Meghan Corridan, Pediatric Occupational Therapist

09/17/2025

If you are looking for a truly motivating writing activity for a school-age kid struggling with handwriting, I can't recommend The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book by Jeff Kinney. I have been working with this awesome kid for almost a year and for the first time I had to ask him to take a pause on handwriting so we could do other things that we needed to work on. This interactive activity book allows readers to become active participants in the Wimpy Kid universe, providing space to draw their own comics, answer quirky questions, and write their own stories. It's not only a great way to work on handwriting, but works on improving executive functioning skills such as working memory, focus and attention and task organization. I also love how it encourages imagination and creativity in school-age kids which leads to increased confidence and self-esteem.

09/12/2025

Happy Friday! I hope everyone is surviving the start of the new school year!
As an occupational therapist, I am a complete sucker for any game that uses chopsticks, grabbers or tweezers. There are so many benefits of games that use some kind of grabber. I will sometimes even use the grabbers from games for other games that have a lot of pieces. The most obvious benefit of grabber games is that it’s a great way to work on improving fine motor, grasping and manipulation skills. By using grabbers, you are working on strengthening the small muscles of the hands which are essential for things like holding writing instruments, uses scissors and other school-related activities. Another benefit of games that use grabbers/tweezers is that they often encourage bilateral coordination skills and encourages crossing the midline. Using chopsticks/tongs/grabbers also helps with developing the arches of the hand which is essential for school-based activities like drawing, writing, coloring and so much more. In my latest blog, I not only share a handful of fun games that use some kind of chopstick/grabber/tong/tweezer tool, but also provide some simple suggestions that will maximize the therapeutic benefits of these tools and games.

As an occupational therapist, I am a complete sucker for any game that uses chopsticks, grabbers or tweezers. There are so many benefits of games ... Read More

09/10/2025

I love working with chopsticks/grabbers/tweezers/tongs with my kids and use them whenever I can. I am excited to share my upcoming blog that discusses the benefits of using these tools in therapy plus sharing some of my favorite games and activities that can be done using them. Today, I dug out my box of squishie animals with this adorable sibling duo and they had a blast. Notice that one is using chopsticks while the other is using tongs...they are using the tool that is most appropriate for where they are in fine motor skill development. Providing a child with the right tool will lead to more success which will lead to increased confidence and self-esteem. Be sure to check back in a few days for my latest blog!

09/09/2025

I am a sucker for all things stickers! I don't use them only as rewards but am constantly on the lookout for fun sticker activities because I know that there are so many therapeutic benefits. The best part of these sticker activities is that kids don't even realize how many skills they are working on during these tasks. Thank you The OT Toolbox for this great graphic about the benefits of using stickers with kids.
If you want to learn about some great sticker activity sets out there, be sure to check out an old blog of mine linked in the comments.

09/04/2025

Today is the first day of school in New York City and while most kids have gotten all of their supplies, there are still things that kids might need. I know that some schools are very specific when it comes to school supplies but for some of my kids, particularly those with fine motor and grasping delays, benefit from alternative tools in order to be successful in the classroom. Today I share some of my favorite school supplies that I not only recommend to my families, but ones that I am always sure to have on hand at my office. My biggest goal with providing the appropriate tools is that kids will feel more successful which leads to improved confidence and self-esteem. If you are looking for suggestions for your own kids, kids you teach or just want to know what kind of tools are out there, check out my latest blog post.

  Today is the first day of school in New York City and while most kids have gotten all of their supplies, there are still ... Read More

09/03/2025

As the new school year begins, it's a good time to introduce some mindfulness activities into your daily routines. While kids may be very excited about the new school year, they are most likely feeling a lot of different feelings which can be confusing. Mindfulness activities don't have to be complex or take up a lot of time and the benefits of incorporating them into a daily routine can be countless. This practice helps kids manage their emotions better, boosts confidence and resilience, improves academic performance, and promotes better social skills and empathy. It has also been proven to improve focus and attentional skills, help with self-regulation and boost confidence and self-esteem.
If you are looking for age-appropriate mindfulness activities, be sure to check out these wonderful suggestions from Party Girl World - Family Events & Parties.

09/02/2025

Do you have a kiddo who's starting to feel all the big feels with school starting up? Check out this great post from Kaiser Permanente (link in comments) for some helpful tips.

08/29/2025

Happy Friday! I can't believe that this is the last weekend (for us in the NYC area) before school starts up again. Looking for helpful tips and tools to prepare you all for all the big changes happening next week? Be sure to check out my most recent blog post linked in the comments.

08/27/2025

Back to school time can be hard for anyone, but it can be especially hard for children with sensory processing are emotional regulation challenges. The anticipation of all the changes can make many children feel anxious and it’s possible you might see an increase in sensory seeking or negative behaviors. As parents and caregivers, there are several things that we can do to help make our children feel supported during this big transition. In this post, I will be sharing some of the things I share with the parents of the kids I work with to help get them through the first few weeks of the new school year. Keep in mind that during big moments like this, your kids may experience a lot of big feelings and the most important thing to do is validate those feelings while also offering them tools and comfort. Wishing everyone a great school year!

Back to school time can be hard for anyone, but it can be especially hard for children with sensory processing are emotional regulation challenges. The ... Read More

08/26/2025

I love when a friends discovers a new game and thinks of me! I like to start every school year off with some new games, activities and toys and Cows in Space by What Do You Meme? is such a fun game and works on so many skills. This game reminds me of the classic fishing game but takes it up a notch. Instead of using a fishing pole to pick up the fish, you put a headband with a magnetic UFO on the end and have to pick up the cows as they spin around. This is great for working on improving hand eye coordination, focus and attention and works on improving frustration tolerance. As you can see, for older kids you can put them in the net swing and work on increasing upper body strength at the same time!

08/25/2025

This is something I used to talk to my daughter about each year when a new school year began, especially when she was put in the inclusion classrooms. Inclusion is essential for children's development because it encourages a sense of belonging, improves social and communication skills, boosts self-esteem, and prepares them for a diverse world. It provides all children, including those with disabilities, with equal opportunities to learn and grow alongside their peers, leading to greater acceptance of differences and a more supportive community. Talk to your kids about the importance of asking questions about kids who are different and encourage them to engage with them. It is okay to be curious as long as they show grace and kindness to the kids.