08/11/2026
Sometimes our kiddos come into OT with a VERY specific plan… and sometimes that plan involves a favorite toy they have absolutely no intention of putting down. 😂
Instead of fighting that motivation, we use it!
Being child-led doesn’t mean there isn’t a therapeutic goal behind what we’re doing. It means finding creative ways to meet the child where they are and weave their interests into purposeful movement and play. 💛
Today, favorite toys became part of the entire session! We put them on the swing and worked on dodging them, incorporated them into an obstacle course to step, climb, and maneuver over, and used them as motivation to build and redesign the course.
And the best part? Because HE was invested in the play, he was motivated to carry, push, pull, lift, and arrange all of the heavy equipment himself. That’s a whole lot of heavy work and proprioceptive input happening naturally through play—supporting body awareness, motor planning, strength, coordination, and regulation.
The toys didn’t get in the way of OT… they became part of OT. 🥰
✨ Follow their lead. Find the therapeutic opportunity. Make it meaningful. ✨
