This website was created with the intention of providing activity ideas, majority of which are bimanual, for children with hemiparesis to improve carryover of progress made in therapies.
These activities were also chosen with the intention of being easily implemented in a childs everyday activities, such as during eating, getting dressed, bath time, and other activities your family may find themselves already doing on a day to day basis (play with siblings, grocery shopping, etc.)
This website is organized into several categories. View the categories below to learn more about what you will find on that page.
The search function at the top of each page can be used to find activities that work on a specific motion. For example, if your therapist said to focus on wrist extension, you can search this phrase to populate a list of wrist extension strategies.
Here you will find motions that the therapist may be striving for the child to achieve. Terms like "shoulder abduction" can be overwhelming, so this page will show you video demonstrations of fancy terms you may hear from your therapist.
Here you will find helpful tips for how to use language to your advantage when encouraging the child to use their affected extremity. The page covers general language use and language use to cue specific motions of the affected extremity.
Here you will find three age categories: 0-2 years old, 2-4 years old, and 4+ years old. Once you click on an age group, you will be taken to a page with age-specific activities that are broken down further into categories.
Under each category of activities you will see a comment space. Feel free to comment on activities you liked or how you were able to adapt activities to fit your kids' needs.
Here you will find three age categories: 0-2 years old, 2-4 years old, and 4+ years old. Once you click on an age group, you will be taken to a page with age-specific toy recommendations for toys that are helpful for encouraging use of both hands at the same time.
Here you will find photos and descriptions of how to help your child stretch their hemiparetic upper extremity.
Here you will find a place for caregivers of children with hemiparesis to discuss activities that have worked well for them. There is opportunity to connect through liking, commenting, or sharing your own discussion post.
Here you will find a place with a list of extracurriculars that you child may enjoy participating in. Children's Hemiplegia & Stroke Association information is available for many of the activities. You will also find advice for explaining your child's needs to their coach/instructor and an "About Me" sheet that can be customized for your child.
Here you will find opportunities for participation in CIMT, separated by region.
Here you will find opportunities to apply for grants and scholarships to help fund CIMT, equipment, or other medical expenses for your child.
Here you will find support articles written by family members of a child with hemiparesis, social stories to help your child or other children understand their condition, and answers to questions commonly asked by caregivers.
Hi, I'm Caroline! I am a student in the entry-level doctorate occupational therapy program at the Medical University of South Carolina.
I have a passion for neurological rehabilitation in individuals of all ages, which is what led me to exploring the world of Pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy (P-CIMT).
This website is part of my doctoral capstone project titled "Creating Pediatric Constraint-Induced Movement Therapy Transfer Packages for Optimal Outcomes".
Enjoy!
