
Sarah Shakibaie
Sarah is the co-founder and Senior Occupational Therapist at Ready Kids, known for her warm, practical approach and her commitment to creating meaningful change in children's everyday lives. She is driven by a passion for helping children thrive through strategies that are accessible, collaborative, and grounded in real-world environments.
After graduating from the University of Queensland, Sarah worked exclusively in paediatrics, gaining extensive experience across both public and private settings. Her work with the Department of Education took her into primary schools, high schools, special schools, and Early Childhood Development Programs (ECDPs), where she supported teachers and witnessed firsthand the power of true collaboration between educators and therapists, an experience that continues to shape her practice today.
Sarah also worked in private practice, supporting neurodivergent children and children with physical disabilities, deepening her understanding of diverse developmental needs and family experiences. These roles strengthened her belief that children achieve their best outcomes when the adults around them are equipped with the right knowledge, tools, and confidence.
Motivated by this vision, Sarah founded her own practice, where she combines one-on-one therapy with children and capacity-building support for educators. She is passionate about creating inclusive environments and sharing occupational therapy knowledge in a way that empowers parents, teachers, and childcare professionals to support children across all parts of their day.
With her practical strategies, collaborative mindset, and strong belief in the potential of every child, Sarah continues to help create communities where children feel understood, supported, and capable.
Articles by Sarah

What Causes Autism? (Evidence-Based Causes of Autism)
Deciphering the enigma of what causes autism can often feel like a never ending journey. This complex blend of genetic and environmental factors continues to baffle even seasoned researchers. So as parents and health professionals, we can only talk about what they know so far. Our blog will act as your compass, highlighting potential risk […]

From Diapers to Big Kid Underwear: Potty Training with Pull-Ups
Are you feeling overwhelmed by the idea of transitioning your little one from diapers to big kid underwear? We’ve got you covered! In this blog post, we’ll explore the world of potty training with pull-ups and provide helpful tips to make the process a breeze. Get ready to say goodbye to diapers and hello to […]

Learning Social Skills for Children With Autism
Understanding and developing social skills can be challenging for children with autism. Autism affects a child’s ability to navigate social norms and understand social cues, which often impacts relationships. Over the last few years, there has been a significant shift towards neurodiversity. With adult autistics speaking up about their experiences with different types of therapy, […]

Girls on the Spectrum: Unmasking Female Autism Symptoms
Girls on the Spectrum: Unmasking Female Autism Symptoms Do you ever wonder if your daughter’s quietness or shyness might be something more? Recent research suggests that girls with autism, often overlooked due to masking their symptoms, may go undiagnosed. This article aims to unmask the hidden signs of female autism and offer guidance for diagnosis […]

Can You Outgrow Autism? (The TLDR: No)
Are you a parent wondering if your child may outgrow autism? Current research suggests that it’s not typically something one can simply grow out of. However, this article aims to debunk the myths around “outgrowing” autism and provide practical guidance on navigating its lifelong implications. Key Takeaways Can You Outgrow Autism? TLDR: No, you cannot […]

Playing with Balls: Outdoor and Indoor Activities for Children
Are you looking for ways to get your kids off their screens and engage in active, fun-filled play? Playing with balls helps improve motor skills and hand-eye coordination while keeping children entertained. This blog delves into a variety of exciting indoor and outdoor ball activities for children that are not just fun but also help […]

5 Cutting Playdough Activities for Child’s Fine Motor Development
Having little ones at home often leaves parents searching for ways to boost their child’s development. Did you know that engaging your child in cutting playdough activities can significantly improve their fine motor skills? This blog will guide you through easy, fun-filled playdough exercises that enhance precision and hand-eye coordination while nurturing creativity. Let’s kickstart […]

Floortime Play Therapy for Children with Autism
Do you have a child with autism and are left wondering about effective therapy options? Floortime Play Therapy might be the answer. It is an engaging therapy that harnesses play to promote social, emotional, and cognitive development in children on the spectrum. Follow along as we delve deep into this unique approach, its benefits, how […]

Autism Pretend Play: Mind-Blowing Fun for All Ages!
Are you a parent of a child with autism, struggling to understand how to foster your child’s pretend-play skills? Imaginative play, also known as pretend play, is crucial for every child’s development, including those on the Autism spectrum. In this informative blog post, we will delve into how engaging in pretend play can greatly benefit […]

Gross Motor Skills Development in Toddlers (Milestones & Games)
The development of gross motor skills is important in early childhood. Gross motor movements or skills involve the functioning of large and strong muscle groups in the body and if a child lacks in this department of development, they will not be able to sit, crawl or hold their heads up. If the problem is […]

