Little Daisy Occupational Therapy

05/03/2023

Water play 💧
One of the easiest sensory play activities to set-up & the kids love it! Nothing fancy over here 😅 I just chucked some pom poms, kitchen utensils and some bug figurines in the tubs and it kept my toddler nephews entertained for a little while 🤪

You can never really go wrong with water play. It’s an open ended activity so kids can just explore & see what happens!

Kids can incidentally learn about cause & effect, language, pretend play, strengthen their motor skills & it can be regulating for a lot of little ones.

Some other things you could add in from around the house:
✔️ Cups, containers, bottles, jugs
✔️ Funnels, sieves
✔️ Scoops, tongs, eye dropper, spray bottles
✔️ sponges, paint brushes
And add in some little toys or natural resources from around the garden!

Happy Sunday 🌞

23/02/2023

Little Daisy represents joy, playfulness and new beginnings 🌸

When working with children & families we aim to create a space that values choice, uniqueness and positivity, allowing children to be unapologetically themselves and to enjoy the things they love!

Our goal is to support families through the challenges & the hardships they experience and provide them with the resources to continue to support their child’s bright start to life ✨

If you feel we would be a good fit for you, we would love to hear from you 🥰Enquire via our website or send an email to 👉🏽info@littledaisyot.com.au

21/02/2023

Why is core strength so important for kids ❔

Building a strong core is like building a strong foundation for your child. It is super important for development & helps kids to achieve important milestones & independence as they grow. 

Our core involves the muscles of our tummy, hips and bottom.

It provides our arms & legs with a strong base that allows us to maintain an upright position whilst standing, sitting, crawling, running, jumping and much more.

Weak core muscles can impact on big body movements (gross motor) & how we move our hands/fingers (fine motor).

How do you know if your child has a weak core?
➖ Fatigues easily during physical activities

➖ Difficulties paying attention, fidgeting or tires easily when sitting

➖ Avoids/difficulties climbing or playing on the playground (uses more effort than peers)
➖ Difficulties getting up and down off the ground

➖ May seem uncoordinated in general

We are finding that more and more children are having difficulties with their core & overall body strength. This could be for a number of reasons but whatever the reason, core strength can be worked on! 💪🏽

Some simple & effective things you can do at 🏠
➖ MORE TUMMY TIME (this isn’t just for babies but any age). Set up activities on the floor like puzzles, drawing, Lego, reading and even iPad time.

➖ Lots of playground play or obstacle courses around the house where they can run, jump, crawl, balance and climb.

➖ Animal walks! Pretend to be different animals such as crabs, frogs, bears etc. Get them to do it on the way to brush their teeth, getting dressed etc. Make it a race & make it fun!

If your child needs help with their core, get in touch 💬

17/02/2023

Did you know⁉️
So much of what we experience in our day to day lives is SENSORY. We are constantly taking in information from the world around us and within our own bodies. This helps us to make sense of how we are feeling and what is happening around us.

Everyone knows our 5 senses…but we actually have 3 additional senses. We call these our “inside senses” which give us vital information about our bodies and our emotions.

Understanding our sensory systems and our responses to the information that our brain receives, can give us great insight into what we need to regulate when coping with the stressors that pop up in our daily lives.

Do you know what your sensory preferences are? I LIKE to touch & feel different objects/textures and have a love for messy play with kiddies.
I DISLIKE repetitive noises & sounds, they drive me 🤪

I’d love to hear your sensory preferences 👇🏽🙊

13/02/2023

Parents, trust YOUR intuition ✨
Don’t wait if you have concerns. Early intervention can change a child’s developmental path and improve outcomes for your child & your family.

Sometimes parents (and educators) wait to see if their child will “catch up”, and for some children this approach does work and issues or delays resolve on their own…while others do need a little extra help.

No matter how small or insignificant it might seem, if you have concerns or questions…there is no harm in reaching out & getting some advice. YOU know your child best 🙌🏽

See post for 3 reasons why you SHOULD trust your intuition when it comes to early intervention ☝🏽

If you think you might need OT for your child, let’s chat! 💬

31/01/2023

What does an OT do? My fellow OT’s will know how often we get asked this question 🤪

Well here is my definition…
OT’s focus on the needs of individuals and believe that positive wellbeing can be achieved through engagement in occupations.

For kids, these occupations are self-care, school and play. We support kids to engage in their everyday activities by celebrating their strengths, unpacking their challenges & helping their support networks to better understand their needs.

Our main goal is to empower every individual to participate in meaningful activities that develop their skills, independence & confidence 🧡

29/01/2023

Kids NEED movement to learn!

When I visit preschools, I often see kids during mat time & they are fidgeting, moving around the room, touching toys, leaning on peers or changing their sitting position frequently.

Teachers ask me all the time what they can do to get their kids to sit still so that they can listen & learn better. Understandably so! It can be really challenging in a classroom setting but here are some things to keep in mind:

💡 It’s developmentally appropriate for kids to be seeking movement to learn. A lot of the research tells us that it is actually really hard for preschool/primary aged kids to be able to sit still whilst they learn.

💡We ALL do things that help us to remain regulated and keep our “thinking brains” switched on throughout the day. Listening looks different for EVERYONE!

💡 Yes, at times there are kids that have poor core strength, sensory differences or attention difficulties BUT most often it is expected.

💡If they aren’t able to move, it can actually hinder their learning. Our brain is wired to learn through movement & by engaging in the world around us, NOT by sitting still.

Keep an 👁 out for my next post with one of my fave movement ideas for the classroom 🫶🏽

Kids NEED movement to learn! When I visit preschools, I often see kids during mat time & they are fidgeting, moving around the room, touching toys, leaning on peers or changing their sitting position frequently. Teachers ask me all the time what they can do to get their kids to sit still so that the...

27/01/2023

What happens in therapy at little daisy?

PLAY ✨ and here’s why:
▫️Stimulates early brain development because it stimulates learning!
▫️Allows children to explore & understand themselves and the world around them
▫️Builds independence, confidence and feelings of success
▫️Strengthens connections & relationships

BASICALLY…the benefits of play are endless!

“Children need the freedom and time to play. Play is not a luxury. Play is a necessity” - Kay Redfield Jamison

26/01/2023

Hi, I'm Emily!
I'm a paediatric occupational therapist based in the south east of Melbourne.
 
I have been working in public health in a consulting role but decided that it was time to get back to what I love, which is providing one-on-one support to kids & their families.
 
I have a passion for early intervention and there is no better feeling than celebrating children's success as they achieve their goals!

Some random facts about me:
👫🏽I’m a twin (this was always my ice breaker fact at school when I couldn’t think of anything interesting).
🐵 I’m an auntie to 3 cheeky little boys who I adore!
🍫Love a good choccy. Everyone knows to hide them if they don’t want me to eat them!
♥️ Love a good dinner & movie.

If you would like to enquire about our services at little daisy OT, please DM or email me at info@littledaisyot.com.au