Family Resource Center

OTPlan. This website features developmental activities, parent resources and therapy-related products to support your child at home. You can find occupational therapy activities organized by developmental skill or the materials available in your home.

The Best Ideas for Kids. This online community resource offers fun, developmental activities while at home — craft projects, kid-friendly cooking recipes, self-care tasks and information for parents about favorite tools like apps and educational resources.

The OT Toolbox. Find resources, tools, ideas and activities geared toward the healthy development of kids. Topics covered include self-care skills like dressing or potty training, fine motor skills, sensory processing, and executive processing skills like attention and self-regulation.

Ms. Tiffany’s Classroom. Click on items in this Google slide to learn more about occupational therapy resources and activities.

Developmental milestones. Learn about developmental milestones for fine motor skills, self-care, play and social interaction.

The Role of Occupational Therapy with Children and Youth. Created by the American Occupational Therapy Association, this document shares information about OT professionals and how they meet children’s needs.

Would my child benefit from occupational therapy? OT practitioners work with children and families from birth to young adulthood in the community, schools, clinics, and hospitals. Learn about when you might want to ask about OT services for your child or teen and how OT could help. Here are helpful tips and flyers to share with your provider:

• Feeding and eating
• Sleep and bedtime routines
• Toileting
• Play
• Babies and toddlers

Have fun in the pool. This list of pool activities is ideal for supporting sensory regulation, improving strength and developing fine motor skills.

Improve core strength. Having a strong core is important for nearly all daily activities, from running and jumping to handwriting and cutting. Use this video by Sports Performance Academy to help your child strengthen their core muscles and stability. When performing the exercises, your child should not feel pain and should breathe when holding positions.

Practice social skills through family playtime and togetherness. Tag, chase, tickles, peekaboo and flying like an airplane are all games that can be used to promote your child’s social communication skills. Consider using the repeat, opportunity, cue and keep (R.O.C.K.) strategy. This research-based strategy can support learning and family fun. Additionally, have scheduled mealtimes together and practice sharing the highs or lows of your day.

Create your own sensory bin. Sensory bins can support the development of various senses as well as imaginative play skills. If your child likes to touch everything or shows some avoidance to different textures, these bins can be a great way to support tactile exploration and fulfill your child’s sensory needs. Learn how to build sensory bins with tips from Your Kids Table.

Conduct science experiments at home. Explore the Pacific Science Center’s Curiosity at Home, a collection of resources spanning different ages and science-related topics. Resources are available in both English and Spanish.

Sign up for summer camp. Find the perfect fit by browsing camps around the greater Seattle area with this camp directory from Seattle’s Child.

Play is a child’s work, and toys are the tools of play. Below you’ll find a wealth of resources about toys and activities for children that support development.

How to pick a toy checklist. Developed by occupational therapy practitioners to assist you in selecting toys that can help your child learn and develop while having fun.

Toy and play development tip sheets. Organized by age, these Seattle Children’s tip sheets can help you choose toys and play activities:

• Birth to 12 months, also in Spanish
• Ages 1-2, also in Spanish
• Ages 3-5, also in Spanish
• Ages 6-8, also in Spanish
• Ages 9-12, also in Spanish

Choosing the Right Toys for the Right Age. Learn how to choose age-appropriate, stimulating and safe toys for babies and kids in this WebMD article.

Pathways. Find information about child development and milestones, suggestions for play activities, videos and more.

Best toys for newborns. Learn about the development of infants and how to choose age-appropriate toys in this BabyCenter article.

Play by age. Find a range of activities specific to your child’s age on the website Learning 4 Kids.

Baby play ideas and activities: 6-18 months. Discover 20 fun ways to play with your 6- to 18-month-old in this article by The Imagination Tree.

Busy Toddler. Find ideas on different indoor and outdoor play activities for all ages.

Early learning. Watch a video about what your child is learning and what is happening when they play on the website Zero to Three.

Parents magazine. Get a weekly and monthly guide to your baby’s physical and intellectual development.

Sensory TheraPlay Box. Subscribe to this monthly service to receive deliveries of sensory toys — you can also gift a box to someone else (payment required).

