at-home therapy activities

Reflecting on 4 Things That We’re Thankful for This Year
Reflecting on 4 Things That We’re Thankful for This Year 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

Can you believe that it’s already November? We love this time of year, as it gives us the chance to reflect and express our gratitude for everyone who has made this past year so very special. 

We love helping your little ones work on their developmental skills, and we couldn’t do it without our PTN families and therapists. You all play such an important role in the lives of your kiddos, and we have such admiration for the support you show them each day. You make what we do so special, and for that, we thank you.

To continue to show our gratitude and express how much you mean to us, we wanted to take some time to reflect, and share with you 4 things that we’re thankful for this year. From our incredible PTN kids, to our caring PTN families, hardworking therapists, and more, here are 4 things that gave us an attitude of gratitude in 2024.

We’re thankful for…

1. Incredible PTN Kids: We cannot begin to express how thankful we are for all of the wonderful PTN kiddos we get to work with. The joy and cheerfulness you radiate during each therapy session is truly inspiring, and you really bring such a bright light into everyone’s lives. You make what we do so special, and we cannot wait to see what wonderful things you accomplish in the future. Thank you, PTN children.

2. Caring and Supportive PTN Families: To our kind PTN families, the love you have for your children is unmatched, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you for allowing us into your homes, and for being so incredibly supportive throughout each therapy session, and for helping your kiddos work on their therapy skills, too. From parents to parent figures, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and everyone in between; thank you for everything that you do.

3. Hardworking PTN Therapists: We have an immense amount of gratitude for our team of amazing PTN therapists. You make such a positive impact on the lives of our PTN kiddos and families, and we cannot thank you enough for all the hard work and enthusiasm that you bring to each therapy session. We appreciate each and every one of you, and know how much you mean to all of our PTN families and children. Thank you, PTN therapists!

4. Being Able to Help Support Your Little Ones: The best part about what we do is being able to work with your kiddos, and help support them with their therapy needs. We love seeing their smiling faces each therapy session, and watching them learn, grow, and develop those essential skills. We look forward to working with all of our PTN kiddos and families for years to come, and cannot wait to see what the future holds for all of your incredible children. 

We hope that you have a Happy Thanksgiving! Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all November as we continue to express our gratitude, and share some wonderful at-home activities, resources, and more. Further, please don’t hesitate to contact our team to learn more about how pediatric therapy could benefit your little one. We’d love to support you in any way that we can.

4 Fun Activities to Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month
4 Fun Activities to Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

October is one of our favorite times of the year. The weather is cooling down, the leaves are falling, and best of all, it’s National Physical Therapy Month! Physical therapists are so kind and caring, and make such a significant impact on the lives of others. Fortunately, we are so lucky to have an incredible team of physical therapists at PTN, including our October featured therapist, Katie Akhurst, PT, DPT.

In honor of National Physical Therapy Month, we will be sharing tips, toys, and advice from Katie on our social media pages. But right now, we are very eager to get the celebration started, which is why we wanted to give you 4 activities to try out with your little ones throughout the month. Not only are these activities a lot of fun, but they also incorporate physical therapy in an engaging way. 

Walk Like an Animal: Get ready to be silly! Take turns with your little one, and pretend to walk like a specific animal. Then try to guess what animal the other person is imitating. For example, you could walk like a crab, gallop like a horse, or slither like a snake. Use your imagination and try to come up with as many animals as possible. For some added excitement, try your best to make the noises of each animal!

Play Balloon Tennis: This next activity is sure to get you and your children moving. To begin, grab two tennis rackets and blow up a few balloons. Next, take a sheet and tie it to two chairs to create a net. Now, it’s time to play! Have your child stand on one side of the net, while you stand on the other side, and hit the balloon back and forth as many times as you can without it hitting the ground. Make sure to keep track of your high score!

Go Water Bottle Bowling: Another wonderful activity that you can do at home is water bottle bowling. Get some empty water bottles and a ball, and set up a fake bowling alley inside of your living room or kitchen. Then, take turns with your child rolling the “bowling ball” down the lane, and see how many pins you can knock down. This activity is a blast, and is one that your whole family is sure to enjoy.

Search For Treasure: Not only does this last activity incorporate physical therapy, but it also will get your creativity flowing. First, gather some items that can be used as “treasure”, and hide them around the house. Then, create a fake map that your child can use to help them find the treasure. Your child can then use that map to run around the house and search for their prizes. As a bonus, switch roles and have your child hide the treasure and create a map for you!

