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25.01.2022 Maybe a Sensory Profile assessment may be helpful to look into these issues further and to start implementing strategies sooner rather than later

22.01.2022 I don’t know about you, but just looking at these photos makes me sleepy , and also happy. Let’s face it, a tired baby/toddler is no fun. What I have found challenging, is when children go through sleep regressions. Just when you think you have it down pat, they refuse sleep again Lately, it has been the getting to sleep part that has been challenging, rather than the staying asleep. Yes, sometimes it is just a phase, but there are things you can implement to help se...ttle for bedtime, and for everyone to avoid emotional bedtimes. What are these things? 1) Create a predictable bedtime routine. Our includes - dinner, bath, wind down, read a book, lie with child for a few minutes, say goodnight, and walk out. He knows what to expect now at night times and there are no surprises. This might not be everyone’s method, and that’s ok! Which ever way you choose, try to keep it consistent. 2) Choose a reasonable bed time. If you anticipate baby to be asleep by 7pm, plan the bedtime routine at least an hour before. 3) Appropriate day naps will set baby up better for night time sleeps. If they sleep too much, or not enough, baby may be over or under tired in preparation for bed time. 4) Utilise the car or long walks in the pram to initiate the sleep process, and then transfer into bed where possible. 5) Set up the environment. Play some white noise, have a cuddly toy ready, dark relaxed room. Sleep deprivation can be SO tough. Sometimes it can feel like you’ve tried everything and it’s still not working. Hang in there. It will get better! #occupationaltherapy #sleep #mumot #theotguru #tips #occupation #sensoryprocessing #sleepdeprived

20.01.2022 {SHAVING CREAM}!! The one thing most people will have in their homes that can entertain a little one for a long time. Not only can this activity bring joy (as Harvey is clearly experiencing in these photos!), it also provides many sensory benefits. Harvey initiated drawing on the glass of the shower, which I found in washed off easily enough phew. The shower smelt pretty good afterwards and then Harvey ran around in his nappy for about 30mins Stuck on an activity to tr...y today? Give this a go!!! #sensoryprocessing #sensoryfun #play #children #occupationaltherapy #otmum #theotguru #harvey #assessment

20.01.2022 Check out my blog! If you want to learn more about sensory processing, what to look out for, and when to seek help - follow this link https://www.parentlikeyou.com.au//what-is-sensory-processi. Thanks Kirsty from @parentlikeyou for the share #sensoryprocessing #occupationaltherapy #theotguru #play #sensory #blog #educational #7senses #expert

19.01.2022 Anyone else’s bub completely obsessed with chalk at the moment? At Harvey’s age, hand dominance may not be established yet, however, he definitely has a preference. I made sure to buy small and large chalks to help with his grip and fine motor skills. Also, by only providing one chalk at a time, rather than one in each hand, he is able to practice crossing the midline (drawing from left to right). ... Some handy tips to keep in mind when engaging in this activity with your little one. #theotguru #occupationaltherapy #ot #sensoryprocessing #otmum #chalk #art #baby #playbasedlearning

18.01.2022 I’m sure we have all been there... Spent hours cooking a lovely meal for your toddler, just to have them completely reject it. THEN it crosses your mind - is my child going to have to go to bed hungry?! Am I a bad parent?! Why is my child so picky?! So... you end up offering an alternative and they happily eat it (often something less healthy). As you can see in the above pictures, Harvey did not want to try a bite of his food that I made, but would happily eat a blueberry m...uffin. I get it. Sometimes you pick your battles. Here are some tips on how you can TRY and better manage meal times to make it as least stressful as possible for everyone. Note: some things may work for your child, some may not. Feel free to share your mealtime tips below in the comments. -Where possible, involve your child in the meal prep process -Eat mealtimes together as a family -Provide stable seating where feet are firmly on a flat service -Offer foods separately on different plates or divided. Let the child guide what they do/don’t want to eat -Create a calm atmosphere -Avoid forcing food into child’s mouth -If completely reluctant to try, take a break and try again in half an hour. Remember, a child will never starve themselves. If they are hungry enough they will eat!!! -Even if they don’t eat a certain food, don’t give up offering it. It can take up to 15 times of exposure before a child decides if they like it or not -Present the food in a exciting way (silly faces, shapes, sizes) Any tips for fellow mums to tackle stressful meal times?!

18.01.2022 This sounds just WAY too familiar... @psychedmommy could not have said it any better! No doubt that being a mum can be rewarding, fun, and downright amazing! But it can also be challenging, tiring, and HARD work. It’s important to consider our own sensory needs as parents as well and practice some good old fashioned SELF CARE

13.01.2022 Today’s task - being a little helper and helping mum with chores. One being to feed the dog This ended up being a big game for Harvey who used the scoop to play with the food and his cars. Cooper (the dog) loved it even more!! Sometimes I find there’s no use buying expensive toys when children can be entertained by the small things in life. Be warned, lots of boundaries had to be set to avoid eating and throwing the food, but we got there in the end ... #theotguru #sensoryprocessing #occupationaltherapy #playbasedtherapy #occupation #ot #otmum

