Cooking with kids isn’t just about making meals. It’s a fun, hands-on way for children to build life skills and independence. Kitchen activities help children strengthen fine motor skills, improve attention and sequencing, and develop confidence in their daily routines. With the holiday season quickly approaching, now is the perfect opportunity to involve your children in the kitchen. While the process may be slower and a touch messier, the shared moments and lasting traditions you create will make every bit of extra effort worthwhile. Here’s a simple recipe to get you started. Let’s explore some kitchen tasks for various ages that you can try at home!

Cooking Tasks Ages 2-4

At this age, kids love to “help” in the kitchen. Keep tasks simple and safe:

• Washing fruits and vegetables
• Tearing lettuce or herbs
• Stirring batter or mixing ingredients
• Pouring pre-measured ingredients

OT Tip: Use plastic bowls, measuring cups, and child-safe utensils for success and safety!

Cooking Tasks Kids Ages 5-7

Children in this age group can start following simple steps with supervision.

• Measuring and counting ingredients
• Spreading peanut butter or butter
• Cutting soft foods with a child-safe knife
• Setting the table or cleaning up

OT Tip: Use “first–then” language (e.g., “First we wash hands, then we cook!”). This will support routines and focus.

Ages 8-10

Older children can take on more complex tasks and follow short recipes.

• Reading and following a recipe
• Cracking eggs or peeling vegetables
• Using kitchen tools safely
• Planning simple snacks or meals

OT Tip: Let kids make small choices (“Fruit salad or pancakes?”). This helps build confidence and problem-solving skills.

Why Cooking with Kids Matters

Cooking is a multi-sensory experience—it involves touch, smell, taste, sight, and sound. These activities help children improve:

• Motor coordination
• Executive functioning
• Attention and planning
• Independence in daily living

Plus, cooking together strengthens family connections and turns everyday moments into learning opportunities. Next time you’re in the kitchen, invite your child to join you! Whether they’re mixing, measuring, or tasting, every small task builds confidence and independence.

Sleep is the cornerstone of healthy development in kids ages 0–8, impacting everything from brain growth and emotional regulation to immune function and learning. Prioritizing sleep isn’t just about bedtime—it’s about building lifelong wellness.

Sleep isn’t just rest—it’s active restoration. During sleep, a child’s brain processes new information, consolidates memories, and regulates emotions. Their body grows, repairs tissues, and strengthens the immune system. For children ages 0–8, who are in rapid developmental phases, adequate sleep is essential, not just for surviving, but for thriving. Here’s why sleep matters.

Cognitive and Emotional Benefits of Sleep

Brain development accelerates during sleep, especially in infants and toddlers. REM sleep supports memory and learning. Emotional regulation improves with consistent sleep. Children who sleep well are better able to manage frustration, anxiety, and impulsivity. Attention and behavior are directly linked to sleep quality. Sleep-deprived children may show hyperactivity, irritability, or difficulty focusing.

Physical Health and Growth

Growth hormone is released during deep sleep, especially in younger children. Immune function strengthens overnight, helping kids fight off illness more effectively. Motor coordination and energy levels are optimized when children get enough rest, supporting active play and physical development.

How Much Sleep do Kids Need?

Here are the recommendations from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and pediatric sleep experts. These recommended sleep hours are in a 24 hour day.

• Newborns (0–3 mo)  14–17 hours               
• Infants (4–12 mo) 12–16 hours (incl. naps) 
• Toddlers (1–2 yr)  11–14 hours (incl. naps) 
• Preschoolers (3–5 yr)  10–13 hours (incl. naps)
• School-age (6–8 yr)  9–12 hours

Building Healthy Sleep Habits for your Kids

Building consistent sleep habits and routines is critical for achieving the recommended amount of sleep. Here are some sleep strategies that will help.

• Consistent routines: Predictable bedtime rituals (bath, story, cuddle) signal the brain to wind down.
• Sleep-friendly environments: Cool, dark, quiet rooms with minimal distractions support deeper sleep.
• Limit screens: Avoid screens at least 1 hour before bed to reduce melatonin disruption.
• Responsive scheduling: Adjust nap and bedtime based on signs of fatigue, not just the clock.

