OT 4 kids, Inc.

09/20/2025

08/30/2025

HOW TO IDENTIFY AND HELP A CHILD WHO STRUGGLES WITH SENSORY PROCESSING

"Children with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or sensory integration challenges aren’t trying to be difficult. Their nervous system reacts differently to input. What feels neutral to us might feel like “too much” or “not enough” to them. Behavior is often a signal that their system is in overload or seeking regulation."

08/10/2025

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07/20/2025

Proprioception input has a calming effect, particularly when a person is feeling overstimulated. Heavy work activities are particularly effective for calming. These printable suggestions offer heavy work ideas that can be used with children at home or in the classroom. >>> https://www.thechaosandtheclutter.com/product/heavy-work-activity-printables?ref=89 (affiliate)

07/13/2025

06/19/2025

What I wish people knew about parents of profoundly autistic children…

We’re not just tired. We’re on alert. Always.
We don’t sleep deeply. We don’t rest fully.
Even when our children are safe, our nervous systems don’t get the memo.

We scan rooms for danger before we enter.
We memorize every object that could be swallowed, shattered, or used to self-harm.

We don’t get to relax at dinner. Or at the park. Or even in our own homes.

We are always calculating…where the exits are, how loud the room is, whether the people near us are kind or curious or about to judge.

We lose track of how many times we’ve said “no” in a day.
Not because we want to but because our child’s safety depends on it.

We love fiercely. Unconditionally.
But that love exists alongside grief. Not instead of it.

We grieve the milestones that never come.
The “I love you” we’ve never heard.
The hugs that never happen.
The kind of childhood our other kids miss out on.

We have joy. Absolutely.
We celebrate the things most people take for granted.
A shared glance. A smile. A word approximation. A safe day.

But the truth is…beneath it all, we are carrying so much.
And no one sees it unless they’ve lived it.

We don’t need pity. We don’t need praise.
We just want people to understand that behind every autistic child is someone fighting, quietly, constantly, and often invisibly, to keep them safe, supported, and seen.

Caregivers matter even if they’re not the one living with autism. And often, they do too.

06/19/2025

06/17/2025

🧠💡 How Can You Tell if Your Child is Struggling With Self-Regulation?

Recognizing self-regulation challenges means watching for patterns in behavior 👀. Kids who are having a tough time with self-regulation may:

🙈 Grab or touch objects impulsively
🤣 Act overly silly or “out of control”
😡 Have tantrums or meltdowns
🔄 Struggle with transitions between activities
⏳ Have difficulty waiting or taking turns
🧍‍♂️↔️🧍‍♀️ Struggle with being in close proximity to others (e.g. circle time)
😤 Demonstrate problems and frustration during social interactions (e.g. talking too loud, standing too close, touching others)
🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ Have difficulty walking or waiting in line
⚡ Move too quickly or with too much force

❤️‍🩹 How can you support the development of self-regulation in your child?
👇 Check out some of our best activities and ideas in the first comment below!

05/18/2025

05/17/2025

Let's talk crawling!

04/09/2025

04/07/2025

The pyramid of learning has been updated to include interoception, a major underlying factor! https://www.theottoolbox.com/what-you-need-to-know-about-interoception/

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Here’s the link to download the original file: https://play-spark.com/collections/resources/products/pyramid-of-learning-informational-handout