Nurture Pediatric Occupational Therapy

09/05/2025

HAPPY FRIDAY!

Sharing patient wins because the children I work with deserve to be celebrated!! 🥳👏🏼

Big or small - all wins matter.

09/02/2025

The back-to-school transition brings a lot of change! New routines, longer days, and big expectations 🤍

If you find your child melting down after school, know this could be their way of communicating that their nervous system needs a reset 🧠😌

Here are 4️⃣ easy strategies to try in your after school routine ⬇️

✨ Be present - provide your child with extra time to adjust after school.

✨Provide a nutrient dense snack - add something crunchy or cold to ground and regulate your child’s nervous system.

✨Create a cozy corner - this is a space where your child can go to help organize their nervous system. Weighted blankets, stuffed animals, music, bubbles, and head phones are all great additions to this space.
My son’s current favorite is his Tonie Box!

✨ Go outside - activities like swinging, climbing, and riding bikes are all great in helping reset your child’s nervous system.

Remember, it takes time to adjust to new routines. During this season, meet your child and yourself with kindness, support, and understanding 🫶🏻✨

08/28/2025

So grateful to be a partner with The Nest: Holistic Family Wellness Collective and Winning Edge Physical Therapy: Elevating Wellness Inside & Out✨🤍🫶🏻

If you’re looking into occupational therapy for your child or need more information ⬇️

call/text: 937-368-7573

We are so grateful to have partnered with .pediatric_ot to better serve our families. We are thrilled to have her in our office making it easier for families to receive genuine whole person care! Better yet moms can receive holistic approach to pelvic health therapy while their kiddos are seeing Jennifer. Our space is specially designed to allow this beautiful flow and collaboration.

Jennifer is an occupational therapist and owner of Nurture Pediatric Occupational Therapy. She has a deep passion for supporting children and their families during the early years of development. She specializes in working with children from birth to age five, helping them build the foundational skills they need to grow, play, and thrive!

She takes a nurturing, family-centered approach to care, tailoring her treatment sessions towards each child’s unique strengths and needs. Through collaboration with parents and caregivers, she aims to create meaningful, everyday strategies that support a child’s growth at home, in the community, and school.

With the majority of her career focused in pediatrics, Jennifer considers herself a life long learner. She has advanced training in primitive reflex integration, torticollis & plagiocephaly, total motion release (TMR), tethered oral tissues, developmental feeding techniques, and sensory interventions.

Whether it’s building motor skills, encouraging independence in daily routines,  or supporting sensory needs, she loves finding ways to help infants, children, and their families, succeed in the everyday moments that matter most ✨🤍

👇🏻 drop a comment to welcome Jennifer or reach out to schedule with her by call/text at 937-368-7573

08/28/2025

Goodbye summer, hello fall! 👋🏼🍁🎃

As the summer months come to a close, I’m excited to share that I will be adding an extra office day this fall!

Starting in September, office visits will be available on Thursdays AND Fridays by appointment 🥳

If you’re interested in pediatric occupational therapy for your little one, or would like to find out more information, reach out for a free phone consultation!

To schedule call/text: 937-368-7573 or email jennifer@nurturepediatricocctherapy.com

08/26/2025

It’s back to school time ✨✏️🍎

It’s been an eventful week in our house! On Monday I sent my oldest off to Pre-K (🥹) and today I went back to college, but this time as an adjunct instructor!

This fall will be busy, but I’m so excited to nurture 😉 the next group of OT practitioners!

With that being said, I will continue to serve families privately and will be adding an ADDITIONAL office day this fall! What does that mean? More space to consult and treat your kiddos 🙌🏻🥳

Goodness, my heart is so grateful 🤍

I can’t wait to see how God continues to write this story! ✨

08/02/2025

I took a leap of faith and transitioned into early intervention 3 years ago, and haven’t looked back! It’s messy and raw, but beautiful all at the same time 🤍🤍🤍

If I’ve had the privilege of working with your little one, thank you!! 🫶🏻

Nobody really tells you what it feels like to start out in Early Intervention.

One minute you’re doing school-based rotations or adult ortho, and the next… you’re standing in someone’s living room, trying to figure out how to coach a parent through their toddler’s 7 a.m. meltdown while the dog’s barking and Elmo’s blaring in the background.

EI is incredible work—but it’s also incredibly different from anything you learned in school.

So if you’re a new grad, transitioning from another setting, or just dipping your toe into EI, save these 9 things I wish someone had told me from the start:

1️⃣ Brush up on typical development
2️⃣ Learn the sensory system (it comes up daily!)
3️⃣ Observe real life—not just clinic setups
4️⃣ Know a few good EI assessments
5️⃣ Flexibility isn’t optional—it’s a must
6️⃣ Make friends with SLPs, PTs, and service coordinators
7️⃣ Find your support people (you’re gonna need them)
8️⃣ Reframe your role: it’s about the family, not just the child
9️⃣ Mentorship will save you from burnout

Early Intervention is where you get to be real, flexible, messy, and deeply impactful, all at once.