Occupational therapists can help families:

• Create sensory-friendly bedtime routines
• Address sleep-related behaviors (e.g., resistance, anxiety)
• Support regulation through calming activities
• Recommend visual schedules or social stories for sleep transitions

Sleep is not a luxury—it’s a developmental necessity. It fuels every domain of growth: physical, emotional, cognitive, and social. By nurturing healthy sleep habits early, we lay the foundation for lifelong resilience and well-being.

Often when we think of holiday gift giving, we imaging the big gift under the tree, the perfect stocking-stuffer, or the new favorite toy. These gifts will always be an important part of the holidays for many families. But, there can also be great benefits in gifting experiences. As a child, some of my favorite gifts were lunches with my grandma and gift cards to the local bookstore. These gifts added a bit of extra excitement to the holidays when I got to choose the restaurant or browse the shelves and find the books that spoke to me and my interests at the time.

Experiences not only help kids learn a variety of new information, hands-on skills, and social-emotional skills. They also form new core memories that can last a life time. Tickets to a museum, exhibit, or zoo can help spark creativity and foster new interests in children. Tickets to a concert or sporting event can inspire a passion to learn a new sport, instrument, or skill. Entry to an indoor playground or swim lessons can build motor and social skills. These are foundational to a child’s development. Even something as simple as a gift card to a favorite dessert spot or restaurant can foster connection and shared joy with loved ones.

Gifting Experience Ideas with Benefits for Kids

• Museum Tickets or Membership
• Movie Tickets
• Tickets to JumpTime Bozeman
• Swim Lessons
• Gift Card for a Favorite Local Ice Cream Shop/Bakery
• Gift Card for a Local Bookstore

Not only do kids get to experiences the benefits of gifting experiences, the local businesses you purchase from them benefit too. Check out some other gift recommendations with fine motor benefits here.

Torticollis is a relatively common condition that babies can develop in utero or after birth. Torticollis is caused by shortening of the muscles on one side of a baby’s neck. This usually results in tilting of the head to one side and turning to the other side. Common causes include the position of the baby in utero, traumatic birth, positioning in the same way in car seats/swings/carriers, and holding or feeding a baby on only one side.

Signs of Torticollis

• Head held tilted to one side (ear to shoulder)
• Inability to turn and look both left and right
• One shoulder held higher
• Only rolls back to stomach or stomach to back to one direction
• Flat or bald spots on one side of the back of the head
• Difficulty breast feeding, especially when one side is more difficult than the other
• Poor tolerance of tummy time

What separates physical therapy from other treatment approaches?

While there are alternative treatment options that some families choose, physical therapy is the preferred treatment intervention for torticollis. 7/10 of the top 10 children’s hospitals in the United States specifically recommend physical therapy for the treatment of torticollis.

Interventions used by physical therapists are evidence (research) based, therefore, are proven to be effective. Little to no research exists to support alternative treatment interventions, such as cervical spine manipulation, craniosacral therapy, Total Motion Release, or the Feldenkrais method.

Physical therapists will screen for conditions associated with torticollis, including cranial deformity (flat head), developmental dysplasia of the hip, brachial plexus injuries, lower extremity and foot deformities, temporomandibular (jaw) dysfunction, feeding difficulties (asymmetrical jaw positioning, preference to feed on one side, tightness and/or weakness in the facial muscles), and finally gross motor delays.

