Sometimes, the best vacation is one that takes us away from our everyday routines and allows us to reconnect with nature and reclaim ourselves. I am typically a very scheduled person, but my recent trip frequently took me off the grid and absolutely spontaneous. We had a general itinerary, but our destinations were dependent on the weather and there was lots of weather. We had to escape torrential downpours and flooding. There were some frightening moments, but in the end, ev

As parents, we all want our children to succeed and become as independent as possible. Whether a child is learning to hold a pencil, get dressed, use utensils, improve hand strength, or manage everyday routines, developing new skills takes time, practice, and repetition. Occupational therapy can provide children with the tools, strategies, and guidance they need to make progress, but the real learning doesn't happen only in the therapy room. It happens throughout the day, dur

Somewhere along the way, childhood became very full. Kids’ schedules are squeezed full of school, homework. sports. classes and therapy. And without meaning to, we have squeezed out one of the most important things children are meant to do: PLAY. Kids don’t need every minute of their day planned. In fact, one of the best things we can give children is something that doesn’t cost a thing: free time. Between school, homework, sports, lessons, therapy, clubs, and activities, ch

Helene Lieberman MS, OTR/L https://www.blackbackhandwriting.com/ One of the questions I get asked very frequently is: “What letter should my child learn first?” My answer is probably not what you expect—it depends on the child! There isn't one perfect order for every child to learn their letters. When deciding where to begin, I like to think about developmental readiness, meaning, familiarity, and repetition. Start With Letters That Are Developmentally Easier For many child

Helene Lieberman MS, OTR/L https://www.blackbackhandwriting.com/ Technology has become part of everyday life. Tablets and iPads can be wonderful learning tools, offering educational games, books, and creative activities. But like anything else, too much of a good thing can have unintended consequences. Childhood is a time when the brain and body are developing rapidly, and children need a wide variety of real-life experiences that a screen simply can't provide. Little Hand

Helene Lieberman MS, OTR/L www.blackbackhandwriting.com As a pediatric occupational therapist who has worked with children for more than 38 years, I’ve always believed that there is something very special about putting a pencil in a child’s hand and actually writing. Now, research has again proven me right!! Research is giving us even more evidence that handwriting is doing much more than putting letters on paper. With technology becoming such a huge part of our everyday

by: Helene Lieberman MS, OTR/L https://www.blackbackhandwriting.com/ BlackBack Handwriting Programs Did you know your preschooler spends 30 minutes to an hour—or even more—sitting in a car seat each day? Think about what typically happens during that time. They may be: Watching a tablet or phone Listening to music or stories Playing with a toy Looking out the window Talking with parents, siblings, or caregivers Taking a nap Having a snack Annoying their siblings Of course,

Helene Lieberman MS, OTR/L www.blackbackhandwriting.com Times may have changed, but some skills are always needed. Children will hopefully grow in to adults who are productive. These children will be the decision makers and caretakers of the future- making decisions and possibly taking care of us!! Who do you want in those roles??? Group Work Group work and projects are an important place for children to communicate and collaborate. Children will need to express their ideas a

Helene Lieberman MS,OTR/L https://www.blackbackhandwriting.com/ When teachers ask me to take a look at a child’s handwriting, I don’t start by looking at the letters on the page. I start by looking at the child. Before we work on letter formation, spacing, or neatness, I look at four important physical foundations that can make handwriting easier, more comfortable, and more successful. These are the 4 P’s of Handwriting: Posture, Paper Position, Pencil Grip, and Pressure. Th

Helene Lieberman MS, OTR/L www.blackbackhandwriting.com Did you know that schools in Finland have students go outside for 15 minutes after every 45-minute period of instruction. This happens every school day!!! The most recent academic data, 2022, reveals that the United States outperforms Finland in reading literacy, while Finland outperforms the U.S. in mathematics and science. I am not saying reading is more important than math or science. I feel more strongly about n