As a pediatric occupational therapist, I have countless experiences working with children and educating parents about emotional regulation and calming strategies. Children often communicate through behaviors when they are young and don't have the words to express how they are feeling. When these emotions are more extreme or problematic, they show up in a way often described as the Fight,...
Most people are familiar with the five basic senses of touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight. In therapy, parents typically learn about the vestibular and proprioception senses, which respectively relate to understanding movement in space and the feeling within joints. Now, more and more therapists are introducing interoception as the eighth sense. You may be asking yourself what it is...
Executive function is a set of skills which includes flexible thinking, working memory, and self-control. These skills are used to complete the daily tasks needed to manage life. Difficulty with executive function can cause children to struggle with following directions, focus, and handling emotions. Imagine the steps it takes to get ready for an activity, participate in it, and clean...
Like many adults, children are not always aware when they are suffering from anxiety. They often do not have the maturity or understanding to express why they feel anxious or fearful in situations. This can lead to stressful situations for not only the child but to a parent as well. As an occupational therapist with close to 20 years of...
It’s summer, and it’s no big surprise that tempers can rise just as easily as the temperature when children are hot, tired, and exhausted from the heat. Parents can find themselves in situations when they feel their blood boiling as well. So it helps to be mentally prepared for those special moments when your child tests your tolerance. As a...