Next Steps Therapies

14/12/2023

We love getting messages like this! Feeding is connected in such big ways to culture, values, and your family overall, and I love working with parents to find sustainable strategies and tools for success. We have spent months creating neutral and positive food relationships, and mom really wanted to push her daughter more to try new foods. We worked together to find ways that worked for mom and also allowed her daughter choice, control, and a neutral food experience. Night one of trying this new collaboration method and her daughter ate at least four new foods. Not only that, but she said she liked them!

Part of what I love about our systems is it allows for HIPPA safe and compliant messaging (over an app on your phone) so we can work together and share wins or questions in the moment throughout the week between sessions. Prior to dinner mom had messaged me clarifying how to present the foods and was able to get my feedback to setup this big win!

07/12/2023

⭐️ Let’s talk toe walking and some of my favorite exercises!

⭐️ Toe walking is a complex gait pattern since there are many potential contributing factors : sensory seeking, tightness, poor balance, higher muscle tone, weakness

⭐️ If your child is walking on their toes more than 80% of the time, it may be worth seeking a PT consult or evaluation

⭐️ PT can help evaluate for potential orthotics that can be very helpful for toe walking

⭐️ Follow along for more tips and tricks and some of my go-to exercises for different gait impairments!

29/11/2023

One atypical gait pattern I come across often is in-toeing, otherwise known as pigeon toe. There is often underlying weakness in the core, hips and ankles in these kiddos and gait retraining is also important.

If this is something you’re noticing in your child they may benefit from a PT evaluation and home exercise plan. Here are a few of my go-to’s for in-toeing!

Follow along for more of my favorite exercises and reach out for a consult or evaluation today!

09/11/2023

Sometimes parent conferences don’t go as we expect and then instead of having time for questions you are only given 15 minutes to talk with the teacher.

If you are looking for more guidance or strategies to try at home to support your child, we would love to help! We offer consultations or more regular parent coaching sessions to guide you on next steps or things to try at home to help. These services can also be used to help you navigate the school system process and be the best advocate you can be for your child.

08/11/2023

As therapist we are always learning and looking for more resources! I was glad I hopped on this APTA webinar last night to learn from school based PTs about best practice when treating kids Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in the school setting
Did you know Next Steps Therapies can support your child’s school based therapy needs if their school is not able to provide the services deemed necessary on their IEP?
Reach out today if we can help with this for your child

07/11/2023

A core value of Next Steps Therapies is neurodiversity affirming. And though it’s a big topic in speech therapy as well as related to sensory regulation and stimming, we believe that it can and should be incorporated into all parts of a child’s life. This includes feeding.

What does that look like?
- accepting that all people have food preferences. As an adult there are foods I don’t eat and no one is forcing me to. Accepting that different diagnoses have stronger food preferences.
- not using language like just take a bite, just try, kiss the food goodbye before you can leave the table. We don’t force children to interact with foods until they decide are ready.
- model what positive food interactions look like, all food has value to our bodies. Yes, even sugar, it may only last a short period of time, but it gives our bodies energy. We talk about what all food does for our bodies in age appropriate ways
- we take the time to build safety and security when it comes to food and mealtimes. If a child doesn’t feel safe, they will never be intrinsically motivated to try new foods. They will be trying new foods because they feel forced. It will become uncomfortable for them, and they will often become even more rigid. They may even begin to stop eating foods.
- we don’t tie rewards into trying new foods. We allow children to move at a pace they feel comfortable with and because they want to. Not to please an adult or make others happy

And of course what is needed changes when a child isn’t gaining weight or loosing weight or isn’t getting all the needed nutrients. Then it becomes a bigger conversation involving nutritionist and specialists.

05/11/2023

See you all Friday! Join open play and get any question you have around development answered- feeding, crawling, walking, regulation, sensory, best forks and plate to use, best toys to put on the kids holiday list, dressing independence/ best shoes, the free options for screenings and evaluations you don’t know about, when it’s time to see or ask for a specialist, and more.