🔗 https://www.rfr.bz/f3f41c8

06/26/2025

Sharing 4 of my favorite activities for crawling! ⬇️

Let’s talk about crawling and WHY it is so important!

Crawling plays a crucial role in physical, cognitive, and sensory development. Here’s why:

1. 🧠brain development and coordination - think about that “cross-lateral” movement pattern a baby uses when crawling
2. 🏃muscle strength and motor skills - crawling strengthens key muscles for sitting, standing, and walking
3. 👀 vision development - crawling helps with depth perception and eye hand coordination
4. 🎯spatial awareness and problem solving - when crawling, babies learn to navigate their play space and avoid obstacles

Now, let’s talk about 4 purposeful play activities to encourage crawling ⬇️

1. Tall kneeling play - this is great for hip and core strengthening! Baby can tall kneel at a large diaper box, short bench, or push walker toy. Remember to bring their vision ⬆️ and have their legs shoulder width apart!
2. Baby wheelbarrow walks - this is all about strengthening the arms and weight shifting forward! Support baby at their trunk or place over your leg and have something visually engaging to look at!
3. Playing on hands and knees - this is a powerhouse position that strengthens the arms and the legs! 💪🏼 Have baby sit back on their heels, put their arms on a couch cushion, or place over your lower leg for more support!
4. Side sitting towards the left AND right - this helps your baby learn how to transition in and out of crawling!

All of these activities are appropriate for a baby who is independently sitting (6+ months)!

06/21/2025

Thrive Together - where maternal wellness and early development meet! 🌿

I’m so excited to be teaming up with Kelsey Homan, DPT, and Winning Edge Physical Therapy to offer this collaborative co-treatment designed to support the unique challenges of the postpartum journey, ensuring holistic care for both mother and baby!
Hey mamas — your healing matters just as much as your baby’s growth 🤍

Our unique combo visit with a pediatric OT and pelvic PT helps you both thrive — while saving time, stress, and money.

✔️ One visit, two experts
✔️ 15% off your first integrative session
✔️ No more juggling separate appointments

👩‍🍼 For You (Mom):
Pelvic health recovery, core strength, movement, and real-life self-care strategies that support your healing journey.

👶 For Baby:
Support for milestones, body alignment, reflex integration, head shape, and sensory processing.

💬 You don’t have to choose between your baby’s needs and your own. You can support both — at the same time.

Make time for both of you. Thrive together. 🤍🌿

If you have questions about this offering or interested in scheduling a visit, please reach out to me or Kelsey for more information! We can’t wait to help you and your baby Thrive Together 🫶🏻

06/02/2025

In collaboration with the Auglaize County Libraries, I will be hosting a sensory story time for their summer reading program!

Come, hang out, and leave with fun ways to promote your child’s motor skills through sensory play!

This event is free and no registration is required. Can’t wait to see you there ☺️

05/29/2025

Hey April mommas! With June approaching, it’s time to check your baby’s head shape 👶🏼
If you are noticing your baby prefers to look to one side or holds their head tilted in one direction, it’s important to follow up with an OT or PT who specializes in infant motor development!

Fun fact ➡️ you can self refer without a doctor’s script! If you notice any degree of asymmetry or flattening along the back of the head, reach out! From the first appointment, we can begin to address the root cause and improve head shape💪🏼
At Nurture, we offer a free 15 minute phone consult to discuss your concerns ⬇️

📱(937) 368-7573

*as always, these post are meant to inform and empower parents with knowledge to make the best decisions for them and their baby* 🤍

05/13/2025

I will be out of the office from May 14th - 20th to celebrate a friend’s wedding in Colorado! I plan to disconnect for a bit, so all inquiries will be contacted next week ☺️

05/07/2025

In preschool early intervention, occupational therapists (OTs) play a vital role in supporting young children (ages 3–5) who have developmental delays or disabilities. Here’s what an OT might do in this setting:

🖐️ Fine Motor Development
Help children improve hand strength, grasp, and dexterity
Support skills like using crayons, scissors, and puzzles
Prepare for writing readiness and pre-handwriting skills

🧠 Sensory Processing Support
Help children manage sensory sensitivities or seek appropriate sensory input
Use sensory strategies to improve focus, attention, and emotional regulation

👕 Self-Care Skills
Clothing needed at school (coat zippers, buttons, snaps, etc.)
Feeding (snacks and drinks), toileting, and hygiene routines
Support independence in daily classroom activities

🧩 Play & Social Participation
Use play-based activities to build motor, social, and cognitive skills
Encourage turn-taking, sharing, and cooperative play

🎒 Classroom Participation
Adapt classroom tools, materials, and routines
Recommend modifications or assistive devices if needed

🤝 Family & Teacher Collaboration
Provide strategies and home activities for families
Train teachers on techniques to support the child in class
Participate in IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meetings

The OT’s goal in early intervention is to help children become as independent and successful as possible in their preschool environment, setting the stage for a smooth transition into kindergarten.

Here is more information, including intervention ideas: https://www.theottoolbox.com/preschool-occupational-therapy