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Messy Play

Tactile play offers endless opportunities for learning and messy play is a crucial component of early education. There are many benefits of messy play. Photo from pexels.com What are the benefits of messy play? Messy play offers benefits to children of all ages and abilities. It allows children to become engaged and get to know… Read more »

Having Fun with Sensory Integration Activities

From the womb into adulthood, our neurological systems are developing and processing an overwhelming amount of sensory information every day. Our system must then interpret this information and make it ready to be tolerated and used for specific purposes. To help with this process, sensory integration activities are a fun and necessary part of development for any child, whether… Read more »

What is a Sensory Diet and Why Does My Child Need One?

Every person explores, feels, and senses her environment differently.  For some people, playing soothing background music helps increase focus, while for others, all background noise is distracting.  A sensory diet is a personalized set of activities and environmental modifications embedded in daily routines which supports individuals to be successful in tasks and transitions.  Photo from… Read more »

Using Music to Improve Sensory Processing

Music is frequently used as a therapeutic tool to calm or organize children. However, does music really have the potential for sensory organization? In 2007, researchers Hall and Case-Smith conducted a study exploring the effects of sound based intervention for those with sensory processing disorder. They found that children who used a sensory diet in… Read more »

10 Ways to Help Your Resistant Eater

Eating is a complex multi-sensory process. While eating, we receive information from all our senses simultaneously; vision, touch, smell, taste, sound, proprioception, and balance. Additionally, eating is a complex motor and neurological process using 26 different muscles and six cranial nerves. As children grow and develop, they become better able to process this complex experience… Read more »

Transitioning to Adulthood with Autism

Individuals with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often receive a range of services including speech therapy, occupational therapy, and behavior therapy. Services are provided through the school system and outside agencies. As these individuals get older, it is important that the treatment team all work together to create a transition plan. The team… Read more »

6 Developmental Benefits of Music

We love to listen to music, dance to music, and sing to music with our children. Music is fun, music is engaging, and children love it! Did you know that when children learn to play music it is not only fun, but also has developmental benefits to it? Here are 6 ways that children benefit… Read more »

An OT’s Guide to a Sensational Summer

Summer is a great time to relax and change up our routines. Less structure sometimes leads to boredom. Here are some fun activities to engage in with your child to help liven up summer break while keeping your child regulated. Indoor crafts and messy play Make homemade slime with school glue and Borax detergent. Got… Read more »

You Don’t Have to Brush Your Teeth – Only the Ones You Want to Keep!

Brushing teeth and visiting the dentist are two challenging activities for children with sensory issues. The sheer thought of someone going into their mouths can be enough to send children with sensory issues into meltdown mode. With a few practical tips, both you and your child can be better supported in both of these dreaded… Read more »

The Vestibular System: A tutorial

We are all familiar with our five basic senses through which we explore our environment. Did you know that we have an additional special sense known as the vestibular system? This complex system is located in the inner ear and consists of gravity receptors that detect linear (such as running straight or swinging back and… Read more »