Routine Visual Board
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Visual Boards Routine: Calm Your Home & Boost Communication

Using these boards at home doesn’t have to be complicated. It’s all about weaving them into your daily routines. Here are a few examples:

Example 1: The “What Do You Want?” Board (Requests)

Let’s say it’s snack time. Instead of just asking, “What snack do you want?” and potentially getting frustrated if your child struggles to answer verbally, you can use a simple board with pictures of available snacks: apple slices, crackers, yogurt.

Asian mother holding son as he reaches for red lanterns in a warm indoor setting.
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Setting the Stage for “I Need…” Moments

I’ve seen magic happen when we tap into the power of connection and purposeful play. One of the biggest “a-ha!” moments for many parents (and therapists!) is realizing how much communication blossoms when we create just the right opportunities for it.

Mother and daughter creating a colorful beaded bracelet together at home.
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Building Skills and Connections, One Bead at a Time

This is where beads and buttons become your secret weapon. Seriously. Picking up those tiny objects, holding them just right, threading them onto a string or pushing them through a buttonhole – we’re talking about fundamental fine motor skills here. Dexterity, pincer grasp, hand-eye coordination.

girl with tweezers
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Confessions of a Tweezer Trainer: Making Fine Motor Fun

Okay, let’s switch gears and talk therapist-to-therapist, or therapist-to-parent-who-feels-like-a-therapist-sometimes, about those moments where a skill feels…