OT4me

10/10/2025

Our message for families on World Mental Health Day 💚👇

Today reminds us that mental health is part of everyone's story. Every family experiences it in their own way, and supporting one person's wellbeing often supports the whole family too.

At OT4me, we recognise how closely mental health and sensory processing are connected. Many children experience the world in rich and intense ways; sound, touch, movement or change can all feel powerful and sometimes unpredictable. This can affect how calm, safe or in control they feel.

Through occupational therapy and sensory integration, we help children tune into their sensory world and discover what helps their bodies and minds feel balanced. That might involve movement that supports focus, routines that create a sense of safety, or environments that reduce sensory load and feel more comfortable.

When a child's sensory needs are understood and supported, life often feels smoother for everyone around them. We explore how each child's nervous system responds to the world and what helps them feel grounded and secure, whether that is deep pressure input, sensory breaks during the day, or reducing background noise and visual clutter.

We also work in partnership with parents and carers to build confidence and shared understanding. When families recognise and respond to their child's sensory profile, everyday life can become calmer and more connected.

By supporting a child's sensory and emotional wellbeing, we help nurture healthier relationships, calmer routines and stronger mental health across the whole family.

10/10/2025

🌟 Upcoming OT4me Sessions – October Half-Term 🌟

There are still some fun and supportive sessions available for children this half-term!

📅 Tuesday 28th October
🕤 9:15am – 10:15am: Regulation Session
🕥 10:15am – 11:15am: Regulation Session / Room Hire

📅 Wednesday 29th October
🕙 10am – 11am: Floor is Lava / Hide and Seek Group (ages 4–7 years)

What we offer:
• 1-hour sessions
• £25 per session
• Maximum of 4 children per group
• Parents remain on site throughout

Our Floor is Lava sessions are a great way for children to build balance, coordination and social confidence through imaginative play in a safe, sensory-friendly space.

💚 To book or find out more, send us an email to enquiries@ot4me.co.uk or phone 01904 501601.

08/10/2025

💬 “This is the first report we have received that shows a professional has fully understood our child and all of their needs.”

We're so please when we hear feedback like this from the parents of the children we support. 💚

That's why we exist, to improve the lives of families that we work with.

Our assessments are designed to give families clarity, practical recommendations, and a sense that their child has truly been seen and understood.

We support children and young people of all ages, from early years through to teenagers, helping each individual build the skills and confidence they need at their stage of life.

If you have any questions, we provide a 30-minute free consultation call with one of our qualified occupational therapists.

Book a call here: https://ot4me.co.uk/book

07/10/2025

We're pleased to be able to share our next free webinar!

OT4me Clinical Director and Occupational Therapist, Lizzie Huxford will be helping us understand 'The Importance of Sensory Friendly Environments'

📆 Wednesday 15th October
⏰ 13:00 - 15:00 BST
🔗 Register: https://ot4me.co.uk/the-importance-of-sensory-friendly-environments/

This event is free and you can register for it on our new webinar hub. We're building a series of videos that take you on a journey of understanding sensory integration and occupational therapy. You can check out the new hub here; https://ot4me.co.uk/webinars/.

We hope to see you there!

05/10/2025

We're looking forward to the The Retreat Clinics's signposting event on Saturday 11th October at the York Explore Library and Archive.

Lizzie will be sharing her insights on sensory integration and the environment, a topic we she's both very knowledgeable and passionate about as an OT.

We hope to to see you there. Please come along and say hello, as it will be a friendly and informative day.

Are you coming along? 💚

04/10/2025

In his OT sessions we have been working on praxis: the ability to plan movements, needed for climbing and a whole host of physical activities. Also working on bilateral coordination; using both sides of his body at the same time. This is important for any task using two hands or feet together.

He's madtered climbing up now, bravo! We're working on the descent haha!

03/10/2025

Half-term is the perfect time for adventure and what better adventure than building dens? 🏰

At OT4me, our small group sessions give children the chance to create, climb, and construct their own hideaways. Den building isn’t just play: it builds problem solving, teamwork, and body awareness while giving children the freedom to imagine and explore.

Each session is guided by an Occupational Therapist trained in Sensory Integration, making sure play is purposeful and every child feels supported.

Spaces are going quickly so we're sharing this so you don't miss out!

What to expect:
• 1-hour sessions
• £25 per session
• Maximum of 4 children per group
• Parents remain on site throughout

📅 Dates and ages:
Wednesday 29th October, 10–11am → ages 4–7
Friday 30th October, 1–2pm → ages 8–11

📍 Bishopthorpe Clinic, York

📧 To book or find out more: enquiries@ot4me.co.uk

01/10/2025

Half-term is nearly here… do you know how your child will spend it? 🌟

At OT4me we've created small, supportive groups where children can build skills while having real fun. Think: ‘Floor is Lava’, den building, hide & seek and free play, all led by an Occupational Therapist trained in Sensory Integration.

