Premier Children's Therapy Center

03/16/2026

Great tips from .eat.in.color

03/13/2026

This is a super simple recipe that also works on eating skills/sensory exploration as well as some fine motor skills.

Make a batch of plain biscuits first to compare. Many kids are nervous about food that is a different color, even though we as adults know that food coloring does not typically change the flavor of a food.

After your child tries the plain biscuit, have them try the one with food coloring in it. Does it taste different? Try a blind taste test were you rip off the different colors and have them pick one with their eyes closed. Can they guess which color they ate? If they can’t, what does that tell them about the flavor and how your eyes influence your taste of food?

https://www.hellowonderful.co/post/easy-one-ingredient-mini-rainbow-pull-apart-bread/

03/12/2026

Hand separation is an important fine motor skill that allows the hand to have both power and precision. The ulnar side (ring and pinkie fingers) provides stability, while the radial side (thumb, index, and middle fingers) performs precise movements like writing, buttoning, or picking up small objects.

This coordination relies on ligaments, joints, and muscles working together across the wrist and finger joints. When the power side stabilizes, the precision side can move with control, enabling in-hand manipulation and refined grasp.

You see this skill in daily life—zipping coats, tying shoes, managing buttons, or holding objects in the palm while using fingertips. Difficulty with these tasks often signals a need to strengthen hand separation.

03/11/2026

There’s no other way to put it. Excessive screen time produces long-standing changes in the brain. https://neurosciencenews.com/anxiety-neurodevelopment-screen-time-30079/?fbclid=IwdGRleAQb0UBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEeMpEDKLpQQC4FyrFkKnX1z-zU5QDDO5Vug5fWeaNLLvK001iroKZOslXLeD4_aem_4qq8GCnuh804VvPueWtw3Q

03/10/2026

She was one turn away from victory…but, as is the nature of Uno, the player to her left placed a wild card down, just before it was her turn.

I could see the rage building. In a misguided attempt to offer reassurance, I said, “it’s just a game, you’re fine, it’s no big deal!”

She erupted with, “fine is what I would be if I wasn’t the biggest loser on the planet, but I am!”

Nothing I said after that could’ve stopped her from throwing the cards across the room, flipping chairs over, and storming away.

It’s worth noting, I was RIGHT.
Losing a card game is NOT a big deal in the context of all the suffering in the world.

But here’s why SAYING THAT to an autistic person makes things WORSE:

Escalation can happen if the person thinks you don’t understand…so their brain turns up the volume.

Because autistic people experience heightened emotions, the brain may intensify the reaction in a desperate attempt to align your understanding
with their experience.

So if you want to support faster recovery during emotional situations…try this:

Reflect their experience back to them.
In this example, I could’ve said, “You didn’t want that to happen. You were about to win. You were so close.”

Certainly she would’ve agreed with this assessment.
But certainly, she also would still feel frustrated.

However…perhaps her grimace might’ve softened just a little.
Maybe, in response to me REFLECTING her experience back, the rage wouldn’t have bubbled up quite so fast.

Feeling heard doesn’t erase disappointment, but it often prevents it from growing into something unsafe like self injury or aggression…which are common in autistic people.

Ultimately, my message to you is that you don’t have to fix the problem,
you just have to show you’re on their side.

When the brain turns up the volume to be understood, understanding is what turns it back down.

03/09/2026

Say it louder for the people in the back! 📢

03/06/2026

Have you heard of childhood apraxia of speech? Learn about it from someone who has lived through it! 

03/05/2026

Has your child been diagnosed with dysgraphia? If so, you might be wondering what that is exactly.

“Dysgraphia is a learning disability that makes it difficult for children to write. There are two sides to dysgraphia — motor weaknesses that affect the physical process of writing, and cognitive challenges with written expression.“

There are so many reasons that a child might have difficulty with writing. From tactile perception to visual perception to functional hand strength and working memory, handwriting is certainly a complex skill. It takes specific testing and then tailored treatment to improve a child’s handwriting. It’s not a one size fits all solution. Occupational therapists can help tease out what is contributing to your child’s dysgraphia diagnosis and how to help them best. ✏️

Dysgraphia is a learning disorder that impairs one’s ability to write. But with support, kids with dysgraphia can learn to write and do very well in school.

03/04/2026

♥️

03/03/2026

A photo is worth 1000 words and for kids, a photo can really drive home the idea of what you want them to do instead of just making a list!

For example, if you want your child to set up their homework station in a certain way or pack their backpack with everything they need, try taking a photo of what the proper set up looks like. This will help them envision themselves succeeding instead of relying on working memory to link the words to what a parent or teacher might be expecting. 📚

03/02/2026

Most parents know that babies are just fussy sometimes! But what indicates that there might be more going on and warrants some early intervention? These red flags are great things to keep an eye on as your baby navigates those first 12 months.

02/27/2026

Perfect tip! 🤩