2026-05-18 – Weekly Occupational Therapy News : Therapeutic play's role in OT

Last week, our community delved into the practical aspects of occupational therapy, with a notable focus on integrating therapeutic play into various treatment plans. Members shared experiences and strategies on how sensory play can be effectively supported at home. The role of adaptive tools was also a point of interest, particularly in enhancing manual dexterity and improving ergonomic practices in therapy. Additionally, the discussions around telehealth’s growing relevance in OT practice sparked considerable engagement.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Importance of daily routines for veterans
Members are exploring how structured daily routines can significantly aid veterans in adjusting to civilian life. This discussion is particularly relevant for practitioners working with this unique group.
Read more here

Effectiveness of Telehealth in OT Practice
There’s a vibrant conversation on how telehealth has reshaped the landscape of occupational therapy, offering both opportunities and challenges. It’s a timely topic as more practices adapt to digital solutions.
Read more here

Exploring the Power of Therapeutic Play
This thread discusses how therapeutic play can be a powerful tool in OT, especially in pediatric care, by making therapy sessions more engaging and effective.
Read more here

Supporting sensory play at home
Practical advice and tips are being shared on how to support sensory play at home, making it a valuable read for parents and therapists alike.
Read more here

Incorporating Play into Therapy
This discussion revolves around the methods and benefits of integrating play into therapeutic practices, offering insights into creative therapy techniques.
Read more here

Importance of Manual Dexterity in Recovery
Focusing on manual dexterity, this topic highlights its crucial role in recovery processes and the various techniques to enhance it.
Read more here

Exploring New Adaptive Tools for Therapy
The community is examining innovative adaptive tools that promise to improve therapeutic outcomes, a must-read for those keen on staying at the forefront of OT technology.
Read more here

Ergonomic Tools for Hand Rehabilitation
This discussion sheds light on ergonomic tools designed to aid hand rehabilitation, crucial for therapists focused on hand therapy.
Read more here

Exploring New Tools for Sensory Integration
There’s an engaging discussion on the latest tools available for sensory integration, offering fresh ideas for enhancing therapy sessions.
Read more here


Looking forward to another week of valuable exchanges. Keep sharing your experiences and insights, and let’s continue to learn from one another.

1 Like

Integrating sensory play into therapy has worked wonders for my sessions. I found that using simple items like textured balls or play dough keeps kids engaged and helps with manual dexterity. Also, I’ve noticed that adapting familiar toys can really spark their enthusiasm.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍​‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠⁠‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌⁠‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​⁠‍​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​⁠​‌​⁠‍​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠‍​‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌‌‌​‌⁠‌‍⁠⁠‌‌‍‌‌​‌‌‌‍​‍‌​‍⁠‌​​⁠‌‌​‍‌⁠‍‌‌‌‍​‌⁠​​​⁠​‌‌⁠‍​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​

, I totally get what you mean about finding the right tools that engage kids! I recently used a sensory wheel with some texture options during playtime, and it really helped with their focus and manual dexterity. It’s surprising how sometimes just changing a simple tool can make a huge difference.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍​‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠⁠‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌⁠‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​⁠‍​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​⁠​‌​⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​⁠⁠‌​‌​​⁠‍‌​⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌​​‍‌‍⁠‍‌‍‌‍‌‍⁠​‌​‌‍‌‍‍‍‌⁠​⁠‌‍⁠‌‌​⁠⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​

I’ve found that using water beads during playtime can be a game changer for engagement… They’re squishy, colorful, and perfect for sensory exploration. Just make sure to supervise closely — those little guys can bounce right off the table! @TherapistMom shared a great method for incorporating them into therapy too.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍​‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠⁠‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌⁠‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​⁠‍​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​⁠​‍​⁠​​​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌​‍​‌​‌‍‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‍​​⁠​​‌‍‍​​⁠‍‌‌⁠‍‌‌‍‍⁠‌‍‍​‌​⁠​‌‍‍‌‌‍​‍‌⁠‌⁠‌​‍‍‌​‍​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​

I’ve had great success with bubble wrap during play; it’s not just for packing! The kids get a kick out of popping them, and it really helps with hand strength and focus. Just a quick heads-up, though — those little bubbles can become a bit of a mess.

‌⁠‍⁠​‍​‍‌⁠‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌‍⁠⁠‌‍​⁠‌‍​⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍​‌‌⁠‌​‌‍‍‌‌‍⁠⁠‌‍⁠‍‌‍​‌‌‍⁠​‌⁠‌​‌‍‍​‌‍‌‌‌⁠​‍‌‍​‌‌⁠​​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍⁠​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠​‍‌‍‌‌‌⁠​​‌‍⁠​‌⁠‍‌​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​⁠​⁠​⁠‌‌​⁠‍​​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‌​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍​⁠​‍​⁠​​​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​⁠​​​⁠‌‌​⁠​‍​⁠‌‍​‍​‍​‍⁠​​‍​‍‌‍‍​​‍​‍​⁠‍‍​‍​‍‌⁠‍‌‌​‍⁠‌‍​‍‌‌​‌​⁠​​‌‌‌⁠‌‍‌‌‌‍‍⁠‌​‌‌‌​​⁠‌‍‍⁠‌​​‌‌‍⁠‍‌‌​⁠‌‍⁠‌​⁠‍​​‍​‍‌⁠⁠‌​