Bilingual Speech Therapy of Clearwater

09/24/2025

09/24/2025

When bilateral coordination or bilateral integration is intact and progressing appropriately through development, it is an indicator that both sides of the brain are communicating effectively and sharing information during functional tasks.

Younger toddlers and babies can be observed using both hands in play as they pick up objects in their line of sight. However, they typically will pick up items with the hand that is closest to the object or toy.

As toddlers progress in development, they will begin to establish a dominant hand and crossing midline. This ability to utilize a dominant hand and a non-dominant hand in activities indicates a maturation of the brain and lateralization in functional tasks, which is very important for motor planning, directionality, and visual motor skills.

When a child is challenged in development of bilateral coordination skills, there can be resulting difficulties.

In fact, impaired bilateral coordination skills can lead to difficulty in the classroom. Science tells us that problems with bilateral coordination can have an impact on academic performance, with slowness and disinterest in schoolwork.

In the school setting there are many areas that can be a challenge as a result of bilateral coordination struggles:

+performance in school tasks that require coordination
+using scissors
+writing- including holding the paper and erasing
+tracing
+using tools such as rulers
+managing clothing- buttons, zippers, snaps
+managing lunch containers
+putting on and taking off a backpack
+turning pages in books
+managing and organization skills in folders and backpacks

Development of bilateral coordination in self-feeding depends greatly on the child’s developmental level. The baby who is learning to place dry cereal in their mouth will be vastly different level than the child who is scooping soup or cutting a piece of chicken. Development of fine motor skills and visual motor skills have an impact on coordination of the hands in self-feeding.

https://www.theottoolbox.com/bilateral-coordination-activities/

09/24/2025

This is a good tip! A kitchen timer is a great tool for executive functioning. We love it for functional tasks like handwriting, part of a bigger project: https://www.theottoolbox.com/how-to-use-timer-to-help-with-letter/

09/24/2025

Did you know writing down notes in class is more effective in learning than typing or following along on slides or handouts? There's research behind this!

Writing notes in learning helps students to...
1. Helps with the brain's encoding process, transforming incoming information into a format that is easier to store and retrieve.​

2. Note-taking combines visual and kinesthetic learning modalities. Seeing the words and physically writing them strengthens neural connections, making the information more memorable.​

3. Actively summarizing and organizing information while writing keeps you engaged with the material, enhancing comprehension and attention.​

4. Helps with recall by reviewing written notes to reinforce memory recall and cementing information into long-term memory.

09/24/2025

Sensory processing looks like many things!
⭐️Strategies: https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-play/
⭐️Free chart: https://www.theottoolbox.com/free-sensory-processing-disorder/
⭐️Free checklist: https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist/

09/24/2025

It's so important to make time for play and to recognize that it's much more than just "fun".

Children learn as they play!

Let them enjoy unstructured, unorganized play. Let them be bored. Let them shine!

09/24/2025

🍂 Fall Scavenger Hunt for Chidren 🍂

Celebrate autumn with simple, playful activities that build movement, coordination, and creativity:

Jump into a leaf pile – practice balance, strength, and enjoy sensory play.

Search for spider webs – explore nature’s beauty while moving like a spider.

Hang & climb – develop grip and coordination on monkey bars or a tree.

Follow animal tracks – imagine moving like the animals you find.

Collect acorns & colorful leaves – build fine motor skills while exploring.

Dance with your shadow – enjoy music, movement, and creativity.

Hop like a rabbit or flap like a bird – practice fundamental movement skills.

Run, roll, stomp, and spin – strengthen muscles, balance, and endurance.

Pretend play – crawl like a bear, skitter like a mouse, or stand tall like a scarecrow.

Explore nature’s treasures – leaves, sticks, and puddles become tools for imagination and learning.

Most importantly—have fun together while discovering the sights, sounds, and feels of fall! 🍁✨

09/24/2025

Happy Birthday to our newest team member, Ava! Just as sweet as her chocolate cake, she’s already been such a bright addition to our work family. Wishing her a day filled with joy, laughter, and all the sweet moments you deserve. 💕

09/01/2025

And each path is different!

08/20/2025

𝗚𝗮𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗜𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗸𝗶𝗹𝗹𝘀!
https://www.thepathway2success.com/games-to-improve-executive-functioning-skills/

Simply put, executive functions are often critical to the success of kids and young adults. So, it makes sense to make practicing them fun and engaging! Games are a great way to weave executive functioning practice into your routine. You can choose to play a game on a Friday afternoon, after a big test, or as a class reward.

𝗘𝘅𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀: https://tinyurl.com/49pjkv29

08/20/2025

Some things are too heavy for kids to carry — and they shouldn’t have to.
Your child needs security, not stress. Safety, not secrets.

Let them have the gift of being a kid.

✨ What we don’t share with our kids can shape them just as much as what we do. ✨

08/20/2025

Get your blood pressure checked at least once a year and understand what the numbers mean. Severe high blood pressure combined with symptoms such as chest pain or trouble speaking may be a hypertensive emergency, according to the new high blood pressure guideline, and you should call 911 immediately.