Kids Visual Timers: A Powerful Tool for Teaching Time Management
Visual timers are a great tool for parents and educators alike to support children in understanding time duration and staying on task. With a little practice, you can make sure your child gets the most out of a visual timer! In this article, we’ll explore the various types of visual timers available and how they […]

Soiling in Children: A Guide to Understanding and Support
Soiling, also called encopresis, can cause a great deal of stress for both the child and the parents. It occurs more often in boys than girls and usually starts around age 4. Soiling can happen because the child is not toilet trained yet. On the other hand, often parents find that their child has started […]

Cutting Activities for Preschoolers: Foster Fine Motor Skills and Creativity
Teaching young children to cut with scissors is an important skill to develop. Learning this skill benefits their fine motor development and eye-hand coordination. It is also a great way for them to be creative and express themselves. There are a lot of scissor skills activities for preschoolers that you can do at home to […]

17 Water Activities For Kids: Activities With Water that Boost Your Child’s Development
Water play is a fun and exciting activity that can be done all year round. Especially when the hot summer days are here, what could be more enjoyable than spending some cool time splashing in the water? Water play does not just provide an avenue for children to cool off on a hot, sunny day, […]

14 Must-Read Books on ADHD for Parents: Understanding Your Child
Whether you are a parent of a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or an adult with ADHD, there are many books out there to support you through this journey. You know that the experience of parenting can sometimes be quite overwhelming and daunting. More than helping your child, you need to first understand […]

Occupational Therapy Home Programs for Kids: A Guide for Parents
Occupational therapists are the best people to address the common concerns that parents have for their kids. OTs are specially trained in how to address developmental milestones and help children learn the skills they need to be successful in school and in life. One of the most common questions that parents ask is, “What is […]

15 DIY Homemade Fidget Toys Ideas: Super Easy To Make!
Over the years, we have seen an increase in the use of fidget toys in the mainstream setting. Whether it is the ever-popular fidget spinner, pop it, or the fidget cubes, these tools can help keep our children’s hands busy. However, a fidget toy is not something that is new. In fact, fidget tools have […]

Best-Selling Children’s Books About Autism (Our Top 6 Recommendations)
When it comes to learning a new skill or task, children do their best particularly if they are engaged in the task and interested in it as well. The same works for learning language and this is no different in the case of children who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Children with autism […]

7 Autism Clothing Issues Parents Come Across (And How To Fix Them)
As a parent of a child who has special needs, there are many things that you might come across. One of them is in relation to clothing issues. Some parents of toddlers are usually concerned about their children taking all their clothes off. This is in the case of typical children, who might face this […]

Sensory Station Ideas for Childcare
Setting up a sensory activity station in-home or in a classroom could be a fun and engaging way to help children work on their sensory development. Sensory play activities could be as much fun for young kids who are diagnosed with a sensory processing disorder, as they could be for older kids. Kids of all […]

Executive Functioning Strategies For Children
Executive function skills are a set of cognitive skills that are required by everybody to lead a normal life. Executive functioning skills are the critical processes of our brain that help us in finishing our tasks and meeting our objectives. Therefore, we use executive function skills for almost everything that we do in our lives […]

29 Indoor Gross Motor Activities for Children
The development of gross motor skills is vital for all children in terms of their well-being and growth. When the gross motor skills of a child are rightly developed, it helps them and supports them in getting a better physical development, healthy growth, control of their fine motor skills, high level of concentration, and brain […]

Occupational Therapy for a High School Student
Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of health care that helps you to carry out the things you want to, need to, or are expected to do. Although people often associate occupational therapy with people who have experienced an injury or have a disability, Occupational Therapists work with a range of people, including high school […]

What Is a Pen Gripper? (And How It Improves Handwriting)
A pen gripper, or commonly known as a pencil grip, is a small device that is used to hold a pen or pencil in place. It is usually made of plastic and has a small grip that can be inserted into the barrel of the pen or pencil. The gripper is then placed over the […]

What Causes a Child to Chew on Clothes?
Most babies during their developmental years of the oral stage seem to put everything in their mouth. This is usually done by infants at the stage of teething or when they are trying to make sense of the world around them. But the problem arises when a preschooler or a child who is at the […]

The Association Between Toe Walking and Autism
The pattern of walking in which the toes and balls of the feet come in contact with the ground instead of the heels is known as toe walking. This is a common walking pattern in children who are younger than 2 years and are trying to walk. But if your child continues to toe walk […]

