Butterflies Holistic Occupational Therapy

Butterflies Holistic Occupational Therapy We are a friendly and reliable local children’s and adults occupational therapy service offering a bespoke and personalised approach within and around Leeds.

We are non-judgemental, flexible and transparent.

"They'll Eat When They're Hungry." (Spoiler: No, They Won't.)There is a massive difference between a child testing bound...
16/01/2026

"They'll Eat When They're Hungry." (Spoiler: No, They Won't.)

There is a massive difference between a child testing boundaries (Food Selectivity) and a child whose nervous system views a blueberry as a threat (ARFID/Sensory aversion).

Here is the hard truth: A child with a sensory feeding disorder will starve themselves before they eat a 'safe' food that has been 'contaminated' by a sauce they hate.

✨ Selectivity: Eats less than 30 foods but will eventually try new things.
✨ Disorder: Gags or vomits at the sight/smell of food. Drops entire food groups (e.g., no fruit at all).

The Golden Rule: You cannot discipline a child into eating. When you add pressure (bribing, begging, shouting), their body releases adrenaline. Adrenaline kills appetite. It is a biological fact.

If you are waiting for a referral to a dietitian or feeding team, the best thing you can do right now is declare a ceasefire. Make the table safe again.

Save this post. The next time a well-meaning relative tells you to "force them," show them this.

📋 REQUESTING AN EHCP:You or your child's school can request an assessment from the Leeds City Council SEND team.Include:...
13/01/2026

📋 REQUESTING AN EHCP:
You or your child's school can request an assessment from the Leeds City Council SEND team.

Include: Professional reports, examples of needs, and what's been tried.

⏱️ TIMELINE: 6 weeks for initial decision, 20 weeks for full assessment (if agreed)

💼 WHY OT REPORTS HELP:
Detailed professional reports provide specific evidence about your child's sensory, motor, and regulation needs, helping the SEND team understand the full picture.

📞 KEY LEEDS RESOURCES:
SENDIASS Leeds (free impartial advice)
Your school SENCO
Local parent support groups

💪 REMEMBER:
You can request an EHCP yourself
Private assessments can support your case
You're part of the team, making decisions

The process takes time, but support is available.

Questions about SEND? Ask below 👇

Save this post. DM us if you want a professional OT report to help support your case

07/01/2026

We 💜 our lycra swing.. definitely a firm favourite by all who come here (as well as us... obvs!). It's so versatile and can be used to regulate, develop postural stability, gross and fine motor skills, and also works so well as a den.

FYI l was not harmed when the lycra swing completed covered my head, but do hope this gave you a chuckle!

occupationaltherapistleeds

Back to School Doesn't Mean Back to MaskingHe was fine all day!" says the teacher. And you believe them. Until you get t...
05/01/2026

Back to School Doesn't Mean Back to Masking

He was fine all day!" says the teacher. And you believe them. Until you get to the car park.

That’s when the explosion happens. The screaming, the kicking, the absolute collapse.

This isn't "bad behaviour" because they feel safe with you. That’s a nice sentiment, but it doesn't help you drive home safely.

This is masking. Your child has spent 6 hours suppressing their sensory needs, mimicking social cues, and holding their body still to survive the classroom. They are exhausted.
If January means a return to the after-school meltdown, the school environment isn't working, even if the teacher says it is.

We need to build a sensory de-escalation plan for that 3:15 pm pickup before you even turn the engine on.

Drop a 🎒 in the comments if you dread the after-school pickup. Let’s talk strategy.

💜🦋
05/01/2026

💜🦋

30/12/2025

🌟Welcome to a studio session🌟

Having regulated this young person we could get cracking with developing their sensory processing, and associated postural stability. This is to enable them to engage and participate with everyday functional activities.

For more information contact
Hello@butterfliesot.com

29/12/2025

🌟 Why a peanut ball / gym ball is (sometimes) a good idea🌟

So you can use it to...
-bounce on and regulate yourself / bring yourself up if feeling tired,
-roll on which organises our brain and helps to calm and regulate,
-get steamrolled by it and get loads of calming sensory input.

Full disclosure, these are reasons why it my not work for your family.....
- You have a dog who may like to pop it!
-Space and where to store,
- If you have multiple children they may need their own which takes up more space.


leedsplace

End-of-Year Reflection from Our OT Families in Leeds.We asked: "What actually made a difference for your child this year...
28/12/2025

End-of-Year Reflection from Our OT Families in Leeds.

We asked: "What actually made a difference for your child this year?"

Here's what parents told us:

🎧 "Getting Loop earplugs. Game changer for school assemblies and shopping."

🏠 "Saying no to events. We stopped forcing gatherings, and our weekends are peaceful now."

📧 "Finally emailing the school instead of verbal conversations. Everything in writing = actual action."

🛏️ "Weighted blanket was a waste. A dark room and a white noise machine? That worked."

👕 "Buying 5 of the same outfit. No more morning meltdowns over clothes."

