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Supporting young people in Learning to Drive: A Guide for Parents
For many young people, learning to drive is a significant milestone on the road to independence. However, for children with disabilities, this journey can come with [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Tangles to Ties: Mastering the Art of Hair Care
When it comes to self-care, hair care may seem like a small task, but it can have a big impact on independence and self-esteem. Imagine trying to do schoolwork but [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
What to expect at OT: A teenager’s perspective
What actually is OT and why do I need it? Occupational therapy (OT) is all about helping you do the things you want and need to do in your daily life, whether [..]
Read moreEating
Picky eating vs Problem eating: What’s the difference?
Before having kids, you may have imagined that family mealtimes would be lovely times where everyone gathered around the table, ate delicious, nutritious food and [..]
Read moreSchool
School-Based Occupational Therapy at OT Helping Children
At Occupational Therapy Helping Children, we offer therapy sessions in a variety of settings, including our clinic, schools, and occasionally in the client’s [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Empowering Children Through Chores
Chores play a crucial role in helping children develop essential life skills that are just as valuable as those gained through academics, sports, and the arts. [..]
Read moreGroup Programs
Breaking Barriers with Sense Team Sports
Sense Team Sports…where therapy and sports combine, involving every child and their unique abilities. Sense Team Sports integrates the principles of [..]
Read moreADHD and Executive Functioning
Navigating an ADHD Diagnosis for Families
Understanding Attention Deficit and Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) Before looking into navigating an ADHD diagnosis, it’s first important to understand what ADHD [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & Family
The Benefits of Art and Craft for Children’s Skill Development
Art and craft activities are more than just a fun way to keep children entertained. These creative pursuits play a crucial role in supporting the development of [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
How Occupational Therapy Can Support Your Child Transitioning to High School
Transitioning to high school is a significant milestone in a child’s life. It can be both exciting and challenging as they navigate new academic demands, [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Understanding the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR)
The Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) is one of the fundamental primitive reflexes that babies are born with. These reflexes are automatic responses to certain [..]
Read moreHome & Community
Empowering Teens: The Importance of Independent Living Skills
As occupational therapists, we understand the crucial role that independent living skills play in the transition from adolescence to adulthood. Developing these [..]
Read moreGenetic Conditions
Phelan-McDermid Syndrome
In the realm of occupational therapy, practitioners often find themselves supporting children with intricate medical conditions such as Phelan-McDermid syndrome [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Therapy Burnout: When to Take a Break from Therapy
Many children who participate in occupational therapy, speech therapy, physiotherapy, or psychology often engage in multiple therapies for several years on a [..]
Read moreHandwriting
7 Fun ways to support handwriting practice at home
Handwriting is a crucial skill, however for some children, handwriting or literacy tasks are difficult and discouraging, which often leads to poor engagement in [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
How you can support a child with a visual impairment
As delved into the challenges and nuances of visual impairments, the blog post The role of OT in supporting children with visual impairments – Occupational [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
The Role of Animals in supporting individuals in achieving functional goals
This blog delves into the invaluable roles animals and pets play in aiding individuals with their daily functional goals. Pretzel, our beloved furry companion at [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
OT role in supporting children with Specific Learning Disorders
What are Specific Learning Disorders Specific Learning disorders are types of neurodevelopmental disorders that impact on one or more cognitive processes required [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Building Blocks of Expertise: The Educational Requirements for Occupational Therapists
Embarking on the journey to become an occupational therapist (OT) is a rewarding and fulfilling path, requiring dedication, education, and ongoing commitment to [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
10 Strategies for Enhancing Emotional Regulation Skills in School-Aged Children
From birth to adolescence, children develop physically, socially and emotionally. When a child is in infancy or early childhood, it is developmentally appropriate [..]
Read moreAutism
Teen Dating for Autistic Individuals: How can OT’s support?
Navigating the world of teen dating can be both exciting and challenging for all adolescents, regardless of neurodiversity. Recent studies have shed light on the [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Unlocking the Secrets of the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)
Have you ever wondered about the intricate reflexes that babies are born with? Among them lies the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR), a fascinating mechanism that [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
What are Functional Capacity Assessments?
Functional Capacity Assessments evaluate an individual’s capacity to engage in daily life activities effectively. These assessments aim to identify the [..]
