Talking Body: Kids and Body Schema

Kids have an enormous amount to learn, but before they can take on reading, writing, math, social skills, or even coordinated movement, they need a basic sense of themselves.

As children develop, it takes years for them to truly understand themselves—the “me I feel inside,” the “me others see,” and the “me I’m becoming.” That long process begins much earlier than most people realize. It starts when the brain first learns the physical boundaries of the body.

Those early signals (movement, balance, joint and muscle feedback, and deep pressure) are the “me sensations.” They give the brain its first clues about where the body begins and ends. Over time, these sensations fill in the brain’s internal “map of me,” the foundation for later self‑awareness, confidence, and coordinated movement.

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Swooping, Sloping Cursive Letters

If handwriting is the foundation of written expression, cursive is the next layer of fluency. After children learn to shape letters and build the motor patterns of print, cursive offers a new pathway that emphasizes flow, rhythm, and efficiency.

Despite its disappearance from US school curriculum at the start of the 2000s, cursive is making a real comeback in many parts of the United States. This return revisits the question: Is cursive important?

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The Kid Brain on Handwriting

In a world where messaging and voice‑to‑text are becoming the norm, handwriting can seem outdated; but it’s not, especially for children. Beyond sending a message or jotting down an idea, handwriting supports parts of child development that other modes of written expression simply can’t replace. Even in a digital world, it’s still one of the most efficient ways to build the cognitive, motor, and language systems kids rely on for learning.

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Perfection

As we wrap up our #OTMonth board game series, we must discuss one that induces so much stress and anxiety but is still a classic after all these years. It’s the ultimate challenge of fine motor dexterity and mental agility, all while staying focused under pressure.

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