Play Tunnel For Kids: Benefits Of Kids Crawl Tunnels
What Is Crawling Through Tunnel? Crawling through tunnels is an exercise for children to hop onto all fours and crawl through a cylindrical tunnel. This helps improve blood circulation, strengthens the muscles, develops lower body strength, and also tones the body. Additionally, a crawl tunnel can also help improve joint mobility and flexibility. So, encourage […]

Slant Board for Writing: 9 Benefits For Children’s Development
Slant boards are an excellent way to improve a child’s writing skills. By using a slant board, kids can practice their handwriting in a more ergonomic position which can lead to improved handwriting overall. Additionally, slant boards can help kids with fine motor control and coordination. There are many benefits of using a Slant Board […]

Scissor Skills For Kids: Fine Motor Benefits Of Cutting With Scissors
Scissor skills are an important set of fine motor skills required for developing cutting abilities. Cutting skills take time to develop in children and can take until a child is 6 years old to be fully developed. Scissor use has slowly been on the decline due to the increase in the use of technology during […]

Fidget Toys: Best Fidget On A Keychain
Over the years, parents and educators have been introduced to fidget cubes, fidget spinners and now pop its. Fidgets are a great tool and have been used by Occupational Therapists with children who require additional sensory input for a long time. However, fidgets are now also available in the mainstream market, allowing more access to […]

Oral Sensory Seeking: Information, Strategies & Activities
If as parents you find yourself saying phrases like, “Do not put that thing in your mouth”, or “stop biting the fingernails”, quite a lot, then probably your child has a habit of chewing on everything. Keeping aside everything else, this could be a very concerning situation for parents, especially from the perspective of safety […]

The Benefits Of Water Play In Early Childhood
When it comes to child’s play, water play is a fantastic way to keep them entertained on a hot summer day. But what about the benefits of play on a child? Water play helps promote a child’s curiosity, and gross and fine motor skills, it’s perfect for socializing with other kids and promotes problem-solving, and […]

Executive Functioning: What Is Executive Function?
What Is Executive Function? Executive function can be defined as a set of vital mental skills that include flexible thinking, self-control, and working memory. These skills are used every day to learn, stay on task, and manage daily life. Difficulty with executive function, also known as executive dysfunction, can create problems for your child at […]

ADHD In The Classroom (9 ADHD Classroom Strategies)
Addressing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the classroom is no small task. Students with ADHD often present a unique set of challenges, particularly in managing their ADHD symptoms, that teachers and other students alike need to understand. Teachers and school counselors can play a significant role in teaching students with ADHD, providing classroom accommodations […]

16 Hand Strengthening Activities For Kids
Does your kid tire easily after using their hands for daily activities? Do they struggle while tying their shoes, using zippers, or using a pencil? If these problems sound familiar, then it might be time to try hand strengthening activities. Some kids have weak hands due to their age, less developed hand muscles, or low […]

My Child Has Clothing Sensitivity: What Do I Do?
As parents of a child with clothing sensitivity, it can often be frustrating and overwhelming when it comes to the routine task of dressing up your child. This condition entails a sensitivity issue that children face when it comes to wearing clothes. Generally, clothing sensitivity can be seen in little ones when they have tactile […]

How to Teach Cursive Handwriting to Your Child
Cursive handwriting, also known as longhand or script, is a handwriting style where the letters are joined to increase writing speed. In this writing style, the aim is to reduce the number of times a person lifts their pen. As a result, they are able to write much faster in comparison to non-cursive handwriting styles. […]

Children Hand-Eye Coordination Games & Activities
Hand-eye coordination is a perceptual-motor skill that is highly important for young children to develop during their early years. It is the skill of coordinated control and movement of the eyes, hands, and legs that help a child in activities like reaching, grasping, or catching. It is important for your children to develop eye-hand coordination […]

Left-Handed Scissors For Kids: What To Know Before Buying
Buying left-handed scissors for your child might seem like an unnecessary purchase, but there are many benefits of buying correctly fitted scissors for your child, including increased accuracy, developed confidence, and skill in your child. Before buying school supplies for your child, see which scissors will be most appropriate for them. This article covers the […]

11 Best Body Awareness Activities For Kids
What Is Body Awareness? Body awareness for kids is being aware of their body parts. It is how connected or conscious they are of their own bodies. It is alternatively termed kinesthesia or the awareness and movement of body parts in relation to joints and muscles. This awareness lets your kids know how close they […]

Importance of ADHD support groups for parents
An ADHD support group provides a vital service for parents of children with ADHD. They offer support, information, and advice from other parents and professionals who understand what it is like to raise a child with ADHD. A local support group can also be a great place for teenagers and adults with ADHD to connect […]