Read moreAutism
Understanding Masking in Autistic Children
Disclaimer: In this blogpost we have utilised identify-first language in line with current preferences in the Autistic community. However, we acknowledge that [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Money Management Skills- tips for supporting children and teens
In the fast-paced, ever-evolving world we live in, instilling good money management habits in children has become increasingly crucial. Parents, educators, and [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
The Benefits of OT-led Sports Groups
Occupational Therapist (OT) led sporting groups use sport as a delivery tool in supporting the development of a range of skills. OT led sports-based groups provide [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Sensory-Friendly Home
An important factor in a child’s development is the home environment. An enriching home plays a pivotal role in fostering healthy growth and brain development. [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
The role of OT in supporting children with visual impairments
What is a visual impairment: A visual impairment is when a person’s vison cannot be corrected to a “normal” level through intervention such as glasses, [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
The Role of Occupational Therapists in Alternative and Augmentative Communication (AAC)
Occupational Therapists (OTs) are crucial in helping people carry out their everyday activities on their own. They empower individuals by promoting the ability to [..]
Read moreGroup Programs
Individual and Group Occupational Therapy: Choosing the best services to meet your child’s goals.
As Occupational Therapists, we strive to support children to meaningfully engage and participate in everyday life. We can do this through many different [..]
Read moreSchool
Maximizing School-Based Occupational Therapy for Your Child
“Occupational Therapists can work in many different settings to support children with their daily tasks including in the clinic, school, at home and in the [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Visual Perception Skills
Have you ever wondered about the fascinating world of visual perception and how it impacts a child’s development? In this blog post, we’ll dive into the world [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
The Role of Occupational Therapy in Addressing Feeding Selectivity in Children
Feeding selectivity, more commonly known as “Picky Eating”, refers to a tendency of selective eating habits where the children usually display a strong food [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Caring for the Caregivers: The Crucial Role of Parental Self-Care in Supporting Children’s Development
In the world of paediatric care, there exists a unique and significant connection between children and their caregivers. Caregivers, be they mothers, fathers, or [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Helping Your Child Overcome Toilet Training Challenges: What to Do When They Refuse to Poo
Introduction Toilet training can be a journey filled with both victories and challenges. While many kids transition seamlessly from nappies to using the toilet, [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Co-Regulation
You may have heard of the term ‘co-regulation’ before, but what exactly does it involve? Co-regulation is an essential tool to foster the development of [..]
Read moreSchool Readiness
Home Strategies for Developing Self-Care Independence for Kindergarten
‘School Readiness’ is a term parents probably hear a lot during their child’s last year of preschool, but what does it mean to be ‘school ready’, and how [..]
Read moreSchool
Benefits of Sensory Regulation Tools Within a School Environment
What are sensory regulation tools Sensory regulation strategies are useful tools to help individuals in regulating their emotions, calm down, or to increase their [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Would My Child Benefit from Occupational therapy Groups? Exploring the Advantages of Individual and Group Therapy
Whether a child has been receiving occupational therapy for some time or are new to OT, parents often find themselves questioning the differences between individual [..]
Read moreTeenagers
Empowering Connection: The Therapeutic Benefits of Video Modelling for Teenagers’ Social Communication Skills.
In the realm of occupational therapy, our mission is to empower individuals to overcome challenges and lead fulfilling lives. For teenagers striving to develop [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Understanding Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) and its Distinctions
Disclaimer: In this blogpost we have utilised identify-first language in line with current preferences in the Autistic community. However, we acknowledge that [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Neurodiversity Affirming Occupational Therapy
In a world that often seeks conformity, there is a rising movement that promotes the vibrant spectrum of human minds. It’s an approach that shatters the [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Crossing Midline
Our bodies have an imaginary line in the centre dividing us between left and right. Crossing midline is our ability to cross that line with our hands, arms and/or [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Engaging in physical activity and sport for children with disabilities.
Physical activity is an important aspect in every person’s life for different reasons; keeping fit, seeing friends, having time alone, building strength and [..]
Read moreAutism
Navigating a Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder
Disclaimer: In this blogpost we have utilised identify-first language in line with current preferences in the Autistic community. However, we acknowledge that [..]
Read moreTeenagers
Navigating the Transition from School to Career: Empowering Young Individuals with Disabilities
Life after school can be an overwhelming and uncertain period for many young people. The abundance of information available can make it challenging to navigate the [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Developmental Milestones for Children’s Self-Help and Functional Skills
As children grow and develop, they acquire various self-help and functional skills that enable them to become more independent and confident in their everyday [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Alternative Methods for Written Communication: A Guide to Developing Typing Skills
Handwriting plays a significant part in many of the academic, work and leisure tasks people engage in during childhood and into adulthood. However, there are many [..]
Read moreTeenagers
Supporting Neurodiverse Adolescents Through Puberty
Puberty can be a challenging time for children. It is a time of significant physical, emotional and social change, which can be hard to navigate. It is a time where [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Why is my Child Struggling to put on their Shoes & Socks?
Teaching children to put socks and shoes on may be quite time consuming and frustrating. For children, learning how to put socks and shoes on, it may also be quite [..]
