Discover how a sensory-informed, play-based feeding approach can make mealtimes easier and more enjoyable for children facing feeding challenges. This blog shares helpful strategies, like the Food Hierarchy, to support kids in exploring food safely and confidently, one playful step at a time!

In this blog, we share essential strategies for teaching children how to “stop” their bodies on cue; a foundational safety skill for navigating busy environments like streets, stores, and parking lots. Rooted in occupational therapy principles, the blog explores how inhibitory control develops in young children, especially those with sensory or attention challenges, and offers playful, practical tools to build this life-saving habit. With visuals, routines, sensory supports, and positive reinforcement, caregivers can turn “STOP!” into a clear, consistent, and effective message kids understand and trust!

High school is a crucial time for teens preparing to step into adulthood, and occupational therapy (OT) plays a vital role in that transition. By focusing on real-life skills like executive functioning, self-advocacy, and daily living, OTs help students build confidence and independence beyond the classroom. With collaborative planning and student-centered goals, transition support becomes more than a requirement, it becomes a launchpad for a meaningful future.

Discover how occupational therapists support children's communication by addressing sensory processing, motor skills, and emotional regulation. This blog explores how sensory sensitivities can impact communication and offers strategies, like sensory diets and play-based activities, to help children engage more effectively. Through a holistic approach, OTs work alongside speech therapists to create a well-rounded support system for communication development!

Ever notice your child stuck eating the same food every day, sometimes for weeks? This common behavior, called food jagging, isn’t stubbornness. It often stems from a need for comfort, predictability, and sensory consistency, especially in kids with sensory processing challenges. In this blog, discover why food jags happen, what they mean, and practical, gentle strategies to support your child through these phases. Let’s turn mealtime stress into sensory success!

At SENSE-ational Spaces, we believe that helping kids thrive means more than just understanding why they might struggle; it’s about knowing what to do next. In Part 1 of our blog series, we talked about primitive reflexes, those automatic baby movements that are supposed to fade as kids grow. When they stick around a little too long, they can make everyday things like sitting still, writing, or handling big emotions extra tricky.

In Part 2, we’re getting playful! This post is packed with fun, movement-based activities you can try at home to help support reflex integration. From starfish stretches to crawling games and balance challenges, these ideas are simple, engaging, and grounded in what kids do best - play! Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or just curious, this is your go-to guide for turning everyday moments into opportunities for growth. Let’s keep moving forward, together!

At SENSE-ational Spaces, we understand that early development lays the foundation for a child’s lifelong learning, behavior, and emotional well-being. One essential piece of this foundation is the proper integration of primitive reflexes - automatic movements that help babies grow, move, and respond to their environment in the first months of life. While these reflexes are a natural and necessary part of infancy, they are meant to fade as the nervous system matures. When they don’t, retained reflexes can disrupt important developmental milestones, affecting posture, coordination, attention, and even emotional regulation.

In Part 1 of this blog series, we’ll take a closer look at what primitive reflexes are, how to identify signs of retention, and why understanding them is key to supporting children in reaching their full potential!

Discover how physical activity empowers individuals of all abilities to enhance health, well-being, and inclusion. All types of movement can support strength, connection, and a better quality of life. This blog provides great ideas to help your kid move both indoors and out!

Life is a constant juggling act, and maintaining balance while navigating its challenges is an ongoing process. Self-regulation—the ability to manage emotions, behaviors, and thoughts in pursuit of long-term goals—is a skill that benefits individuals of all ages. In this blog, we’ll explore actionable strategies to cultivate self-regulation and create equilibrium in your personal and professional life, whether you're a child learning emotional control or an adult seeking harmony amid competing demands.

The sensory processing system is greatly impacted by trauma and can be supported through trauma-informed parenting and the safe and sound protocol. It is essential as caregivers or as anyone who works with children to know what happens to children’s brains that have gone through trauma so we can support them in regaining proper regulation skills and neurological rewiring.

Childhood is a magical time of growth, discovery, and imagination. As parents and caregivers, one of the most profound ways we can nurture our children is through the simple acts of reading and singing to them. These activities are not only enriching but also foundational to a child’s cognitive, emotional, and social development.

Mental health diagnoses are on the rise in children making it a priority for schools to pay attention to the needs of their students. Supporting the emotional regulation of children can improve their ability to retain information. Mindfulness-based interventions are shown to improve the regulation of emotions and positively affect children’s performance academically and socially in schools.

Every child reaches an age where they must attend school, but how do you know when they are ready? School readiness encompasses different aspects of children’s lives, such as cognitive, motor, and emotional skills

With the fast-paced, high-tech world we live in, it seems almost impossible at times to limit your child’s screen time or not give them an iPad. Studies are finding that high levels of screen time early in life can lead to atypical processing of sensory information later in life. Finding useful and appropriate ways to regulate a child’s behavior other than a device can build higher levels of sensory processing abilities and greater self-regulation skills.

Play is an important occupation in a child’s development and there are various play styles to support children! Play is a rich, complex, and ever-evolving concept. This blog explains 5 different styles of play.

Handwriting is an essential skill that plays a key role in early childhood development. It helps children communicate and express their thoughts through written communication and supports fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and cognitive development.

Video games have become a common pastime for children in today’s digital age. While they can offer an enjoyable escape and a source of stress relief, the question remains: are video games helping or harming children’s mental health?

Winter is a season full of wonder and sensory experiences, making it the perfect time to engage your children in activities that stimulate their sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. With it also being tough to be as creative with the weather sometimes feeling like a hinderance it is important to consider all of the sensory benefits it brings! Ideas for engaging the senses and your child are available in this blog!

Ergonomics involves the proper alignment and positioning of the body during daily activities.

Siblings share a common environment, and their close relationship allows them to navigate life together, offering mutual support during challenging times. In many ways, siblings are each other's first social partners, learning to communicate, cooperate, and resolve conflicts within the family.