Looking for Resources for Kids with Special Needs? You're Here!
Welcome! My name is Cara Koscinski, The Pocket OT. I’m a mom and long-time pediatric occupational therapist with both my doctorate and master’s degree in OT.
My passion is helping therapists, parents, and teachers. The Pocket OT website is filled with fun activities that anyone can use. Every idea I share has been lovingly practiced with my own children, students, and in my own clinic.
Both of my own children have special needs so I personally understand the challenges you face.
Keep our tips in your POCKET – resources here when you need them!
Six Books, Downloads, and Pocket Resources For Parents, Teachers & Therapists
Cara speaks regularly at state, local and national conferences for therapists and parents. She offers a wide variety of topics.
Pocket OT On-Demand Courses for Therapists – Always Evidence-Based & Come with a Certificate After Post-Test
Helpful information From Our Blog
What Are Pre Writing Skills?
What are pre-writing skills and why does my child need them?Babies are born with hands that are curled up and only reflexively grasp their caregiver's finger. Through practice and play they quickly learn that their actions cause their toy to light up or their body to...
5 OT Tips for Boosting Productivity
OT is BOOMING! We are in demand and are showing our unique value. Occupational therapy is growing by leaps and bounds and it's a beautiful thing! As an educator, I see how excited students are about entering OT. There's also no shortage of children awaiting...
5 Ways to Assess Movement to Build Functional Outcomes
Therapists, looking for tips to assess your students' movement for better functional outcomes?Me too! I have been doing a ton of research for improving functional outcomes. Some of the same activities over and over get boring for me and for my students. While...
5 Ways to Add Movement to Learning
Sit Still and Pay Attention!How many times have we heard this in our lives? I know my generation was expected to sit without fidgeting or moving during learning activities. If we didn't, there was punishment or reprimand. Unfortunately, things are changing and...
Feather Beading – Pre Writing Activity
Working on handwriting is fun but it's important to work on PRE-WRITING skills. Kids need to first learn how to build fine motor coordination. The best way to do this is through crafts and play-based activities that work the little (fine) muscles of the hands and...
Fingerprint Farm Animals
Making fingerprints is not only a fun activity for little kids, but it also encourages the development of fine motor skills. Fingerprint farm animals are a fun way to teach children about animals, letters, and fine motor skills all at the same time! Kids will be...
Educating Kids at Home During COVID-19 Isolation
Forced to Homeschool Due to School Closings and Social Distancing? Many of you know I homeschooled my own children from elementary through high school. I've learned many tips and have collected many helpful resources throughout the years. Here are some of my...
5 Questions from My School-Based OT Conferences
OT friends, you know how much I love traveling across our beautiful country delivering conferences to fellow therapists. Last week, I traversed to Albuquerque, NM, and Denver, CO. I can not begin to put the beauty of NM into words. The Sandia Mountains towered in a...