Read moreTeenagers
Enhancing Teenagers’ Journey: Occupational Therapy and Autistic Teens
Adolescence is a period of significant growth, self-discovery, and transition for every teenager. This shift from primary to high school comes with a significant [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & Family
How Brazilian Jiu Jitsu can support the development of children
Jiu Jitsu is a martial art originating in India around 2,000 BC based on the values of the Buddhist system of acting in a non-harmful way, showing respect, [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Understanding Anxious Eaters
In the blog post titled ‘Feeding Strategies’, the readers were introduced to the contents of an occupational therapist’s (OT) feeding toolkit, as [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Effective Home Strategies to Manage Arousal Levels in Children
Children are often faced with big feelings or tough emotions which they may need support to navigate. As Occupational Therapists, we consider the Window of [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Goal Setting at Occupational Therapy Helping Children
Goal setting is a key stage of the client journey at Occupational Therapy Helping Children and an essential component of what Occupational Therapists call ‘The OT [..]
Read moreParent Resources
The NDIS journey
Please note: The following information is accurate as of March 2024, however changes to NDIS occur frequently. For the most up to date information please visit [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Hidden Disabilities
Not all disabilities are visible. 1 in 7 of us live with a disability across the world. Not all disabilities can be seen. Some individuals experience a disability [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
How the NooK Play Sofa Can Be Used at Home to Support Therapy Goals
As Occupational Therapists, the Nook play sofa is one of our favourite activities to integrate into our therapy sessions. It is fun, practical and aligns with many [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Social Interaction in Play Milestones: What You Need to Know
Play is crucial component of a child’s development. It helps them develop social, emotional, cognitive, and physical skills. As an occupational therapy [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
The Art of Play in Paediatric Occupational Therapy
“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury; the time spent engaged in it is not time that could be better spent in more formal educational [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
How to develop your child’s self-regulation skills with the Alert Program®
If your child struggles with self-regulation awareness, the Alert Program® could be a wonderful tool to use to help them recognise their emotions and take the [..]
Read moreADHD and Executive Functioning
Executive Functioning Milestones
Executive function is the mental process that enables us to plan, focus, remember instructions and multitask. From childhood, we make around 35,000 decisions a day, [..]
Read moreAutism
What is Neurodiversity?
Neurodiversity refers to the recognition and acceptance of neurological differences among children. These differences may include conditions such as autism, ADHD, [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Feeding Strategies
What’s Inside Our Feeding Tool Kit? At Occupational Therapy Helping Children, some of our therapists recently had the pleasure of attending Melanie Potock’s [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
8 Ways To Build Your Child’s Confidence
Why is confidence important? Confidence allows us to feel ready for life’s experiences, whether they are new, challenging or routine. Feeling confident allows us [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Contractures
What are contractures? A contracture is a condition in which there is a permanent tightening of the muscles, tendons, skin, or nearby tissues that causes a joint to [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Perceive Recall Plan Perform (PRPP) System of Task Analysis: Assessment and Intervention
The PRPP System of Task Analysis is an occupational therapy assessment and intervention system that was developed by Associate Professor Chris Chapparo and Dr Judy [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Preparing for your Child’s Individualised Education Plan (IEP) Meeting.
Do you need help preparing for a meeting with your child’s school? Do you feel daunted about having to meet with your child’s teachers to develop their [..]
Read moreAutism
Pathological Demand Avoidance
Supporting Children with Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) in School and Social Settings: Occupational Therapy Strategies and Interventions. Pathological Demand [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
The Tactile System
What is it The tactile system, or touch, is our oldest and more primitive expressive channel. It is our “first language” as it is our main way of interacting [..]
Read moreSchool
Tips for a Smooth Transition to High School
You have gone to great lengths to find the right high school for your child, now how can the transition go as smoothly as possible? There are many new expectations [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Practice at home vs. your child’s progress – The curve of forgetting
While occupational therapy sessions teach and develop a range of skills, it is extremely important that practice is carried out within the home as well. Your [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
OT Approved Christmas Presents
Christmas time is so often full of excitement and merriment. However, buying the “just right” present for your child can be a challenge and sometimes feel like [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Gender Diversity in Children
The following blog post uses identifying-first language which aligns with the current preferences in the Autistic community. We understand that everyone is on their [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Oral Motor Skills
The development of oral motor skills begins in the womb and is usually fully developed by 3 years of age. Like many other skills we learn as humans, oral motor [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Top 5 ways to build therapy and skill practice into your daily routine
Paediatric Occupational Therapists work closely with families to help children build the skills and functional capacities needed for a whole range of tasks, [..]
Read moreAutism
The Role of an Occupational Therapist in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Disclaimer: In this blogpost we have utilised identify-first language in line with current preferences in the Autistic community. However, we acknowledge that [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Pretend Play Developmental Milestones
Play is one of the most important occupations in a child’s life and pretend play is the highest level of play ability. Pretend play provides opportunity for [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
15 Best Inclusive Play Spaces Around Sydney
As per the dictionary definition, inclusive means “not excluding any parties or groups involved in something.” So, inclusive play spaces should be designed so [..]
