adaptABLE Occupational Therapy

24/07/2025

We’re camping this week and my oldest has been having a heck of a time settling for bed. Despite being outside all day, come bedtime he’s still seeking that proprioceptive input that regulates his body and helps him fall asleep. Unfortunately, that means he’s throwing his body around the bed of a (rather old, questionable at best) tent trailer. In an effort to help him out tonight (and to help my sanity), I wrapped him into a blanket burrito and gave him squishes down his body as we “added ingredients” to the burrito. This is one of my favourite tools to quickly regulate a client - and it’s always entertaining to see what ingredients get added to the burrito. (Tonight was chocolate, skittles, M&Ms, peanut butter, caramel sauce, and marshmallows - apparently he’s got my sweet tooth 🙈). Anyway, 2 hours later, he’s still throwing himself around in his bed, send help!

20/07/2025

Here’s a question for yas:

Would you let your kid climb on these rocks?

We’re spending a few weeks at our family cottage in Nova Scotia and a friend and her three kids joined us for the last week. Our kids are all very comfortable outdoors and were climbing these rocks when a neighbour came out and told them to stop because it was “too dangerous”. The kids were pretty upset and couldn’t understand why he would say that. They had been happily exploring - looking for sea glass, drift wood, and other treasures. I’ve continued to allow my son to climb the rocks, as I know his abilities and the benefits he gets from this kind of risky play.

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

08/07/2025

Sheldon got two things wrong:
1) There are more than 5 senses
2) Sensory Processing is NOT dull

08/07/2025

Sheldon got two things wrong:
1) Sensory processing is NOT dull
2) There are more than 5 senses

25/06/2025

Such great ideas!

25/06/2025

I took my own advice tonight and did some
mindful art while listening to the Safe and Sound Protocol.

I’ve been feeling fight or flight-y lately and I’m hoping some quiet time will help reset my nervous system. My husband’s current deployment has me more on edge than usual (that’s saying something!) and I know if I want things to be smooth at home with the kids, I need to keep myself in a ventral vagal/socially engaged state.

Let me know in the comments if you want to learn more about my strategies or if you’re curious about the Safe and Sound Protocol.

19/06/2025

Did you know I have a weekly(ish) email newsletter? 📪

If you enjoy my social content and want even more tips, insights, and resources—this is for you!

Inside the emails, you'll find:

🌸 A quick roundup of recent research in child development
🌸 Simple, fun activities to try with your kids—plus the why behind them
🌸 Bite-sized facts about how kids grow, learn, and thrive
🌸 Toy, game, and book recommendations
🌸 Updates on all things adaptABLE and playABLE (including exclusive promo codes for my online course!)
🌸 And more!

Sign up and stay in the loop! 👉 https://www.adaptableot.ca/newsletter

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17/06/2025

Heads up: FDMT has a sale on right now! Up to 90% off!

Sale

17/06/2025

☀️ SUMMER ACTIVITY IDEA! ☀️

At our school’s Family Fun Night, I had the chance to set up an outdoor obstacle course—and it was a HUGE hit! My goals were simple: keep it low budget, make it fun, and ensure it worked for kids ages 4–14. Mission accomplished! There was a steady stream of kids running, climbing, jumping, and laughing their way through the course all evening. My son loved it so much, we’ve now recreated it in our own backyard for the summer.

That got me thinking—maybe other families would love a simple, budget-friendly obstacle course too! So I put together a FREE RESOURCE to help you build your own. Choose a few obstacles or try them all, and feel free to mix things up to keep it fresh.

Download your obstacle course guide here! 👉https://www.adaptableot.ca/obstaclecourse

If you give it a try, I’d love to see photos—tag me or send them my way!

Looking for a fun and easy way to keep kids active while supporting their development? Whether you're a parent, educator, or therapist, this outdoor obstacle course guide is packed with creative, budget-friendly ideas that challenge motor skills, build confidence, and burn energy through PLAY! ☀.....

17/06/2025

☀️ SUMMER ACTIVITY IDEA! ☀️

At our school’s Family Fun Night, I had the chance to set up an outdoor obstacle course—and it was a HUGE hit! My goals were simple: keep it low budget, make it fun, and ensure it was appropriate for kids ages 4–14. It went better than I could have ever expected! There was a steady stream of kids running, climbing, jumping, and laughing their way through the course all evening. Parents complimented me all evening. My son loved it so much, we’ve now recreated it in our own yard for the summer.

That got me thinking—maybe other families would love a simple, budget-friendly obstacle course too! So I put together a FREE RESOURCE to help you build your own. Choose a few obstacles or try them all, and feel free to mix things up to keep it fresh.

Download your obstacle course guide here! 👉https://www.adaptableot.ca/obstaclecourse

If you give it a try, I’d love to see photos—tag me or send them my way!