Lisa H. Wister, Occupational Therapist

03/25/2026

Seeing this child at daycare. Stringing beads is a great way to work on two handed play, sequencing, pincer grasp, development of hand muscles, and building attention.

03/20/2026

Tummy time for preschoolers

Preschooler at home with her nanny for OT before school. Working on postural stability, fine motor coordination, and executive functioning skills like following directions and sustained attention. Playing with a motivating game on the floor, on her tummy, helps to build strength in her core, shoulders, and neck. These muscles are essential for good posture and stability.

03/18/2026

Kindergartener with nanny for at home OT after school. Goals for this one included two-handed play, following directions, sustained attention, grasp, and visual motor skills. His interest in many of the activities is low, but when he saw the hammer and nails his eyes got big and he was ready to play.


Link to Montessori Hammer and Nail set https://a.co/d/0HpmG3r
This is not a paid link or direct endorsement, simply an example.

03/15/2026

03/13/2026

Such a sweet picture of child and dad exploring new foods together. We focused on looking, listening, touching, smelling. All of these sensory experiences still count when one is learning about new foods.

03/11/2026

The Little Friends Family Support Network will host a relaxing and supportive “Care for the Caregiver” event on Friday, March 13, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Connect with caregivers of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities at Little Friends, 27555 Diehl Road, in Warrenville, Ill.

Learn how to connect your mind and body to promote relaxation with:

- Yoga instructor Kathy Snyder

- Registered Massage Therapist Dawn Hamilton

- Nurse Practitioner Marcelina Gora

- Occupational Therapy Intern Kailey Gasik

Participants should wear comfortable, easy-to-move-in clothing.

Limited onsite care services will be available during the event for participants’ children. Register by Wednesday, March 11, to reserve childcare.

For more information, including the link to register for this free event, visit https://zurl.co/IT7G6.

03/11/2026

Putting on gloves requires patience, coordination, and willingness to do new things. Goals for this little one included using his hands together at the same time. He was offered help but was determined to do it independently. Here he is showing his accomplishment!


You can find kid-sized Cutting Gloves here https://a.co/d/9oASoqQ
This is not a paid link or direct endorsement, simply an example.

03/09/2026

Our latest newsletter is out, and contains a warning against this feeding trend. Have you seen social media posts about this?

To receive ESI information and updates directly, sign up for our free monthly newsletter here:

https://lp.constantcontactpages.com/sl/AD6gcWg/ESInewsletters

03/09/2026

03/09/2026

When a child has ADHD, most of the support naturally focuses on helping them manage their energy, impulses, and big feelings.

But there is another child living in that family story too.

The sibling who shares the home, the noise, the interruptions, the quick reactions, and sometimes the emotional storms. The sibling who may love their sister deeply, yet still feel confused, frustrated, or overwhelmed at times.

Siblings often try very hard to understand what is happening. But without the right explanations, behaviour can simply feel unfair or difficult to make sense of.

That’s why helping siblings understand ADHD matters.

When children learn that hyperactive behaviour is connected to how a brain works – not because someone is trying to be annoying or difficult – it can build empathy, reduce resentment, and help siblings feel less alone in their experience.

Today’s visual from the Curious Conversations – Sibling Series is for children who have a sister with ADHD.

“My sister has ADHD – Hyperactive/Impulsive Type.”

It helps children understand why behaviour can look different, what meltdowns mean, how to keep themselves safe when things feel overwhelming, and an important reminder that many siblings rarely hear:

Your experience matters too.

Over the coming days I’ll also be sharing visuals for Inattentive Type and Combined Type ADHD so families can continue these conversations together.

To SAVE, click on the image, tap the three dots, and choose Save.
The brother version was published earlier today.

Niki
The Contented Child

03/09/2026

03/09/2026