Clarity & Me Occupational Therapy

03/10/2025

Self-regulation is an ‘umbrella’ term ☂️- a group of skills that develops over time and grows through co-regulation with a safe, attuned, and connected adult.

When we support a child’s self-regulation goals, we look at supporting the adults around the child about their self-regulation.

A child’s (and adult’s) capacity to self-regulate is influenced by internal factors like biology (how the brain and body naturally respond to stress, emotions, and attention), genetics, and temperament, as well as environmental experiences, including stress or trauma.

Understanding these influences helps us support regulation with patience, and compassion. ❤️

Struggling with self-regulation? Get in touch with us to learn more and get support 🙏🏻

12/09/2025

Great to see positive change.

A school in Baltimore chose to address student behavior not with punishment, but with mindfulness and mediation. By removing detention and replacing it with a reflective practice, they created a space where children could process emotions instead of being excluded. The results were remarkable—ten years without suspensions.

This approach highlights the power of empathy in education. Rather than viewing mistakes as disruptions to be penalized, teachers turned them into opportunities for growth and self-awareness. Students learned responsibility and respect through guided reflection, not fear.

Education becomes far more effective when it nurtures the whole child. Academic lessons are important, but emotional resilience and interpersonal understanding shape a person’s life just as deeply. This model proves that compassionate strategies can produce long-lasting behavioral change.

What happened in Baltimore challenges traditional notions of discipline. It shows that when children are given the tools to understand themselves, they rise to the occasion. Such practices may pave the way for a generation that values peace, reflection, and community connection over conflict. 💡🤝

31/08/2025

04/08/2025

Come down to Robina Tafe for their Body Mind & Soul Expo!
We will be there with our very own table - come say hi!

August 23rd, save the date.

Getting close now our Mind Body & Soul Womens Event is going to huge we have over 33 exhibitors from 9-11.30 for our free Wellness Expo and then from 12-2 we have our ticketed 2 course lunch with our panel of exceptional speakers.

Today we took our DJ Tyler through the set up he’ll be spinning the tunes from
2-4 on the rooftop garden bar at Greenfields.

This is an event just for the ladies and tickets are still available.

Grab a friend head down and treat yourself to an afternoon of fun, connection, inspiration and learning.

https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/mind-body-soul-womens-lunch-event-tickets-1375233212559

10/07/2025

Self-compassion is treating yourself with the same kindness you’d offer a friend 🫶🏼.
It activates your parasympathetic nervous system - your “rest and digest” state - helping you feel safe, and calm. ☺️
⠀
In contrast, self-criticism triggers the threat response, keeping you stuck in shame and fight-or-flight.

Start every day with 1 x compassionate statement about yourself and feel the shift ✨☀️

“I’m doing the best I can”
“I deserve rest” ❤️

07/07/2025

Support non-segregation in schools.
We need to educate the schools about disabilities so they understand children’s challenges. Understanding brings compassion and connection. One of the most important foundations in supporting all kids.

29/06/2025

We are a team of researchers from the University of Newcastle who have developed a new online social-emotional communication program called Understanding Each Other. We are recruiting 8-12 year-old children, who may be Autistic or non-Autistic, along with one of their primary caregivers to take part in our second pilot research study of this program.

The program will run for 6-weeks and there will also be some online surveys to complete, as well as two scheduled half-hour assessments online with a speech pathologist. All participants who take part in this research will go into a prize draw with four winners being drawn at random to receive a $100 GiftPay voucher.

To go to our Expression of Interest page, please click on the following link: https://uninewcastle.questionpro.com.au/UEO2025-ExpressionOfInterest

You will be given more information about our study, along with the chance to read a Participant Information Statement. If you would like to register your interest in taking part in the study, you will also be able to provide your consent and fill out some key details about yourself and your child. If you have any questions about this research, please get in touch with our lead researcher, Dr Babette Rae at babette.rae@newcastle.edu.au

Thank you very much for your consideration of this research.

10/06/2025

Children under 6 years of age are physically (as shown by the X-ray) and developmentally not ready to do handwriting

So many parents are often worried about why their child is not able to write by the age of 4 and why instead of writing, the teacher is allowing them to play, or be creative with intricate or fine motor materials?

This picture explains why.

Up until 6 years of age, their tiny hands are still developing and are not fully formed. Children require progressive development in their hands to enable them to grasp and hold things and eventually develop their writing skills.

Like any muscles, we must train them, strengthen them and ‘work out’ to get them stronger - this is just the same for the muscles in children’s hands.

So what should be done to support this?

PLAY! Playdough, colouring, tearing, sensory play, beading, picking cotton balls with tweezer/cloth clips, cleaning, wiping, holding, grabbing, sweeping, cutting, planting, digging etc.

These types of activities may not seem like education to you, but they are the foundations of what is to come. Rush the process and the results will be catastrophic.

We must allow our children to develop their fine motor skills which in turn, develop the skills required for early, emergent writing and later full writing skills.

When children are ready to write, they will. No need to rush them, they will show you when they are ready 🙂

© Gavin McCormack

23/05/2025

To all parents & therapists in need of self-care.
We warmly welcome you to our Monthly Sound Meditation:

Sunday, 25th May 2:30pm - 4:00pm

Robina Community Centre RM 1.1

Take a pause.
Join us for a soothing guided meditation and sound journey designed to:
✨deeply relax your nervous system
✨clear your mind
✨reconnect you to something deeper within..

This is your space to rest, reset, and restore.
Everyone is welcome - no experience needed.
Bookings: Humantix
Sound Meditation Gold Coast

https://bit.ly/3H35qIY

* please see our website for Occupational Therapy & Mindfulness Meditation 1:1 support