ADHD Masking: 21 Symptoms & Strategies To Help
The stigma around mental health and illnesses often compels people with ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to hide their symptoms so that they could avoid ostracization in society. When someone with ADHD hides their ADHD symptoms this is known as ADHD Masking. Many scientific research papers have shown that people often ignore the signs […]

When Is Occupational Therapy Month? (According To AOTA vs. WFOT)
Occupational Therapy Month is that time of the year when the dedication, discipline, efforts, and service of this specialized branch of healthcare are recognized and appreciated. Occupational Therapists work in a variety of settings. When people suffer an injury, require rehabilitation support, or have a disability or mental health condition, an Occupational Therapist, also known […]

16 Best ADHD Memes (That 90% Of ADHDers Can Relate To)
ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a very common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. This is one of the developmental disorders that can persist into adulthood. Children with this problem often go through a tough time paying attention and controlling their impulsive behaviors. ADHD not only makes life difficult for children but also for their […]

ADHD Vs ADD: What’s The Difference?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is referred to as a behavioral condition that involves challenges relating to either difficulty in paying attention or overactivity to the point that it becomes extremely difficult for an individual to go about their normal day-to-day life. ADD or Attention deficit disorder was also used in referring to this […]

Do Kids Grow Out of ADHD?
“Can ADHD be cured?” It’s a common question that parents of children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) ask, and unfortunately, there isn’t a straightforward answer. While some children do seem to “outgrow” their ADHD symptoms as they get older, it’s definitely not the case for everyone. In fact, many adults struggle with ADHD on […]

Girls with ADHD: 12 Symptoms of ADHD in Girls
Girls with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), especially ones with inattentive symptoms, often get drowned out by hyperactive loud boys who display stereotypical conditions related to the behavior. As a result, girls are commonly overlooked and their symptoms dismissed as simply being ‘bad’ or ‘acting out.’ ADHD diagnosis doesn’t discriminate against boys or girls, but […]

Occupational Therapy for ADHD
What Is Occupational Therapy? Occupational therapy is a certain type of healthcare to help people solve problems that often interfere with a person’s ability to perform activities of daily living. Occupational therapists often work with people who are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. OT can help children and adults with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder […]

Sensory Rooms for Autism: How To Set Up A Sensory Room
What is a Sensory Room? A sensory room, also known as a multisensory environment or multisensory room, is a pleasant, sensory space specially designed for people with additional needs. It is set up to provide individuals with sensory processing difficulties, such as those on the autism spectrum, with a place to go where they can […]

Arm Flapping Autism: Autism Stimming and Hand Flapping (Explained)
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) sometimes display repetitive motions or movements, like spinning, jumping, or hand flapping. This behavior is called stimming, and it’s thought to be a way of self-regulating sensory input. While it may look unusual to us, stimming behaviors are often calming and comforting for autistic children. In an autistic child, […]

Yoga for Kids with Autism Spectrum Disorders
Kids who have autism can benefit from practicing yoga. Yoga helps kids to focus and calm down. It also helps with body awareness, balance, coordination, and the development of cognitive skills. Yoga poses can be adapted for kids with autism so that they can still participate in the class and get the benefits of yoga. […]

Autism Parent Support Groups: A Lifeline To Parents
Why Are Autism Support Groups for Parents Important? Parents of children with autism tend to face unique challenges that only other parents of autistic children are capable of understanding. This is why support groups for parents of autistic children are so important. They provide a space for parents to share their experiences, offer each other […]

Autism Facial Expressions: Why Recognising Emotions With ASD Is Hard
Understanding facial impressions make social interactions between people easier. It is one of the ways we understand other people’s feelings, emotional expressions, and intentions. A frown might display empathy, while a smile conveys interest. However, this can be hard for children and even adults with autism. This is because they often find it hard to […]

Best Occupational Therapy Podcasts for Parents, Teachers, and OTs
Podcasts are an excellent way to consume information while doing other things, like driving, cleaning or walking the dog. With podcasts ranging from short 20 minutes to hour-long podcasts, you can definitely find ones suitable for you that cover all aspects of occupational therapy. Today I’d like to share some of my favorite occupational therapy […]

Executive Function Skills By Age (A Parent’s Cheat Sheet
Executive function skills are referred to the combination of sensory, motor, cognitive, and communication skills that provide support to become active and successful adults. Executive functioning skills include focus, controlling impulses, memory, emotional regulation, and working towards a goal. From playing, learning, and socializing, these skills are used to conduct daily activities, from a very […]

