Your Kids OT

Your Kids OT Your Kids OT provides direct paediatric therapy services in Sydney, Australia.
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For OT tips read the blog, search the archives or join the free e-newsletter at www.yourkidsot.com Your Kids OT provides paediatric occupational therapy services in Sydney, Australia. We operate as a mobile service to homes, preschools and schools within the Ryde LGA and surrounding suburbs. Your Kids OT is also a popular blog with information for parents, teachers and OTs to help with creative ways to make learning fun and support child development. You will find many resources available in the Your Kids OT shop which may be downloaded instantly.

The Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) framework (Dunn) emphasizes the dynamic relationship between a person, their cont...
27/02/2026

The Ecology of Human Performance (EHP) framework (Dunn) emphasizes the dynamic relationship between a person, their context (physical, social, cultural, temporal), and the tasks they perform. Sensory processing is integrated into the “person” construct.

EHP provides five strategies to address sensory processing challenges by modifying either the person or the environment. The goal of intervention is to facilitate a child’s participation in daily living, supporting their sensory processing patterns.

These strategies include establishing/restoring, adapting the task/environment, altering environmental features, prevention, creating environments that support all people.

Intervention is NOT required if sensory processing patterns do not affect participation.

Using a strengths based approach focuses on sensory patterns as characteristics to support capacity, cues, predictability, routines, procedures and participation.

This graphic is available as part of the Sensory Profiling Guidebook. The Sensory Profiling Guidebook outines the theoretical framework (SP-2) that Dr Dunn developed. It describes characteristics and support strategies for each profile (over and under responsive) as well as mixed profile patterns. It includes additional regulation strategies to support relationship and co-regulation, breathing and oral motor activities, rhythm and a strengths-based approach.

For more information about a strength-based approach to sensory profiling and the guidebook comment “yes”. I’ll send you the link to the latest blog with all the details!

26/02/2026

WIKKI STIX MAZE DRAWING

I’ve shared this idea before and I’ll probably share it again because it works! Wikki stix provide a physical boundary to teach children visual motor integration skills. We can work on pencil control, planning, problem solving, sequencing steps and reaching a “goal”. We can transfer these skills to drawing within a printed maze.

For older children, I love this for executive functioning skills. We can plan the maze on paper and then try to replicate if with the wikki stix. We can also turn it into a marble maze!

Yes, your whiteboard will get sticky and will need a good clean with a damp cloth or wipe.

Check out more wikki stix, visual motor and pre-writing activities at .

25/02/2026

TETRA TOWER

A challenging game of planning and problem solving. We use this game to build executive functioning skills.

The goal is to balance as many shapes as possible without falling. You can play individually or as a two person game. You can play competitively or collaboratively. There are some cards which can also use to guide which pieces you should put next (increasing the difficulty).

I’m using this with 7 year olds and upwards as it can be quite frustrating for some children.

What are your favourite executive functioning games?

I’m a paediatric OT and I often have playdough or dirt or sand or something under my fingernails. I don’t bother with ma...
22/02/2026

I’m a paediatric OT and I often have playdough or dirt or sand or something under my fingernails. I don’t bother with manicures.

But does it really matter? Should you be commenting?

I have been running my website and socials for 12 years now. I’ve been in a loving paediatric OT bubble and have been fortunate that most of the online community has been very kind with support, gently pointing out mistakes or providing positive feedback. There is a certain vulnerability that goes with putting yourself out there both professionally and personally.

Over the last few weeks I have received more personal comments like “you have dirty finger nails, how disgusting” (and others).

I know in the scheme of things, this is small and I’m usually good at not taking things personally but you know what, if you don’t like what you see here… please just move on.

I share real ideas. Not everything is filtered or polished, actually most isn’t really “Insta-worthy”. It’s not perfect.

Be kind. There is a real person behind this account.

