Sensory SMART OT

Sensory SMART OT Paediatric Occupational Therapist | Creator of The Regulation Hourglass™
Helping adults understand regulation, sensory processing & participation.

Mobile OT | Telehealth | Resources | OT Supervision
https://www.theregulationhourglass.com.au Empowering Children, Supporting Families, Transforming Lives. Helping children thrive starts with the right support, and that’s where I come in. At Sensory SMART OT, I provide practical solutions, building on evidence-based strategies to support children in developing essential skills for emotional regula

tion, independence, and learning. Whether you’re a parent seeking guidance, a teacher looking for strategies to support students, a carer navigating neurodiversity, or an occupational therapist wanting professional resources, I offer solutions tailored to your needs. Our services include: Mobile Paeds OT, Telehealth and a range of online products and resources to support Parents, teachers and OT's.

“Be Different on Purpose.”One of the things I care deeply about in my work is helping children understand that different...
16/05/2026

“Be Different on Purpose.”

One of the things I care deeply about in my work is helping children understand that different does not mean less.

Every child has unique:
• strengths
• sensory preferences
• personalities
• nervous systems
• ways of learning
• ways of engaging with the world

We were never meant to all think, feel or respond exactly the same way.

Supporting children is not about forcing them into one mould.

It is about understanding who they are, supporting what they need, and helping them participate meaningfully in everyday life.

Different is not something to hide.

Sometimes it is exactly where a child’s strengths begin.

For more info see the link in bio

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You can also follow on Instagram to see more.
15/05/2026

You can also follow on Instagram to see more.

It’s not because the child isn’t learning. It’s because we’re only supporting them in the moment.If we: – Calm the momen...
15/05/2026

It’s not because the child isn’t learning.
It’s because we’re only supporting them in the moment.
If we:
– Calm the moment
BUT
– Don’t build capacity afterwards
The nervous system stays in the same pattern.
And so the cycle repeats.
Real progress happens beyond the moment.

Co-regulation is not “giving in.It is not removing all expectations.And it is definitely not “rewarding bad behaviour.”C...
15/05/2026

Co-regulation is not “giving in.

It is not removing all expectations.

And it is definitely not “rewarding bad behaviour.”

Co-regulation means lending your calm, organisation, safety and support to a child whose nervous system cannot yet do it alone.

Children borrow regulation before they build it.

Sometimes before we can teach:
• problem solving
• emotional control
• flexibility
• reflection
• communication

…we first need to help the nervous system feel safe enough to access those skills.

That does not mean lowering expectations forever.

It means matching support to capacity.

Because children learn best when they feel safe, connected and regulated enough to participate.

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“Regulation is capacity — not behaviour.”This idea sits at the heart of The Regulation Hourglass™ framework.Often when c...
15/05/2026

“Regulation is capacity — not behaviour.”

This idea sits at the heart of The Regulation Hourglass™ framework.

Often when children are overwhelmed, dysregulated, anxious, sensory overloaded, emotionally flooded or exhausted… adults understandably focus on the behaviour we can see.

But behaviour is usually the output of the nervous system, not the starting point.

A child who cannot access regulation may struggle to access:
• thinking
• reasoning
• learning
• flexibility
• communication
• emotional control
• participation

When we shift from:
“What’s wrong with this child?”
to:
“What is this nervous system needing right now?”

…our support changes.

And often, so does the child.

Regulation is not about controlling children.

It is about supporting capacity.

💙

Welcome to Sensory SMART OT 💙Hi, I’m Beryl Smith, Paediatric Occupational Therapist and creator of The Regulation Hourgl...
15/05/2026

Welcome to Sensory SMART OT 💙

Hi, I’m Beryl Smith, Paediatric Occupational Therapist and creator of The Regulation Hourglass™.

For over 30 years, I’ve worked with children, families and educators supporting sensory processing, emotional regulation, participation and development.

One thing I’ve learned is this:

Regulation is not behaviour.
It is capacity.

Children do well when their nervous systems feel safe, supported and understood.

That belief sits at the heart of everything I teach through The Regulation Hourglass™ framework, helping adults better understand:
✔ nervous system states
✔ co-regulation
✔ sensory processing
✔ emotional wellbeing
✔ participation in everyday life

Here you’ll find:
• practical OT strategies
• parent and educator support
• regulation tools
• neurodiversity-affirming ideas
• course updates and resources
• reflections on paediatric OT practice

Because children were never meant to fit one mould.

They were created uniquely.

Be Different on Purpose.

Thank you for being here 💙

13/05/2026

Such an icon - Temple Grandin

It comes from doing the right thing at the right time.You don’t need: – More strategies – More tools – More effortYou ne...
12/05/2026

It comes from doing the right thing at the right time.
You don’t need:
– More strategies
– More tools
– More effort
You need alignment.
Right support.
Right timing.
Right level of capacity.
That’s what creates real change.

Sometimes less — but better timed — is everything.

This is the moment most people get stuck.The storm has passed. The child is settled.And then… we move on.But this is whe...
11/05/2026

This is the moment most people get stuck.
The storm has passed.
The child is settled.
And then… we move on.
But this is where the real work begins.
This is where we:
– Build skills
– Support participation
– Create success experiences
Without this step, progress feels slow — or doesn’t happen at all.

This is the piece most people are missing.

Address

Port Macquarie, NSW
2444

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