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout October as we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month. Additionally, please feel free to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

4 Activities That Allow You to Spend Quality Time Together as a Family
4 Activities That Allow You to Spend Quality Time Together as a Family 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

At PTN, we understand the importance of spending quality time with your little ones. That’s why, throughout September, we want to highlight the significance of family and togetherness, starting with sharing 4 activities that allow you to spend quality time together as a family. There is truly nothing like spending time with your loved ones and partaking in activities that allow you to strengthen your bond. We can’t wait for you to try out these fantastic activities with your kiddos – let’s make the most of these special moments together!

1. Make Homemade Pizza: A really great (and delicious) way to spend some time with one another is to have a homemade pizza night. Gather your ingredients, find a good spot to work, and get ready to have some fun! Sit together and begin to carefully roll out the dough, spread the sauce, place the toppings on your pizzas, and get them in the oven. When the pizzas are out of the oven and cooled off, enjoy eating your creations!

As a tasty bonus, use the ingredients to make funny faces on each of your pizzas!

2. Play Charades: Charades is a classic game that families have enjoyed playing for many years. Not only does it allow you to get moving and be a little silly, but it also lets you spend that oh-so-important quality time with each other. To begin, work together to come up with 10 different things that you can act out, and write them on pieces of paper. Then, take turns picking a piece of paper, act out what’s on it, and see if the other people in the room can correctly guess what you are trying to imitate.

3. Go on a Nature Walk: Being outside together as a family and enjoying the nature around you is something very special, and can strengthen the bond between you and your kiddos. That’s why we suggest going on a nature walk. Get outside, walk around, and enjoy the beauty of the world around you. See what you and your children can find along the way, and try to spot out as many flowers, plants, birds, and animals as you can. Don’t forget to bring some water and healthy snacks along with you!

4. Play Balloon Volleyball: This last activity is one of our favorites, as it gets you up and moving, and is also a whole lot of fun! Take a sheet and tie it to two chairs to use as your volleyball net. Then, blow up a balloon, and get ready to play. Divide your group into 2 teams, and have each team stand on one side of the net. Then, hit the balloon back and forward over the net, and see how long you can keep it up in the air! As a bonus, to introduce some friendly competition, keep track of your points and celebrate with a healthy and delicious treat!

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all September as we highlight the importance of family bonding by sharing activities, tips, resources, and more! Further, please feel free to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

Therapy and Back to School Routines
4 Tips For Incorporating Your Child’s Therapy Into Their Back-to-School Routine
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It’s almost time to get your kiddos ready to go back to school! Making the transition from being in the summer sun to heading back to the classroom can be tough on your child, and it’s important to try and ease them back into their school time routine. Though, we understand that for parents, creating a routine that also incorporates your child’s therapy can be somewhat challenging. But that’s where we come in! We’re here to help give you 5 wonderful tips for incorporating your child’s therapy into their back-to-school routine. Our hope is that these tips can help make the transition of sending your children into the new school year a little easier.

1. Work With Your Kiddos to Make Lunch: An easy way to incorporate your child’s therapy into their back-to-school routine is to make their lunch together. After your family sits down for dinner, ask your child to help you prepare their school lunch for the next day. You can ask your child to do things such as peeling an orange, spreading jelly or jam onto a sandwich, or using a cute cookie cutter to turn slices of fruit into fun shapes. Your child will love being your little helper!

2. Fit Therapy Into Your Child’s Morning Routine: There are so many opportunities to fit your child’s therapy into their morning school routine. In fact, your child is probably doing many of these tasks already! After your child has woken up and eaten breakfast, get them into a simple routine that they can follow day after day. For example, you can have your child brush their teeth, help pick out an outfit and get dressed, do some light stretching, make their bed, and help pack their school bag. This will make mornings go a whole lot more smoothly for both you and your child.

3. Make Time For Play: Being away from home and working hard at school all day can be tiresome for your kiddos. This is why it’s important to try and incorporate play when they get home! Not only will this give your child a chance to relax and work on their therapy, but it also allows you to spend some quality time with one another. Some easy ways to engage in play therapy with your little ones include:

  • Turn on some music and show off your best dance moves.
  • Have your child draw a picture of their day and explain how it makes them feel.
  • Get outside with your kiddos and enjoy a game of Simon Says. 
  • Try an easy family workout to get you and your children moving. 