Toys are not only useful for having fun, but they also help sustain curiosity for learning. Many children with limited motor skills do not get the chance to interact with most toys that are readily usable by everyone else. However, there are ways of making these toys accessible to all kids.

Mary Bridge Children’s provides adaptive support for toys and other equipment. Additionally, University of Washington’s HuskyADAPT team adapts toys for families and holds community outreach events:

• View their calendar to find toy adaptation events and classes
• View their presentation on what toys can easily be made into switch toys
• Contact them to request your own adapted toy

Explore the links below to learn more about making toys more accessible to all.

• Holiday toy switch adapting. Find tools, equipment and step-by-step instructions on how to add an accessibility switch.
• How to make a switch-adapted toy. Watch this video for step-by-step instructions on how to make a switch toy.
• Switch-adapted toys. Find adapted toys and switches available for purchase at Adaptive Tech Solutions.
• PNW Adapted Toy Library. Sign up to access this library of adapted toys, games and switches. Once enrolled, you can borrow toys at no cost. Pick-up and return is in North Seattle.

Occupational therapists can help kids learn how to use their hands and develop skills such as writing, typing, cutting with scissors and buttoning a shirt. Explore the resources below to support fine motor skill development at home.

General fine motor skill activities and information

Tools to Grow: Resources for Pediatric Therapists. Find activities to support fine motor skills, communication and other areas of development.

The OT Toolbox. Learn more about fine motor skills and specific activities to support them.

Therapy Fun Zone. Access information about fine mother skills and a variety of activities.

Handwriting and keyboarding

Handwriting and keyboarding are skills students must master to produce effective written work. These two skills work together in the classroom to create an engaged, balanced and successful learning environment.

Handwriting and Keyboarding: Standards for the Production & Presentation of Writing by Handwriting Without Tears offers guidance to help children learn to write and type in a developmental order that promotes success.

Cooking

Cooking is a skill that can support lifelong independence. Accessible Chef offers resources to help teach cooking skills to individuals with a variety of developmental needs.

The website features recipes for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks and drinks. You’ll find visual instructions to help plan and sequence cooking tasks and information about kitchen safety.

Learning how to take care of yourself is part of growing up. Occupational therapists can help kids learn how to dress, bathe, use the bathroom, brush teeth and a variety of other daily living tasks. The resources below can help kids develop these skills.

Daily living tasks and routines

• Developmental milestones for dressing
• Help with establishing a morning routine

Good sleep habits are necessary for living a healthy life. The National Sleep Foundation provides bedtime tips to ensure your child is receiving the recommended amount of sleep. You can also access back-to-school sleep tips for children on the MultiCare Vitals blog. The Calm app provides age-appropriate meditations and sleep aids to help calm the mind and body.

We all process sensory input such as touch, sound, taste and sight differently. One in six children experience sensory processing difficulties — when a child is either oversensitive or undersensitive to stimuli in their environment. Depending on their severity, these difficulties can have a big impact on a child’s life. Visit the STAR Institute to learn more about sensory processing challenges and disorders.

Sensory tools, strategies and resources

Fun and function. Find products at various price points on this website to help with your child’s sensory needs.

Therapro. Shop for sensory and educational items for people of all ages and abilities.

Body awareness and self-regulation

Our brains receive information about body and spatial awareness by lifting, pushing and pulling heavy objects (also known as heavy work). A child can also activate this sensory feedback by:

• Compressing the joints through activities like jumping on a trampoline or crashing into a cushion
• Stretching the joints by hanging from monkey bars or climbing a rock wall

ChoosePT. Learn more about PT and explore a variety of PT-related health tips on this website (associated with the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy).

GoNoodle. An app and YouTube channel, GoNoodle provides video-guided physical activities for kids of all ages. It’s free to sign up for an account.

Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Program. The Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) program through the Washington State Department of Health promotes connected systems of care for children and youth with special care needs from birth through transition to adulthood.

Neurodevelopmental Centers of Excellence of Washington. Providing therapies and related services to young children with neuromuscular or developmental disorders.

