Burn out is real! It is often joked about as a "midlife crisis" but I have heard from new therapists that even after a year of working, they can feel burn out. The barriers to doing our jobs are real.  Child and parent disengagement. Feeling undervalued or de-valued. Service delivery challenges - high caseload numbers, changing systems, lack of funds, high KPIs (key performance indicators). Emotional Exhaustion. De-personalization of services.  More and more therapists are considering career changes.  In my study of the literature about the "Therapeutic Use of Self", I fo ..read more

Lego masters. Metal shop masters. Domino masters.  The Big Flower Fight. Masterchef. I have a confession to make. I'm addicted to reality television "making" shows.  Don't get me wrong, I love creating things myself but there is something about seeing others respond to crazy challenges that makes me smile.  Over the years, I've also seen children respond to "challenges" set for them.  They may not use as much engineering as the shows I've mentioned, however it has the same drive behind it.  Do something within restrictions given; challenge your problem solving and ..read more

I am brave! ​I am unique! I am kind! I am loved! I matter! Positive affirmations are not just "lovely sayings" or "rheteric". The research tells us that positive or self affirmations can help to reduce stress and to improve well being. They can help a person to reflect on self worth and reduce the affect of negative emotions, reduce reactivity to potential threats and improve relationship outcomes. MRI evidence suggest that certain neural pathways are increased when people practice self-affirmation tasks.  I can do hard things! I can learn from my mistakes! I can make mistakes (and th ..read more

There has been a lot said about what makes a "good toy".  Something fun?  Something educational? Something to promote skills? Something interactive?  I will let you in on a not-so-secret thought... the best toy is not something but someone.  Children seek relationship.  They are born with a need for attachment.  In the early years of child development, the most valuable "toy" is the ability to interact with you as a parent.  As therapists we can see the attachment children form with us too.  In interacting with your children, you can become attune ..read more

Happy Birthday to me! Your Kids OT is celebrating it's 10th Birthday! Hip hip Hooray for 10 years! As I look back on the last 10 years there are so many reflections that I want to make.  The first blog article was written was published on January 31st, 2014.  I was so nervous hitting the first "publish" button (even though I don't know how many other people outside my friends and family read it)! When I read back on the first blog (you can find it HERE), I outline the goals of the blog and why I wanted to start it! I think that I've pretty much achieved what I set out to achieve ..read more

The very beginning is a very good place to start. A new year seems the appropriate time to go to the "fundamentals". A parent of a potential client contacted me recently asking about occupational therapy services.  Whilst I think there is an increasing awareness about occupational therapy in the community, what we do, how we can work with children... this family were not sure.  They asked me if I provided speech services... which inadvertently told me that they really didn't understand what occupational therapy was all about.  We use a lot of "jargon" in occupational therapy ..read more

 Christmas is almost here! Whether you celebrate Christmas or not, I don't think you can help (at least in Sydney, Australia) sense the mood and frenzy associated with Christmas.  The shops are buzzing, school children are beginning their holidays, roads are busier and perhaps a few tempers are rising.  This can be a difficult time of the year for some families.  There are expectations. There is grief.  There is also sillines and craziness in hyperdrive for others.   I've put together a few tips to help us all (regardless if you have a child with a disabi ..read more

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year! This year I have collated a collection of previous printables that I have released over the years together with some new colouring pages in one huge pack! There are over 35 pages of activities from visual motor, handwriting, colouring, craft and more!  You can download this printable pack HERE. Christmas Printable Pack I am always looking for simple achieveable activities to incorporate into OT sessions. With only a couple of weeks left, it is time to incorporate some festive cheer.  This year we will be making some Christmas ornaments tha ..read more

A quick trick for pencil grasp! Create a "stabiliser" by using a felt strip.  I use felt strips approximately 2.5 cm wide x 5 cm long (but the size doesn't really matter). Sew a button to one end of the felt strip and place a small slit at the other end.  Place your pencil through the hole create in the felt.   Ask your child to hold the button end of the felt strip so that it is hidden into the palm of their hand whilst holding the pencil with the thumb and index finger. Rest the third finger behind the pencil.  This felt strip helps to work on the "separatio ..read more

Sit up, don't slouch! Why are you lying on the floor? You don't need to hold up your head.  Postural instability is a common reason we see children slouched, or propping themselves up or falling over.  There may be other reasons too but today let's talk about postural stability... We talk about core muscle strength as being "the sturdy central link in the chain connecting your upper and lower body".    Core muscles describe both the muscles which assist with stability as well as those which enable trunk movement.  In order for our children (and us) to use our lim ..read more