Where books, play, and growth come together.
My books are filled with whimsy, kindness, humor, and a whole lot of heart. After more than 30 years of experience as a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, I know how much stories, laughter, and play can help children grow.
Daisy's OT Tips brings those worlds together with quick, parent-friendly ideas inspired by my books and Daisy, the sweet little dragonfly who was the mascot of my pediatric therapy practice. Together, they help turn storytime into confidence, coordination, and joy.
*Looking for even more ideas? Visit my Pinterest boards for additional OT-inspired activities and playful learning ideas.
Daisy's OT Tips brings those worlds together with quick, parent-friendly ideas inspired by my books and Daisy, the sweet little dragonfly who was the mascot of my pediatric therapy practice. Together, they help turn storytime into confidence, coordination, and joy.
*Looking for even more ideas? Visit my Pinterest boards for additional OT-inspired activities and playful learning ideas.
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Bilateral Coordination
What it is: Using both sides of the body together.
Why it matters: Important for cutting, catching, dressing, writing, and many everyday activities.
Activities:
• Read + Point → Have your child hold a favorite book with one hand while pointing to pictures or words with the other.
• Clap Along → Clap a simple rhythm together while reading a favorite story or repeating a fun phrase from one of your books.
• Cutting Practice → Cut out shapes from one of my printable activity pages, or practice cutting simple shapes from construction paper.
• Two-Hand Build → Use both hands to stack blocks, then knock them down and build again. Have your child use one hand to steady a basket or container while using the other to put the blocks away.
• Catch + Throw → Toss a soft ball using both hands together.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Reading, pointing, turning pages, clapping, and cutting all help strengthen bilateral coordination while making storytime even more fun!
What it is: Using both sides of the body together.
Why it matters: Important for cutting, catching, dressing, writing, and many everyday activities.
Activities:
• Read + Point → Have your child hold a favorite book with one hand while pointing to pictures or words with the other.
• Clap Along → Clap a simple rhythm together while reading a favorite story or repeating a fun phrase from one of your books.
• Cutting Practice → Cut out shapes from one of my printable activity pages, or practice cutting simple shapes from construction paper.
• Two-Hand Build → Use both hands to stack blocks, then knock them down and build again. Have your child use one hand to steady a basket or container while using the other to put the blocks away.
• Catch + Throw → Toss a soft ball using both hands together.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Reading, pointing, turning pages, clapping, and cutting all help strengthen bilateral coordination while making storytime even more fun!
Crossing the Midline
What it is: Moving across the invisible line down the middle of your body.
Why it matters: Builds brain power for reading, writing, coordination, and confidence.
Activities:
• Page Turns → Encourage your child to use their left hand to turn a page on the right side of the book (and their right hand to turn a page on the left).
• Dragonfly Spotting → When a hidden dragonfly appears on the right page, encourage your child to point to it with their left hand (and vice versa).
• Storytime Hugs → Invite your child to cross both arms over their chest for a big hug while reading together.
• Criss-Cross Dance Party → Play music and call out, "Touch your right elbow to your left knee... now switch!"
• Rainbow Drawing → Tape a large piece of paper to a wall or floor and have your child draw wide arcs across their body like Daisy swooping through the sky.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Turning pages, pointing to hidden dragonflies, giving storytime hugs, and drawing big rainbow arcs all help strengthen crossing the midline while making reading even more fun!
Visual Tracking
What it is: Training the eyes to move smoothly left to right, up and down, and all around.
Why it matters: Essential for following words and sentences when reading.
Activities:
• Finger Follow → Move your finger across each line as you read a book together.
• Dragonfly Scan → Ask your child to scan the page with their eyes to spot the hidden dragonflies.
• Word Hunt → Choose a simple word or letter and have your child track across the page to find it.
• Story Match → Spot an object in the book, then have your child look around the room to see if they can find something similar.
• Line Tracing → Trace mazes or simple paths on one of my printable activity pages, or create your own with a crayon or marker.
• Bubble Popping → Blow bubbles and encourage your child to watch and pop them with their eyes following each bubble.
• Balloon Bounce → Keep a balloon in the air together without letting it touch the ground.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Following words, searching for hidden dragonflies, hunting for letters, and exploring pictures all help strengthen visual tracking while making storytime even more engaging!
What it is: Training the eyes to move smoothly left to right, up and down, and all around.
Why it matters: Essential for following words and sentences when reading.
Activities:
• Finger Follow → Move your finger across each line as you read a book together.
• Dragonfly Scan → Ask your child to scan the page with their eyes to spot the hidden dragonflies.
• Word Hunt → Choose a simple word or letter and have your child track across the page to find it.
• Story Match → Spot an object in the book, then have your child look around the room to see if they can find something similar.
