Therapy OPS

03/21/2026

Every year on March 21, people all around the world come together to celebrate World Down Syndrome Day by wearing brightly colored, mismatched socks. March 21 is symbolic because people with Down syndrome have 3 copies of their 21st chromosome. We are with you!

03/20/2026

As we've mentioned, March is National Sleep Month. In our last post, we provided some context for why establishing a bedtime routine is so important. So, now that you've established a routine, exactly how much sleep does my child or teen need? Well Seattle Children's Hospital lays it out very nicely:
- Infants (0 to 3 months) need 14 to 17 hours, including naps.
- Babies (4 to 12 months) need 12 to 16 hours, including naps.
- Toddlers (1 to 2 years) need 11 to 14 hours, including naps.
- Preschool-age kids (3 to 5 years) need 10 to 13 hours, including naps.
- School-age kids (6 to 13) need 9 to 12 hours.
- Teens (14 to 17) need 8 to 10 hours of sleep nightly.
So, how are your kiddos stack up against these recommendations? Please check out this article to find out so much more about the importance of sleep!

Wellness Resources: A Good Night's Sleep Can Be Routine for Kids – and Their Parents

03/17/2026

In past posts, we've provided ways to work on handwriting. Today's tip is also about how to work on handwriting and it's never been so....sweet! Sorry, I'll show myself out. Instead of using pencils, pens or markers, try using icing. Why, because there’s really no sweeter way to practice letter formation. Bake that cake and practice writing a note to grandparents or a friend. Don't have a freshly baked cake handy? Try writing on a piece of parchment paper and when you are done, erase the writing with your tongue and then start over again! You will have those r's and y's perfected in no time.

03/16/2026

❄️ Weather Update for Therapy OPS ❄️

Due to the snow, Therapy OPS will open at 10:00 AM tomorrow, Monday March 16th, 2026, to allow everyone extra time to travel safely.

If you would prefer not to travel in the weather, telehealth sessions will be available for families who would like to switch their appointment to virtual. Please contact us if you'd like to make that change.

Thank you for your flexibility, and stay safe and warm! ☃️

03/15/2026

Stuck inside today? You and your kids finding yourselves indoors just a bit more than usual? Is all that kiddo energy all bottled-up and concentrated in your home? Our OT Team is here to help with some ideas on how to turn that living space of yours into an area to get that energy out. Oh, and as a side benefit, it will help your kiddo's work on frustration tolerance, get some heavy lifting and some regulation too. These ideas can use anything you have in your house from chairs to blankets to cushions. Please take a look!
https://youtu.be/dX4MoT8GzSw
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With the weather changing, you and your kids may find yourselves indoors just a bit more than usual. And that can mean that kiddo energy is all bottled-up an...

03/13/2026

Despite the forecast (don't look outside), it's going to be warm soon and that means sun, sand and bare feet! A question that we at Therapy OPS are commonly asked is when should kids wear shoes? In this video, physical therapist Lindsey talks about why NOT wearing shoes is so important for learning to walk. She also talks about walking milestones and what types of shoes kids should be wearing. Balance reactions, awareness in space? Wow, kids feet are more exciting than an episode of Paw Patrol!
https://youtu.be/UKVHcDV9cKk
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A question that we at Therapy OPS are commonly asked is when should kids wear shoes? In this video, physical therapist Lindsey talks about why NOT wearing s...

03/11/2026

Did you know March is National Sleep Month? A good night of sleep sets the tone for the day to follow. That is why it is so important to get a good night of sleep! The benefits of good sleep are endless and can make a major impact on our kiddo's (and our own!) daily functioning. Here are a few tips our friendly OT team would like you to know:
-Provide your child with lots of opportunities to move and be active during the day. When our kids get time to run around and play outside, it helps them to sleep better at night.
-Keep bedtime and naptime routines the same. Don’t have a bedtime routine? Work on creating one. Routines are important to help cue your child’s body to wind down and get ready for rest. This might include same bedtime/wake time every day, creating a visual schedule can help, including calming activities!
-Limit alerting activities, such as screen time and rough and tumble play, 2 hours before bedtime. Studies have found that blue light from screens interfere with the natural production of melatonin, which helps our body get sleepy and ready for rest.
-Create an environment that promotes healthy sleep hygiene, including using a fan or sound machine for white noise, dimming lighting, and reducing clutter.

03/09/2026

Did you know that Therapy OPS offers a month support group for caregivers? It's true! Our support group has a general format and is open to all caregivers who have a person in their life who has different needs/abilities. This group is free for anyone to join, you do not need to be part of the Therapy OPS family.
The group meets the second Tuesday of every month at Therapy OPS in Inver Grove Heights from 5:30 to 7 pm. You can come to share your experiences, your wins, listen to other's experiences and connect with other caregivers. Please note, there is NO childcare available and there will be families in the building until 6 pm. Come join us!

03/07/2026

This week marks 11 years that Christine has been part of our clinic, bring her amazing talents in support of our mission and her families every single day. We thank her for her dedication! Speaking of dedication, her is an old post we shared a few years ago involving the game Pie in the Face. Enjoy!

03/05/2026

In anticipation of the time change (spring forward 1 hour) this weekend, here are some tips that can help you cope with the challenge of modifying bedtime routines:
1. Talk about the time change with your kids. Explain to them why it is suddenly dark during dinner and light while they get ready for school in the morning.
2. It is much easier to shift your child’s sleep schedule gradually than all at once. So, instead of putting your child to bed at their normal time (which is now an hour later than before), try shifting their bedtime slowly by 10-15 minutes a night starting on Thursday. This will help their sleep cycle and natural circadian rhythm slowly adjust.
3. Keep bedtime and naptime routines the same. Don’t have a bedtime routine? Work on creating one. Routines are important to help cue your child’s body to wind down and get ready for rest.
4. Encourage your child to do quiet calming activities prior to bed, such as reading, coloring, or playing with quiet toys and fidgets.
5. Limit screen time 1-2 hours before bedtime. Studies have found that blue light from screens interfere with the natural production of melatonin, which helps our body get sleepy and ready for rest.
6. Dim lights in your house 30 minutes prior to bedtime. The dimmed lighting promotes the production of melatonin.
7. Provide your child with lots of opportunities to move and be active during the day. When our kids get time to run around and play outside, it helps them to sleep better at night.
8. Be patient. It takes time for sleep cycles to adjust. It may take 1-2 weeks for your child’s body to get used to the new rhythm and get back to their usual sleep cycle.

03/03/2026