Coral Care content is reviewed and approved by our clinical professionals so you you know you're getting verified advice.
Find effective support for developmental delays, quickly.
Concerned about your child's development?
Our free screener offers guidance and connects you with the right providers to support your child's journey.
10 Therapist-Backed Ways to Support Your Child at Home
Winter break can be a welcome pause — and also a big shift.
Less routine, more time at home, and fewer structured supports can bring out new challenges for kids. That doesn’t mean something is wrong. It often means their nervous system and skills are adjusting to change.
This guide walks through 10 core developmental skills children commonly work on in therapy, with play-based, realistic ways to support them at home during winter break.
No worksheets. No pressure. Just everyday moments that build real skills.
How to Use This Guide
You don’t need to do everything here.
Think of this guide as a menu, not a checklist. If one or two sections stand out, start there. Even small, consistent moments can make a meaningful difference.
If you find yourself thinking “this has been hard for a while” or “this shows up every day,” that’s often a helpful signal to look more closely.
1. Hand Strength
Why it matters
Hand strength supports writing, feeding, dressing, and independence.
Things to try at home
Snowball squeezes
Roll up clean socks into tight balls. Have your child squeeze them with one hand, switch hands, or toss them into a basket. You can pretend they’re packing snowballs or building a snow fort.
Play-Doh work
Encourage pinching, rolling snakes, flattening pancakes, and cutting with child-safe scissors. Focus on finger use, not creating something perfect.
Tongs or tweezers
Use kitchen tongs or toy tweezers to move small items (cotton balls, pom-poms) between bowls. Keep it playful — “Can you feed the hungry bowl?”
Clothespin play
Clip clothespins onto the edge of a box, cup, or piece of cardboard. Opening and closing the pins builds finger strength.
Signs your child may need support
- Tires quickly during fine motor tasks
- Avoids coloring or puzzles
- Struggles with buttons or utensils
Who to see for support
An occupational therapist can help strengthen fine motor skills through play.
2. Handwriting Readiness
Why it matters
Handwriting depends on grip, wrist stability, and visual-motor coordination.
Things to try at home
Vertical drawing
Tape paper to a wall, fridge, or window. Drawing vertically strengthens the wrist and shoulder, which helps with pencil control later.
Pre-writing shapes
Practice drawing lines, circles, crosses, and zigzags with crayons, chalk, or fingers in sand. These shapes come before letters.
Short tools
Offer broken crayons or short pencils. They naturally encourage a more functional grip.
Tabletop games
Puzzles, tracing paths with fingers, or following mazes help build visual-motor coordination.
Signs your child may need support
- Awkward or tight grip
- Avoids drawing or writing
- Complains of hand fatigue
Who to see for support
An occupational therapist can support handwriting foundations.
3. Balance + Core Strength
Why it matters
Balance and core strength support posture, coordination, and endurance.
Things to try at home
Indoor obstacle courses
Create a path using pillows, tape lines, or cushions. Have your child step over, crawl under, or balance across.
Freeze games
Play music and pause it randomly. When it stops, your child freezes in a balance pose like standing on one foot.
Animal walks
Move like animals — bear walks, crab walks, frog jumps. These engage core muscles in a fun way.
Standing play
Have your child play a game or build at a counter or table instead of sitting.
Signs your child may need support
- Frequent falls
- Poor posture
- Fatigue during play
Who to see for support
A physical therapist can help improve balance and coordination.
4. Bilateral Coordination
Why it matters
Bilateral coordination allows kids to use both sides of their body together.
Things to try at home
Rolling and tearing
Roll dough with both hands or tear paper into strips. One hand stabilizes while the other works.
Stringing activities
Thread beads, pasta, or buttons onto a string. Start with large items and work smaller.
Two-handed catching
Use a soft ball or balloon and encourage catching with both hands.
Building tasks
Activities like Lego building require one hand to hold while the other manipulates.
Signs your child may need support
- Switches hands often
- Avoids cutting or two-handed tasks
Who to see for support
An occupational or physical therapist can help improve coordination.
5. Articulation
Why it matters
Articulation affects how clearly your child produces speech sounds.
Things to try at home
Slow modeling
Speak slowly and clearly during play. You don’t need to ask your child to repeat you — hearing good models helps.
Sound-rich toys
Use toys that naturally repeat sounds, like animals (“moo,” “baa”) or cars (“vroom”).
Mirror talk
Sit side by side in front of a mirror and talk. Let your child see how mouths move without correcting.
Natural repetition
If your child says a word unclearly, repeat it back clearly without pointing out the mistake.
Signs your child may need support
- Speech hard to understand
- Frustration when talking
Who to see for support
A speech-language pathologist can help.
6. Language Expansion
Why it matters
Language helps kids share ideas and connect.
Things to try at home
Add one word
If your child says “dog,” you say “big dog” or “brown dog.”
Narrate routines
Briefly talk about what you’re doing: “Washing hands,” “Cutting apples.”
Pause and wait
After asking a question or reading a book, pause to give your child time to respond.
Predictable books
Read familiar books and pause to let your child fill in words.
Signs your child may need support
- Mostly single words
- Frustration communicating
Who to see for support
A speech-language pathologist can help.
7. Emotional Regulation
Why it matters
Regulation helps kids calm and recover during challenges.
Things to try at home
Heavy work
Have your child push a laundry basket, carry groceries, or do wall push-ups.
Breathing with movement
Pair slow breathing with rocking, stretching, or gentle swinging.
Cozy reset space
Create a calm corner with pillows and blankets where your child can regroup.
Predictable breaks
Build short calm breaks into the day before meltdowns happen.
Signs your child may need support
- Intense meltdowns
- Difficulty calming
Who to see for support
An occupational therapist can help.
8. Sensory Processing
Why it matters
Sensory processing affects how kids respond to their environment.
Things to try at home
Deep pressure
Wrap your child in a blanket like a burrito or offer firm hugs if they enjoy them.
Movement breaks
Short bursts of jumping, spinning, or crashing into cushions.
Texture play
Play with dough, rice bins, water, or sand.
Offer choice
Ask, “Do you want quiet or movement right now?”
Signs your child may need support
- Sensory avoidance or seeking
- Overwhelm
Who to see for support
An occupational therapist can help.
9. Feeding Skills
Why it matters
Feeding includes motor skills, sensory comfort, and emotional safety.
Things to try at home
Food play
Let your child touch, smell, or play with food without pressure to eat it.
Utensil practice
Practice scooping or stabbing during playtime, not meals.
Family-style serving
Let your child serve themselves small portions.
Predictable routines
Keep mealtimes consistent and calm.
Signs your child may need support
- Limited food variety
- Mealtime stress
Who to see for support
A feeding-trained OT or SLP can help.
10. Frustration Tolerance
Why it matters
Frustration tolerance supports persistence and confidence.
Things to try at home
Just-right challenges
Offer tasks that are tricky but doable with effort.
Model coping
Say, “This is hard — I’m going to try again.”
Pause and return
Take a short break, then come back to the task.
Praise effort
Focus on trying, not perfection.
Signs your child may need support
- Avoids challenges
- Melts down quickly
Who to see for support
An occupational therapist can help.
Final Thought
Needing support doesn’t mean something is wrong.
Many children benefit from extra help building skills — especially during transitions like winter break. If challenges feel persistent or are impacting daily life, getting support can help your child feel more confident and capable.
Helpful Resources
- Developmental Guides by Age
https://www.joincoralcare.com/developmental-guide - Find a Local In-Home Therapist
https://www.joincoralcare.com/search
If you’re unsure where to start, browsing milestones or connecting with a therapist for guidance can be a helpful next step.
.png)