📱 "Stopping the bedtime battle. Turns out 9pm works better than 7pm for their body."

🏫 "Getting the OT report. School couldn't ignore professional recommendations."

Not every strategy works for every child. However, these were the small changes that made a massive difference.

What worked for YOUR family this year?

Drop it below - let's help each other 👇

💬 Want support for 2026? DM us

Your child isn't being difficult. They're drowning in sensory input.It's peak chaos season. Lights, noise, crowds, sched...
23/12/2025

Your child isn't being difficult. They're drowning in sensory input.

It's peak chaos season. Lights, noise, crowds, schedule changes, food smells, and people touching them. Their nervous system is SCREAMING.

However, here's what most parents often miss: Overstimulation doesn't always manifest as a meltdown.

Sometimes it looks like:
😶 Zoning out completely
🔄 Increased stimming (rocking, humming, pacing)
🧊 Saying 'no' to everything
😴 Collapsing after "fun" events
😡 Explosive reactions to tiny things

This is what professionals refer to as "sensory overload." This is what your child experiences as drowning while everyone tells them to swim harder.

The difference between MELTDOWN and SHUTDOWN:

Meltdown = visible distress (crying, yelling, aggression) Shutdown = internal collapse (zoning out, non-responsive, withdrawn)

What DOESN'T work:
❌ "Just calm down"
❌ "Use your words"
❌ "You were fine earlier"
❌ Forcing them to continue
❌ Adding MORE stimulation

What DOES work:
✅ Quiet, dim space
✅ No talking, no demands
✅ Let them stim, pace, decompress
✅ Give TIME (this isn't a quick fix)

Need strategies for sensory overload? DM us because understanding changes everything

Every year, well-meaning relatives buy sensory toys that get used once and forgotten. Here's what actually makes a diffe...
22/12/2025

Every year, well-meaning relatives buy sensory toys that get used once and forgotten.

Here's what actually makes a difference:

The gifts we recommend to our OT families aren't Pinterest-worthy. They're practical. They're boring. They WORK.

🎧 NOISE-CANCELLING HEADPHONES OR EARPLUGS Not for "special occasions." For daily survival. The canteen, the bus, the supermarket. Give the gift of accessible spaces.

🎟️ EXPERIENCES OVER TOYS Annual pass to a quiet venue they can visit on THEIR terms. Predictable, repeatable, regulation-friendly.

🌙 BLACKOUT CURTAINS Unsexy gift. Massive impact. Sleep affects everything, regulation, behaviour, learning and mood.

👕 SENSORY-FRIENDLY CLOTHING Find what they'll actually wear without complaint. Seamless socks, tagless shirts, soft fabrics. Comfort isn't negotiable.

⚖️ WEIGHTED ITEMS (WITH CAUTION) Some kids love them. Some kids feel trapped by them. Don't assume, ask or get a gift receipt.

What's on your child's actual wishlist? (Not the Amazon one, the nervous system one).

The holidays bring all kinds of pressure: "Just this once, make them sit still for photos", "Can't they try the food, it...
18/12/2025

The holidays bring all kinds of pressure: "Just this once, make them sit still for photos", "Can't they try the food, it's Christmas?" "Why can't they just behave for family?"

Here's what we tell our families: Your job isn't to make your child APPEAR neurotypical for relatives. Your job is to PROTECT your child's nervous system during an overwhelming season.

Things you have permission to do:
✅ Skip the family gathering entirely
✅ Leave after 30 minutes if needed
✅ Say no to Santa photos (they're genuinely traumatic for some kids)
✅ Serve only safe foods, even on Christmas Day
✅ Let your child stim, pace, or wear headphones at the dinner table
✅ Create completely new traditions that work for YOUR family

Need support navigating family expectations? DM us 🦋 We help families build strategies that honour their child's needs.

We wanted to share this. New Woman’s Hour podcast diving into SEND support. As OT practitioners, we see daily how the ri...
17/12/2025

We wanted to share this. New Woman’s Hour podcast diving into SEND support. As OT practitioners, we see daily how the right interventions transform outcomes for children with additional needs. Worth a listen if you’re navigating the SEND system.

Link in comments

Address

Leeds
LS81AY

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 6pm
Tuesday 9am - 6pm
Wednesday 9am - 6pm
Thursday 9am - 6pm
Friday 9am - 6pm

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Hi

We are about making positive change happen. We do this by being holistic and bespoke.

Butterflies explores and assess’s, plans bespoke solutions, engage’s and implements therapy and evaluates intervention and progress.

We offer services to support children who may be having difficulties with everyday activities which is having a negative impact on their lives. These include, dressing, toileting, feeding, emotional regulation, handwriting, fine motor. We provide assessment, goal setting and therapy.

We can complete specific assessments to support your children with gaining learning access arrangements at school such as use of a laptop and/or extra time in exams if relevant and required. These assessments are linked to handwriting, motor function impairment and any sensory needs.