ABCs of Pediatric Physical Therapy. Learn more about physical therapy, the role of family in physical therapy, how physical therapists use evidence to support their decisions and more. This fact sheet, produced by the Academy of Pediatric Physical Therapy, is also available in Spanish.

Seattle Children’s research study for youth with cerebral palsy. Researchers at Seattle Children’s are studying how to improve and increase walking and activity in youth 10-17 with cerebral palsy. You can also learn more about the study by visiting the Seattle Children’s website.

Movement and physical play are essential for child development, and there are opportunities for kids to engage in safe activity even when they are indoors. Some ideas include:

• Design an obstacle course in the living room or bedroom using furniture, pillows, blankets and toys
• Make a scavenger hunt to look for items around the home or play hide-and-seek
• Play classic games like Simon Says; Head, Shoulders, Knees and Toes; and Hokey Pokey
• Help your child develop gross motor skills by trying this list of activities, including tossing bean bags and moving like an animal created by The Measured Mom
• Review this roundup of 15 indoor activities (little space required) created by Today’s Parent

Sometimes a change of scenery is beneficial — seek indoor play options outside of your home:

• Visit The Play Lounge at Beverly Park, a free community play space in Burien for kids up to age 5
• Check out your local YMCA, which offers low-cost membership and access to pools, exercise equipment, classes and more
• Find the perfect summer camp by browsing camps around the greater Seattle area with this camp directory from Seattle’s Child.

Adaptive recreational opportunities are ideal for kids who are interested in playing sports but have difficulty with gross motor skills and may not be able to participate in traditional team sports.

• Each city’s Parks and Recreation department should have an adaptive recreation program coordinator. Learn more about adaptive programs in Renton, Kent and Tacoma.
• The Outdoors for All Foundation provides adaptive and therapeutic recreation programs, such as snowboarding, snowshoeing, skiing, mountain biking, youth and adult day camps, yoga and more.
• See the 10 best playgrounds in and near Seattle for kids of all abilities courtesy of Seattle’s Child.
• Browse the Let Kids Play Playground Directory that lists playgrounds that have inclusive and accessible features.

Beginning with Babble. This free app provides parents or caregivers of children up to 4 years of age with prompts and tips to support child language development.

The Hanen Centre. This nonprofit offers evidence-based tips for parents to support their child’s language and literacy development. These tips are organized according to stages of language development — for children who communicate without words, who have just started talking and those who talk in sentences.

Mommy Speech Therapy. Among other resources, this website provides free speech and articulation worksheets that focus on specific sounds.

Khan Academy, Starfall and TIME for Kids. These websites are ideal for children working on more advanced language skills.

Bright by Text. Receive information about tips, activities and events by text to support your child’s speech and language development. Free informational text messages are available in both English and Spanish.

ASHA’s Developmental Milestones: Birth to 5 Years. These milestones can help you begin conversations with your child’s doctor and other professionals.

16 Gestures by 16 Months. Learning gestures helps stimulate growth in overall learning, communication and language. This document details how gestures develop and what gestures children should be able to do according to age.

Supporting your baby’s learning: Play in the first year. Learn how to support your baby’s learning and communication skills through play. Ideas to get you started are arranged by age. This document is also available in Spanish.

Read at home. Reading with your child is a great way to promote their language and literacy skills. This document provides book recommendations for different developmental stages, from infancy to the elementary years. In addition to checking out books from your local library, you can access free e-books on PBS Kids.

Try dialogic reading. This approach to reading focuses on having a dialogue about what’s happening in a picture book rather than reading the words on the page. Dialogic reading is a favorite activity for many teachers and speech therapists because it promotes active involvement in reading and supports language development.

When trying dialogic reading, describe what you see in the pictures and pause frequently to let your child look at, point to or talk about what they see. The dialogic reading tip sheet is also available in Spanish, Vietnamese and Somali.

Reading to your child. Learn tips for reading to infants in the neonatal intensive care unit as well as tips for reading to older children.

National Stuttering Association. This national organization offers a number of resources, including referrals for speech therapy and monthly virtual meetings for children and their loved ones affected by stuttering.

