SenseUp Therapies

20/09/2025

💡 Family Guide: Building Shower and Bath Independence
Is bath time a struggle? Many children find showering or bathing overwhelming due to the sensory complexity - water temperature, pressure, soap textures, and the coordination required for washing effectively.

The Sensory Bath Experience:
• Water temperature and pressure affecting comfort levels
• Soap and shampoo textures and scents
• Slippery surfaces requiring balance and coordination
• Multi-step routines requiring memory and sequencing
• Time awareness for thorough but efficient cleaning

What Parents Often Experience:
• Resistance to getting into bath or shower
• Difficulty with hair washing specifically
• Either rushing through or taking excessively long
• Needing constant reminders for each step of washing
• Emotional reactions to water on face or in ears

Creating Bath Success:
• Start with preferred water temperature and adjust gradually if needed
• Use visual sequences for washing steps when helpful
• Provide non-slip surfaces for safety and confidence
• Allow choice in soap scents and textures when possible
• Break down washing into manageable steps rather than expecting complete independence immediately

Building Skills Gradually: Focus on mastering one aspect at a time - perhaps hair washing one week, then adding face washing the next. Independence builds through successful experiences.

Concerned about your child's self-care development? Our Gold Coast team provides family-centred strategies for building independence skills.

Contact us: 04 3365 2140 | hello@senseuptherapies.au | https://f.mtr.cool/bqkeocylhm

18/09/2025

💡 Classroom Support: Self-Care Independence. Teachers, do you notice some students arriving with inside-out jumpers, shoes on the wrong feet, or coats dragging on the ground? These aren't always just signs of rushing - they could be indicators of their developing self-care skills that need support.

What's Really Happening?
Getting dressed independently requires body awareness, fine motor coordination, and sequencing skills. Some children's nervous systems need more time and practice to coordinate these complex tasks.

Classroom Observations:
• Clothing put on backwards or inside out consistently
• Difficulty with zippers, buttons, or shoe fastenings
• Asking for help with tasks peers manage independently
• Avoiding outdoor play due to coat/shoe difficulties
• Taking much longer than peers for clothing adjustments

Classroom Supports:
• Create visual sequences for common dressing tasks
• Practice clothing skills during calm moments, not rushed transitions
• Provide extra time for students who need it
• Teach peer helping strategies for appropriate assistance
• Communicate with families about clothing choices that support independence

Building Confidence: Focus on celebrating attempts and progress rather than perfect completion. Each small step towards independence matters.

Need strategies for a specific student?

Our Gold Coast team can provide classroom-specific self-care support plans.
Contact us: 04 3365 2140 | hello@senseuptherapies.au | https://f.mtr.cool/xjlaglnyyu

06/09/2025

Happy Father's Day to all the amazing dads supporting sensory children! 👨‍👧‍👦 Today, we're celebrating something special - the unique way fathers connect with and support their children's sensory needs. There's something beautiful about watching a dad discover his child's sensory world. The moment he realises that rough-and-tumble play isn't just fun - it's exactly what his child's nervous system craves. When he understands that those "squeezy hugs" he gives naturally are providing the deep pressure that helps regulate emotions.

What you're really seeing when your child seeks you out for physical play, asks for firm hugs, or wants you to read in that same calm voice every night - that's their nervous system telling you exactly what it needs. And you're already providing it brilliantly.
Sometimes it just takes one small shift in understanding to recognise the incredible sensory support you're already giving. When dads understand the 'why' behind their child's needs, they become unstoppable advocates.

Here's to all the fathers who see their child's sensory differences as strengths to celebrate! 💙

27/08/2025

You know that feeling when you watch your child struggle with a fork, and you think "they can pick up tiny Lego pieces, so why is this so hard?"

What you're seeing is your child's nervous system trying to coordinate two complex jobs at once - processing what they're touching AND knowing where their body is in space. When both systems are still developing, adding any tool makes everything so much harder.

Here's what's really happening:
Your child's brain is working overtime trying to figure out how hard to grip that pencil, where their hand is positioned, and what the pencil is doing on the paper. It's like trying to have two conversations at once whilst learning a new language.

What you might notice at home:

Hand activities work fine, but add a spoon and suddenly it's chaos
They can climb brilliantly but struggle with a cricket bat
Messy eating that seems "careless" but really isn't
Too gentle with some things, too rough with others
Getting frustrated with tasks that look "easy"

The research shows us that these foundation skills need to develop before we can expect smooth tool use. Think of it like building a house - you need solid foundations before you add the fancy fittings.