10.01.2022 Artists hard at work The combination of paint, water, and fresh air creates the perfect opportunity to explore an array of sensory experiences, as well as refining the fine motor skills. The pure concentration on their faces are priceless!!! ... Place the items in front of your little one and observe their actions. Are they hesitant/cautious? Or confident and exploratory? There’s no right or wrong reaction, but does provide us with more information regarding their sensory processing. #sensoryprocessing #play #paint #activities #ot #occupation #theotguru #otmum #therapy #assessment

10.01.2022 Love painting together. Saturday’s are usually family days. Forget about the washing, dirty dishes, and messy toys and spend quality time For some people the bond might not come naturally, but when we allow opportunities for 1:1 time, we might find that the bond grows

08.01.2022 Nothing like a bit of fresh air and good company With the weather warming up a little (yay Spring!), I’ve made sure to utilise the outdoor space and set it up in a way that’s conducive of independent play. Harvey and his friend entertained each other for several minutes by pouring the water into each others’ jugs and splashing around.... This was a great opportunity for us to sit back and watch them problem solve and further develop their social skills. Do you ever get frustrated when your little one doesn’t seem to share nicely with others? Fun fact, children won’t have the emotional maturity to understand the concept of turn taking and sharing until approximately the age of three. So stay patient and be sure to praise positive behaviour. Happy Wednesday! #occupationaltherapy #sensoryprocessing #ot #theotguru #play #activities #socialskills #occupation #otmum

08.01.2022 {Water Play} 1) Grab a bunch of random items 2) Throw it into a tub full of water 3) Let them explore and go crazy!! ... To provide the ultimate sensory experience, use a variety of textures, colours, temperatures, shapes, and sizes #theotguru #sensoryprocessing #play #ot #occupation #occupationaltherapy #otmum #waterplay

08.01.2022 Almost five months now, and have mastered rolling onto her belly. Her tolerance for tummy time is slowly growing, as well as her neck strength. When they’re on their bellies, do you ever wonder what now?! It doesn’t take long for them to get squirmy and sometimes whingy when in this position for too long. Once on their tummy you can: -Place colourful toys within arms reach around baby... -Lie down on floor with baby to match at eye level -Roll baby onto their back if becoming frustrated. It’s better to do multiple short intervals of tummy time, rather than one long one -Blow bubbles so that they drift past their face. This will encourage baby to look left and right, up and down Keep up the good work mummas! #theotguru #occupationaltherapy #otmum #sensoryprocessing #occupation #play #tummytime #paediatricoccupationaltherapy

07.01.2022 Let’s talk tummy time I’ll be honest, this one has been a bit of a struggle for Lara and I. Firstly, she doesn’t seem to enjoy it at all. Secondly, I find myself running after my busy toddler and she’s often found lying on her back in a safe space. I’m starting to notice a slight flat spot forming on the left side of her head, as she seems to prefer lying on that side.... Hot tips: -Tummy time can commence as soon as baby is home. It helps with muscle development. If baby becomes visibly distressed, roll onto back by supporting the hips (rather than arms) -Graded exposure. If lying flat on the ground is too challenging, lie on tummy, slightly elevated on a pillow -Turn baby’s head to opposite side of flat spot when sleeping. Focus toys on non-preferred side when awake -Place baby on tummy for a few minutes on the change table after changing nappies to fit in a little extra time -Lie on the ground with baby and enjoy every moment... they’re only that little for a small amount of time #theotguru #occupationaltherapy #ot #tummytime #childdevelopment #play #fun #sensoryprocessing

05.01.2022 ARE YOU OK? A question I find is not asked enough. What does it really mean to be OK anyway?! Some days you might feel that you have it all together, then the next day feel like you are struggling to keep your head above water. Everyone has different stressors in their lives, along with certain coping mechanisms to help them deal with these. ... If we think about ourselves using the bucket analogy, we may find that lots of external stimuli fill our buckets and can cause us to over flow. What techniques can we use to empty our buckets from the negative and unwanted stress? People cope with stress in different ways. Here are some ways I can think of that are worth trying: -Take a walk outside and get some fresh air -Deep breaths using the diaphragm -Listening to calming music -Practicing meditation -Reach out for support Are you ok? Remember, you are not alone. Lifeline: 13 11 14 Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 Black Dog Institute

03.01.2022 Many mums find that they don’t know how to play with their baby or stimulate them appropriately to promote engagement, but not overstimulation. It can be tricky, because most of the time (when they are really little), they can’t provide much feedback and mostly sleep, feed, or stare at you But there are things you can do during their awake windows to activate their brain and body. You could try: -Going for a walk outside... -Tummy time on a play mat -Singing nursery rhymes -Reading books and pointing to the pictures -Finger and foot painting -Water play -Baby massage These are just a few ideas that come to mind. Do you have any more you could add to this list? #theotguru #occupationaltherapy #sensoryprocessing #playbasedtherapy #otmum #paediatricoccupationaltherapy

03.01.2022 Check this out! So important to have feet resting on a surface

01.01.2022 This is a common thing that parents often complain about. Why does my child not listen?, or Why do I need to repeat myself 10000x times?!. When looking at the sensory system, people may have different strengths in terms of how they process information. Is your child a visual learner? ... Is you child an auditory learner? Is your child a reading/writing learner? Is your child a kinesthetic learner? Maybe if the information is presented to your child in a different manner, that suits their learning style, they would be more likely to process the information and follow through with requests! Message me if you had any questions