Beyond Function,LLC

12/10/2025

Here are three important things parents should know:

👉 Reflexes don’t disappear on a schedule.
Some fade right on time, others linger, and some pop back up when kids are tired, overwhelmed or growing fast.

👉 A retained reflex can impact more than you’d think.
Balance, coordination, handwriting, attention, clothing fasteners and emotional regulation can all feel “off” when the body is still trying to work around an old pattern.

👉 Kids aren’t doing any of this on purpose.
If something looks harder than it should be for their age, it often means their nervous system is trying to do its job with extra steps in the way.

These patterns matter, and they deserve to be understood, not brushed off.

If you’ve been noticing small signs that don’t quite add up, we can help you sort through what might be happening beneath the surface.

12/06/2025

If your child seems to go from fine to flooded in a matter of seconds, it doesn’t mean they’re dramatic or “too sensitive.”
It usually means something felt too big too fast.

Kids feel things deeply even when they can’t describe what’s happening inside.
Their reactions are communication.
Sometimes loud.
Sometimes confusing.
But always telling you something.

If you want help understanding the “why” behind your child’s big reactions, reach out any time.

12/04/2025

If you’re already bracing for the comments about what your child does or doesn’t eat, you’re carrying more than most people see.

Kids stick with familiar foods because it helps their body feel steady when the environment feels big.
That isn’t stubbornness.
It’s survival.

You know your child better than anyone in the room.
And you’re allowed to block out the noise.

If meals feel heavy this season and you want to talk through what might help, reach out any time.

12/03/2025

The holidays come with so much sensory input. Even small changes can feel huge for kids whose systems get overwhelmed easily.

If your child seems more emotional or needs more breaks this season, there’s usually a good reason behind it.

If you want help sorting through what your child is feeling, reach out anytime!

11/28/2025

“It’s just a phase.”
That’s what most parents hear when their child refuses food.
But here’s the truth:
Just because picky eating is common doesn’t mean you have to wait it out.

👉 It’s frustrating.
👉 It affects your child’s health.
👉 And yes, what they eat (or don’t eat) impacts sleep, immunity, gut health, and long-term risk for chronic conditions.

We see kids who eat fewer than 10 foods.
Kids who gag at textures.
Kids who look “fine” on growth charts but are exhausted, constipated, or always sick.

You don’t have to figure this out alone.
Feeding therapy isn’t about forcing bites, it’s about building trust, comfort, and variety.

Comment “FEEDING” if you want to talk through what’s going on+ get a link to our blog about “5 Common Feeding Misconceptions That Leave Parents Struggling Alone”

We’ll help you decode the stress and build a plan that fits your child.

📍 Serving families in Olathe, KS and surrounding areas
📞 Beyond Function LLC

11/27/2025

“Does this mean my child needs OT?”
We hear this all the time, from parents who just left a school meeting, got a report, or noticed something at home that doesn’t feel quite right.

Sometimes the school says your child doesn’t qualify.
Sometimes there’s no OT on staff.
Sometimes you’re just left wondering… what now?

Here’s the truth:
School-based OT is focused on helping kids access the curriculum.
Outpatient OT looks at the whole child, how they function at home, in the community, and in daily life.

If your child struggles with sensory processing, emotional regulation, feeding, or fine motor skills, they might benefit from outpatient OT, even if school says they’re “doing fine.”

We’re here to help you sort it out.
No pressure. No judgment. Just answers.

📍 Serving families in Olathe, KS and surrounding areas
📞 Reach out to Beyond Function LLC with any questions, we’re happy to talk through it.

11/25/2025

Feeding and speech are deeply connected.

During evaluations, we ask about how your child chews, swallows, and reacts to different textures,not just to screen for feeding issues, but to understand how their body supports communication.

Oral motor coordination, sensory preferences, and breath control all play a role in speech clarity and regulation.
Even if your child isn’t in feeding therapy, these details help us build a clearer picture.

