Why Carryover at Home Matters in Occupational Therapy
And 10 Ways to Help Families Make It Happen
Occupational therapy doesn’t stop at the school door or clinic walls—real change happens through repeated, meaningful practice across environments, especially at home. Yet, one of the most common challenges therapists face is ensuring that the strategies and skills taught in sessions are generalized to daily life.
For children receiving OT services, home practice is key to building new motor patterns, reinforcing sensory regulation strategies, and developing confidence through repetition.
But here’s the challenge: life at home is busy, unpredictable, and often overwhelming for families. That’s why we need to make carryover practical, simple, and family-friendly.
Let’s explore why carryover matters—and 10 actionable strategies to make it easier.
🏠 Why Practice at Home Is So Important
Here’s what we know:
- Children need repetition to build motor memory and functional independence.
- Generalization only happens when children use skills in different settings—not just therapy.
- Families are the constant in a child’s life. When they feel confident supporting development, outcomes improve.
- Home is where the child eats, dresses, moves, plays, and rests—perfect opportunities for therapeutic integration.
✅ 10 Practical Tips to Support Carryover at Home
1. Choose ONE Focus at a Time
Don’t overwhelm families with everything at once. Pick one area (e.g., hand strength or pencil grasp) and focus on that for a few weeks.
Pro Tip: Use language like, “This week, let’s try 3 fun activities for hand strength at home.”
2. Use What They Already Have
Suggest activities using common household items—no need for special equipment. This lowers the barrier and increases follow-through.
Examples: Tongs for grasping, sponges for squeezing, masking tape mazes for gross motor.
3. Make It Playful
Frame home activities as games, challenges, or part of play. A child is much more likely to engage in “ice cream scooping races” than “fine motor drills.”
4. Integrate Into Daily Routines
Embed OT strategies into things families already do: bath time, dressing, mealtime, or walking to the car.
Examples: Have your child squeeze shampoo bottles, peel oranges, zip their jacket.
5. Keep Instructions Clear and Visual
Families are more likely to follow through when they know exactly what to do. Simple instructions and visuals go a long way.
6. Send Home Ready-to-Use Tools
Calendars, checklists, or handouts they can hang on the fridge or keep in a binder help create structure and consistency.
7. Give Choices
Offer a menu of 5–7 options each week so families can pick what fits best into their routine or their child’s mood.
8. Highlight Progress, Not Perfection
Remind families that it’s okay if their child doesn’t finish an activity exactly as expected—engagement is still valuable.
9. Use Consistent Language
If you use words like “Super Fingers” in therapy, suggest families use the same term at home. This helps the child make connections.
10. Encourage 5-Minute Wins
Not everything needs to take 30 minutes. Short bursts of activity (even during commercial breaks or snack time) build consistency.
📅 The ULTIMATE At-Home Carryover Calendar
365 Days of OT-Inspired Activities Using Household Items!
This comprehensive resource gives families, teachers, and therapists an entire year’s worth of activities—organized, simple, and ready to go.
🎯 Designed for:
- Early Intervention (ages 1–3)
- Preschoolers (ages 3–5)
- Early Elementary (K–1)
- Students with developmental needs at these levels
What You’ll Get:
Packet 1 – 12 Monthly Calendars
Each calendar includes daily activities that use common items like sponges, cups, tongs, and string. Categories are rotated throughout the week for balance and variety.
Packet 2 – 7 Targeted Skill Handouts:
Each handout includes activities focused on one domain area:
- 🖐️ Hand Strength
- 👌 Pincer Grasp
- 🌈 Sensory Activities
- 🏃 Gross Motor
- ✋ Bilateral Hand Use
- 👀 Visual Perceptual Skills
- 🧩 Coordination
✅ Same activities, two formats: Choose whether you want to give families the monthly calendar or a handout by skill area.
💡 How to Use This Resource:
- 📌 Circle or star the activities best for your student
- 🧑🏫 Give monthly to teachers or parents during IEPs, screenings, or RTI
- 🏠 Share as a summer carryover resource
- 📖 Ideal for homeschool families needing motor skill enrichment
This is your go-to solution for building skill development at home without adding stress.
Final Thoughts
When families are empowered to practice with purpose, children thrive.
With clear, engaging activities using materials already in the home, therapists and educators can make carryover realistic and meaningful.
Let’s start with connection, growth, and empowerment.
