Faith and Function

02/19/2026

Can’t calm your child? 💨
Start with the body.

Blowing activities help slow the nervous system and build focus.

Calmer body = better behavior. 💚

02/12/2026

Yesterday I shared why cursive handwriting is making a comeback. ✍️

Today, I’m sharing the full occupational therapy perspective.

Cursive isn’t about nostalgia. And it isn’t about replacing technology.
For some children, it’s a practical solution to a very real learning barrier.
If a child is:

• Reversing letters
• Fatiguing quickly
• Avoiding written work
• Struggling to get ideas onto paper

Cursive can sometimes make writing easier — not harder.

I wrote a full breakdown explaining:

• Why cursive reduces motor demands
• How it can decrease reversals
• What it means in an AI-driven world
• And when it’s appropriate (and when it’s not)

Read the full article here:
https://faithandfunction.info/blog/cursive-handwriting-is-making-a-comeback-and-how-it-can-help-struggling-writers

As always, the goal isn’t perfect handwriting.
It’s functional communication.

As schools across the country revisit cursive handwriting, the conversation often becomes emotional. Some view cursive as outdated. Others see it as essent

02/11/2026

With schools bringing cursive back into classrooms, many are asking whether handwriting still matters in a digital world.
As an occupational therapist, I see the developmental benefits weekly:

• Bilateral brain activation
• Stronger memory encoding
• Increased creativity
• Support for focus and emotional regulation

When students who struggle finally succeed in cursive, the confidence shift is noticeable.

Technology can assist learning — but foundational skills still shape the brain.

If you’re a parent or educator, I’d love to hear what you’re seeing in your classroom or home.

01/20/2026

As we reflect on our first year at Faith & Function, our hearts are full of gratitude.

This year, 44 children and their families entrusted us with their care, and together we shared approximately 1,400 individualized therapy sessions.

Each session represented more than therapy—it represented trust, effort, growth, and hope.

Behind every number is a child with unique strengths, a family showing up consistently, and meaningful moments of progress—both big and small.

It has been an honor to support regulation, functional skills, and participation in daily life for the children we serve.

I am deeply grateful to every family who chose Faith & Function, to those who referred and supported us, and to the community partners who walked alongside us this year.

Thank you for trusting us with something so precious.

Serving this community is a privilege we do not take lightly 🤍

— Alicia
Faith & Function Pediatric Therapy

01/16/2026

Joyful, regulated kids do their best work ❤️

01/14/2026

Not all anxiety looks like meltdowns.

Some children freeze.
They shut down.
They avoid.

This can be related to an early nervous system reflex called the Fear Paralysis Reflex—a protective response that activates when the brain doesn’t feel safe enough to fight or run.

When this reflex stays active, it can impact how a child handles stress, transitions, and new situations.

Understanding the why changes how we support them.

Anxiety isn’t always emotional—sometimes it’s neurological.

12/18/2025

This morning was a small way to say thank you to a team that gives so much every single day.

I’m incredibly grateful to work alongside teachers who welcome collaboration, value early intervention, and genuinely care for the children they serve.

Being here several days a week and supporting these kids has been a true privilege.

I don’t take lightly the trust it takes to invite someone into your space, your routines, and your children’s days.

Thank you for your openness, partnership, and the work you do. I’m truly thankful for each of you. ❤️

12/01/2025

December is magical✨ — but for sensory-sensitive, autistic, and ADHD kids, it can also be overwhelming. Bright lights, loud events, and nonstop schedule changes add up fast.

I put together a practical OT guide to help make the entire Christmas season calmer and more predictable for kids who struggle with sensory overload.

Inside the blog:

• Simple ways to reduce sensory overload at home
• Strategies to support kids during school and community events
• Routines that protect regulation all month long
• Low-stimulation holiday activities that don’t overwhelm
• A weekly rhythm that helps prevent December burnout

If your child or students struggle in December, this guide will help you create a season that feels safe, calm, and manageable — without sacrificing the joy they’re excited for ❤️.

Read the full guide: https://faithandfunction.info/blog/a-sensory-friendly-christmas-season--how-to-make-december-calmer--predictable--and-joyful-for-your-child

11/14/2025

Picky eating, sensory overload, and nonstop movement can make Thanksgiving really hard for kids.

If your child refuses holiday foods, gets overwhelmed by the noise and smells, or can’t sit still at the table, you’re not alone. This OT guide will help you create a calmer, more peaceful Thanksgiving meal. 🤎

Inside, I break down simple strategies for preparing your child, reducing overwhelm, and supporting hyperactive kids who need movement to stay regulated.

Read the full guide here → https://faithandfunction.info/blog/thanksgiving-with-a-picky-eater--ot-strategies-for-a-calmer--stress-free-holiday-meal

11/06/2025

Can’t sit still? Fidgeting nonstop? It’s not always a behavior-sometimes is a reflex that’s still active.

Watch how simple play can calm the body, improve focus, and unlock learning and speech.

When the spine can rest, the brain can learn 🧠

10/31/2025

💙🩵💜🧡 Every pumpkin tells a story.

💡 You may see children carrying blue, teal, or purple pumpkins tonight — each color has a special meaning.

These colors remind us that inclusion can start with something as small as a pumpkin — and that every child deserves to participate, in their own way. 🎃

Save and share to help spread kindness this Halloween!

💜 From Faith and Function Pediatric Therapy
faithandfunction.info

10/29/2025

💜 Trick-or-treating should be fun — not stressful.

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I’m sharing 3 simple, OT-approved strategies to help make Halloween calm, confident, and enjoyable for every child.

From sensory-friendly costumes to visual supports and calming movement, these small changes can make a big difference for kids with sensory or communication challenges.

🎃 Read more OT tips and family strategies at faithandfunction.info