vestibular Activities for Babies: Safe Movement Play from 0 to 12 Months
Safe vestibular activities for babies by age: rocking, tummy time on a ball, gentle bouncing and swinging, how movement supports development, and safety rules.
Pediatrics
Crossing the Midline: Why It Matters and 20 Fun Activities for Kids
What crossing the midline means, when children develop it, signs of difficulty, how it links to handwriting and hand dominance, and 20 OT-approved activities.
Pediatrics
Bilateral Coordination: What It Is, Signs of Difficulty and 30 Activities
Bilateral coordination means using both sides of the body together. The 3 types, how it develops, signs of difficulty and 30 OT activities for home.
Pediatrics
Dyspraxia (DCD) in Children: Signs, Diagnosis and How Occupational Therapy Helps
What dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder is, signs by age, how it's diagnosed, and the evidence-based OT approaches like CO-OP that help children.
Pediatrics
Executive Function Skills in Children: What They Are and How to Build Them
Executive function explained: working memory, flexible thinking and self-control, signs of executive dysfunction, ADHD links and OT strategies by age.
Pediatrics
Handwriting Skills: Readiness, Common Problems and OT Tips That Work
How handwriting develops, pre-writing shapes by age, common problems like messy or slow writing, and OT strategies and activities that help.
Sensory & Autism
Interoception: The 8th Sense Explained, with Activities for Kids and Adults
Interoception is how we feel hunger, thirst, toilet needs and emotions inside the body. Signs of interoception difficulties and OT activities that help.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for Schizophrenia: Assessment, Goals and Interventions
How OT helps schizophrenia: symptoms and daily life, assessment, Allen levels, goals, life and social skills, supported work and relapse plans.
Pediatrics
Pencil Grasp Development: Stages by Age and How to Help (OT Guide)
The 4 stages of pencil grasp development from fisted grip to tripod, ages for each, which grasps work, warning signs and OT activities for a better grip.
Pediatrics
Primitive Reflexes in Babies: List, Ages They Disappear and Retained Reflexes
A simple guide to primitive reflexes: Moro, rooting, grasp, ATNR, STNR and more, when each fades, what retained reflexes mean and what the evidence says.
Sensory & Autism
Sensory Overload: Signs, Triggers and How to Help (Kids and Adults)
What sensory overload is, common signs and triggers, why it happens in autism, ADHD, anxiety and PTSD, and practical OT strategies to calm it and prevent it.
Sensory & Autism
Sensory Processing Disorder: Signs, Types and How OT Helps
Sensory processing disorder explained by an occupational therapist: the signs by age, the main types, SPD vs autism and ADHD, assessment and treatment.
Sensory & Autism
Sensory Seeking Behavior: Signs, Causes and 25 OT Activities That Help
Why some children crash, spin, chew and touch everything: signs of sensory seeking, how it differs from ADHD, and 25 OT activities to meet the need safely.
Sensory & Autism
Sensory Toys: An OT's Guide to Choosing the Right Toy for Your Child's Needs
How to choose sensory toys by need: calming, alerting, touch, movement, oral and visual. OT-recommended ideas by age, plus key safety tips.
Pediatrics
Toe Walking in Toddlers and Children: Causes, When to Worry and Treatment
Is toe walking normal? When toddlers usually stop, causes like idiopathic toe walking, autism and tight calves, warning signs, and how treatment helps.
Pediatrics
Visual Perceptual Skills: Types, Signs of Difficulty and OT Activities
What visual perceptual skills are, the 7 types like figure-ground and form constancy, how they affect reading and writing, and OT activities to build them.
Pediatrics
W-Sitting in Children: Is It Bad? What the Research Really Says
W-sitting explained: why children sit this way, what research says about hip dysplasia and posture, when it's a warning sign, and other ways to sit.
The Profession
Online Occupational Therapy (Telehealth OT): How It Works, Benefits and Apps
How online occupational therapy works: who it suits, what an OT can do by video, preparing, choosing a licensed provider, apps, benefits and limits.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for PTSD: Assessment, Goals and Activities
How OT helps PTSD: symptoms and daily life, trauma-informed assessment, goals, grounding and relaxation, routines and activities for all ages.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for OCD: Assessment, Goals and Activities
Can occupational therapy help OCD? Yes. How OCD affects daily life, OT assessment, goals and objectives, exposure ladders and activity-based care.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Assessment, Goals and Techniques
How OT helps anxiety: types and symptoms, assessment and goals, relaxation, coping skills, graded exposure, exercise and meaningful activity.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for Depression: Assessment, Goals and Activities
How OT helps depression: how symptoms affect daily life, assessment, sample goals, activity scheduling, CBT in action, groups and safety.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: Assessment, Approaches and Activities
How OT helps people with mental illness: problem areas, assessments, goals, approaches from CBT to recovery, group levels and activities.
The Profession
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA): What They Do, How to Become One and Salary
Occupational therapy assistant career guide: duties, how to become a COTA, NBCOT exam, 2025 salary and outlook, supervision and career ladder.
The Profession
Occupational Therapy Aide: Job Duties, Skills, Training and Salary
What an occupational therapy aide does, how it differs from an OTA, training, 2025 salary, key skills, and how it can lead to an OTA or OT career.
