Manashi Devi,Occupational therapist

26/10/2025

Proudly highlighting what i do for living.
As Pediatric Occupational Therapist I
1. Assess motor, sensory, cognitive, and self-care skills.
2. Develop individualized therapy plans.
3. Work on Improving fine and gross motor coordination.
4.Work on sensory processing and regulation.
5. Support self-care (feeding, dressing, grooming).
6. Facilitate play and social skill development.
7. Help Adapt environments and recommend assistive tools.
8. Support participation in school activities and academics.
9. Educate and guide parents/caregivers.
10. Collaborate with teachers and healthcare professionals.
11. Promote independence and confidence in daily life.
Over all Occupational therapy helps people of all ages achieve independence and improve their ability to perform daily activities. It focuses on enhancing physical, mental, and social well-being through meaningful occupations.

Key roles include:

Promoting independence in daily living tasks

Supporting rehabilitation after illness or injury

Adapting environments and using assistive devices

Enhancing mental health and coping skills

Assisting children with developmental challenges

Supporting older adults to maintain safety and independence

Promoting workplace ergonomics and community participation

In essence: Occupational therapy empowers individuals to live productive, independent, and satisfying lives.

20/10/2025

18/09/2025

For all new parents and soon to be parents ♥️

Benefits of Tummy Time 🍼✨

1. Physical & Gross Motor Development
• Strengthens neck, shoulder, arm, and back muscles 💪
• Prepares for crawling, rolling, sitting, and walking 🚼
• Prevents flat head syndrome (plagiocephaly) by reducing pressure on the skull

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2. Fine Motor & Hand Development
• Builds arm and wrist strength for later fine motor skills ✋
• Encourages reaching, grasping, and weight-bearing through the hands
• Supports hand-eye coordination 👀✋

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3. Sensory & Body Awareness
• Provides vestibular input → supports balance 🎢
• Gives proprioceptive feedback → helps baby understand body position 🧠
• Offers tactile exploration through floor textures 🌈

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4. Cognitive & Brain Development
• Encourages visual tracking while looking around 👓
• Builds problem-solving skills (e.g., reaching for a toy) 🧩
• Lays foundation for cross-body coordination later on

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5. Social & Emotional Growth
• Builds confidence as baby achieves new movements 🌟
• Strengthens bonding when caregivers interact face-to-face 💕
• Encourages independence and curiosity 🌍

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Quick Tips for Parents & Therapists
• Start tummy time as early as possible , a few minutes at a time 🕒
• Always supervise and keep it fun 🎶
• Use toys, mirrors, or your face to motivate engagement 🧸

23/08/2025

This is for generic information only. Please consult Occupational therapist to understand your child ‘s issues and needs.
Techniques Used in OT for Picky Eating

A. Sensory Integration Approaches

Many picky eaters have sensory processing issues.
• Food play & exploration → Touching, smelling, and playing with food without pressure to eat.
• Messy play → Using pudding, yogurt, rice, or pasta to desensitize tactile defensiveness.
• Texture ladders → Gradually introducing similar foods from preferred textures to more challenging ones.

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B. Oral-Motor Skill Development

For children with chewing or swallowing issues:
• Oral motor exercises: blowing bubbles, using whistles, sucking through straws.
• Practicing chewing on different textures.
• Introducing oral desensitization tools like vibration toothbrushes or chew toys.

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C. Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) Approach

A widely used OT-based method:
• Focuses on systematic desensitization.
• Steps: Look → Touch → Smell → Kiss → Lick → Bite → Chew → Swallow.
• No pressure to eat; success is celebrated at each exposure stage.

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D. Environmental & Behavioral Strategies
• Family-style meals to model positive eating behavior.
• Consistent mealtime routines.
• Limiting distractions during meals.
• Encouraging food chaining → Starting with a preferred food and slowly changing its shape, color, or flavor.

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E. Parent Coaching & Education
• Educating parents on responsive feeding rather than force-feeding.
• Helping families understand sensory preferences.
• Setting realistic goals and celebrating small wins.

20/08/2025

Let your children explore Barefoot walking during this monsoon .

Barefoot walking, also known as earthing or grounding, has several physical, sensory, and psychological benefits, especially when practiced on natural surfaces like grass, sand, soil, or pebbles.

Physical Benefits
1. Strengthens Foot Muscles & Ligaments
• Walking barefoot engages the small muscles in the feet and ankles, improving strength, balance, and stability.
2. Improves Posture & Alignment
• Without shoes, your feet naturally adjust to the ground, promoting better spinal alignment and reducing strain on the knees, hips, and lower back.
3. Enhances Balance & Coordination
• Direct contact with the ground improves proprioception (awareness of body position), helping in better balance and coordination.
4. Improves Blood Circulation
• Walking barefoot stimulates nerve endings and promotes better blood flow in the lower extremities.
5. Reduces Inflammation & Pain (especially when walking on natural surfaces)
• Some studies suggest that contact with the earth’s surface electrons may reduce inflammation and chronic pain.

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Sensory & Neurological Benefits
1. Boosts Sensory Feedback
• Barefoot walking activates thousands of nerve endings in the feet, improving sensory integration and motor planning.
2. Supports Brain Development in Children
• For kids, walking barefoot helps develop fine motor skills, balance, and coordination by enhancing sensory input.
3. Stimulates Acupressure Points
• Walking on uneven natural surfaces like pebbles or grass stimulates reflexology points, supporting overall well-being.

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Psychological & Emotional Benefits
1. Reduces Stress & Anxiety
• Walking barefoot on grass or sand calms the nervous system and promotes relaxation.
2. Improves Mood & Energy
• Grounding may help stabilize mood by lowering cortisol levels and improving serotonin balance.
3. Enhances Mindfulness
• Walking barefoot encourages you to slow down and be present, improving overall mental well-being.

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Best Surfaces for Barefoot Walking
• Grass → Calming, cool, and soothing.
• Sand → Strengthens foot muscles and massages reflex points.
• Soil or Mud → Refreshing and cooling, good for inflammation.
• Pebbles → Stimulates reflexology points but should be done gradually.

30/07/2025

Announcement-
Resuming free online sessions from August.
Every Saturdays, pre booked slots only.
Note - not mandatory to start/continue therapy under me to book free session.