4. Read a School-Themed Book at Bedtime: Last but certainly not least, we suggest ending the day by reading a book with your child. There are many books that relate directly to going back to school, that we just know you and your child will enjoy. If you aren’t sure where to begin, some of our favorite school-themed books include:

Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout August as we continue to celebrate your little ones going back to school! Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

Parent Appreciation Day 2024
Celebrating Parent Appreciation Day With Relaxing Activities to Help You and Your Child Unwind
Celebrating Parent Appreciation Day With Relaxing Activities to Help You and Your Child Unwind 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

Parents are true superheroes; they are also some of the most incredible people in the world. However, even “superheroes” need a break, especially when tasked with handling so many day-to-day demands. From taking care of your children, going to work, and balancing everything else in between, it can be overwhelming at times. The PTN team is here to help take some of this stress off your shoulders by sharing some relaxing activities that allow you and your child to unwind during Parent Appreciation Day (July 28th) and beyond. We hope that you enjoy partaking in these peaceful activities with your little ones!

Have Spa Time
This does not have to be complicated and can be an easy way to relax any time of day. You can really have fun with this idea (and get some time to unwind, too). For example, run a bath and add some essential oils or bath salts. Lavender is a scent that is known to be particularly calming. Then, sit with your little one and soak your feet together. You can use this time to relax and also as a time to “catch up” with your child.  

Make Popsicle Stick Pictures
Creating silly art pieces with your little ones is a fun and relaxing way to show off your creativity. One craft we think you’ll love is creating popsicle stick pictures! Gather some popsicle sticks, glue, paper, and markers, and find a cozy and quiet place to sit. Now, work with your child to create the perfect popsicle stick picture. Then, once your artwork is complete, hang it on the fridge for everyone to see, or frame it and hang it on the wall.

Have a Tea Party
Children love having make believe tea parties with their stuffed animal friends. So, why not take part in a real tea party together? Tea parties are very calming, and have numerous benefits, such as allowing your child to use their imagination. To begin, grab some cups and plates, and have your child set up your tea party. Ask your child to “invite” their favorite stuffed animal friends, then, come together to make some healthy snacks and drinks, and serve them at your tea party.

Go Stargazing
One final activity to help you unwind is stargazing. Wait for a night with mild weather, grab your favorite blankets and a few pillows, and head outside. Once you set up your cozy spot, lay with your child and stare at the beautiful stars in the night sky. Stargazing is very peaceful, and is great for sparking your child’s curiosity and wonder. As a bonus, print out a star constellation map, and work with your kiddos to try and identify as many constellations as possible.

Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout July as we continue to celebrate our incredible PTN parents with activities, tips, resources, and more! Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

National Speech Therapy Month
4 Fun Speech-Based Games to Try as a Family
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May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and we’re ready to get the celebration started! This month is the perfect opportunity to work on your child’s speech and language skills, and we think that one of the best ways to do that is by playing games together. Fortunately, there are so many games out there that not only promote speech development but also allow you to create lasting family memories.

Ready to embark on a journey of playful learning? Let’s get started! From the “Favorites” Game to The Category Game and more, here are 4 delightful suggested activities for your family to enjoy during this special month and beyond.

1. Name the Opposite: This game is fantastic for helping your child learn about opposite words. To begin, write down words on small pieces of paper and place them into a bowl. Next, have your child choose one piece of paper at a time, read the word, and then ask them to try and come up with the opposite of that word. Once you have gone through all of the pieces of paper in the bowl, have your child try to come up with more opposite word pairs on their own!

2. “Favorites” Game: This game is a wonderful way to get to know a little bit more about your child’s favorite things. To begin, sit down and take turns asking each other questions such as, “What’s your favorite color?”, “What’s your favorite animal?” or “What’s your favorite type of ice cream?”. After each question, write down your child’s answers on a piece of paper, and have them draw pictures of their favorite things!

3. Guess Who? Animal Friends: The next game puts a fun twist on the classic board game, Guess Who? To begin, you and your child will each secretly choose an animal. Next, you will need to take turns asking questions to try and figure out what the other person’s mystery animal is. Keep going until you each guess the correct animal, and then play again! This is an excellent way to help your child work on their speech, and you can both get a little silly by making the noises of each animal. 

4. The Category Game: Our final game is fun for the whole family and will allow you and your little ones to be creative. Start by thinking of a category that you and your kiddos know a lot about. For example, you could choose animals, colors, fruits, etc. Now, go around and take turns naming different things in that category. Once you can’t think of anything else that fits into that specific category, move on to the next one!

Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long for tips, resources, toys we love, and more! Further, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

Occupational Therapy
Occupational Therapy Activities to Try Outside This Spring
Occupational Therapy Activities to Try Outside This Spring 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

As the weather gets warmer and the sun shines a little brighter, it’s the perfect time to embrace the outdoors with your little ones. Spring offers so many opportunities for your family to get outside and explore a variety of activities designed to promote your child’s development, physical skills, and well-being. So, put on your shoes and jackets, breathe in the fresh air, and get ready to embark on a journey of learning, discovery, and fun with occupational therapy activities that are perfect for springtime adventure.

Play Sidewalk Chalk Games

Sidewalk chalk is so much fun to play with and allows your child’s creativity to shine through. But did you know that there are many things that you can do with chalk besides drawing pictures? For example, you can create mazes, play hopscotch, and even try tic-tac-toe! Other things that you can work on include helping your child learn their colors, numbers, letters, and shapes.

Make an Outdoor Obstacle Course

Get ready to burn off some energy—it’s time to set up an outdoor obstacle course for you and your family to enjoy! Gather items that you have around the house, such as hula hoops, cones, and jump ropes, and place them outside to create an obstacle course. For example, you could have your child jump from one hula hoop to another, try to walk across the jump rope balance beam, or knock over cones with a ball. For some added excitement, keep track of your child’s time and see if they can beat it on their next turn!

Start a Garden

Gardening with your little one is a great way to spend time outdoors this spring. Work with your child to pick out seeds you want to plant, and get ready to begin your gardening journey! Together, you can pour dirt into pots, plant the seeds, and then water them as needed. The joy your kids will experience nurturing these plants and witnessing their transformation into fruits and vegetables is bound to be a rewarding adventure!

Paint Hand Picked Rocks

This is a perfect activity to complete outside. First, you and your child can go on a hunt for the perfect rocks to paint. Whether you go for a walk to gather rocks or simply search in your own backyard, it’s still a great adventure. Next, spread out an old blanket or towel, sit down, and use your favorite acrylic paint to add designs and color to the rocks. You can get as creative as you like; create an animal face or even a pretty scene. Talk as you paint about what you are creating, the texture of the rocks, and even what each rock’s shape resembles. 

Happy Occupational Therapy Month! Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all April for tips, toys we love, resources, and more! Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your child in any way we can.

4 Fun Play-Based Activities to Try With Your Child
4 Fun Play-Based Activities to Try With Your Child 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

International Play Therapy Week is just around the corner (February 4th through February 10th), and we can’t wait to get the celebration started! Playing with your child is the best way to work on their developmental skills while enjoying some fun and laughter together as a family. This year, in honor of this wonderful holiday, we wanted to share some fun activities you can try with your child. We just know that you’re going to have a blast trying out these activities with your little ones!

Make Sock Puppets

One great activity is to make sock puppets with your child! Start by grabbing some clean white socks and colored markers. Now, both you and your child will need to draw hair, faces, and clothing onto the socks to make some sock puppet friends! Once you have finished making your sock puppets, place them onto your hands, and use them to talk to each other and come up with a funny story.

Play Hi Ho! Cherry-O

Hi Ho! Cherry-O is a fantastic board game to try with your children. To play, take turns spinning the spinner to find out how many pieces of fruit you can put in your basket or how many pieces of fruit you will need to put back. The first person to fill up their entire basket with fruit wins! Celebrate by snacking on something healthy, or work together to set up a cozy indoor picnic.

Create Paper Art

Another fun way to engage in play with your child is to create paper art. First, grab a piece of white construction paper and a variety of colored construction paper. Next, have your child rip up small pieces of the colored paper and glue them onto the white paper to make a fun and creative piece of art. As a bonus, make your own paper art alongside your child, and then try to guess what each other made!

Become a Superhero

Help your child transform into a superhero by giving them a cape and a mask, and ask them to come up with a superhero name and superpowers. Next, hide some of their favorite toys around the house and tell your child it’s time to save the day! Your little one will then have to reach up high or bend down low to rescue their toys and bring them to safety.

Happy International Play Therapy Week! Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month for toys we love, activities, and more! As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your child in any way we can.

