It’s a familiar scene: your child is playing happily one minute, and the next, they are on the floor in a full-blown meltdown. They’re screaming, throwing things, and completely inconsolable. You offer a snack, and it’s slapped away. Yet, ten minutes later, after you’ve managed to get some food into them, they are a completely … Read more
Why Your Child Crashes Into Walls: The Proprioception Connection It’s 7 PM. You are trying to wind down for the day, but your living room looks like a wrestling match. Your child isn’t just playing; they are launching themselves off the sofa, body-slamming into the cushions, tackling their siblings with surprising force, or seemingly “accidentally” … Read more
Why some children seem to know exactly where they are while others bump into everything – and what we can do about it You know that child in your setting – the one who seems to have no idea how much space their body takes up? They bump into furniture, knock things over, and seem … Read more
Is Their Sock Seam the Villain of Every Morning? 7 Sensory Signs Your Child Might Be Struggling (And How to Gently Help at Home) Parenting is a grand adventure, isn’t it? One minute you’re celebrating a milestone, the next you’re utterly bewildered by why a perfectly good plate of fish fingers has been declared an … Read more
10 Amazing Ways Trampolines Are Secretly Educational Superpowers (Yes, Really!) Who knew that thing gathering dust in your garden could be your child’s secret weapon for learning? Let’s be honest – when you think “educational tools,” trampolines probably don’t spring to mind. You’re more likely picturing textbooks, tablets, or maybe that expensive STEM kit that’s … Read more
9 Simple Ways to Adapt Your Home for Sensory Success Home should be a sanctuary, a place of comfort and calm where everyone feels safe and understood. But for a child with sensory processing differences, even the most loving home can sometimes feel like a bewildering obstacle course or a cacophony of overwhelming sensations. The … Read more
Effective Communication Strategies for Noisy Classrooms: A Guide for Teachers and Students with Sensory Processing Needs Schools are naturally noisy places. From bustling hallways to chattering cafeterias, classroom noise can make learning challenging for everyone, but especially for students with sensory processing disorder (SPD) and other sensory sensitivities. This comprehensive guide provides practical communication strategies … Read more
Early Intervention OT and Developmental Delays: Helping Kids Build Essential Skills Early intervention occupational therapy (OT) can be a game changer for children with developmental delays. When children struggle with everyday tasks like eating, dressing, or playing, OT offers targeted help that builds their ability to take care of themselves and participate in daily activities. … Read more
Sensory Overload in the Classroom: Free Sensory Friendly Classroom Rating Tool Classrooms are busy, noisy, and full of sensory input. For many children, this environment is manageable. But for pupils with sensory processing difficulties, it can be overwhelming. When a child experiences sensory overload, they may react in ways that seem defiant, withdrawn, or unpredictable. … Read more
How Do Sound-Based Therapy Tools Enhance Auditory Skills in Children? Sound-based therapy tools have revolutionized how children with auditory processing challenges develop essential listening skills. These specialized interventions use electronically modified music and precise auditory stimulation to target specific areas of the nervous system that support listening abilities. Sound-based therapies improve children’s auditory processing by … Read more
How Can You Use Audio Books to Help Children With Auditory Processing Disorder? Children with Auditory Processing Disorder (APD) often struggle to interpret and process sounds, making learning through traditional methods challenging. Audiobooks offer a valuable tool for these children, helping them strengthen their listening skills while engaging with rich content. Audiobooks expose children to … Read more
Free Sensory Profile Generator (With Strategy Suggestions) The Sensory Profile Tool is designed to help parents, caregivers, and teaching staff better understand and support children with sensory processing differences. This easy-to-use resource provides tailored strategies based on the child’s sensory preferences and needs, making it accessible even for those without specialist training. After completing the … Read more
Overcoming Sensory Processing Challenges Everyday When Sarah walks into a crowded mall, her heart begins to race. The flickering fluorescent lights overhead, the cacophony of conversations, and the mixture of perfumes from passing shoppers create an overwhelming assault on her senses. This is sensory overload – a phenomenon where the brain struggles to process multiple … Read more
Visual Processing in the Classroom Classrooms are often visually stimulating environments, intended to engage students and create a positive learning atmosphere. However, for some autistic students, these environments can be overwhelming and pose challenges to their learning. This blog post focuses on the visual processing differences experienced by autistic many students and offers strategies for … Read more
Transforming Therapy Provision for Autistic Students in Special Schools I have worked in education with a specialism on Autistic students for 17 years, In schools with brilliant resources and those with more limited budgets. Therapy provision goes beyond mere compliance with legislation; it’s about fundamentally transforming lives. The challenges of delivering effective therapy in special … Read more
Vestibular Stimming: Self-Regulation and More Vestibular stimming, also known as vestibular self-stimulatory behaviour, is a type of repetitive movement that provides sensory input to the vestibular system, which is responsible for our sense of balance and spatial orientation. Many individuals, particularly those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or sensory processing … Read more
Proprioception vs Vestibular What are the Differences? Proprioception and vestibular senses are both crucial components of our body’s sensory system, but they serve distinct functions: Proprioception: Vestibular Sense: Key Differences: Understanding the differences and interplay between these senses is crucial in fields such as physical therapy, sports training, and treatment of balance disorders. Exploring the … Read more
Simple Sensory Activities for Autistic Teenagers at Home What Are Sensory Activities? Sensory activities engage the senses, including sight, hearing, touch, taste, smell, motion, and balance. These activities can vary from simple exercises like listening to soothing music to more complex setups like sensory circuits. They are beneficial for autistic teenagers as they aid sensory … Read more
Helping Your Autistic Child with Nail Cutting: Strategies and Tips Why Nail Cutting Can Be Difficult Nail cutting can be a challenging experience for many children, especially autistic (ASD) children and those with sensory processing disorders (SPD). Sensory sensitivities, fear of clippers, and discomfort can make this seemingly simple task overwhelming. This is especially true … Read more
Sensory Processing Disorder Links to Childhood Behaviour As behaviour lead one of the most frequent questions that I often get asked is: “How does sensory input impact behaviour?” To answer this question I need the support of Sensory OTs and assessment tools. To support the child we need to delve into the intricacies of sensory … Read more
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