OTMe App, Perth (2025)

07/11/2025

We’re so glad to see The West Australian shining a light on something families have been living with quietly for years — the ADHD “black hole”

Right now, thousands of Australian families are stuck in a system that can’t keep up. Children with ADHD and developmental challenges are waiting years for diagnostic assessments and therapy — missing the window when early support makes the biggest difference!!

But here’s the truth. A diagnosis gives clarity, not capability.
Your child doesn’t have to wait to start building emotional regulation, routines, and independence 🌱💟

✨Occupational therapy focuses on skills, not labels. Research shows that consistent, practical strategies at home, from sensory supports to executive-function routines, can significantly improve a child’s participation, confidence, and wellbeing.

💡If you’re also waiting:
• Start small: build predictable routines 🕓
• Support sensory needs daily (movement, deep pressure, calm breaks)
• Teach emotional language early (“I feel… I need…”)
• Seek community — support reduces burnout ☀️

It’s encouraging to see this issue getting national attention — but families need tools now, not years from now. No child should be left waiting in the dark⭐️

06/11/2025

In a world of packed schedules and back-to-back activities, it’s easy to feel like a “good summer” means doing it all ☀️

But for many kids, especially those with sensitive nervous systems — slower summers are the secret to better regulation, creativity, and emotional growth!

When children aren’t overloaded with constant noise and stimulation, their brains can:
🧠 Rebalance sensory input
🎨 Explore creative, self-directed play
💬 Build social and emotional language
💤 Recover from school-year fatigue

✨ Fun fact: Research in child development shows that unstructured time allows the brain’s default mode network to activate — the system linked to creativity, emotional regulation, and problem-solving.

So if your child says “I’m bored”… that’s okay.
That’s their brain shifting from survival mode to imagination mode.

💡 OT tip:
Try creating a “slow day” each week — no plans, no agenda, just free exploration. You might be surprised by how much learning happens when you don’t plan it ☺️

05/11/2025

Everyone loves summer… right?
Except, for some kids, summer brings a sensory overload disguised as fun ☀️

🧴 The sticky sunscreen,
🏖 The bright sun and glare,
👃 The strong smells from BBQs,
🎵 The constant background noise,
👕 And the change in daily routine
…all add up to one overstimulated nervous system!

For neurodivergent kids especially, this can trigger meltdowns, avoidance, or withdrawal.
It’s not that they don’t want to join in — it’s that their brain is already working overtime to stay regulated.

💡 OT Tips for a Calmer Summer:
👒 Prep the senses: Use a hat and sunglasses to reduce visual input.
💧 Offer breaks: Quiet indoor resets between big activities.
👕 Comfort first: Choose light, non-irritating fabrics.
🧃 Stick to rhythm: Even loose routines (snack, play, cool-down) help kids feel safe.
🧠 Plan predictability: Talk through what’s coming next, transitions are easier when expected.

✨ Fun fact: Research shows that when children experience predictable routines and controlled sensory exposure, their nervous systems stay calmer and more organized (*Miller, 2006; **Schaaf & Mailloux, 2015).

Summer doesn’t have to be “too much.” Sometimes, a little preparation helps the world feel just right 🧩💛

References:
*Miller, L. J. (2006). Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder. Penguin.
**Schaaf, R. C., & Mailloux, Z. (2015). Sensory integration. In J. Case-Smith & J. C. O’Brien (Eds.), Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents (7th ed.). Elsevier.

03/11/2025

To most people, play just looks like fun.
But as occupational therapists we know it’s how the brain learns to grow, regulate, and connect 🌱

Here’s what’s really happening beneath the surface:
🧱 Building with blocks → planning, fine motor coordination, spatial awareness
🏃‍♀️ Running and swinging → balance, core strength, vestibular regulation
🎨 Drawing and crafting → hand-eye coordination, bilateral integration, patience
🎭 Pretend play → emotional expression, perspective-taking, executive function

Research shows that play is one of the most powerful tools for brain development and emotional regulation (*Case-Smith & O’Brien, 2015; **Lillard et al., 2013). It strengthens neural pathways that support focus, problem-solving, and resilience — skills that make learning (and life) easier!

That’s why, at OT-Me., we don’t separate therapy from fun — we combine them! Because when kids are engaged and joyful, their brains are in the perfect state to learn 🌈

💡 OT tip: Try following your child’s lead for just 10 minutes of uninterrupted play. Notice how they problem-solve, take turns, and explore, you’ll learn more about their sensory and emotional needs than any worksheet could show.

Our References:
*Case-Smith, J., & O’Brien, J. C. (2015). Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents (7th ed.). Elsevier.
**Lillard, A. S., et al. (2013). The impact of pretend play on children’s development: A review of the evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 139(1), 1–34.

28/10/2025

Happy 🌈🦋
Here’s to all the amazing OTs making a difference every single day!
We see you and we appreciate you 💟

27/10/2025

It’s OT Week! 💙🦋
A time to celebrate the amazing occupational therapists who help children learn, grow, and thrive through everyday activities.

From supporting emotional regulation to building independence — OTs do so much more than most people ever realise.
They meet children where they are, see their unique strengths, and gently guide them toward new possibilities one step at a time 🧩

Whether it’s helping a child write their first sentence, get dressed on their own, or feel calm in a busy classroom — every moment matters.

This week, we say thank you to all the OTs making a difference in homes, schools, and communities.
Your care, creativity, and dedication make the world brighter for so many families ☀️

#2025

18/10/2025

When your child says ‘I don’t want to!’, it can sound like defiance, but often, it’s a signal that something deeper is going on⚠️

OT research shows that motivation and regulation are very closely linked (Porges, 2011*; Dunn, 2014**).
When a child’s sensory or emotional system is overloaded, their brain’s ability to plan, focus, or persist through a task drops. So what comes out isn’t “I can’t handle this” — it’s “I don’t want to!”😡

🧩Here’s what might be underneath those words:
• The task feels too big or unpredictable.
• Their body needs movement, a snack, or quiet time.
• They’re low on emotional energy or confidence.