Torticollis Evaluation

• Posture and tolerance in multiple positions
• Passive range of motion
• Active range of motion
• Facial and skull asymmetry (flat spots on the head) with measurements
• Motor skill development (infants with torticollis have a higher prevalence of gross motor delay at 2 and 6 months, and physical therapists are qualified and trained to administer gross motor standardized assessments)
• Symmetry of movement to the right and left
• Assessment of positioning at home (sleep and awake time, feeding, tummy time, and time spent in equipment such as swings and bouncers)
• Complete screens of the visual, gastrointestinal, neurological, musculoskeletal, and cardiopulmonary systems
• Elimination of other causes of head/neck asymmetry

prevent secondary complications

Physical therapy can prevent secondary complications, such as delayed or asymmetric motor skill development. Babies with torticollis are more likely to prefer to roll one direction and shift their weight more to one side. Similarly, they are more likely to reach with one hand over the other on their stomach and get up into sitting to only one direction. Finally, they  are at greater risk for crawling with a tripod pattern. This happens when one knee and one foot are on the ground instead of both knees being on the ground.

Physical therapists will provide ongoing education to parents. First, parents will be educated at the time of the evaluation, and then continuously throughout treatment as interventions change and progress is made. Education includes tummy time, visual tracking, positioning, home exercises, environmental setup, information about supplemental equipment, and sleep and feeding recommendations.

Even if you seek alternative methods of intervention for your baby, it should be in conjunction with physical therapy to ensure that all aspects of torticollis are addressed and treated so additional concerns and complications do not come up in the future.

References

1. Kaplan SL, Coulter C, Sargent B. Physical therapy management of congenital muscular torticollis: a 2018 evidence-based clinical practice guideline from the APTA Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Pediatr Phys Ther. 2018; 30:240-290.

When most people think of dyslexia, they think of difficulties with reading. And that is true — dyslexia is a language-based learning difference that primarily affects reading, writing, and spelling. But what many do not realize is that dyslexia can also impact other areas of daily life, such as coordination, focus, organization, and self-esteem. That’s where occupational therapy for dyslexia can play an important role.

Occupational therapists don’t teach reading — but they do work on the foundational skills that support learning, attention, and emotional regulation which are often impacted in individuals with dyslexia. Let’s explore how OT can help children with dyslexia feel more confident, capable, and successful both in and out of the classroom.

Strengthening Fine Motor Skills for Writing

Many children with dyslexia struggle with handwriting — often due to poor fine motor control, low muscle tone, or difficulty with hand-eye coordination. This can make writing slow, tiring, and frustrating. An occupational therapist can help improve:

• Pencil grasp and hand strength
• Letter formation
• Writing fluency and spacing
• Visual-motor integration (how the eyes and hands work together)

By making handwriting easier and more automatic, children can focus more on what they want to say — not just how to get the words on paper.

Supporting Visual Processing Skills

Dyslexia isn’t a vision problem, but many individuals with dyslexia also have visual processing challenges — meaning their brains have trouble interpreting what the eyes see. OTs can help improve:

• Visual tracking (following a line of text)
• Visual discrimination (telling similar letters apart, like “b” and “d”)
• Visual memory (remembering what words look like)
• Eye-hand coordination

These skills are critical for reading, copying from the board, and staying organized on the page.

Improving Executive Function

Dyslexia often goes hand-in-hand with executive functioning difficulties, such as:

• Organizing thoughts
• Following multi-step directions
• Managing time
• Staying focused
• Planning and completing tasks

Occupational therapists work with students to build these life skills using strategies like checklists, visual schedules, timers, and personalized routines — so they can manage schoolwork and daily responsibilities more independently.

Addressing Sensory and Attention Challenges

Children with dyslexia may also experience sensory processing issues, anxiety, or trouble focusing — especially when reading or writing becomes overwhelming. OTs can provide strategies to help:

• Regulate attention and energy levels (using movement breaks, fidget tools, etc.)
• Manage sensory overload in noisy or busy environments
• Build emotional regulation and self-awareness
• Create calm, distraction-free work spaces

These tools help reduce stress and make learning more manageable.

