Category Archive

Proprioception is the sense that provides awareness of our body’s position in space. Our body processes this information by receiving input through our joints and muscles. Proprioceptive input also allows us to know the amount of force required of our muscles to complete everyday tasks.  Signs of difficulty with proprioceptive processing: Overstuffing their mouth when feeding Pushing their writing utensils …

You’ll hear doctors and therapists say time and time again that tummy time is very important for babies as soon as they get home from the hospital, and it’s true! But what is tummy time and why is it important? What is tummy time? Tummy time is when your baby is positioned in the prone position, meaning on a baby’s …

It can be overwhelming for parents to know which toys are the best to keep their child entertained and motivated when stores have so many options to choose from. Magazines and displays tend to have the extravagant latest battery operated toys. However, these may not always be the best for your child’s developmental growth. Listed are some toys that are …

Individuals struggling with sensory processing disorder (SPD), a neurological disorder that affects the proper processing of environmental stimuli, have trouble functioning when presented with seemingly benign daily interactions with his/her surrounding environment. For example, typically normal occurrences, such as a loud car horn or blinking streetlight may not be processed accurately, or elicit an unusual reaction by a person with …

It can be overwhelming for parents to know which toys are the best to keep their child entertained and motivated when stores have so many options to choose from. Magazines and displays tend to have the extravagant latest battery operated toys. However, these may not always be the best for your child’s developmental growth. Listed are some toys that are …

Home-based pediatric occupational therapy is when the therapist provides services in the comfort of the families own home. Having a familiar environment to work in can be beneficial for you as a parent, as well as the child. What can be better than someone coming to your house to play with your child every week with a bunch of toys? …

Some children who are referred for speech/language services also have co-existing disorders and symptoms that cross a wide variety of developmental areas. For example, a child who is diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder will most likely have sensory processing difficulties, as well as communication difficulties. Articulation disorders may also be linked to fine motor skills since both target the coordination …

What is it? W-sitting is when a child sits on their bottom with bent knees and their feet are resting on either side of their body. It is called ‘W-sitting’ because from a bird’s eye view, the child’s legs form a “W.”  Why do children prefer this position? This position provides a wider base of support and increased stability to …

Exercise balls are a great tool that are used by occupational therapists and can be a great item to have at home to work on a variety of skills such as core strength, postural stability, vestibular processing, and regulation. Exercise balls are available for purchase at a variety of places such as sporting goods stores and online. They come in …

Occupational therapists use swings in therapy for a variety of reasons such as strength, balance, and coordination. Swings are also a great tool to address sensory processing as swings provide vestibular (movement) input and some swings also provide proprioceptive (deep pressure) input. Occupational therapists use different types of swings according to what they are targeting in therapy. How are these …