🌱 Try responding with curiosity instead of correction:
• “What’s making it feel hard right now?”
• “Do you want to start together?”
• “Would a short break help?”

💡 Fun fact: Research on the Polyvagal Theory (Porges, 2011*) shows that when kids feel safe and regulated, their motivation naturally increases, because their nervous system shifts from defensive to engaged.

At OT-Me. we help families decode these moments and support kids in building routines that make daily tasks feel doable — not daunting 🌈🦋

*Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
**Dunn, W. (2014). Sensory Profile 2: User’s Manual. San Antonio, TX: Pearson.

04/10/2025

We all know the classic 5 senses… but did you know there are two ‘hidden’ senses that are just as important for children’s development?

⚖️ Vestibular (balance & movement):
This sense comes from the inner ear and tells us where our head and body are in space. It helps kids stay upright, coordinate movements, and even supports attention. (That’s why spinning, swinging, or tipping upside down can be so regulating or overwhelming!)

📦 Proprioception (body awareness):
This sense comes from our muscles and joints. It tells the brain how much force to use, whether that’s carrying a backpack, holding a pencil, or giving a hug. Kids who seek ‘heavy work’ (like pushing furniture or crashing into pillows) are often craving proprioceptive input.

🌱 Fun fact (backed by research!):
Studies in occupational therapy show that movement and proprioceptive activities (often called ‘heavy work’) can calm the nervous system, improve regulation, and even boost focus in school tasks (Schaaf & Mailloux, 2015). Things like animal walks, jumping on a trampoline, or carrying groceries aren’t “just play” — they’re the body’s way of organising itself and getting ready to learn.

At OT-Me., we build activities around all seven senses — because supporting sensory integration is key to helping kids feel grounded, confident, and ready to learn 🧩🌈🦋

27/09/2025

🏖️Summer means beach days, BBQs, and long hours outside… but for many neurodivergent kids, it can also mean sensory overload!!!
Here’s why:
☀️ Heat + humidity amplify discomfort, especially for kids with sensory sensitivities.
👕 Sticky clothing or sunscreen can feel unbearable on sensitive skin.
🎆 Summer sounds like crowds, music, fireworks all add layers of overstimulation.

Fun fact: Research shows that when body temperature rises, the nervous system is more reactive to sensory input (Gaoua, 2010). That’s why small irritations (like tags or loud noise) can feel so much bigger in the heat!

💡OT tips for keeping cool:
•Choose lightweight, breathable fabrics (cotton, bamboo or linen).
•Use cooling tools: handheld fans, wet towels, frozen water bottles.
•Plan quiet breaks indoors after high-energy outdoor play.
•Build predictable routines into summer days (even a loose one helps reduce uncertainty).

At OT-Me., we help families understand how environment + sensory inputs needs to interact — so kids can enjoy summer without the meltdown 💟🧩

*Gaoua, N. (2010). Cognitive function in hot environments: A question of methodology. Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

22/09/2025

Packing up. Leaving the park. Moving from homework to dinner…
For many kids, especially neurodivergent children — these transitions can feel overwhelming. Research shows that difficulty with transitions is often linked to challenges in executive functioning and sensory processing ⛈️

Here is what that means:
🔹 Executive functioning: Shifting attention from one task to another requires cognitive flexibility, which can be harder for ADHD and autistic kids.
🔹 Sensory regulation: A noisy, stimulating environment can make it even harder to “switch gears.”
🔹 Emotional load: Unexpected changes add stress, sometimes leading to meltdowns.

Here’s where routines help. By creating predictable patterns and using visual cues, children learn to anticipate what’s coming next. This reduces anxiety, supports regulation, and makes daily life smoother.

At OT-Me., we provide therapist-designed strategies that help families turn transitions into calmer, more manageable moments. Because sometimes, the hardest part isn’t the activity itself, it’s the switch between them 💟

14/09/2025

Skills aren’t built overnight. They’re stacked like building blocks, through daily routines 🧱

Occupational therapy research shows that consistent routines:
🌱 Reduce anxiety by making the day more predictable *
🌱 Support emotional regulation and smoother transitions **
🌱 Build independence and confidence through repetition ***

For neurodivergent kids and teens, this is especially powerful. What looks like “just brushing teeth” or “packing a bag” is actually practice in executive functioning, sensory regulation, and self-care skills. Each routine is another block that helps them grow stronger 🌈

At OT-Me., we turn research into practice with therapist-designed activities that slot naturally into daily life — so families can keep building, block by block, until the big picture takes shape 💟

Because progress isn’t about one big leap. It’s about the steady stacking of everyday wins!

Check out these References if you want to learn more:
*American Occupational Therapy Association (2021). Practice Guidelines for Children & Youth.
**Fiese, B.H., et al. (2002). Family Routines and Rituals: A Context for Development in the Lives of Young Children.
***The OT Hub (2023). The Power of Routine.

10/09/2025

Everyday routines that seem ‘simple’ can feel like mountains for neurodivergent kids and teens ⛰️✨
Getting dressed, focusing at school, brushing teeth, transitioning between activities — each comes with invisible challenges most people don’t see.

When parents begin to look at daily life through their child’s eyes, those struggles start to make sense. It’s not defiance. It’s overwhelm. It’s not laziness. It’s executive functioning or sensory overload.

At OT-Me, we help families turn those challenges into opportunities for growth — with therapist-designed strategies and activities that fit real life 🌱

OTMe App

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