Boosting Confidence and Self-Esteem

Perhaps most importantly, OT helps children and teens with dyslexia feel empowered. When reading and writing are hard, kids can begin to feel “less than” their peers. They may avoid schoolwork, withdraw socially, or believe they’re not smart — even when they’re incredibly bright. Occupational therapists work on building confidence, resilience, and self-advocacy, helping children:

• Celebrate their strengths
• Understand how their brain works
• Learn how to ask for what they need
• Approach challenges with a growth mindset

This emotional support can have a lasting impact on academic success and mental health. Dyslexia is a lifelong difference — and with the right support, people with dyslexia can thrive. Occupational therapy offers a unique, whole-child approach that goes beyond reading to support the underlying skills and emotional needs that help individuals succeed in school and life. If your child has dyslexia and struggles with handwriting, focus, organization, or self-confidence, an OT evaluation might be a valuable next step. For more information regarding dyslexia and how occupational therapy can help visit this site: Dyslexia and Occupational Therapy – The OT Toolbox

Toys that promote imaginative play, turn-taking, problem-solving, and social interactions create opportunities for children’s development. They encourage both receptive (understanding) and expressive (speaking) language. These activities not only help with vocabulary building but also with mastering more complex language skills such as grammar, sentence formation, and storytelling.

Types of Toys That Support Speech and Language Development

1. Pretend Play Toys

Imaginative play is one of the most powerful ways to develop language skills. Pretend play toys encourage children to use their imagination, take on different roles, and create stories—all of which require language. Additionally, children learn new vocabulary, practice conversational skills, and develop a deeper understanding of how language is used in different contexts.

Examples:

• Dollhouses, action figures, and play sets: These toys provide endless opportunities for pretend play, allowing children to create stories, act out daily routines, and practice dialogue.
• Play kitchens, doctor kits, and tool sets: These toys encourage role-playing and help children learn the names of everyday objects and actions.

2. Books and Storytelling Toys

Books are some of the best toys for developing speech and language skills. By reading with your child, you’re helping them develop vocabulary, comprehension, and listening skills. Stories also teach important concepts such as cause and effect, sequencing, and problem-solving. Many books are designed to engage children actively, helping them respond to questions or even participate in the story.

Examples:

• Board books with simple text and colorful pictures: These are perfect for babies and toddlers, encouraging them to listen and point to pictures as you read aloud.
• Interactive books: Books with flaps, textures, and sounds encourage children to engage and respond, reinforcing language learning.
• Storytelling toys: For example, toys like plush animals or figures that can “speak” or interact with the child allow them to create stories and engage in conversational exchanges.

3. Building and Sorting Toys

Toys that involve building or sorting, such as blocks, stacking toys, and puzzles, may seem unrelated to language development at first. But they actually provide great opportunities for communication. These toys require children to follow directions, identify shapes/colors, and describe their actions, which also strengthens their language skills.

Examples:

• Building blocks: Simple blocks or more complex sets like LEGO can help children describe their actions and articulate ideas, such as “I’m building a tower” or “This block is red.”
• Shape sorters and puzzles: These toys help with categorization, shape recognition, and spatial awareness, which can later translate into more complex language concepts.

4. Music and Sound Toys

Music-based toys can be a fun and engaging way to develop both receptive and expressive language. The rhythm, repetition, and melody in music help children process sounds, develop listening skills, and use language in a rhythmic way. These toys also help with memory, as children often remember songs or chants and can repeat them.

Examples:

• Musical instruments: Simple instruments like tambourines, maracas, or xylophones allow children to explore sound while developing motor skills.
• Singing toys or musical books: Toys that sing songs or make sounds when activated help children tune into rhythm and melody.

5. Cause-and-Effect Toys

Cause-and-effect toys are excellent for helping children understand the relationship between their actions and the world around them. As children begin to understand that pressing a button makes a sound or moving a lever causes something to happen, they also begin to understand how their words can produce effects in the world.

Examples:

• Push-button toys: Toys with buttons that produce sounds, songs, or lights help children understand cause-and-effect relationships.
• Interactive toys: Toys that respond to a child’s actions. One example is animal toys that make sounds when touched. These are great for learning cause-and-effect.

Always choose toys that match your child’s developmental stage. And remember, always encourage interaction and limit screen time.

References

1. Toys to encourage speech development in toddlers (no date) My Toddler Talks. Available at: https://www.mytoddlertalks.com/toys (Accessed: 02 January 2025).