• Line Tracing → Trace mazes or simple paths on one of my printable activity pages, or create your own with a crayon or marker.
• Bubble Popping → Blow bubbles and encourage your child to watch and pop them with their eyes following each bubble.
• Balloon Bounce → Keep a balloon in the air together without letting it touch the ground.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Following words, searching for hidden dragonflies, hunting for letters, and exploring pictures all help strengthen visual tracking while making storytime even more engaging!
Fine Motor Strength and Coordination
What it is: Building control, strength, and coordination in the small muscles of the hands and fingers that make big things possible.
Why it matters: Fine motor skills are the foundation for independence—helping children write, dress, eat, and create with confidence. Every squeeze, pinch, and press builds the muscles needed for everyday success.
Activities:
• Color & Create → Use crayons, colored pencils, or markers to color one of my printable activity pages or any favorite coloring page. Pressing a little harder for darker shades helps build hand strength!
• Maze Master → Trace mazes or simple paths slowly and carefully, keeping the crayon or pencil between the lines to build control and coordination.
• Playdough Power → Roll, pinch, squeeze, and squish playdough into balls, snakes, or fun story-inspired creations to strengthen little hands.
• Clothespin Challenge → Clip clothespins around a card or paper plate to "build Daisy's wings." Great for grip and endurance.
• Coin Drop or Pom-Pom Pick-Up → Use your thumb and index finger to pick up coins or small pom-poms and drop them into a cup—perfect for building pincer strength.
• Button Race → Practice buttoning a shirt or jacket. Smaller buttons make the challenge even more fun!
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Coloring, tracing, turning pages, and creating story-inspired art all help strengthen fine motor skills while making storytime even more creative!
What it is: Building control, strength, and coordination in the small muscles of the hands and fingers that make big things possible.
Why it matters: Fine motor skills are the foundation for independence—helping children write, dress, eat, and create with confidence. Every squeeze, pinch, and press builds the muscles needed for everyday success.
Activities:
• Color & Create → Use crayons, colored pencils, or markers to color one of my printable activity pages or any favorite coloring page. Pressing a little harder for darker shades helps build hand strength!
• Maze Master → Trace mazes or simple paths slowly and carefully, keeping the crayon or pencil between the lines to build control and coordination.
• Playdough Power → Roll, pinch, squeeze, and squish playdough into balls, snakes, or fun story-inspired creations to strengthen little hands.
• Clothespin Challenge → Clip clothespins around a card or paper plate to "build Daisy's wings." Great for grip and endurance.
• Coin Drop or Pom-Pom Pick-Up → Use your thumb and index finger to pick up coins or small pom-poms and drop them into a cup—perfect for building pincer strength.
• Button Race → Practice buttoning a shirt or jacket. Smaller buttons make the challenge even more fun!
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Coloring, tracing, turning pages, and creating story-inspired art all help strengthen fine motor skills while making storytime even more creative!
Sensory Processing & Regulation
What it is: Activities that help soothe the nervous system.
Why it matters: Helps children regulate their emotions, relax their bodies, and stay focused.
Activities:
• Reading Fort → Cozy up under a blanket with a flashlight and read a favorite story together.
• Stuffed Animal Hug → Give a favorite stuffed animal—or a family member—a big hug for comforting deep pressure.
• Weighted Warmth → If appropriate for your child, place a weighted blanket on their lap during storytime to encourage calm and focus.
• Breathing Sparkles → Pretend to blow sparkles off Daisy's wings by taking slow, deep breaths together.
• Rock + Read → Snuggle into a rocking chair and enjoy a favorite book together.
• Squeeze + Release → Make gentle fists, then stretch your fingers wide. Repeat several times to help release tension.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Cozy reading, gentle hugs, rocking, and deep breathing can help children feel calm, connected, and ready to enjoy storytime together.
What it is: Activities that help soothe the nervous system.
Why it matters: Helps children regulate their emotions, relax their bodies, and stay focused.
Activities:
• Reading Fort → Cozy up under a blanket with a flashlight and read a favorite story together.
• Stuffed Animal Hug → Give a favorite stuffed animal—or a family member—a big hug for comforting deep pressure.
• Weighted Warmth → If appropriate for your child, place a weighted blanket on their lap during storytime to encourage calm and focus.
• Breathing Sparkles → Pretend to blow sparkles off Daisy's wings by taking slow, deep breaths together.
• Rock + Read → Snuggle into a rocking chair and enjoy a favorite book together.
• Squeeze + Release → Make gentle fists, then stretch your fingers wide. Repeat several times to help release tension.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Cozy reading, gentle hugs, rocking, and deep breathing can help children feel calm, connected, and ready to enjoy storytime together.
