Rocket OT

30/08/2022

It's been a while since I've had the energy and mental space to write. Videos are hard at the moment due to the ever evolving challenges of parenthood. One day I'll be able to get some out again! In the meantime, my most recent blog post, featuring a personal story (and the reason for my absence): http://rocketot.com/no-shame-in-the-game/

Excerpt:
"Two months ago, my husband and I received support for our son's sleep. Multiple times throughout the journey I questioned whether or not needing support was a failure of our parenting. I questioned my abilities as both a mother and as a therapist, even though I'd previously referred multiple families to access the same support.

I was not in denial in the slightest about my son's sleep, but I did put off getting help because I was worried about how I would be perceived as a parent. I thought we could (and should) figure it out on our own. It wasn't until a friend and valued colleague asked me if I'd think less of her if she needed to access support that it really hit home. I wasn't a failure or lesser for needing help. And neither were my husband or son. We were just a family who needed external support. We needed a village".

One thing I’ve noticed as an occupational therapist in mainstream settings is a hesitancy in some parents to access support for their child. A common rhetoric is “oh let’s just wait and see” or “once they go to ________ (daycare/preschool/school) they’ll be fine” or the classic Austral...

06/06/2022

This isn't just for those working/living with littlies (although it will be very useful for you too). Co-regulation is a key component of self regulation development and a tool used across the entire lifespan. Despite it's importance, it's highly underutilised in therapy and education settings, to the detriment of those that need it. Find out more in my video all about co-regulation!

This isn't just for those working/living with littlies (although it will be very useful for you too). Co-regulation is a key component of self regulation dev...

27/05/2022

A little take home info for your Friday afternoon! In this video I talk about the importance of occupation focussed goals and the benefits of a top-down approach.

The key to working on regulation skills/development is to first figure out what it is an individual is wanting, needing or expected to DO. This allows you to...

22/05/2022

First blog post in a while! Have you heard or said this before? Do you choose to sit out of therapy sessions or get encouraged to do so? I question the practice of excluding caregivers from a child's therapeutic journey http://rocketot.com/my-child-does-better-without-me/.

Agree? Disagree? Leave me a comment below ⬇️

16/05/2022

My next video is one near and dear to my heart. In 2018 I created the Regulation Rocket, and since then it's been presented as a poster at the national OT conference, featured on other OT blogs and podcasts, and even taught in universities! I am so excited to continue the series on the Rocket (and one day even write that book I've been promising 😂).

Enjoy!

The development of regulation is complex and what’s ‘important’ is still not fully agreed upon. Different people have different approaches to explaining self...

11/05/2022

Curious what 'occupation' means to an occupational therapist? Or what we even do? This video has all your answers:

Confused as to what occupation means and why us OTs are obsessed with it? All your questions (hopefully!) answered here. Apologies for the fading light, hope...

10/05/2022

I'm back! After a hiatus (that ended up being longer than expected) I've resumed blogging and videos and I can't wait to get back to sharing my love for all things occupation with you all.

Check out my welcome video to get started:

A short introduction to the channel, please have a quick watch before diving into the other content. Welcome to Rocket OT!

18/09/2019

Is your child learning for later? Or learning for now? I discuss what learning for later means and why it's an important concept for parent, educators and therapists to apply when supporting skill development and behaviour in children.

22/08/2019

I've seen this first two panels of this picture many times, but only recently saw it with "justice" included. To me, this is the key thing I do as an occupational therapist. Whilst we often strive for equity, what we really want is justice.

I've had teachers and parents ask me how long a child will need a particular support for. Sometimes an individual will need unique supports such as glasses, hearing aids, wheelchairs or specialised seating, in order for them to be able to engage and perform various occupations. Other times, in order to remove or reduce the reliance on additional supports, we need systematic change. Creating accessible environments, ensuring inclusive education planning and delivery, and shifting cultural and societal beliefs around disability is just a start.

When we look at how the environment helps or hinders an individual's participation and engagement, we can start to see where change needs to happen in order for a reliance on supports to decrease. Without systematic change, we will not be a just and inclusive society.

Please feel free to share your experiences below.

16/08/2019

Who doesn't love a good chat about poo?! I am definitely guilty of oversharing when it comes to my toileting habits, but today I instead share my top toileting tips for helping a child learn toileting skills. Toileting is a complex occupation that will differ for each individual, but I give out some tips that work for everyone. For more information about toileting, check out my blog: http://rocketot.com/talking-toileting/

14/08/2019

Does your child complain about the noise of hand dryers in public restrooms? Do they avoid going in, act fearful when inside, or cover their ears immediately when the hand dryer starts up?

I've had many parents assume this is a sign of sensory defensiveness, but often it is the only behaviour noticed (except for sometimes a similar response to vacuums or blenders). Well, a science fair exhibition turned scientific study shows your child probably is defensive, and justifiably so!

Hand dryers were tested and found to be louder at a child's height than what is recommended for children's hearing. So this sudden, loud sound that is bearable for you, could actually be causing your child pain. A good thing to keep in mind next time your child needs the toilet during a shopping trip!

Read the study here: https://academic.oup.com/pch/advance-article/doi/10.1093/pch/pxz046/5519522

09/08/2019

A complementary video to the blog post on Balancing Routine, Structure and Adaptability. I talk through the "how" of supporting an individual to develop adaptability in the form of flexible thinking and problem solving.
http://rocketot.com/balancing-routine-structure-and-adaptability/