Exceptional Kids

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Exceptional Kids

Exceptional Kids is an occupational therapy business situated in the inner northern suburbs of Brisbane.

It is run by OT, Sarah Cavallaro, who is passionate about working with exceptional kids and their families.

02/09/2025

🌟 Honouring Friendship in All Its Forms 🌟

As a parent of both a neurodivergent teen and a neurotypical teen, I’ve seen firsthand that friendships can look very different depending on the child. One prefers quiet one-on-one connections, the other thrives in group chats and weekend hangouts.

Neither is less. Neither is less special. 💛

Friendship isn’t about fitting into one mould—it’s about connection, trust, and being accepted for who you are. Let’s celebrate all the unique ways our kids connect, communicate, and build friendships. Because every style of friendship is worthy, and every connection matters. 💫

Photo shared with permission of my daughters circa 2018

26/08/2025

✨ Getting curious about behaviour ✨

When a child doesn’t follow instructions, it can be easy to label it as “not listening” or “being defiant.” But if we pause and get curious, we often uncover the why behind the behaviour — and that helps us choose the right strategy.

Take this example: A little boy is asked to stop playing and put his shoes on. He ignores the instruction.

What could be going on?
👂 He might have auditory processing differences and didn’t register the instruction.
🧩 He might be hyperfocused on play and needs help shifting attention.
😟 He could be feeling anxious about school and avoiding the transition.
💪 He might be seeking autonomy and resisting what feels like a power struggle.
🎧 Sensory processing differences may mean shoes feel uncomfortable or overwhelming.

Each of these possibilities calls for a different support strategy. That’s why curiosity is such a powerful tool — it helps parents, educators, and therapists look beyond the behaviour and meet the child’s needs.

💡 Next time your child “doesn’t listen,” try asking yourself: what else might be happening here?

24/08/2025

Last week the Federal Government announced the new Thriving Kids program, a $2 billion initiative to support children with mild to moderate developmental delays in community settings. It will roll out from July 2026, with a transition period until mid-2027.

We know this change may raise questions, especially for families who rely on NDIS services right now. Rest assured, Exceptional Kids will:

- Keep a close eye on all developments and policy updates.

- Advocate fiercely for families every step of the way.

- Help you understand what choices are available and what this means for your child specifically.

Our commitment? We’re here to make sure your child’s support stays strong, accessible, and tailored to their needs—no matter what program is delivering it.

Stay tuned—more details are coming soon. We’ve got your back.

17/08/2025

💡 At Exceptional Kids, we don’t see dysregulation as “bad behaviour” — we see it as a stress response.

When a child becomes dysregulated, it’s not about being defiant or difficult. It’s their nervous system saying, “I’m overwhelmed. I need support.”

👉 Viewing dysregulation as a symptom of stress changes everything.

- Instead of punishment, we offer co-regulation.

- Instead of blame, we offer curiosity.

- Instead of focusing on control, we focus on connection.

This perspective helps children feel safe, understood, and empowered to build skills for managing big feelings in the future.

🌟 At Exceptional Kids, this is at the heart of our practice — we work with families to uncover the “why” behind the stress and support children with compassion, not correction.

Because when we see stress instead of “behaviour,” we open the door to healing, growth, and real progress. 💜

12/08/2025

Are you a new graduate OT or a 4th year OT student? If so, we would love to have you along to chat all things paediatrics soon. Hosted by me (Sarah) and a new grad in the field (Jasmyn). Please email Nic at admin@exceptional-kids.net to book in.

11/08/2025

Sometimes “I don’t want to go to school” really means “school feels too hard for me right now.” 💛

As occupational therapists, we look for what might be tricky:
✨ Noisy classrooms or bright lights
✨ Handwriting or PE challenges
✨ Making friends or joining in games
✨ Planning, organising, or switching between tasks
✨ Managing lunchboxes, uniforms, or sports gear

When we find the why, we can help make school feel safe, doable, and even enjoyable. 🌱

04/08/2025

Why do paediatric OTs sometimes “let” PDA clients win games in therapy? 🏆

For children with a Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) profile, the feeling of being in control is deeply linked to feeling safe. When they sense a power imbalance, anxiety can spike, and their ability to engage and learn can shrink fast.