If you’ve noticed strong food preferences or reactions, bring it up. We’ll help you understand what it means and how it fits into your child’s communication profile.

11/23/2025

We can FULLY relate! Good article.

One thing I wish my speech therapist had understood when I was growing up with childhood apraxia of speech is that I needed to move. Being restricted to a chair and pushed to maintain eye contact didn’t support my speech, it actually made it harder. I’m not autistic, but as someone with apraxia, eye contact can be challenging because my body naturally relies on movement and visual shifts to coordinate certain sounds. Motor supports motor. That’s true for so many of us with apraxia of speech.

When I wasn’t allowed to move, everything tightened. My speech got harder. My frustration climbed. Anxiety hit. And eventually I’d shut down altogether. As a kid, I didn’t have the language to explain any of this. I just knew that when I tried to move, my SLP redirected me toward what she saw as “socially appropriate” motions, tapping my hands or feet, which didn’t help me at all. To her, that was enough. To my nervous system, it wasn’t.

This is why I always come back to the importance of supporting the whole child. Apraxia of speech doesn’t exist in isolation, motor planning challenges often show up across the body. And practices that have been normalized for generations can still be harmful, even when rooted in good intentions.

When we know better, we do better. And kids deserve better.

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11/21/2025

Ever heard of a reflex screen? Most parents haven’t, but it can explain a lot.

We’re all born with primitive reflexes that help us through birth, feeding, and early movement.

But if those reflexes stick around too long, they can interfere with:
• ✏️ Handwriting
• 🧍‍♂️ Balance and coordination
• 😵‍💫 Emotional regulation
• 🧠 Focus and attention
If your child startles easily, avoids eye contact during movement, or struggles with posture and fine motor tasks, a reflex screen might be the missing piece.

We offer reflex integration support right here in Olathe.

11/20/2025

When kids play with tiny toys, we’re not just building “finger strength.”
We’re watching how their hands, eyes, and brain work together during real tasks.

Some kids use a whole fist to pick up small pieces.
Others switch hands constantly.
Some avoid tiny items altogether because the coordination feels overwhelming.

Those patterns tell us a lot, not just about handwriting, but about dressing, feeding, utensil use, school readiness, and how organized their motor system feels.

If you’ve noticed your child struggling with buttons, zippers, pencils, or small toys at home, that’s worth paying attention to.

💬 If you’re curious what these little movements can reveal about development, send us a message, we’re happy to help make sense of it.

11/18/2025

Beyond Function LLC is hiring PRN occupational therapists in Olathe, KS!
We’re looking for passionate OTs available before and after school hours.
✅ Great pay
✅ Flexible scheduling
✅ Supportive, family-centered team
Perfect for therapists who want meaningful work that fits their life.
DM us or email info@beyondfunction.llc to learn more, we’d love to connect!

Beyond Function LLC is hiring PRN occupational therapists in Olathe, KS!
We’re looking for passionate OTs available before and after school hours.
✅ Great pay
✅ Flexible scheduling
✅ Supportive, family-centered team

Perfect for therapists who want meaningful work that fits their life.
DM us or email info@beyondfunction.llc to learn more, we’d love to connect!

11/14/2025

Let’s play: Three truths and one myth, can you spot the one that’s not quite right?

1️⃣ Kids should always have access to their “safe foods” at every meal
2️⃣ Kids will eat when they’re hungry
3️⃣ Even kids with a healthy weight might need feeding support
4️⃣ Weekly feeding therapy alone, without home practice, rarely leads to progress

✨ The myth? It’s #2.
Some kids won’t eat when they’re hungry, especially if eating feels hard, scary, or overwhelming.
We see kids, even at 5 or 6, who eat just enough to grow but still struggle with variety, volume, or mealtime stress.

Feeding therapy isn’t just about calories. It’s about comfort, regulation, and expanding what feels safe to eat.