As the season of winter is vastly approaching, snow is (potentially) in the air! While we may want to stay indoors when it is snowing, playing in the snow actually has many benefits to a child’s development (once bundled up, of course!). Playing, moving around, building and creating in the snow provides opportunities for gross and fine motor skill development, coordination, body awareness, problem-solving, and even social skills. Not to mention an overall great activity to provide sensory input. Here are a few benefits and ideas for when that first snowfall of the year comes: Shoveling Snow K ..read more

The leaves have begun to fall and it’s time to dig out the long sleeves, pants and jackets.  For a kid who struggles with sensory processing, especially tactile defensiveness, this time of year may cause increased stress and anxiety.  For a child on the Autism spectrum or with other tactile difficulties, tags, textures and seams may cause complete meltdown. Luckily many clothing brands have recognized this difficulty and have attempted to ease the transition between seasons.    First rule; know your child’s preference.  Some kids do better with looser clothes and ..read more

Halloween can be a very overstimulating for kids especially finding a comfortable costume to loud and crowded places. Here are some tips on different ways to prevent meltdowns during this fun and exciting time of year. Here are some strategies to help your child pick a costume. Costume suggestions for kids who have… Unexpected mishaps – have an old back up costume in case of an unexpected mishap or even creating their own outfit from clothing they already own, this way they can still participate Sensory aversion tendencies – order the costume early enough to be able to assess how your chi ..read more

Visual Perception Explained Many of us might have a sense of what visual perception is, but what does it really encompass? Visual perceptual skills refer to how individuals interpret the information that they see every day. If your child receives occupational therapy services, they may be working towards a goal that targets visual perception. Good visual perception is required to help kids do well with school tasks such as reading, writing, and math, and to help them complete everyday activities. In the world of visual perception, there are a variety of different skills. Below are the definiti ..read more

What is Heavy Work? Heavy work, or proprioceptive input, helps to provide the muscles and joints with calming and organizing deep touch pressure. This input can also help to encourage body awareness by allowing for input that helps you to identify where your body is in space. Summer is a time for relaxation, fun, and adventure! No matter where you are or what summer adventures you choose to explore, having activities to encourage heavy work is important to have on hand! One of summer’s greatest adventures is going to the beach! We are so lucky on Long Island to have access to beautiful and fun ..read more

Benefits of Crawling Why is crawling so important? Crawling is an important part of development. Literature indicates there is a strong link between movement, the brain, and learning (Krog, 2015). As a baby begins to move around their environment, they are increasing their awareness of their surroundings, fostering their sensory-motor development as they begin to touch, explore, and see new experiences. Crawling also provides a strong foundation for the development of higher-level motor skills. Here are the many benefits of why: Crawling helps a baby develop strength and stability. A stable c ..read more

For some parents bathtime can be a fun and/or relaxing experience. For others, bathtime can be quite challenging. It often causes a negative reaction in children with sensory processing difficulties. Some things that might trigger a negative reaction in kids include: the sound of running water, water temperature, bathroom lights, the smell of soap or shampoos, fear of getting soap in the eyes, the feeling of being wet after washing, and the feeling of being towel dried. The best way to make bath time more enjoyable is to limit fears and incorporate some of your child’s favorite activities and ..read more

As summer approaches planning family trips, whether it’s a road trip to the Poconos or a plane ride to Disneyland, always guarantees a fun summer full of amazing memories. Sometimes traveling to our destination takes a long time, making it difficult for kids to get their needs met while in a confined space for a long period of time. This can result in sensory overload or a lack of sensory input and lead to meltdowns. Below is a list of ideas you can use to provide your child with adequate sensory input in order to limit meltdowns and make more family memories. Planning a long road trip or plan ..read more

Summer is here, and it brings a world of opportunities for children with sensory processing differences to thrive through fun outdoor activities. This post is your guide to practical advice and exciting sensory activities that can be enjoyed during the sunny summer months. These strategies are inspired by the principles of Ayres Sensory Integration, a therapy approach designed to support children with sensory processing differences. Understanding Jean Ayres Sensory Integration: ASI is a therapeutic framework built on the understanding that our brain receives, sorts, processes, and uses sensory ..read more

We are all familiar with the senses of touch, taste, smell, but you’ve likely never heard of our 8th sense: Interoception. Interoception is our 8th sense which allows the body to send signals to the brain in order for us to be aware of our bodily cues. These signals allow us to recognize internal physical and emotional states such as: feeling hungry, tired, cold, full, pain and SO MUCH MORE! Every individual experiences interoceptive cues differently, and each child uniquely recognizes internal physical and emotional states. Therefore, experiencing challenges with interoception can present dif ..read more