Thank you for those of you who do support what I do here.
Cindy xx

17/02/2026

FROM THE YKOT ARCHIVES

Wikki stix challenge cards: FREE PRINTABLE!

I love sharing resources with you and this FREEBIE is my gift to you for your ongoing support. Released to my email subscribers this morning, this printable has been flying out of the door (or whatever the e-equivalent is for a downloadable product).

I ❤️ wikki stix as a therapy resource that can be used time and time again. We can work on fine motor skills, visual spatial awareness, bilateral coordination, motor planning and sequencing skills.

For those of you who haven’t seen these before: wikki stix are a commercially available product. Yarn covered with a sticky waxy material that allows the sticks to be manipulated and hold its shape. It is incredibly versatile!

Let me know if you want the link 🔗 to the free challenge cards!

Appreciate it if you could hit the ❤️ too!

16/02/2026

INNER VOICE (POSITIVE AFFIRMATIONS) BALLOON FIDGETS!

It’s a mouthful, but this title is exactly that.

I had a selection of positive affirmations or sayings that children could choose from. We use these as mantras that can be said when facing hard things. We can say them to encourage ourselves to keep going.

The affirmations that I included were:
* I can do one step at a time.
* Mistakes help me to learn.
* It will take me time and practice to get better.
* New things are scary but I can try it out.
* Mistakes help my brain to grow.
* I can try again.
* I don’t like it but I can try.
* I can practice.
* It doesn’t have to be perfect.

It was really interesting to see which saying each child chose today. Some chose two. They were written onto di-cut cardboard people. Some wrote them on the inside (like an inner voice) and some wrote them on the outside.

We then blew up a balloon (just a little bit) and placed it between two people. Some sticky tape was used to fix the people to the balloon. The result was a fidget tool that could be squeezed while saying the positive affirmation.

This activity is helpful for working on growth mindset, self esteem, regulation and executive functioning. At the same time, we provide some sensory input! It was a winner today for both children and teachers. One teacher found me later in the day specifically to thank me for this activity. It was helpful for a student who struggles with anxiety over many tasks and this was just what they needed today.

When we observe a child... understand what interests them, become aware of their preferences (activities, environments,...
15/02/2026

When we observe a child... understand what interests them, become aware of their preferences (activities, environments, people), observe their responses, understand who they connect with and why, appreciate what helps them to feel comfortable, work out what they are doing (or not doing) to help them feel safe and regulated... we can acknowledge and affirm if they are over responsive, under responsive or typically responsive to sensory information. We can recognise if this interferes, helps or promotes their activities of daily life.

We can develop an understanding of a child’s sensory profile pattern and preferences (I use the standardized assessment The Sensory Profile-2). Preferences do not mean an absent of other characteristics. This is not a “diagnosis” or “label”. A child’s preferences can change. A pattern or preference does NOT automatically mean that intervention is necessarily required.
​
There is no judgement. There is awareness and empathy.

By understanding a child’s preferences, we can appreciate their strengths. We can help them to build self-awareness and help them to advocate for themselves as needed.

Read more on the latest blog with graphics available in the Sensory Profiling Guidebook: https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog/sensory-profile-strengths-based-approach

Let me know if you want the direct link.

15/02/2026

Ever feel like your play-based sessions aren’t landing the way they should? Engagement feels low, progress is slow, or strategies just don’t carry over at home or in the classroom? It can feel like you’re spinning your wheels instead of making meaningful change.

Join us at the 2026 Play Conference, hosted by Precision CPD. This free, online conference is designed for OTPs, PTs, and SLPs who want to make PLAY truly effective for modern childhood – and gain practical strategies that actually stick across homes, schools, and clinics.

🗓 Free CONFERENCE TICKET runs March 9–12, 2026
✅ Sign up today for your free ticket

And if you want the most out of the experience, the VIP Ticket is available at a discounted rate before and during the conference.

Let me know if you want the free ticket link! 🔗 https://ykot—otholly.thrivecart.com/playcon2026/

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