Supportive Strategies:
Start with hands-only activities. Play dough, finger painting, carrying heavy things, climbing. These build the foundation your child's nervous system needs. As these skills strengthen, we can gradually build complexity - and suddenly tool use starts making sense.

Sometimes it just takes one small shift in understanding to change everything. When you see these struggles as your child's nervous system doing its best with developing skills, rather than "being difficult," support becomes so much easier.

In my clinical experience, patience with this process makes all the difference.
These skills can improve - just not always on typical timelines and may require support from a paediatric / occupational therapy professional.

Would you like more information? Reach out to our team at:
https://f.mtr.cool/shbupycsrl

20/08/2025

Just had to share this Shoe Tying idea. Hint: watch the video to the end for the tip of tying them tight!

Our fearless (and wonderfully clumsy) koala buddy Crashy learned how to tie his shoes today with the help of Greg Santucci, Occupational Therapist, and he wants to share how easy it can be with you!

Crashy was getting soooooo frustrated trying to make his 'bunny ears', but not anymore! 🐰👟

Check out the link in the comments to learn from our article and video—discover Greg's technique that teaches kids how to tie their shoes fast, plus some fun alternatives if they're not quite there yet!

23/07/2025

💡 Classroom Support: Supporting New Motor Skills. Teachers, think of that student who avoids PE activities, struggles with handwriting, or needs endless practice for simple motor tasks. Understanding their motor planning challenges changes everything.

What's Motor Planning?
Motor planning involves the brain's ability to conceive, plan, and execute new or complex motor tasks. Some children require more time and different approaches to develop these skills effectively.

Classroom Observations:

Watch for students who:
Take considerably longer to learn new physical tasks
Avoid trying new activities or games
Repeat similar attempts with minimal adaptation when strategies aren't working
Appear overwhelmed when activities change unexpectedly

Supporting Motor Learning:
Allow additional time for new skill practice
Break complex tasks into manageable steps
Provide opportunities for varied practice rather than identical repetition
Celebrate attempts and problem-solving efforts alongside successful outcomes

Understanding Ball Skills:
Catching typically requires more complex motor planning than throwing because children must predict trajectory and timing. Notice which students find receiving activities more challenging.

Building Confidence:
Focus on developing motor experiences through varied, achievable activities rather than repeatedly practising skills that may currently be too challenging.

Creating Inclusive Environments:
Provide multiple participation options that allow all students to engage while developing skills at their individual pace.

Professional Consultation:
For students with significant motor planning challenges, your school's occupational therapist can provide targeted strategies and assessments.

Reminder: For specific concerns about student development, consult with allied health professionals.

22/07/2025

💡 Family Guide: When Touch Feels Different. Does your child react strongly to clothing tags, resist hair washing, or seem overly sensitive to light touches? Understanding how touch processing works can transform your daily routines.

What's Happening?
The nervous system processes different types of touch through various pathways. Light, unexpected touch can activate protective responses in the brain before full processing occurs. This creates genuine discomfort, not defiance.

Why Some Touch Feels Overwhelming:
Light touch receptors are highly sensitive and can trigger defensive responses, especially when unexpected. Deep pressure touch activates different receptors that often provide calming, organising input to the nervous system.

Daily Life Examples:
Clothing labels genuinely feel uncomfortable or painful to some children
Hair brushing or washing can trigger intense protective responses
Unexpected touch from behind feels threatening
Temperature changes (cold sheets, clothing) increase sensitivity

Supportive Strategies:
Let your child control touch experiences when possible
Use firm pressure before light touch
Warm clothing before dressing in cold weather
Consider your child's positioning to avoid unexpected contact

Understanding Daily Variations:
Touch sensitivity can change based on stress, tiredness, or excitement. What feels okay one day might be overwhelming the next - this reflects normal nervous system functioning, not inconsistency.

Environmental Adjustments:
Simple changes like seating position (avoiding high-traffic areas) or clothing choices can significantly reduce daily stress for touch-sensitive children.

When to Seek Help:
If touch sensitivities significantly impact daily routines, family life, or school participation, consider consulting a paediatric occupational therapist.

Reminder: This is for educational purposes. If you have any concerns or questions, please contact our team or reach out to your child's medical care team.
https://f.mtr.cool/zsbbwtboxl

16/07/2025

💡 Classroom Support: The Power of Heavy Work. Teachers, have you noticed some students seem to focus better after physical tasks? Or that certain children seek opportunities to carry heavy items, push chairs, or help with classroom jobs? This isn't a coincidence - it's their nervous system seeking what it needs.