Stress-Free Ways to Incorporate Your Child’s Therapy Into Your Daily Routine
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Parents work so hard to juggle numerous hats. Between going to work, taking care of your little ones, and managing everything else life throws your way, finding time to work on your child’s therapy goals can be challenging. That’s why we always recommend you try to incorporate your child’s therapy into your daily routine. In doing so, not only will you be able to reduce your stress, but you’ll also get the opportunity to help your child improve their developmental skills. Our hope is that fitting your child’s therapy into your everyday life will make it easier on you and take some of that added pressure off your shoulders. 

Have Your Child Help Clean Up the House

Asking your child to help you clean up the house teaches them the importance of helping others and gives them a sense of responsibility. Here are some easy ways to incorporate therapy into your cleaning routine:

  • Have your child bend down to pick up their toys and toss them into a basket.
  • Ask them to sort laundry into bins and then push the laundry bins across the room.
  • Have them climb up onto a chair or step stool to help you wipe down tables and counters or wash some dishes.

Work On Your Child’s Skills During Bathtime

Bath time is an excellent opportunity to work on your child’s fine motor and language skills. If you’re interested in incorporating your child’s therapy into their bath time routine, here are some activities you can introduce to your child that we know they’ll enjoy:

  • Incorporate nesting cups into your bath routine. Have your child practice pouring water from one cup into another cup or stack them on the side of the tub. 
  • Place different colored ducks on the edge of the bathtub and ask your child to count them and identify the color of each duck.
  • Make art together! Draw on the bathtub walls using bathtub markers. 

Read a Bedtime Story Together

When your little one is ready to go to sleep, perform their nighttime routine, let them choose a book, and tuck them into bed. Then, as you read the book, stop occasionally and ask your child to identify different objects on the page. Once you are done with the story, ask your child some questions, such as how the story made them feel and what their favorite part was.

Here are some wonderful book recommendations that you can enjoy reading with your little ones.

Happy New Year from Pediatric Therapy Network! Keep an eye on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all January long for more recommendations on stress-free ways to work on your child’s therapy during your daily routine. We will also be sharing tips, activities, resources, and more! Also, please don’t hesitate to contact us anytime to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. We’re here to support you and your kiddos in any way we can.

Let’s Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month With Indoor Spots to Move and Groove
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October marks a special time here at PTN. Not only are we excited for fall activities with our kids and families, but we also get to spread awareness of National Physical Therapy Month. This is a time when we recognize the importance of physical therapy and also express our gratitude toward the physical therapist (PTs) that make a difference in other people’s lives. At PTN, our physical therapists work tirelessly to help children and their families develop, grow, and move together. 

This month, we are thrilled to feature one of our very own team members, Katie Siegel, PT, DPT.  If you follow our social media accounts, you’ll see tips and insights from Katie shared throughout the course of the next few weeks because she is our October Featured Therapist. In this blog, we wanted to include Katies’s list of places to go with your children as the weather gets cooler. These destinations are Chicago-based and present so many opportunities for fun and learning. Have a look:

Purple Monkey Playroom:  located on Western Avenue, the Purple Monkey Playroom is, “a bright, nurturing destination for young children, parents and caregivers.”  This destination has been the recipient of multiple parent choice awards and has 1,500 sq feet for children to explore.  While kids are playing, parents can have coffee and enjoy wifi. It’s a great spot for giving children some supervised independence while they play and even make new friends. You can learn more about the Purple Monkey Playroom by visiting their website: https://www.purplemonkeyplayroom.com

Fit City Kids:  this center is located on Lawrence Avenue, and its mission is to, “drive fitness through fun!” Featuring basketball courts, obstacle courses, and other heart-pumping physical activities, Fit City Kids is a great destination if you want to move and have fun while participating in fitness. There are also several camps and classes. If you’re curious about Fit City Kids, you can learn more here: https://www.fitcitykids.com

Itsy Bitsy Play & Café:  this is a “cafe + coworking space with playcare for babies, toddlers, and preschoolers located in the north side Chicago neighborhoods North Center and Lincoln Square.” If you need to get some work done, but are dealing with restless kids who just want to play, move, and have fun, the Itsy Bitsy Play & Café might just be the ideal place to go when it’s cold outside. Parents can work, and kids have access to a natural inspired indoor playground and more. If you’d like to better understand what Itsy Bitsy Play & Café has to offer, visit:  https://www.itsybitsyplay.com/

As a Chicago parent, there really is no shortage of indoor places and activities to escape the colder months that naturally come along with Fall and Winter. We hope you learned of a new spot by reading our blog today.  If you have other places you like to go with your children when the months get cold, let us know in the comments section below! 

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