Read moreMotor Development
What is ‘Bilateral Coordination’?
Bilateral coordination – or bilateral integration – is the ability to use both sides of the body simultaneously, in a coordinated and sequenced way. [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
How to write a social story
Social Stories™ (Gray, 1990) are individualised, short and effective stories that teach kids new skills, prepare them for a change or transition, and/or support [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Developing Pre-Writing Skills
What are pre-writing skills? Well, in essence they are the fundamental skills children require to develop before they can execute the functional task of writing. [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
10 OT Tips for Buttons and Zippers
Buttons and zippers are arguably one of the most intricate and challenging fine motor skills your children will be faced with every day as your child gets older. [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
10 Occupational Therapy Tips for Haircuts
Getting a haircut can be an overwhelming activity for many children. Whether it’s the sound of the shaver, or sensitivity to touch, many of our kids with sensory [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Managing Screentime in Children
Screentime management can be an extremely confusing part of parenthood to understand and navigate. With so much conflicting information on the internet, along with [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
OT Approved Kmart Best Buys!
Kmart is a wonderland for some amazing toys and gadgets that can support children’s development and be a whole lot of fun at the same time! Whether you are a [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
What is Stimming?
Have you heard the term stimming, been told that your child stims or noticed your child engaging in repetitive activities? Have you ever wondered what exactly [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Components of Self-Regulation
Have you ever heard of the term self-regulation? Or maybe emotional regulation? Or even co-regulation? There are so many words that are used to describe a child’s [..]
Read moreAutism
Girls with Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a developmental condition that influences the way the brain processes information and engages with the world. While it is [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Benefits of Supported Risky Play for Children
Risky play involves children exploring their surroundings and encountering situations that they are not expecting and are unsure of the outcome. Exhilarating, [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Building Independence in Pre-Teens
The ‘pre-teen’ years are generally between the ages of 9 and 12 but will vary depending on your child. This is often a time in which your child may look to gain [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Auditory Defensiveness
Does your child cover their ears in response to loud noises? Are they bothered by ordinary household items such as vacuum cleaners? Or are they distracted by [..]
Read moreSelf Care
10 Occupational Therapy Tips for Tooth Brushing
Teaching children to brush their teeth is difficult for many parents, requiring patience and persistence. Although challenging, this skill cannot be overlooked, as [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
What is a Sensory Diet?
I’m sure we’ve all heard of the term sensory diet and its benefits for your child’s intervention approach, but what does it mean?! Is it a genuine diet? Am I [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Astronaut Program
Occupational Therapists use lots of techniques and interventions to best support kids and families to achieve their goals, one of these is the Astronaut Program, so [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Benefits of Water Therapy
There are many different environments your child experiences throughout their life that can be hugely beneficial to their development. As occupational therapists, [..]
Read moreGenetic Conditions
Overview of Genetic Disorders
A genetic disorder is a health condition that is caused by an abnormality of a gene or chromosome in a person’s DNA. Mutations can occur in one gene or in [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Insight: Things your Preschool Educator Wants Parents to Know
They want to work with you Your child’s educator wants to work alongside you as the parent/guardian to provide the best experience for your child. Allowing time [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Working Collaboratively With Families
At Occupational Therapy Helping Children, our OTs work collaboratively with families, schools and allied health professionals. Working collaboratively means that [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Teaching Your Child to Tie Shoelaces
It’s that time of your child’s development when they will achieve a significant milestone: tying their shoelaces! There tends to be a misconception about when [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Occupational Therapy Terms… what do they mean?
Hypermobility, low muscle tone, crossing midline… You may have heard of these terms in your Occupational Therapy session or report before… but what do they [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Life As A New Graduate
Transitioning From Study to Practice Starting a new graduate job is the beginning of a new chapter of your life. It can be full of anticipation and excitement and [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Parenting Tips for Children with Anxious Emotions
It is increasingly common for children to experience feelings of anxiousness or worry as they grow up but as a parent, it can be hard to know what to do or how to [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
What is DIR®/Floortime™
There are many different models and frameworks we use as Occupational Therapists, particularly when working with kids and families. One term that you may hear us [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Using Sound as Therapy
There’s a lot to be said about the way music makes us feel. I’m sure you all have a favourite feel-good song, a song that makes you cry, or you may even have an [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Fun Gift Ideas for Kids Recommended by OTs
It’s Christmas time again, which means it’s time to buy presents for family and friends. Hooray! We know that sometimes it can be challenging to think [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Travelling with Kids in the Holidays
As Christmas is closely approaching, the anguish of how we will remain sane might be kicking in! School holidays can often involve various trips, whether it be [..]