The Leslie Jeanne Berns Support Group supports caregivers of children who have communication challenges. Participants meet virtually once per month to discuss experiences, connect with community providers, share resources and more. Sessions are facilitated by a University of Washington Speech and Hearing Sciences (SPHSC) clinical faculty member and SPHSC graduate students.

To join the support group, email [email protected]. To learn more about Leslie’s story or support the Leslie Jeanne Berns Fund, visit the University of Washington campaign page.

Tubefed.com. This comprehensive website supports families who are just starting out with tube feeding as well as those who have been tube feeding for a while and are looking for support or answers to technical questions.

Parents’ Guide to Pediatric Tube Feeding. Families can access a variety of information about tube feeding in this PDF created by the Abbott Nutrition Health Institute.

Homemade Blended Formula Handbook. Authored by Marsha Dunn Klein and Suzanne Evans Morris, this book explores how to create homemade blended formulas for tube feeding.

Occupational therapy services for feeding and eating. Mary Bridge Children’s offers children occupational therapy services to help them with feeding and eating. Occupational therapy services can help children who are picky eaters or have developmental delays.

5 Reasons Kids Refuse to Eat. A feeding therapist talks about why children won’t eat and what you can do about it.

The Best Strategy for Picky Eating. Picky eating is a common problem. Learn one way to approach it, along with other helpful information about why pressuring kids to eat can backfire.

Division of responsibility in feeding. This document, by the Ellyn Satter Institute, explains the different roles for parents and children when it comes to eating.

Nutrition Education Resources for Families. The Washington State Department of Health offers this list of resources, including cooking tips and recipes to ensure children are eating healthy meals.

Washington State Hands & Voices. We are a parent driven organization dedicated to supporting families with children who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing (DHH) regardless of language or communication mode.

Washington Sensory Disability Services. Their mission is to help school districts in Washington better serve students who are visually impaired, blind, deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. Services include outreach and consultation, resources recommendation, referral to local professionals and more.

Pacific Foundation for Blind Children. The foundation works closely with the Washington State School for the Blind to meet the needs of students who are blind or visually impaired, supporting their success and independence.

Parent-Infant Program. The Hearing, Speech & Deaf Center’s Parent-Infant Program (PIP) provides parental support and coaching for families of children (from birth to age 3) who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. The program serves families in King, Pierce and Snohomish counties.

Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth Outreach Services. These services are available to children and young adults (from birth to age 22) who are deaf or hard of hearing. The Outreach team consists of specialists across several domains, including American Sign Language, audiology, counseling, school psychology and more.

Empower Camp. Hosted by the Washington State School for the Blind, Empower Camp offers activities specifically designed to help participants foster confidence and independence. Traditionally, this camp has been free.

Camp Spark. This residential sports camp is for those aged 8 to 21 who are blind or visually impaired. Activities, depending on the season, may include learning how to swim and snowshoe. Campers focus on developing skills that will help them across many domains of life.

Deaf Teen Leadership Camp. Designed for students in high school, this camp focuses on teaching leadership skills. Staff from the Association of Washington School Principals facilitates the camp.

Camp Taloali. Located in Oregon, this camp is for children who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. Children, siblings and grandchildren of deaf adults are also eligible to attend.

Washington Assistive Technology Act Program. Located at the University of Washington Center of Technology and Disability, this program provides assistive technology devices, home evaluations, technical assistance and reused equipment for sale.

Aira. This visual interpreting service helps individuals who are blind or experience low vision with activities like reading mail, online shopping and navigating their surroundings.

Center for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Youth. This organization lists a variety of resources across the state of Washington, including video relay resources, telecommunication equipment distribution and more.

Library Equal Access Program. Established by the Seattle Public Library, this program serves those who are blind, dead, deaf-blind, hard of hearing and visually impaired. It also provides adaptive equipment and other library services to those with disabilities.

Washington Talking Book & Braille Library. Located in Seattle, the library provides services for all Washington residents who are unable to read standard print material due to blindness, visual impairment, deaf-blindness, physical disability or reading disability. Services can be accessed via mail.