In therapy, our goal isn’t to teach them how to lose — it’s to build a foundation where they feel secure enough to try new things, take small risks, and connect with us.

By equalising the power in the room — sometimes by letting them win or making the game outcome playful and unpredictable — we’re telling their nervous system:

✨ You’re safe here.
✨ You have a voice.
✨ We’re on the same team.

Once safety and trust are in place, we can gently explore flexibility, resilience, and cooperation — but it starts with meeting them where they are, not where we want them to be.

Because in paediatric OT, “winning” isn’t about the scoreboard — it’s about helping a child win at feeling safe, connected, and ready to learn. 💛

03/08/2025

🌟 Behind every great paediatric OT is a great team 🌟

At Exceptional Kids, we know that children thrive when their therapists are supported, skilled, and continually growing. That’s why every single therapist on our team receives weekly clinical supervision, access to unlimited professional development, and quarterly team days where we come together to share knowledge, ideas, and inspiration.

💬 Supervision isn’t just a box to tick—it’s a space for reflection, learning, and ensuring that your child is getting the absolute best care from a therapist who is confident, connected, and continually evolving.

When we invest in our therapists, your child reaps the rewards. 💛

30/07/2025

🧠 Loaning your brain (more specifically, your frontal lobe)!

When kids struggle with executive functioning—like planning, organising, managing emotions, or starting tasks—they're not being lazy or forgetful. Their frontal lobes (the part of the brain that handles all this stuff) are still under construction.

As a paediatric OT, I teach parents a powerful strategy: **“Loan your child your frontal lobe.”**

👩‍👦That means stepping in as their temporary thinking brain:
✔️ Helping break tasks into steps
✔️ Coaching them through transitions
✔️ Offering words for big feelings
✔️ Providing structure and cues when they’re overwhelmed

It’s not “doing it for them”—it’s **scaffolding** until their own skills grow stronger.

With time (and loads of co-regulation), we hand it back… bit by bit. 💛

28/07/2025

🌸 *Mums, your cup matters too.* 🌸

If you're parenting a neurodivergent child, you already know how much love, patience, and advocacy you pour out each day. And we see you. We know how hard it can be to even *think* about taking time for yourself when your child's needs feel constant and consuming.

But here's the truth: **you can’t pour from an empty cup.**

The idea of “self-care” can feel impossible when you’re in the thick of it — no long baths, no weekends away, no quiet mornings. That’s where **micro moments of self-care** come in.

☕ A hot drink savoured while your child watches their favourite show.
🌿 A deep breath in the sunshine while you hang out the washing.
🎶 One song played just for you while driving.
💧 A cold glass of water and a moment to stretch.
💌 A message to a friend who *gets it*.

These small acts might not feel like much, but they send your nervous system a message: *you matter too.*

So today, we’re not asking you to carve out an hour. Just find **one small moment** that’s *just for you*. And do it guilt-free — because a more regulated, supported you is the greatest gift you can give your child.

You’ve got this, one micro moment at a time. 💛

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21/07/2025

🌟 Why We Use Energy Regulation Over Colours at Exceptional Kids 🌟

You might be familiar with programs that use coloured zones to describe feelings — but at Exceptional Kids, we take a different approach. We use Autism Level UP! because it offers something essential: a neurodiversity-affirming way to understand and support your child’s energy and regulation needs.

💡 Here’s why we love it:

✅ It's strength-based and person-centred – instead of saying certain zones or emotions are "good" or "bad", it recognises that all energy levels are valid. It’s not about fixing emotions — it’s about noticing, understanding, and meeting regulation needs.

✅ It’s more inclusive of neurodivergent experiences – traditional colour systems often miss how autistic kids uniquely experience and express energy. Autism Level UP! helps us respect and work with those differences, not against them.

✅ It focuses on what your child needs, not how they "should" behave – whether your child is feeling low, high, or just-right energy, this model helps us explore what supports or strategies might help in that moment.

✅ It grows with your child – from non-speaking kids to teens with big feelings, this approach can be adapted across ages and abilities.

At Exceptional Kids, we’re all about supporting regulation in a way that honours your child’s individuality. 💛 Energy regulation helps your child understand themselves better — and helps you support them with clarity and confidence.

Address

Brisbane, QLD
4030

Website

http://www.exceptional-kids.net/

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