Read moreGenetic Conditions
The OT Role with Children with Down Syndrome
Every individual with Down Syndrome is different and unique in their own fulfilling way. Down Syndrome does not discriminate as it’s a genetic condition, not an [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Top Tips when Navigating the NDIS
Whether it is your first NDIS meeting or another plan review, there can always be the worry and stress of how much funding your child will get. Will you get a good [..]
Read moreSchool
Supporting Your Child’s Transitioning Back to School
Congratulations to everyone for making it through online learning for the last three months! It has not been an easy time for many, and we applaud all families for [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Our Sensory Gym Favourites
The sensory gym is one of the most exciting things about our move to the new Frenchs Forest clinic! It is loaded with fun equipment that helps target different [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Primitive Reflexes and How They Affect Your Child’s Development?
What are primitive reflexes? Primitive reflexes are the first reflexes for our development. They are involuntary movement patterns that assist with survival in [..]
Read moreADHD and Executive Functioning
Top 10 Best Books for Parents of Children with ADHD
If your child has ADHD and you want to understand how to help them, here are some of our top recommendations. Number One: Super-parenting for ADD Dr Edward [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Developmental Milestones for Self-Care Tasks
Self-care skills are an important part of development as they empower children to be independent and self-sufficient. They include the daily tasks that are required [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Top TV shows for Parents
At the time of writing this blog, Sydney is in week eight of lockdown, and we’re all probably reaching for the TV remote and spending a bit more time on streaming [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
The History of Occupational Therapy Helping Children
1994 Occupational Therapy Helping Children was started in 1994 by founder and director Lisa Hughes. Lisa began doing home visits on Saturday mornings. Towards the [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Top 3 Resources for an Occupational Therapy Clinic
OTs use lots of different toys, tools and resources in therapy sessions chosen specifically to meet the needs and interests of each child. But some resources are [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
The Polyvagal Theory and Breathing
‘Just breathe’ – why are we told to do it so often? What are the benefits? We are often told to focus on and slow our breathing to facilitate [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Siblings of Children with a Disability – Managing Their Emotions
How have the relationships you have with your siblings influenced your social-emotional development throughout your life? With our siblings, we learn to directly [..]
Read moreParent Resources
Top 5 Podcasts for Parents
It can often be hard to find reliable sources of information when looking for support and advice around parenting, especially when you have a child with additional [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Our Favourite ‘OT Approved’ Board Games!
Board games have been a provider of entertainment for years (and not just for kids!). Whether it be bringing the family together, keeping the kids busy or having [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
The Benefits of Cooking with Your Child
Cooking is such a wonderful bonding experience to have with your child! It is a fantastic way for your child to be exposed to early concepts of maths and science [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Written Expression – How Occupational Therapists Help
Writing is a powerful tool for learning and is an essential lifelong skill. Children use writing within the school environment to help them understand new [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Our Top 3 Sleeping Tips
Sleep is an essential part of your child’s daily routine and key to ensuring your child has a healthy lifestyle. Sleep promotes physical, cognitive, social and [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
What is Pretend Play and Why is it Important for Children
Play is considered the primary occupation of children and is crucial for their physical, social and emotional development. Play comes in many different forms, [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Occupational Therapy in the Community
Getting out and about in the community can be a challenge for some kids. This may be due to reasons such as anxiety, sensory overload or communication difficulties. [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Hidden Benefits of Scavenger Hunts
One of my most fond memories from my childhood was going on bushwalk adventures and collecting all different kinds of ‘treasure’ along the way and then sharing [..]
Read moreADHD and Executive Functioning
You’ve Heard the Term Executive Functioning – but what on earth does it mean?
Executive functions are known as a set of higher cognitive processes essential for the cognitive control of various behaviours. It is the mental process that [..]
Read moreSchool
School Readiness – What Are The Most Important Skills?
School readiness is a topic that everyone has an opinion on these days, so how do you find out what the essential skills for school are? What is the right school [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Playdate Tips and Ideas
It’s that time of year again, the wonderful Australian Summer’s here and so is the big holiday break where kids get that freedom from formal learning! But with [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
How to Make a Visual Schedule
What is a Visual Schedule? You can use a visual schedule to improve a child’s understanding of the plan. It can be helpful with transitioning between activities, [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Christmas Present Ideas
The Christmas season is almost here, which means that it’s time to start thinking about doing our Christmas shopping! In this blog, we are going to give you some [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
OTHC’s Sensory Advent Calendar
Many children find December challenging to navigate. As we get into the final weeks of the school year, the routine falls out of step, meals occur at different [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
The Client Journey at Occupational Therapy Helping Children
If you are new to the world of Occupational Therapy or your child has been referred to us and you are not sure what exactly happens next, then here’s a simple [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
TOP 10 Items In An OTs Tool Kit For Schools
An Occupational Therapist who works in schools has the advantage of being in a collaborative environment with teachers, aides, school counsellors and parents to [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
How do Occupational Therapists Help with Sensory Processing Disorder?