Children’s Therapy Center. This organization offers children from birth to age 5 and their families an opportunity to socialize with other children of all abilities in a free Play & Learn group.

Tacoma Deaf Night. This monthly family-friendly community event is for those who are deaf, deaf-blind or hard of hearing. Children of deaf adults, interpreters and signing family members are also welcome.

Child development tools. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Milestone Tracker App helps caregivers track developmental milestones from 2 months to 5 years of age.

Well-child visits. Our pediatricians recommend an annual well-child visit to ensure the most complete evaluation for overall health and set children up for success. Catching any concerns early is key to a healthy future for our children, and helps to avoid the last minute school and sports participation forms rush each summer/fall. Learn more about Mary Bridge Children’s pediatricians.

Would my child benefit from occupational therapy? OT practitioners work with children and families from birth to young adulthood in the community, schools, clinics, and hospitals. Learn about when you might want to ask about OT services for your child or teen and how OT could help. Here are helpful tips and flyers to share with your provider:

• Feeding and eating
• Sleep and bedtime routines
• Toileting
• Play
• Babies and toddlers

Tips for reframing behavior. The organization North Star Paths provides tips for navigating challenging behaviors. Access these tips in English or Spanish.

Tips for visiting the dentist. Going to the dentist can be scary at first, but with some helpful tips and a little planning, a trip to the dentist can be fun.

Tips for taking medicine. See these helpful tips of the trade for helping kids take medicine.

Special health care needs. The Washington State Department of Health offers information for children and youth with special health care needs. Their free tool, the Care Notebook, helps parents organize and share important information with doctors, therapists, and school or child care staff.

Databases and resource lists. Visit Help Me Grow Washington or 2-1-1 Washington to search comprehensive databases of health and human services in Washington state. The University of Washington Medical Center maintains a list of resources about child development and health as well as other topics. If you live in the Seattle area, Seattle’s Child provides a directory of resources for children up to age 18, including children with autism spectrum disorder.

Transition and support services for teens and young adults. Moving from pediatric to adult care can be challenging for teens, as well as their families. The Adult Developmental Clinic provides comprehensive, multi-specialty support for teens and adults who experience developmental disabilities.

Parenting classes. Family Law CASA offers a roundup of parenting classes across the Puget Sound. Some classes are free while others may charge a small fee.

Articles and websites. The organization Family First provides programs, articles and other support — with content tailored to moms or dads — on parenting and building meaningful relationships with children.

Peer support. The Washington State Father’s Network supports fathers of children with disabilities. The Washington State Parent to Parent Program offers free support for parents of children with health or developmental concerns. Support is provided by trained parent volunteers.

Developmental assessment. Through the federal mandate Child Find, school districts must locate, evaluate and offer services for qualifying children with developmental delays and/or disabilities. Families can request evaluations for children through age 21 or until high school graduation, whether or not they are attending public school. Visit the Washington Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to learn more.

Early Intervention: Early Support for Infants and Toddlers (ESIT). These services are available to families with children under the age of 3 who are experiencing a developmental delay or condition. Access programs in King County, Lewis County, Grays Harbor & Mason County, Pierce County or Kitsap County. The organization Living Well Kent offers early intervention services among other health, wellness and nutrition programs. Learn more from the Washington State Department of Children, Youth & Families.

A Guide to Special Education. Developed by a team of parents and neurobehavioral medicine specialists at Mary Bridge Children’s, this guide is intended to help families better understand and navigate special education.

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Learn what IEPs include, who develops them, how families contribute, what happens if families move during the school year and more on the Washington State Governor’s Office of the Education Ombuds.

Free early learning program. InterCultural Children and Family Services Inc. offers their virtual ParentChild+ early learning program to help children 16 months to 2 years prepare for school success. Children who finish the program are 30 percent more likely to graduate from high school and perform better in school.

Free online STEAM coaching program. Starlight Children’s Foundation has partnered with CoachArt to offer free online coaching spanning science, technology, engineering, arts and math (STEAM) for kids 5 to 18.  