What we offer:
• 1-hour sessions
• £25 per session
• Maximum of 4 children per group
• Parents remain on site throughout

📅 When & Where:
Wednesday 29th October, 10–11am, ages 4–7.
Friday 30th October, 1–2pm, ages 8–11.
At our Bishopthorpe Clinic in York.

✨ Why families join:
→ 🎨 Play: structured and free play promotes creativity, imagination, and joy
→ 🌈 Sensory regulation: helps children learn to self-soothe, manage arousal, and feel more 'in control'
→ 🗣️ Social interaction: opportunities to practise turn taking, conversation, sharing, cooperation
→ 🧠 Praxis / planning & motor planning: supports motor sequencing, planning, and ex*****on of actions
→ 🤸 Gross motor skills: jumping, climbing, balancing, whole-body movement to build strength, coordination, body awareness

Spaces are limited to just 4 children per group to make sure every child gets the right support.

📧 To book or ask a question: enquiries@ot4me.co.uk

29/09/2025

What do you see? A name drawn on a whiteboard?

Handwriting hacks that help children make progress. ✏️

One of our little ones absolutely hates handwriting practice, sitting down to write just feels like hard work.

So instead, we play a game. We "forget" the names of the toys and teddies he brings into session.

When Harry the Dog appears, I ask for help. He's in charge of writing the names on the whiteboard so I can remember.

From an occupational therapist’s perspective, it’s powerful to realise that handwriting isn't solely about neatness or pressure.

We're still building the fine motor skills, pencil control, and visual memory needed for handwriting. But we're doing it in a way that feels safe and motivating, rather than stressful.

That's what occupational therapy is all about: finding playful, meaningful ways to practise skills so children feel confident, capable and proud of what they can do.

28/09/2025

So proud of our friends at Teach Me Happy!

It received praise across the board 🍎✏️

26/09/2025

You may have seen recent headlines where President Trump and Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy suggested that certain medicines or vaccines could be linked to Autism.

They mentioned three things in particular:

- that taking paracetamol (also called acetaminophen or Tylenol) during pregnancy might cause Autism
- that a folate-based medicine (leucovorin) could treat Autism
- that childhood vaccines, especially MMR, should be spaced out

It is understandable that families may feel worried hearing this. But here is what scientists and Autism organisations want you to know: Families may have seen worrying headlines, but the best evidence shows no link between paracetamol in pregnancy and Autism.

Smaller studies have sometimes suggested a connection, but these studies often had weaknesses that larger, better-designed research has not repeated. The strongest and largest studies, including ones from Sweden and Japan that compared brothers and sisters in the same families, found no connection at all. High-quality studies continue to show no evidence of a link, and pregnant people are advised to follow NHS guidance. What we do know is that Autism has many contributing factors, with genetics playing the biggest role, alongside things like being born early, parental age, or health issues during pregnancy.

Experts were surprised by the announcement, because no new science was presented. The claims were based on opinion rather than strong evidence. Doctors continue to say that paracetamol is safe to use during pregnancy when needed, and that untreated fever can actually be more harmful to both parent and baby.

As for leucovorin (a type of folinic acid), a few very small studies have looked at whether it may help some autistic children who have low folate levels in the brain. The results are mixed, and it is far too early to say that it works or is safe for all children. Autism charities do not recommend leucovorin as a treatment at this time.

It is also important to understand why Autism diagnoses have increased over time. Charities point out that rising rates are most likely due to greater awareness and changes in diagnosis, not new environmental causes.

Families deserve clear, honest information. Autism is a natural and lifelong part of human diversity, not something that needs to be cured. The biggest risk of announcements like these is that they can give false hope or make parents feel guilty about choices they made during pregnancy. They can also cause more harm by discouraging parents from taking needed medication and put unborn babies at risk if important symptoms like fever are left untreated.

What matters most is that autistic children and their families receive support based on good science, compassion, and acceptance. This allows every child to flourish in their own unique way. At OT4me, we are dedicated to this mission and will continue to be.

23/09/2025

🌟 Big Achievements at OT4me! 🌟

This superstar came to OT4me following surgery, with significant movement difficulties, bilateral integration challenges, and difficulties with handwriting.

We’ve been working hard on praxis – that’s the ability to plan, sequence, and carry out new or unfamiliar motor tasks. Recently he amazed us by climbing up onto the tyre swing all by himself! 🙌💪

He was absolutely thrilled to meet his goal — and even more excited to set himself new goals and challenges. ✨

We are so proud of his progress, and Louise says she loves working with him — he’s such fun to do therapy with! 💚

Keep climbing high — the sky’s the limit! 🚀🌈