At MapHabit, we know that building independence goes beyond structure—individuals need engagement and the right assistive technology to support meaningful routines. That’s why we created Engage Spark, a series of interactive maps designed to help children and young adults develop or improve foundational motor skills in a fun, personalized way.
Whether your child is working on core strength, fine and motor coordination, balance, or calming strategies, Engage Spark offers an accessible and supportive tool to build those skills one habit at a time.
Let’s explore what Engage Spark is, why it matters, and how to get started.
What Is Engage Spark?
Engage Spark is a collection of step-by-step video-based maps that guide users through simple, engaging exercises and activities. Each map is tailored to help build the foundational motor skills needed for everyday life—things like brushing your teeth, packing your backpack, staying focused at school, or participating in recreational activities.
These skills are essential for:
- Daily routines (like getting dressed or tying shoes)
- Learning and school success
- Safely navigating community environments
- Employment-readiness
- Leisure and recreation
- Self-regulation and focus
You can find the full Spark collection on the Maps page in the MapHabit app under the “Programs” section.
Don't Miss: The Engage Spark Kit
To help families get even more out of Spark, we offer a hands-on sensory activity kit designed to align with many of the map exercises and routines.
The Engage Spark Kit includes a wide range of sensory and motor tools that support the exact skills Spark maps target, like fine motor control, hand strength, and emotional regulation. It’s a great way to make the exercises more engaging and tactile for individuals who benefit from physical interaction with materials.
Here’s a quick look at what’s inside:
- Therapeutic Items: Theraputty, a geoboard, pony beads, a squirt bottle, plastic tweezers, and a slitted tennis ball
- Activity Accessories: Playing cards, golf tees, rubber bands, coffee filters, colored dice, toothpicks, and a bandana
- Sensory Tools: Push pop fidgets, stress balls, elastics, pipe cleaners, and putty
- Stress Relief Tools: Box breathing sheet, fidget tools, pom poms, and more
- Art & Craft Supplies: Dry erase folder, markers, construction paper, popsicle sticks, and a multi-colored pen
The kit is an optional, but highly recommended, addition that brings Spark maps to life in a fun and practical way. You can contact our team to request one or ask about availability through your funding provider.
A Supportive Supplement
While Spark is an excellent tool for building skills, it’s not a replacement for therapy. These maps are designed to complement support from physical therapists, occupational therapists, teachers, and caregivers.
We recommend working with your care team to identify the maps that best suit your needs or the needs of the individual you are supporting, then scheduling those exercises regularly in the MapHabit app to reinforce therapy and professional goals at home.
Personalized, Flexible, and Easy to Use
The Spark program is highly customizable. Users can start with just one activity per day or choose several different maps to work on different skills throughout the week.
To access Spark maps:
- Visit the Maps page in your MapHabit app
- Tap “Map Library”
- Navigate to Programs and find Engage Spark maps
- Choose the skill area or activity that fits your needs
- Tap “Schedule Map” to add it to your weekly plan
Many Spark maps are structured to progress in difficulty, starting with easier versions of an activity and then moving to more advanced versions as strength or coordination improves. This helps users feel successful while still being challenged.
We recommend using a Spark map 3–5 times per week to build consistency and see meaningful progress.
What Skills Does Spark Build?
These maps were built with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and autism in mind—offering clear steps, visual guidance, and repetition that supports different learning styles.
Engage Spark maps are divided into several key categories. Here’s a quick look at what each one includes:
Fine Motor Foundations
These maps help strengthen the small muscles in the hands and fingers, essential for tasks like writing, doing crafts, buttoning clothes, opening containers, texting, and playing games with friends.
Focus areas include:
- Finger and hand strength
- Bilateral coordination
- Sensory awareness (tactile, proprioceptive, and visual)
- Finger dexterity
- Precision grip and release
- Visual-motor integration
Tip: Try pairing fine motor maps with visual supports or items from the Engage Spark Kit, like Theraputty, plastic tweezers, or the geoboard, to reinforce self-help skills through hands-on activities.
Theraputty Maps
These specialized hand exercises use Theraputty to build strength and control. They support:
- Grasp patterns
- In-hand manipulation
- Bilateral coordination
- Eye-hand coordination
- Letter and shape formation
They’re a great way to prepare for opening containers, writing, using scissors and fasteners, drawing, or typing.
Please note: Theraputty is provided in the Engage Spark kit.
Gross Motor Foundations
These exercises and activities focus on building the large muscle groups and movement patterns required for balance, stability, and coordination.
Skills developed:
- Postural control
- Core strength
- Balance (both static and dynamic)
- Crossing midline
- Eye-hand and eye-foot coordination
- Leg strength
- Endurance
- Body awareness
Pro tip: Consistent gross motor practice can improve endurance for tasks like walking to class or participating in sports.
Core Strength & Posture
This category includes general movement exercises designed to strengthen the trunk and improve overall stability. These are especially helpful for sitting upright at a desk, maintaining balance, or changing body positions throughout the day.
Pairing these maps with a consistent routine can help reduce fatigue and improve confidence in school and community settings.
Balance Exercises
Balance is critical for mobility and confidence in daily activities. These maps support both static balance (standing still) and dynamic balance (while moving), laying the groundwork for navigating steps, curbs, or uneven surfaces. This helps develop higher-level balance skills that come into play during sports and other recreational activities.
Motor Coordination
This is where it all comes together. These maps focus on bilateral coordination, body awareness, crossing midline, and timing. These skills help users move more fluidly and accurately in space, an important part of both gross and fine motor development. Additionally, they help with developing eye-hand and eye-foot coordination that supports user participation in sports and games with peers.
Mindfulness & Self-Regulation
This category offers calming, centering activities that support emotional regulation. These maps include:
- Breathing exercises
- Calming movement
- Relaxation and visualization
- General mindfulness techniques
These routines can be especially helpful for transitions or stressful moments throughout the day.
Brain Games
This is where fun for the mind really shines! Brain games are short, interactive activities that encourage attention, memory, and play. From music maps to trivia and word scrambles, these maps provide a joyful way to stimulate cognitive skills while giving the hands and body a break.
Don’t be surprised if these become a favorite part of the routine!
What’s a Program?
MapHabit offers pre-built Programs to help make scheduling easier. For example, our Mindfulness & Regulation schedule automatically adds calming activities to the user’s weekly routine.
Programs are optional, and families can ask to remove or modify them at any time.
Tips for Getting Started
If you're new to Spark or to MapHabit in general, here’s how to begin:
- Talk with your support team (teacher, therapist, or case manager) about which skills to target first.
- Filter the maps by Engage Spark in the app to explore options by category.
- Try one new map per day for the first week to find one or two you like and want to practice more often. You can always add more later!
- Schedule maps at the same time each day to build consistency.
- Celebrate small wins! Spark maps are designed to be fun. Enjoy the process and let your child lead when possible.
Designed With Simplicity and Discovery in Mind
With the launch of our redesigned app this September, it’s even easier to access Spark and discover new content. Thanks to a more personalized home page, users are able to highlight Spark maps they love most or feature categories like wellness, school routines, or visual schedules.
Our new welcome survey guides new users to the maps that best fit their goals, making Spark one of the easiest and most impactful programs to get started with.
Have questions? You don’t have to figure it all out alone. Contact our team or visit our MapHabit funding page to learn more about how you may be able to get state-funded access to MapHabit and programs like Engage Spark.
