154 posts
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As the excitement of summer fades and students return to the classroom for the start of a new academic year, school-based occupational therapists are gearing up for the autumn transition. September brings cooler, crisp days and, in many therapy clinics and classrooms, a seasonal shift toward apple-themed programming. Pediatric specialists are utilizing these harvest-inspired motifs…
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In the complex landscape of modern healthcare, interdisciplinary teams are the standard for managing patient outcomes. These teams, composed of physicians, nurses, physical therapists, and social workers, are designed to cover the physiological, clinical, and logistical needs of those in recovery or managing chronic conditions. Yet, amidst this robust collaboration, a recurring challenge persists for…
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As the autumn season brings changing foliage and cooler weather into communities, educators, occupational therapists, and parents are increasingly turning to seasonal themes to support children’s developmental needs. Rather than choosing fall activities simply for entertainment, professionals are leveraging items like leaves, pumpkins, apples, acorns, and farm materials to target specific fine motor milestones, including…
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Occupational therapy has long recognized that human beings do not function in a vacuum. Every individual operates within a complex web of environmental, physical, and social factors that either facilitate or hinder daily performance. Recently, practitioners in the field have begun adopting a specialized visual graphic organizer traditionally common in social work—the eco map—to better…
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In an ideal world, children would maintain constant focus, breeze through everyday tasks with ease, and navigate transitions without emotional outbursts or temper tantrums. Every parent, educator, and therapist knows, however, that reality looks quite different. Children frequently experience moments of dysregulation, finding themselves temporarily out of sync as they navigate the complex demands of…
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Navigating anxiety often feels like an unpredictable trial-and-error process, with individuals cycling through a long list of suggested techniques only to find that what works on one occasion falls flat the next. To address this widespread challenge in clinical, educational, and home environments, the team behind The OT Toolbox has released a new, structured resource…
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The annual AOTA Inspire conference remains the premier gathering for occupational therapy professionals, serving as a vital nexus for education, networking, and the exchange of innovative ideas. For the 2026 iteration, the atmosphere was electric, defined by a shared commitment to enhancing patient outcomes through creativity and evidence-based practice. Attendees from across the globe converged…
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A new therapeutic resource is rolling out across clinical and educational settings to help individuals better manage emotional intensity, with a primary focus on anger and frustration. Developed as part of a free printable series by The OT Toolbox, the newly introduced "Anger Thermometer" is designed to support occupational therapy interventions by bridging the gap…
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By Cheryl Hall | June 23, 2026 As an occupational therapist, have you ever found yourself feeling overlooked or undervalued by the broader healthcare team? It is a sentiment that resonates deeply within the profession, yet it is far from an isolated experience. If you sit down with colleagues across the clinical spectrum—nurses, physician assistants,…
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WASHINGTON — Educators, therapists, and parents are increasingly turning to a social-emotional learning concept known as "The Size of the Problem" to help children navigate daily challenges, build resilience, and develop critical executive functioning skills. Designed to bridge the gap between emotional responses and actual situations, the strategy teaches children to evaluate the magnitude of…