Occupational Therapists cover a broad scope of practice; however, one thing that we are commonly known to help with is children with sensory processing [..]
Read moreMotor Development
What Is Low Muscle Tone
Have you heard your child being described as having “low muscle tone” but wonder what on earth does it mean?! It’s a question that’s often raised with [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Building Resilience In Children
Occupational Therapy Helping Children in recent years have had an increase in referrals for building resilience in children or what is known in the Occupational [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Mindfulness and Occupational Therapy
Mindfulness and Occupational Therapy Mindfulness is about bringing one’s attention to experiences, being present in the moment, and bringing one’s awareness [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
What is a paediatric Occupational Therapist?
What is a paediatric Occupational Therapist? Paediatric Occupational Therapists (OT) are regulated health care professionals that work with children and [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Importance of Routines and Visual Schedules
Can you imagine a life without a calendar, diary or phone reminder? How would we keep track of the appointments we have, places we are expected to be at and what [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Strategies to manage your child’s emotions during COVID19
Not sure how to express your emotions or manage them during this unprecedented time, let alone support your child to? Don’t panic, OTHC is here to help! We are [..]
Read moreSchool
Helping My Child Transition Back To School After Lockdown
There’s no doubt that the past few weeks of lockdown and homeschooling have been challenging and at times emotional, however, there may also have been wonderful [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
What is telehealth and why should I consider it for my child?
What is Telehealth? Occupational therapy services exist to support families with a child through a range of specific and targeted interventions. It is aimed at [..]
Read moreHandwriting
How to find the perfect pencil grip fit?
Ahh, the pencil grip. So many different types and sizes. We’ve all asked the questions - “What is the perfect grip for my child?” or “Is my child’s pencil [..]
Read moreMotor Development
How to Teach your Child to Ride a Bike
You may be wondering what are the skills required to ride a bike & how can we teach our children to do so! Bike riding is an excellent opportunity for your [..]
Read moreSelf Care
Toilet Training Tips
Toilet training and the skills needed for a successful experience If you’re starting to think about toilet training with your child, then you’ve undoubtedly [..]
Read moreSchool
Sensory Strategies for the Classroom
Classrooms are space for learning, exploration and creativity. However, this can sometimes come with a space that is overloaded with different sensory experiences [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Fun Activities to Help You Survive January with your Kids
Well the excitement of Christmas is over and the fun of New Year’s Eve has fizzled away. We’ve now hit those long January weeks and it’s at this time kids [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Gross motor activities for home
Why is gross motor important for your children? Gross motor is incredibly important in enabling children to perform everyday tasks and have the endurance to [..]
Read moreSpeech Pathology
Lurking in the shadows: Developmental Language Disorder (DLD)
Guest blog written by North Shore Speech Therapy Speech Pathologists often hear comments that the reason for a child’s poor performance at school is simply [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Pretend Play
When you hear the word ‘play’, you think of happiness, fun and enjoyment. You also may think that all kids must know how to play and how hard can it be? [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
What is Proprioception and Why Is It Important?
Proprioception is often known as the sixth sense, as it is a sense that is not commonly known. To put it simply, proprioception is the sense that tells the body [..]
Read moreSpeech Pathology
What are the milestones to look out for in speech and language development?
Children grow and develop at their own pace. While some might start to walk and talk earlier than expected, others might be delayed. Without the ability to [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
What is Interoception?
Interoception is often known as the “hidden sense” and is referred to as the eighth sensory system. It is the sense that tells us what is happening [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Dyspraxia ( Developmental Co-ordination Disorder) in Children
Remember back in school when there was always that ‘clumsy’ kid, who would easily trip over things, bump into people, was never the best at sport, and appeared [..]
Read moreSpeech Pathology
What does a paediatric speech pathologist assess and treat?
Guest blog written by Lauren Reinhardt, Director and Speech Pathologist for North Shore Speech Therapy Have you ever wondered what a Speech Pathologist actually [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
What is Sensory Processing Disorder?
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a complex disorder of the brain that affects both children and adults. People with Sensory Processing Disorder are not able to [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Life as an OT student
The in’s and out’s of study, placement, and juggling life commitments as an OT student Written by Merinda Griffith Occupational Therapy, What is it and what [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Hypermobility in Children
So you think your child is hypermobile? Guest blog written by Cathy Molloy, Physiotherapist for Just for Kids Physio Hypermobility refers to the ability of a joint [..]
Read moreAutism
What does ASPERGER SYNDROME really mean?