Education workshops for parents. Presented by special education attorneys, the workshop series Blueprints to Special Education discusses how to use federal and state laws to develop appropriate services for your child.

Financial assistance. If you lack health insurance coverage or need help paying for essential care, you may be eligible for financial assistance. Each hospital or health system independently manages their own financial assistance program. Mary Bridge Children’s (part of MultiCare) is dedicated to serving all patients. If you need help paying for care, contact MultiCare’s financial assistance team.

Supplemental Security Income (SSI). The SSI federal program provides monthly payments to people with disabilities who have limited income and resources. The cash payments can be used to meet basic needs for food, clothing and shelter.

Developmental Disabilities Administration (DDA). DDA is a government agency that helps determine eligibility for support and services for those with disabilities. Children who do not qualify for supplemental security income due to financial reasons may still be eligible for DDA services, which are not based on family income. Learn more about how to apply for DDA services in this video.

Medicaid Premium Payment Program. Medicaid provides reimbursement for private health insurance coverage when an Apple Health (Medicaid) client has access to private health insurance coverage, such as through an employer or private policy.

Ben’s Fund. Ben’s Fund is a $1,000 grant for children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. The grant can be used for services, technology, therapies, camps, equipment and other items.

Orthotic and prosthetic products help maximize function, minimize deformity and improve joint alignment for children with a broad range of diagnoses. Learn more about orthotic and prosthetic support at Mary Bridge Children’s or explore the articles below:

• How to find the best shoes for orthotics. Learn more about orthotic devices and what shoe brands may work best.
• Back to school guide: orthotic and prosthetic support. Learn how to support your child as they return to school with their orthotic or prosthetic device.

Local attractions. Review this list of family-friendly indoor recreation locations.

National parks pass. Washington State Parks offers a free pass to Washington State residents who are legally blind, deaf or have another disability (as defined by Washington State Department of Social and Health Services). While free, the pass must be renewed every one to five years.

Occupational and life skills summer camp. Bellevue College offers summer camp programs for students 16 to 21 that focus on job readiness training and activities to help them explore career options and develop workplace readiness skills.

Statewide camp resources. Peruse the list of Washington state summer camps and programs for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Socialization and community building. Boys & Girls Clubs of Washington State and the 4-H program offer opportunities to build friendships, connect with other families and develop new skills.

Sign up for summer camp. Find the perfect fit by browsing camps around the greater Seattle area with this camp directory from Seattle’s Child.

Childhood Safety. At Mary Bridge Children’s Center for Childhood Safety, our mission is to prevent unintentional childhood injury through health education, community partnerships and best practice interventions.

Child advocacy. Lives in the Balance is an advocacy group that helps protect children from punitive, exclusionary disciplinary practices in schools, treatment facilities and family households.

Crisis support. Crisis Connections is a nonprofit serving Washington communities by connecting people to accessible and compassionate support through helplines, community outreach and prevention education.

Car and seatbelt safety. Car seat inspections are available through Mary Bridge Children’s and Seattle Children’s. These inspections help you learn how to use your child’s car seat correctly. The National Child Passenger Safety Certification helps parents learn how to properly use child restraint systems and seatbelts and has technicians who specialize in working with children with special needs.

Safe interactions with police and first responders. Offered by the city of Renton, the Take Me Home Program helps facilitate the safe return of loved ones who may have difficulty communicating or may need special assistance during an emergency situation.

Backpack safety. Wearing a backpack correctly can help avoid health problems. Peruse these strategies from Therapy Playground or read this MultiCare Vitals article about school backpacks.  

Disability parking placards. Disability parking placards allow qualified children and their families to park close to the entrances of public buildings and attractions. Visit the Washington State Department of Licensing to learn more.

Medicaid (Apple Health) transportation services. The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) offers nonemergency transportation services to medical appointments for eligible individuals who have Apple Health coverage.

Reduced fare permits for public transportation. Individuals with disabilities may be eligible for discounted fares on public transportation, such as buses and trains. Learn more about accessing reduced fares in King County, Pierce County and Kitsap County, or contact your county’s local transportation office. People with disabilities may also qualify for discounted fares on Washington State Ferries.