Core Strength
What it is: Strength in the trunk that supports posture.
Why it matters: Children need good core strength to sit up, balance, and stay focused during everyday activities.
Activities:
• Tummy Time Reading → Read a favorite book while lying on your stomach with your elbows propped.
• Book Bridges → Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Balance a favorite book on your tummy, then lift your hips into a "bridge" without letting the book fall.
• Twist + Turn → Sit tall and gently twist from side to side as if you're turning the pages of a giant storybook.
• Storytime Sit-Ups → Lie on your back and sit up each time a page is turned.
• Book Balance Challenge → Carefully balance a favorite book on your head while walking around the room.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Reading on your tummy, balancing books, twisting, and moving during storytime all help build core strength while making reading even more fun!
What it is: Strength in the trunk that supports posture.
Why it matters: Children need good core strength to sit up, balance, and stay focused during everyday activities.
Activities:
• Tummy Time Reading → Read a favorite book while lying on your stomach with your elbows propped.
• Book Bridges → Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet on the floor. Balance a favorite book on your tummy, then lift your hips into a "bridge" without letting the book fall.
• Twist + Turn → Sit tall and gently twist from side to side as if you're turning the pages of a giant storybook.
• Storytime Sit-Ups → Lie on your back and sit up each time a page is turned.
• Book Balance Challenge → Carefully balance a favorite book on your head while walking around the room.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Reading on your tummy, balancing books, twisting, and moving during storytime all help build core strength while making reading even more fun!
Visual-Motor Integration
What it is: Connecting what the eyes see with what the hands do.
Why it matters: Builds readiness for writing, drawing, everyday activities, and sports.
Activities:
• Tracing Fun → Trace pictures or simple shapes from one of my printable activity pages, or draw your own to trace.
• Copy Daisy → Look at a picture of Daisy—or any dragonfly—and see if you can draw it.
• Copy What You See → Have a parent or sibling make a pattern with blocks, stickers, beads, or other small objects, then see if you can copy it.
• Maze Time → Complete a maze from one of my printable activity pages, or draw a simple maze of your own.
• Puzzle Power → Build a puzzle together to strengthen visual-motor skills while having fun.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Tracing, drawing, completing mazes, building puzzles, and exploring storybook illustrations all help strengthen visual-motor integration while making storytime even more engaging!
What it is: Connecting what the eyes see with what the hands do.
Why it matters: Builds readiness for writing, drawing, everyday activities, and sports.
Activities:
• Tracing Fun → Trace pictures or simple shapes from one of my printable activity pages, or draw your own to trace.
• Copy Daisy → Look at a picture of Daisy—or any dragonfly—and see if you can draw it.
• Copy What You See → Have a parent or sibling make a pattern with blocks, stickers, beads, or other small objects, then see if you can copy it.
• Maze Time → Complete a maze from one of my printable activity pages, or draw a simple maze of your own.
• Puzzle Power → Build a puzzle together to strengthen visual-motor skills while having fun.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Tracing, drawing, completing mazes, building puzzles, and exploring storybook illustrations all help strengthen visual-motor integration while making storytime even more engaging!
Motor Planning
What it is: Figuring out how to plan, organize, and carry out a new movement or activity.
Why it matters: Helps children learn new physical skills, follow movement sequences, and become more confident trying unfamiliar activities.
Activities:
• Copy Me → Do a simple movement such as clapping twice, touching your toes, or reaching overhead, and have your child copy you. Add more steps as it gets easier.
• Story Moves → Choose an action from a favorite book and act it out together. Stomp like a monster, crawl like a bug, stretch like a tree, or pretend to climb a mountain.
• Mini Obstacle Course → Use pillows, boxes, or safe household objects to create a simple course. Have your child crawl around, step over, or move between them.
• Move in Order → Give two or three movement directions such as, “Clap your hands, turn around, then sit down.” Let your child take a turn giving you directions, too.
• Build + Copy → Make a simple structure with blocks and have your child figure out how to make one like it.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Acting out characters, copying movements, and following action sequences from a story give children playful opportunities to practice planning and organizing their movements.
What it is: Figuring out how to plan, organize, and carry out a new movement or activity.
Why it matters: Helps children learn new physical skills, follow movement sequences, and become more confident trying unfamiliar activities.
Activities:
• Copy Me → Do a simple movement such as clapping twice, touching your toes, or reaching overhead, and have your child copy you. Add more steps as it gets easier.
• Story Moves → Choose an action from a favorite book and act it out together. Stomp like a monster, crawl like a bug, stretch like a tree, or pretend to climb a mountain.
• Mini Obstacle Course → Use pillows, boxes, or safe household objects to create a simple course. Have your child crawl around, step over, or move between them.