We’ve all heard the term Asperger Syndrome, but what does it really mean?! The term was initially derived by Austrian Paediatrician Hans Asperger in the 1940s. To [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
The Whole-Brain Child | Book Review
‘The Whole-Brain Child’ by Daniel J. Siegel and Tina Payne Bryson gives you a deeper understanding of the neuroscience of a child’s brain. The book provides [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Occupational Therapy – What to Expect from a Kid’s OT Service
1. Initial Phone Call When you phone an Occupational Therapy practice for children, the person on the end of the line should be engaging and generally interested in [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Sydney’s New Inclusive Play Spaces
Time for an adventure: a new park that is inclusive of all children! “You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Sporting Activities: Our Top OT Recommendations
Moving from the therapy environment to community activities Occupational Therapy is a client-centred health profession concerned with promoting the health and [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Top Summer Fun Activities
Holiday fun activities with an OT Perspective! Well done for making it through the last term of the year – it’s holiday time! The Aussie summer break is an [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Top Tips for Developing Resilience in Your Child
If your child struggles when things don’t go their way or if they encounter change or something unfamiliar, developing resilience skills may help them to cope [..]
Read moreADHD and Executive Functioning
How Can Occupational Therapy Help Kids with ADHD?
If your child has ADHD, Occupational Therapy sessions can be really beneficial to their development. Read on to find out how we can help your child. At Occupational [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Using Creativity to Develop Kids’ Fine Motor Skills
Fun at-home craft can be great for developing your child’s fine motor skills as well as their creativity and imagination. Here, we’ve shared how you can [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Learning Self-Regulation with The Zones of Regulation®
If your child struggles with emotional regulation, the Zones of Regulation® can be a great tool to help them. Our team recently had the opportunity to learn from [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Top Online Typing Programmes to Help Your Child Learn to Type
Learning to type is a skill children increasingly need in our tech-reliant world. So learning to type — and learning it correctly! — is important to help set [..]
Read moreADHD and Executive Functioning
How Occupational Therapy Can Help Your Child’s Executive Functioning
Learn about how your child could be struggling with their executive functioning and how Occupational Therapy can help them. Think about an executive of a company: [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Sensory Processing: Our Learning Journey at the STAR Institute
Our Founder and Director, Lisa Hughes, recently went to the STAR Institute for Sensory Processing Disorder in the US, where she participated in an intensive [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
The Secret to Helping Your Child with Sensory Processing Disorder
Helping your Child with Sensory Processing Disorders… it’s no longer a secret! Occupational Therapy Helping Children’s Founder and Director, Lisa Hughes, [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
How to Raise an Emotionally Health Child
How does your child know how they are feeling when they are playing with peers, with family or by themselves? As humans, we experience a huge range of emotions: [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Improving Your Child’s Letter Formations
It’s such an exciting moment when you can see your little one first starting to write their name for the first time! And to see all their (and your) hard work [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Improving Your Child’s Pencil Grip
As occupational therapists, teachers and parents often approach us about their children’s awkward pencil grasp. Left unaddressed, pencil grip problems can end up [..]
Read moreNutrition
The Essential Nutrient for Your Child’s Brain
Nutritionist, Amanda Ford, explains Omega-3’s key role in your child’s development and health. If you’ve ever wondered how you can support your child’s [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
What Exactly is ‘Sensory Processing’?
Have you heard the term ‘sensory processing’, but aren’t too sure what it really means? Don’t worry — you’re far from alone. So today we’re sharing [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
The Top 10 Books on Sensory Processing
Does your child have a sensory processing disorder and do you or your child’s teacher want to better understand how to help them? Occupational Therapy Helping [..]
Read moreNutrition
How To Survive The Winter Flu Season
Nutritionist Amanda Ford from Zest+Zing shares her top tips for helping your family avoid colds and the flu this winter. With the cold and flu season in full swing, [..]
Read moreSchool
Developmental Milestones Before Starting School
Is your child four or five years old and starting school next year? Transitioning from preschool to ‘big school’ is an exciting time — and a very big step [..]
Read moreMotor Development
How to Tell if my Kindy child is meeting developmental milestones?
What skills are children developing in Kindergarten? There’s a lot more happening than may meet the eye… So, your little one has started Kindergarten, [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Understanding Your Child’s Development
We’ve unpacked the foundations of child development and shared our tips for how you can manage and assist your child’s development. As parents and caregivers, [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Helping Manage Your Child’s Behaviour
Our Director and Senior Clinician, Lisa Hughes, has reviewed ‘The Bonsai Child’ by Judith Locke and shares her learnings about how to help our children develop [..]
Read moreNutrition
5 Healthy Back to School Snacks
Nutritionist Amanda Ford from Zest+Zing shares her top tips for making your kids’ lunchboxes healthy and tasty (including an easy recipe!). Preparing healthy [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
How to Handle the Holidays
Does your child sometimes find it hard to cope during the holidays? In this blog post we share our tips to help make the holidays easier and less stressful for you [..]
