If you ever peeked inside an occupational therapist’s toy cupboard, you might think you’ve stumbled into the world’s most delightful jumble sale. There are fidget spinners next to stretchy bands, putty beside building blocks, and more sensory bins than you can count. But behind every toy lies a purpose, and a lot of clever thinking.
Playdough, for instance, isn’t just fun to squish. It builds hand strength, finger control, and creativity. Obstacle courses made of pillows, tunnels, and chairs help kids practice balance, coordination, and motor planning – skills they’ll use for everything from riding a bike to packing a school bag.
Even something as simple as bubbles can be a therapy tool. Blowing bubbles strengthens oral muscles for speech and feeding, while chasing them works on attention, coordination, and turn-taking.
And then there’s the sensory magic! Textured balls, stretchy putty, tactile blocks – all of which are all tools to help kids explore how they feel and find calm in their bodies.
So, if you see a child bouncing on a therapy ball or rolling through foam blocks, remember: that “toy cupboard” is really a toolkit for growth, learning, and fun.
This Occupational Therapy Week, we’re celebrating the creativity and care that fill those cupboards, and the incredible OTs who turn ordinary play into extraordinary progress every day.
