Beyond Function,LLC

09/05/2025

We know it can feel hard to pull your child out of school for therapy. Parents often worry they’ll “fall behind” by missing class time.

But here’s the truth: when a child is struggling with motor, sensory, speech, or feeding challenges, those struggles follow them into the classroom. Therapy isn’t taking away from learning, it’s building the foundation that makes learning possible.

✅ OT and speech support attention, organization, and focus
✅ Strengthen the motor and sensory skills kids need for writing, reading, and play
✅ Build communication so kids can participate fully in class

Think of it like any other medical appointment: taking time now helps your child be more successful in the long run. And to ease the worry, we’re always happy to provide a letter for excused absences so school understands the importance of your child’s therapy.

💬 If you’ve been debating whether to keep therapy during the school year, send us a message. Let’s talk about what’s best for your child’s growth, both in and out of the classroom.

09/03/2025

Early support makes a difference. Whether therapy happens at home, in the community, or in the clinic, the goal is the same, giving your child the tools to grow, play, and participate in everyday life.

Early Intervention helps families embed skills into daily routines, while clinic-based therapy can offer more focused, hands-on support. Many families benefit from both approaches working together.

The truth is, these approaches don’t compete. They can complement each other beautifully. EI supports families in daily routines, while clinic-based therapy provides more structured, focused intervention. Together, they can give your child the strongest foundation for growth.

💬 If you’re unsure which is right for your little one (or if both might help), send us a message. Our team in Olathe is here to talk it through with you.

09/01/2025

We used shaving cream in therapy today.

Not just for fun (though the smiles said otherwise).
This kind of sensory play supports:
🖐 Tactile exploration for kids who avoid certain textures
✍️ Pre-writing practice without the pressure of paper
💪 Fine motor coordination through finger and hand movement
🧠 Nervous system regulation through calming, repetitive motion

For some kids, it’s a way to build confidence with mess.
For others, it’s a tool for focus, strength, and expression.

Simple materials. Big purpose.

08/28/2025

Early language isn’t about big sentences, it starts small. Pointing to a toy, waving “bye-bye,” babbling back-and-forth, or using single words like “more” or “up.”

By around 12 months, many toddlers show those first attempts to communicate with gestures or simple words. By 18 months, you’ll often see a handful of single words. And by 2 years, short word combinations like “more juice” or “go car” usually appear.

If your child isn’t yet showing these early steps, it doesn’t mean something is “wrong”, but it can be a sign that extra support would help. The earlier we check in, the easier it is to build strong communication skills.

💬 Wondering about your toddler’s speech and language? Send us a message, we’re here to answer questions and guide you toward the right support.

08/26/2025

Baby-led weaning can be a wonderful way to support independence and oral-motor skills, even for babies with special healthcare needs. But it often looks different depending on each child’s abilities.

Some babies may need extra support with positioning, softer textures, or a combination of spoon-feeding and self-feeding.

What matters most is making mealtimes safe, stress-free, and positive for your little one.

💬 If you’re navigating mealtimes with a baby who has unique needs, send us a message. We’re here to help you find a safe path that works for your child.

08/20/2025

Bilateral coordination is the ability to use both sides of the body together in a smooth, coordinated way.
It’s essential for school skills, sports, self-care, and play.

When this skill is tricky, a child may tire easily, avoid certain games, or get frustrated with daily tasks like dressing.

In OT, we use fun, movement-based activities to build this skill ,so kids can feel more capable and confident in everything they do.

💬 Have you noticed any of these signs? Follow us for more ways to support your child’s development.

08/19/2025

08/14/2025

We use yoga-inspired movement in therapy for more than stretching.
It gives kids a chance to slow down, check in with their body, and build skills that support them beyond the session.

Sometimes it looks like deep breathing and quiet poses.
Other times it looks like wobbling, giggling, and falling over trying something new.

But underneath it all, there’s regulation, strength, body awareness, and confidence growing with every breath.

📩 Curious how yoga fits into OT? We’re happy to share how it works.

08/12/2025

It’s one thing to pronounce a word correctly when practicing…
It’s another to say it clearly in the middle of a sentence, during play, or when emotions are high.

This is something we see often, and it might be related to articulation or phonological processing.

🗣 Articulation challenges are about how a child moves their mouth, lips, and tongue to form sounds.
🧠 Phonological processing is more about patterns in the brain, like swapping sounds (“tat” for “cat”) or leaving them out completely.

If your child gets frustrated when people don’t understand them…
If they avoid certain words, sounds, or stay quiet around new people…
These might be signs their speech system needs a little extra support.

The good news? There are evidence-based tools that can help.
And the earlier we spot the patterns, the easier it is to make lasting change.

💬 Comment SPEECH if this sounds familiar and you’d like to chat about next steps.

We’ll send you info and help you figure out what’s going on.

08/12/2025

You might notice your child always on the move, bouncing, touching, crashing, spinning...
Or maybe they pull away from textures, avoid loud places, or get easily overwhelmed by change.

Both of these can be signs of how your child experiences the world through their sensory system.

And no, it’s not misbehavior.

It’s how their nervous system is working to feel safe, organized, and in control.

As an OT, I often talk with families who are just starting to realize their child might be seeking or avoiding sensory input—and once they know what to look for, everything starts to make more sense.

✨ If you're learning about sensory needs or want more insight into these cues, you're in the right place. We share helpful info each week to support you and your child, follow along to learn with us.

08/07/2025

That’s when we call them retained primitive reflexes, and they can quietly impact how a child moves, learns, or regulates.

We often see retained reflexes show up as:
🌀 Poor coordination or clumsiness
🌀 Difficulty sitting still or focusing
🌀 Handwriting struggles despite strong effort
🌀 Sensitivities to movement, sound, or touch
🌀 Emotional overreactions or meltdowns

At Beyond Function, we gently assess for these patterns using play-based observation and movement tasks. If retained reflexes are present, we build in targeted, calming movements to support integration—always at the pace that feels safe and doable for the child.

💬 Wondering if this might be part of your child’s challenges?
We’re always happy to chat about what we see and how therapy can help.