Bring whatever questions you always want to ask your pediatrician, but never feel like you have the time to ask!

02/11/2023

Trying to figure out your child’s sensory system and help their overall regulation? Start with these four questions
⭐️ when are they struggling or dysregulated? What are they doing? What changed from what they were expecting or typically happens?
⭐️what sensory input had been added or removed? Did they enter a noisy place or no longer be allowed to move around?
⭐️ what happened before they became dysregulated?
⭐️what from their background could adding context to their response?

This questions can help you prepare for environments or activities you know your child has a difficult time with, either proactively, in the moment looking for warning signs of dysregulation, or thinking ahead to what your child will need when an activity is over.

Want more guidance around what to do with this information? Reach out today!

01/11/2023

We love hearing how our services and our model makes your lives easier and helps your child grows!

19/10/2023

Check out this webinar I recorded with Sarah from for more information on infant reflux and a whole body approach to treatment!

Watch videos made with Clipchamp, the best video maker for everyone.

12/10/2023

We are happy to work with your child’s school to make they don’t have to wait to makeup services and the skilled therapy they need and deserve without a delay or lag in services.

11/10/2023

My top prime day deals I’ve seen so far as a pediatric OT. Save for gift ideas!

10/10/2023

On this world mental health day we are thinking about all the children and caregivers who have struggled or are currently struggling. We are always here to offer support and guide our community towards the resources we know about.

📈did you know?

- 1 in 5 children experience a mental health disorder
- 50% of lifetime mental illnesses begin by age 14
- only 20% of children receive the health they need

-1 in 5 parents experience a mental health issue
- parents are at higher risk for depression and anxiety
- many parents feel they don’t have the resources or there is stigma to get help

❤️parents need help too and their health impacts the entire family. We are hear if need someone to listen or support you today and every day

🌼 every child deserves support.

Let’s work to build a world when mental health is a priority to all, our children can thrive, and our caregivers are supported

04/10/2023

OCTOBER is National physical therapy month! As a pediatric PT I am so grateful to be able to help children and families in my community. Shout out to the amazing PTs I know and the super hero kids who show up for PT and make our job so fun and rewarding. Blessed to do this work!

28/09/2023

I’ve been taking graduate courses on executive functioning and one of the biggest takeaways for me is the need to practice in context.

This means practicing and implementing the strategies immediately in the environments the child is struggling in. Research shows that working on executive functioning skills in a clinic setting or different settings doesn’t translate to independence or skill carryover to other contexts.

Two easy ways to use this information
- ask your child’s school what tools they are already using for emotional regulation, initiation, sequencing, planning, or other executive functioning skills and ask for examples so you can make the same supports at home.
- know that you will need those supports in the contexts or environments your child is struggling with. This doesn’t mean preparing your child beforehand doesn’t help. It means that practicing them at home if your child is struggling in the community probably won’t translate. Practicing them in the community is where you will see success.

Questions or thoughts? Let us know!

23/09/2023

Next week! Sign up in our link in bio for our FREE group to try it out

You can also find info and sign up link on our website www.nextstepstherapies.com

20/09/2023

Looking for support and guidance for your picky eater? I’m so happy to be offering this four week support group though the month of October at !

Come share your experiences, ask questions, problem solve together with the guidance of a feeding therapist. We can find support and suggestions around the questions such as
- picky vs problem feeding
- how to not feel like a short order cook
- using sensory play to encourage interacting with new foods
- building positive food relationships
- how to implement ideas like food chaining into your real
- how to talk about food
- and more

FREE group to try it out October 1!
4 week group (pay per group) starting October 15th

Link in bio to sign up!

19/09/2023

It’s happening! This is a long time coming and we are so excited to be offering this in our metro west area at Nature and Nurture in Bolton, MA.

Join our lunch bunch group starting October 14th at 12:30 for all things food exploration! FREE group to try it out September 30th.

Link in bio to sign up for both the free group and 4 week group package