Read moreSchool
Should my child repeat next year?
There are lots of different opinions when it comes to repeating a year at school. Here, we share our insights from the latest research and our perspective as [..]
Read moreGroup Programs
Six Surprising Benefits of Holiday Groups
Occupational Therapy Helping Children’s Director and Senior Clinician, Lisa Hughes, shares some of the key benefits of group programmes she’s observed during [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Does My Child Need Help with their Social Skills?
Social awareness and interaction is an increasingly common area we, as Occupational Therapists, are helping children with. And it’s not just for children on the [..]
Read moreSchool
How can I help my child survive Term Four?
Occupational Therapy Helping Children’s founder and director, Lisa Hughes, shares her top tips to help your child finish the school year on a high. It’s [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Anxiety in Children
Everybody can feel worried or stressed at various stages. However, how do you know when simple worries or stresses are becoming too much? And how can you recognise [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Fine Motor Skills Explained
What are fine motor skills? You may have heard your occupational therapist, and sometimes teachers, use words such as fine motor strength, and dexterity when [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
Building Skills for Positive Eating & The SOS Approach to Feeding
Does your child struggle to tolerate a wide range of foods, despite trying every trick in the book? Or are you starting a little one on solids and want to know [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
How to Help Your Fussy Eater
Occupational Therapy Helping Children’s Founder and Senior Clinician, Lisa Hughes, shares how to help your picky eater develop their feeding skills. Often as [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Yoga and Occupational Therapy
There is a natural connection between Occupational Therapy (OT) and yoga. They both accentuate the importance of mind, body and spirit. There are numerous benefits [..]
Read moreMotor Development
Importance of core strength in children
Just as a tree needs a strong trunk to be able to hold its branches up, and withstand elements in its environment, a child requires a strong core to participate in [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
The Vestibular System
The vestibular system is a structure that is housed in the inner ear, very close to the auditory system. It is the sensory system that provides our brains with [..]
Read moreSocial and Emotional Skills
Developing Skills and Strategies for Emotional Regulation in children
Emotional regulation refers to an individual’s ability to recognise, process and act upon the emotions that they feel within different situations. Our capability [..]
Read moreHandwriting
HSC Special Provisions: How does it work?
If your child is in year 11 or 12 this year, chances are you may have heard the words “Special Provisions” floating around. But what does this mean for your [..]
Read moreMotor Development
W Sitting
“W” sitting describes the position of a child when sitting on the floor knees together and feet pointing outwards. Why do children W sit…? Children W sit [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
Sports-based programs catering to Kids with additional needs!
We all know that sports can have a positive effect on children, from learning about leadership, teamwork skills and all the physical benefits. But what if your [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
A Day in the Life of a Paediatric O.T.
For most, when they visit an OT, they see the fun and excitement that happens within a session. Maybe its messy play, building with giant cushions, playing board [..]
Read moreSensory Processing
The Adaptable Brain
Child Neuroplasticity – An Overview We are always evolving, learning and changing, as children and as adults. Our brains, especially, are always adapting by what [..]
Read moreActivities for Home & in the Community
The Importance of Park Play
What are the benefits of taking your child to the park? The big, bright red apple…spinning, spinning, spinning, that’s the memory I remember most about [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Ten Quick Tips for Improving Handwriting
Ten Quick Tips for Improving [..]
Read moreSchool
How to Help Your Child Start the New School Year on a Positive Note
Portrait of young businessman with toy paper wings. Success, creative and startup concept. It’s not long now until children in Australia return to school. For [..]
Read moreOccupational Therapy Insights
Does Your Child Need Occupational Therapy?
How do you know if your child needs Occupational Therapy?
These are some of the red flags to look out for: -
· Does your child have difficulty hopping, [..]
Read moreHandwriting
The Importance of Good Sitting Posture for Handwriting
Maintaining good posture ensures your body is in good alignment and that stress on your muscles, joints and ligaments are distributed evenly across your body. Poor [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Extremely Useful iPad Apps for Letter Formation
Is your child beginning to learn how to draw their prewriting shapes or developing their letter and number formations? If so, there are some great iPad apps that [..]
Read moreHandwriting
Helping your left handed child written by a left handed OT
August 13th is international left handers day, the one day of the year that all left handers can celebrate. What do we know about being left handed? Left handers [..]
Read moreSchool
Part 2 – School Readiness – Is My Child Ready to Start School
Part 2 - School Readiness. Is your child ready to start [..]
Read moreSchool
Part 1 – School Readiness – Is My Child Ready to Start School
Welcome to part 1 of our blogpost, All Things School Readiness! It’s that time of the year where Occupational Therapist’s start receiving lots of [..]
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