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 ability to recognize and manage their emotions that it can easily become incredibly confusing and complex to understand. In this post, we explore the components of self-regulation and […]
READ MOREParenting 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 help them. It is a natural parental instinct to want to protect your child from any negative emotions or experiences however, there […]
READ MOREThe 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 relaxation, a sense of calm and focus on the present. Often promoted as a strategy for self-regulation during moments of heightened emotion such as anger or […]
READ MORESiblings 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 express a range of emotions, specifically those of love, frustration, loyalty, and jealousy. We gain companionship and support through these relationships and the ability to resolve troubling situations. It’s here where we […]
READ MOREHow 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, developing new skills and overall reducing the dependence on parents/caretakers. If you’d like to know more about why a visual schedule may be helpful for your child, take […]
READ MOREBuilding 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 Therapy world as “social competence and emotional regulation”. Why Is Resilience Important? Children who have happy and fulfilling lives have positive life skills that help them grow through life’s challenges […]
READ MOREImportance 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 our to-do list has on it each day? This could lead to feelings of anxiety and uncertainty, therefore affecting the way in which we […]
READ MOREStrategies 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 all experiencing heightened emotions with the uncertainty of what the “new normal” is going to be like. Occupational Therapy can provide parents with simple strategies and […]
READ MOREThe 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 readers with practical strategies that can be used with children of all ages. One of the key strengths of the book is that it shows that a child’s brain […]
READ MORETop 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 more easily. As parents, it’s perfectly natural for us to want to protect our children and keep them safe, but at times we take this need to protect too […]
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