Author Archives: mypearlprogram

This is the screening I have used for over 20 years to determine deficits and then prescribe a home remediation program for parents to conduct daily. These problems need to be addressed every day. This screening is meant for five-year olds and older. You can research each area on the Internet. PROPRIOCEPTION (BODY AWARENESS) CanContinue reading “NEUROLOGICAL/MOTOR SCREENING”

When I taught courses at the college for special ed teachers, these are some ot the tips I shared to help parents of autistic and all special needs children. Sing everything. Make a rap or song out of simple activities like: This is the way I brush my teeth, brush my teeth, brush my teeth,Continue reading “Building Success”

A simple strategy I used with my low-performing first graders was this simple rap. Many of them were constantly reprimanded, put down and made to feel inadequate. I would have them do this simple rap to enforce self-esteem and improve self-image. I’M GOOD (PUT RIGHT HAND ON LEFT SHOULDER) I’M VERY GOOD (PUT LEFT HANDContinue reading “I’M GOOD,I’M VERY GOOD”

If your child goes to OT, ask to watch a session. Then at home try to replicate the activities done there. I firmly believe neural and motor growth is much more beneficial when done daily rather than once or twice a week. When I had a program for Title 1 kindergarten and first grade students,Continue reading “Building Neural and Motor Pathways”

If you feel your child may have lags in this, I found a great site to improve it. These activities will enhance other areas as well. https://yourkidstable.com/proprioceptive-activities/

Proprioception is the ability of the body to know movement, location and actions of its parts. It is a sense of stability for the child. Children with poor proprioception will feel anxious and confused as they move through their environment. It is also known as body awareness. To test for it, have your child closeContinue reading “Proprioception”

A simple, fun way to improve balance, eye-hand coordination, convergence, and visual-motor integration, is Balloon Ballet. Inflate a balloon, play some classical music and tell the child to keep the balloon in the air and not let it touch the floor. I did this most mornings with my first graders, and they loved it. TheContinue reading “Balloon Ballet”

As we strive to teach all types of learners, we must look at the brain and discover what the brain requires to function properly. First of all, the brain is built by movement. Crawling is critical to build the corpus callosum, the beautiful super highway connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain. ItContinue reading “WHAT THE BRAIN LOVES”

At every parent conference, that is the question the teacher asked me. I would reply he is just like his father, KINESTHETIC/ TACTILE. She would give me a dumb look and say, “What is that?” I would say that my dear son had to touch and move to learn. About 15% of children have thisContinue reading “WHY CAN’T HE JUST SIT STILL AND BE QUIET?”

Children today lead sedentary lives compared to children in the past. They often move from high chair to car seat to a swing. Busy parents want to keep them safe so they are often confined. Therefore, many children may not crawl for long periods of time. Crawling is the first and most important step inContinue reading “Crawl, Baby, Crawl”