Resources
The Connection Between Physical Activity and Mental Well-being
We often think of exercise as something we do to build strength or stay healthy—but it’s also one of the most powerful tools we have to support mental and emotional well-being. And for kids with special needs or therapy goals, movement can be especially important. Let’s explore how physical activity helps regulate emotions, reduce anxiety, and improve focus—and how you can use simple movement-based activities to support your child’s mind and body. How Physical Activity Supports Mental Health in Kids When children move their bodies, it’s not just their muscles that benefit. Physical activity: Releases “feel-good” brain chemicals like endorphins and serotonin Reduces stress and anxiety by calming the nervous system Improves focus, attention, and mood regulation Builds confidence and body awareness Offers a positive outlet for pent-up energy or frustration For kids with sensory sensitivities, speech delays, or developmental challenges, movement can also help regulate their systems—making therapy and learning more effective. Physical Activity and the Sensory System Children with sensory processing challenges often seek or avoid certain types of input. Movement provides valuable proprioceptive (body awareness) and vestibular (balance) input, which can help calm, focus, or energize a child’s body and brain. Activities that help include: Jumping on a trampoline or bed Swinging at the park Rolling like a log or doing animal walks Climbing, crawling, or using a scooter board Dancing or spinning in circles These types of “heavy work” or full-body movements can help a child feel more organized and emotionally balanced—especially when built into their daily routine. Movement Helps Kids Manage Big Feelings When your child is feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or upset, physical activity can be a powerful coping strategy. It gives them a safe and healthy way to release energy and reset emotionally. Here are some movement-based ways to support emotional regulation: Stretching together – Helps calm the body and focus the mind Nature walks – Reduces stress and boosts mood Throwing or kicking a ball – Offers sensory input and emotional release Yoga or deep breathing with movement – Combines mindfulness with physical control Parent tip: You don’t need fancy equipment! Even a hallway obstacle course made from pillows and chairs can do the trick. Physical Activity and Focus Movement isn’t just for recess. In fact, studies show that kids who move more often are better able to: Concentrate on tasks Transition between activities Regulate their energy and emotions Engage more successfully in therapy and learning This is especially true for kids with ADHD, sensory needs, or motor planning challenges. That’s why many occupational therapists use movement as a core part of their sessions. Easy Ways to Add Movement into Your Child’s Day You don’t need a structured exercise routine to reap the benefits. Try weaving movement into everyday moments: Morning movement: Start the day with stretching, jumping jacks, or a short dance party Movement breaks: Let your child move between learning or therapy activities After-school energy release: Go for a walk, jump rope, or do a scavenger hunt Wind-down routine: Include calming yoga or stretching before bedtime Let your child lead the way—when movement is fun, they’re more likely to engage and benefit. When Movement Supports Therapy Goals At TeleSesh, many of our occupational and speech therapists incorporate movement into teletherapy sessions. Why? Because for kids, movement helps activate the brain, making it easier to learn, express themselves, and stay regulated. We might guide kids through: Gross motor warm-ups Movement-based games to build communication skills Body awareness exercises to support speech production Whether online or in person, movement matters! Bringing It All Together Supporting your child’s mental well-being doesn’t always require big changes. Sometimes, it’s as simple as adding a few minutes of joyful movement into your day. Whether your child loves to climb, stretch, spin, or dance—physical activity helps them feel better, focus better, and connect better. And the best part? You can do it together.
What is Speech Teletherapy?
Teletherapy is a hugely expanding service that is improving the ability of clients to connect with speech therapists virtually. Due to limited access and full schedules, speech therapists are now seeing their clients virtually. Teletherapy allows for schools, parents, and individuals seeking speech therapy services to connect with knowledgable professionals while allowing flexibility in scheduling and location. Let’s dive further into what is teletherapy speech?What is Speech Teletherapy and How Does Virtual Speech Therapy Work?Students and therapists connect with one another live video conferencing. In order for a client to video conference, they must have a web cam, computer audio or a head set and working internet to participate in the therapy session. After the appointment time is confirmed, the therapist shares a joint calendar invite to each client’s unique video conferencing link. Once each participant in the speech therapy session has logged in, they will be able to see and hear each other and interact with one another in real-time while also utilizing the latest technology such as shared screens and virtual worlds to fully engage. Therapists set up a complete online learning environment unique for each client to fully engage and work on their speech therapy goals.Benefits of Speech Teletherapy Services:Flexibility in schedulingNo travel requiredAccess to licensed professionalsHigh-quality interactive therapy tools and materialsAffordable pricing optionsIndividual or group services providedUser friendly and real time access to therapistsComplete two-way set-up of interactive technologySecure, HIPPA compliant, network connectionsImportance of Teletherapy in Modern SocietyAccording to the recent report, there are around 56 million children in elementary, middle, and high schools. This makes approximate 17% of the entire country’s population. Of these children, a large number of students will need extra support services such and speech and language therapy. Because of the limited number of speech therapists available in schools, the need for speech and language teletherapy speech therapy services continues to grow.Speech Teletherapy Is the Optimal SolutionTeletherapy for speech therapy is the most innovative and effective solution that also offers a range of flexibility to overcome barriers such as distance, time, and impaired mobility.Connect Teletherapy provides speech therapy services including speech disorders (articulation and phonology), language delays, social skills, voice disorders and/or modification, fluency, AAC training, feeding and swallowing, and cognition. Teletherapy services are also a great way for parents to be more involved with either joining in on the sessions or receiving one on one consultation time with their child’s therapist. Since Speech therapy services are virtual, many barriers can be removed such as distance, travel time, and scheduling.FAQ’s About Speech Teletherapy:Is my child a fit for teletherapy?As long as your child is able to attend to a computer or tablet for at least 15 minutes, he or she will be able to participate. Our team will schedule an initial consultation to determine if teletherapy speech therapy is a good fit for you and your child.What do I need at home to participate in teletherapy?The process for setting up your computer for teletherapy is very simple. You will need a web cam, audio capabilities, and access to the internet.Since delivery is online, does it affect privacy?All services are delivered via a HIPPA compliant video conferencing platform for maximum privacy.Does insurance cover speech teletherapy services?Insurance does not currently cover speech and language teletherapy services. However, some providers will reimburse a portion of the services in a case by case basis. Connect Teletherapy will provide documentation for attempts to submit for insurance coverage.Can everyone receive virtual speech and language services? Yes. While most clinics and schools will only treat children with substantial delays, we are happy to provide any additional support services that fall under speech and language skills. How do therapists interact with parents and teachers? We value open communication with parents and teachers to establish and meet each client’s goals. Parents will be involved in the initial sessions of teletherapy for speech therapy so that therapists are able to get a full picture of each child’s goals and participate or pop into the session anytime to get more information. Teachers are involved in the scheduling and goal making process and kept up to date with student goals, progress, and schedule.