What's Heavy Work?
Heavy work involves activities that engage muscles and joints through resistance, pushing, pulling, or carrying. Think playground equipment setup, moving classroom furniture, or even wall push-ups.

The Science Made Simple:
These activities send important information through the nervous system that helps with attention, regulation, and body awareness. The key is duration - brief activities don't provide enough input to be effective.

Classroom Applications:
Morning jobs: carrying supplies, setting up equipment
Transition activities: wall push-ups, chair carries
Fidgety moments: isometric exercises at desk
Before focused work: brief movement tasks

What Teachers Notice:
Children often show improved posture, attention, and emotional regulation following appropriate heavy work activities. Watch for changes in facial expression and engagement levels.

Important Timing:
Research suggests these activities need adequate duration (several seconds minimum) to be effective. Quick movements don't provide the nervous system benefits you're looking for.

Individual Differences:
Some children need more of these activities than others. Notice which students naturally seek physical tasks or seem to benefit most from movement breaks.

Professional Support: For students with significant attention or regulation challenges, consider consulting with your school's occupational therapist for personalised classroom strategies.

10/07/2025

💡 Family Guide: Understanding Your Child's Movement Preferences. Ever wondered why your child loves the trampoline but refuses the swing? Or seeks endless spinning but avoids slides? These aren't just preferences - they're your child's nervous system telling you what it needs.

What's Really Happening?
Every child's movement system has different thresholds. Some children feel overwhelmed by gentle rocking, while others crave intense spinning. Think about adults - some get carsick from reading as a passenger, others love roller coasters. Your child's movement responses work the same way.

What you might notice:
Playground choices - do they consistently avoid or seek certain equipment?
Car travel - motion sickness patterns or requests for more adventurous rides?
Feet-off-ground activities - comfort with swings versus preference for climbing
Recovery after movement - do they need time to regulate or want more immediately?

Supporting Your Child:
Rather than pushing avoided activities, observe what your child naturally chooses. Their movement preferences often guide us toward what their nervous system needs for healthy development.

When repetitive movement becomes excessive (like spinning for 30 minutes), gentle redirection to varied activities often serves regulation better than the same input repeatedly.

Home Strategies:
Use playground observations to create supportive movement experiences. If your child loves climbing but avoids swings, focus on safe climbing opportunities while gradually, gently introducing supported swinging experiences.

When to Seek Support:
If movement differences significantly impact daily participation or family life, consult with a paediatric occupational therapist for personalised strategies. Post for educational purposes, please always consult with your child's health professional for support.

09/07/2025

🛒 ALDI SENSORY SPECIAL BUYS - WEDNESDAY 9TH JULY!Calling all teachers and parents! Aldi has some fantastic sensory tools hitting shelves this Wednesday that could be game-changers for your sensory kids.

What's available:

✨ Sensory Tiles - Perfect for proprioceptive input and motor planning
https://f.mtr.cool/qalcbvsiwz

✨ Sensory Toys - Great for tactile exploration and self-regulation
https://f.mtr.cool/kiblldtsjt

✨ Sensory Play Box - Encourages exploration and creativity
https://f.mtr.cool/neaqvukywp

✨ Sensory Stones/Cushions - Ideal for calming and grounding
https://f.mtr.cool/bigkvznija

✨ Weighted Plush - Provides deep pressure for regulation
https://f.mtr.cool/qgnuwazooa

Why we love these for sensory support:
• Affordable tools that support sensory regulation
• Perfect for home and classroom environments
• Can be used for both calming and alerting activities • Great starting point for building a sensory toolkit

Remember: Every child's sensory needs are unique. What works for one child may not work for another, so observe and adapt!Get in early - Aldi Special Buys go fast! 🏃‍♀️

As occupational therapists, we believe accessible sensory tools can make a real difference in supporting children's regulation and participation.

02/06/2025

Will you be the next passionate Senior Paediatric OT to join our team in creating safe and meaningful developmental experiences for children aged 2 - 9 years? ⭐ Read more and apply directly via Seek: https://www.seek.com.au/job/84314214

Open to South African OT Applicants (Sponsorship options can be negotiated)

We're not just filling a position—we're welcoming a valued team member who will help shape our sensory practice. If you're ready to join a team that prioritises children's developmental journeys in a sensory-affirming environment, we can't wait to meet you!

Africa

28/05/2025