• Move in Order → Give two or three movement directions such as, “Clap your hands, turn around, then sit down.” Let your child take a turn giving you directions, too.
• Build + Copy → Make a simple structure with blocks and have your child figure out how to make one like it.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Acting out characters, copying movements, and following action sequences from a story give children playful opportunities to practice planning and organizing their movements.
Body Awareness
What it is: Knowing where your body is in space and how its different parts are moving.
Why it matters: Helps children move safely and confidently, control their movements, and participate in everyday activities and play.
Activities:
• Body Part Simon Says → Call out simple directions such as, “Touch your knees,” “Put your hands on your head,” or “Touch your elbow to your knee.”
• Animal Walks → Crawl like a bear, hop like a bunny, waddle like a duck, or creep like a tiny bug.
• Push + Pull → Have your child push a laundry basket, pull a wagon, or help move a lightweight box across the floor.
• Pillow Path → Place pillows or cushions on the floor and have your child carefully step, crawl, or climb over them while paying attention to where their body is.
• Reach + Stretch → Place a favorite book or toy in different positions and have your child reach up high, down low, or across their body to get it.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Acting out how characters move, pointing to body parts mentioned in a story, and adding reaching, stretching, crawling, or stomping to storytime helps children become more aware of their bodies while bringing books to life.
What it is: Knowing where your body is in space and how its different parts are moving.
Why it matters: Helps children move safely and confidently, control their movements, and participate in everyday activities and play.
Activities:
• Body Part Simon Says → Call out simple directions such as, “Touch your knees,” “Put your hands on your head,” or “Touch your elbow to your knee.”
• Animal Walks → Crawl like a bear, hop like a bunny, waddle like a duck, or creep like a tiny bug.
• Push + Pull → Have your child push a laundry basket, pull a wagon, or help move a lightweight box across the floor.
• Pillow Path → Place pillows or cushions on the floor and have your child carefully step, crawl, or climb over them while paying attention to where their body is.
• Reach + Stretch → Place a favorite book or toy in different positions and have your child reach up high, down low, or across their body to get it.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Acting out how characters move, pointing to body parts mentioned in a story, and adding reaching, stretching, crawling, or stomping to storytime helps children become more aware of their bodies while bringing books to life.
Self-Care Skills & Independence
What it is: Learning the everyday skills children use to take care of themselves and participate in daily routines.
Why it matters: Builds independence, confidence, and the ability to take an active role in dressing, eating, grooming, and other everyday activities.
Activities:
• Dress-Up Practice → Let your child practice putting on and taking off easy clothing such as hats, jackets, socks, or dress-up clothes.
• Fastener Fun → Practice zipping, snapping, buttoning, or fastening items during everyday routines. Start with larger, easier fasteners and work toward smaller ones.
• Snack Helper → Invite your child to help prepare a simple snack by opening containers, spreading with a child-safe utensil, pouring, or carrying items to the table.
• Scoop + Pour → Practice using spoons, cups, or small containers to scoop and pour dry items such as cereal or rice from one container to another.
• Clean-Up Helper → Give your child simple jobs such as putting books on a shelf, placing toys in a basket, wiping the table, or carrying their cup to the sink.
• Routine Steps → Break an everyday activity such as getting dressed, washing hands, or packing a bag into simple steps and let your child practice doing them in order.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Talk about the everyday things characters do for themselves in a story. Getting dressed, eating, cleaning up, or preparing for an adventure can become fun opportunities to practice those same skills at home.
What it is: Learning the everyday skills children use to take care of themselves and participate in daily routines.
Why it matters: Builds independence, confidence, and the ability to take an active role in dressing, eating, grooming, and other everyday activities.
Activities:
• Dress-Up Practice → Let your child practice putting on and taking off easy clothing such as hats, jackets, socks, or dress-up clothes.
• Fastener Fun → Practice zipping, snapping, buttoning, or fastening items during everyday routines. Start with larger, easier fasteners and work toward smaller ones.
• Snack Helper → Invite your child to help prepare a simple snack by opening containers, spreading with a child-safe utensil, pouring, or carrying items to the table.
• Scoop + Pour → Practice using spoons, cups, or small containers to scoop and pour dry items such as cereal or rice from one container to another.
• Clean-Up Helper → Give your child simple jobs such as putting books on a shelf, placing toys in a basket, wiping the table, or carrying their cup to the sink.
• Routine Steps → Break an everyday activity such as getting dressed, washing hands, or packing a bag into simple steps and let your child practice doing them in order.
🌼 Storytime Bonus: Talk about the everyday things characters do for themselves in a story. Getting dressed, eating, cleaning up, or preparing for an adventure can become fun opportunities to practice those same skills at home.