Pediatrics
Occupational Therapy for Infants and Toddlers: Milestones, Reflexes and Play
How OT helps babies and toddlers: early reflexes, milestones, red flags, NICU and feeding support, sensory play, tummy time and the best toys by age.
Pediatrics
Occupational Therapy for Down Syndrome: Early Intervention, Activities and Tips
How OT helps children with Down syndrome: milestones, early intervention, feeding, motor and daily-living skills, activities, safety tips and advice for parents.
Sensory & Autism
Occupational Therapy for Autism: Assessment, Goals and Activities
How occupational therapy helps autistic children: assessment, sensory and daily-living goals, a real session example, activities and home strategies from an OT.
Pediatrics
Early Intervention and Occupational Therapy: A Guide for Families
What early intervention is, who qualifies, how the US process works from referral to IFSP, and how occupational therapists help babies and toddlers.
Pediatrics
Occupational Therapy for Children: Assessment, Goals and Interventions
What pediatric occupational therapy is, who it helps, how OTs assess children, example goals, the main interventions and where children receive OT.
The Profession
OT Month: 20+ Ideas to Celebrate and Promote Occupational Therapy
April is OT Month in the US and 27 October is World OT Day. Low-cost ideas to celebrate occupational therapy and promote it to the public.
Frames of Reference
Psychodynamic Frame of Reference in Occupational Therapy
The psychodynamic frame of reference: id, ego, superego, defence mechanisms, object relations, explorative vs supportive approaches, cases and a quiz.
Frames of Reference
Model of Human Occupation (MOHO): Concepts, Assessments and a Case Example
MOHO explained: volition, habituation, performance capacity, environment, the MOHOST and other assessments, Remotivation, MOHO vs PEO and CMOP-E, and a quiz.
Frames of Reference
Rehabilitative Frame of Reference in Occupational Therapy (with Examples)
The rehabilitative frame of reference: compensation, assistance levels, adaptive equipment, energy conservation, cases by condition, comparisons and a quiz.
Frames of Reference
Developmental Frame of Reference in Occupational Therapy
The developmental frame of reference: Llorens' premises, Mosey's adaptive skills, interventions, worked cases, comparisons with other frames, and a quiz.
Frames of Reference
Biomechanical Frame of Reference in Occupational Therapy (with Examples)
The biomechanical frame of reference: principles, assessments, grading, pediatric positioning, worked cases, biomechanical vs NDT and rehab, and a quiz.
Pediatrics
Gross Motor Skills: Milestones by Age, Checklist and Activities
Gross motor skills explained by an occupational therapist: milestones from birth to 5, a free checklist, signs of delay, how OT helps and 40+ activities.
Pediatrics
Fine Motor Skills: Development by Age, Checklist, Activities and Tips
Fine motor skills explained by an occupational therapist: milestones by age, a free checklist, pencil grasp stages, signs of delay and 40+ activities.
The Profession
OT vs OTA: Roles, Education, Supervision and Pay Compared
OT vs OTA: what each does, education and exams, supervision, paperwork, 2025 BLS salary, and how to choose the right occupational therapy career.
The Profession
Occupational Therapy vs Physical Therapy: What's the Difference?
OT vs PT explained by an occupational therapist: focus, goals, a real patient example, education, 2025 pay data and how to choose the right therapy.
Frames of Reference
Occupational Therapy Frames of Reference: Complete Guide with Examples
Every OT frame of reference and model compared: 15 frames, 6 models, Mosey's 5 parts, which frame for which setting, a worked case, quiz and free PDF.
Sensory & Autism
Occupational Therapy for ADHD: Assessment, Strategies and Tips
How occupational therapy helps children with ADHD: assessment, sensory and organisation strategies, behaviour modification, classroom changes and parent tips.
Sensory & Autism
Proprioceptive Activities: Heavy Work Ideas by Age and Setting
An occupational therapist explains proprioception, signs a child is seeking it, and 50+ heavy work activities for babies, toddlers, school, home and adults.
Sensory & Autism
Vestibular Activities: Movement Play for Sensory Needs (OT Guide)
An occupational therapist explains the vestibular system, gravitational insecurity and movement seeking, safety rules, and 30+ calming and alerting activities.
Sensory & Autism
Tactile Activities: Sensory Touch Play for Kids (OT Guide)
An occupational therapist explains the tactile system, signs of touch sensitivity or seeking, and 30+ tactile activities for home, school and therapy.
Sensory & Autism
Sensory Diet: What It Is, Activities and a Sample Daily Plan
What a sensory diet is, how occupational therapists build one, calming and alerting activities, a sample day for school-age children, and tips that work.
Sensory & Autism
Sensory Integration: Theory, Therapy and How It Helps Children
An occupational therapist explains sensory integration: Ayres' theory, the 8 senses, how SI therapy works, what a session looks like and what research shows.
The Profession
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do? Duties, Settings and a Day in the Life
What occupational therapists do: daily duties, work in hospitals, schools, mental health and home care, a day in the life, roles and how to become one.
The Profession
What Is Occupational Therapy (OT)? Definition, History and How It Works
What occupational therapy is in plain words: definitions, what 'occupation' means, who OT helps, its history, practice areas and how OT works.
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