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, children can easily...

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 children, I suggest...

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 Hands Need Real Work...