Static Tripod Grasp (And Why Dynamic Tripod Grasp Is Better)
Tripod grasp, as the name suggests, refers to a grip of three fingers. A tripod functions on three stands, which in this case comprises the three fingers i.e. thumb, index, and middle finger; while the object can be a pencil or crayon. This grasp is also important for fastening buttons, holding small objects, or holding […]

DIY Colored Sand for Sandbox
Coloring sand for the sandbox is a simple, interesting, and cost-effective playtime activity. Apart from being a great sensory play activity, colored sand can also develop creativity skill and motor skills. Depending on the age or your child, they may be able to help you with homemade colored sand. Encouraging them to dye their own […]

Prone Extension Exercises for Kids
Definition of Prone Extension Prone extension is a posture where kids lie on their bellies while raising their legs and arms off the ground. It is also commonly called the ‘superman pose’. This posture plays a vital role in developing the anti-gravity strength of your child’s head, neck, arms, legs, and trunk. This particular form […]

What is Visual Tracking?
Although visual tracking may not be a common term that parents come across, it is an important skill for children to develop. Children who have eye-tracking problems may experience difficulties in academic performance, sports, and daily activities. This can lead to a child becoming frustrated and cause a decrease in a child’s self-esteem. But what […]

The Importance of Hand Dominance in Children
Hand dominance is needed for different tasks throughout the day, whether it is our writing, holding an object, cutting, and also brushing teeth. Having a consistent hand preference or an established hand dominance is important as it allows us to do tasks more efficiently and skillfully. Among the majority of kids, hand preference develops during […]

Everything About Pencil Grips for Kids
Does your kid struggle to hold their pencil in the right way? Does your child get tired when writing for long periods of time? If so, a pencil grip might help in improving handwriting and reducing hand fatigue. Pencil grips are a great tool to help a child’s pencil grasp. Usually coming in bright colors, […]

Teaching Your Child Correct Letter Formation
Often overlooked, correct letter formation is an important skill for children to learn their letters, have legible handwriting, and for handwriting speed. When teaching your child how to form letters correctly, it is important to use a range of sensory modalities including visual, auditory, and tactile. Using a multisensory approach in letter formation practice can […]

Teaching Shoe Tying 101: How to Tie Shoes For Kids
Teaching your child how to tie their shoelaces can be challenging and frustrating for most parents. However, it is one of the developmental milestones that every parent wants their kid to master before they enter kindergarten. This skill is an important skill to have. Whether you are an athlete going out on the field or […]

My Child is a Messy Eater: Here’s What To Do
Is your child a messy eater? Do you have a child who throws food? Are you sick of cleaning up? It can definitely be frustrating when you have a messy eater baby. We will provide some tips on reducing mess during mealtime. However, we also want to encourage some messy eating because it plays a […]

Thumb Wrap Grasp in Kids (And How To Fix It)
There are multiple types of pencil grasps that a child needs to work through to develop the eventual goal of the dynamic tripod grasp as a mature grasp. The general pencil grasp development goes from palmer-supinate grasp, digital pronate grasp, four-fingered grasp, and then static quadruped or tripod grasp. However, as children develop pencil grasp, […]

What Is Visual Memory? And 8 Visual Memory Activities For Kids
What is Visual Memory? Visual memory refers to one’s ability to recollect any information that has been received in the past through the eyes. The information can be a symbol, word, picture, activity, or any other object. This ability is essential for children in the learning process. Mainly, there are two forms of visual memory: […]

Digital Pronate Grasp: 5 Activities To Help Improve Child’s Grasp
If you are a parent to a 2 or 3-year-old child, it’s high time to start monitoring their grasp of objects. Your child’s grasp patterns are an important aspect of their learning and fine motor skills. It is important for your child to develop fine motor skills through their play. A great way to see […]

Development of Pencil Grasps for Children
Children often struggle to write properly and get tired of it easily. Educators thus refer these children to Occupational Therapists for the assessment of concern over their pencil grasp. Holding a pencil accurately with a functional grasp not only helps them to write neatly but also at a reasonable speed without tiring easily. Poor pencil […]

4 Types Of Tripod Grasp: Everything You Need to Know
Writing is undoubtedly a critical part of academic development. It affects all levels of the learning process, including communication. Children who learn to write with an improper grip experience fatigued muscles, sore fingers, and hand cramps. Furthermore, children might experience additional barriers like underdeveloped sensory sensitivities, arm and hand muscles, and delay in fine motor. […]

Autism Stims: How To Stop Stimming In Children? (And Why You Don’t)
When our little ones with autism start stimming it’s often hard to know exactly what to do. It’s can feel awkward, embarrassing, and upsetting that they are making themselves stand out, especially in very public spaces. And oftentimes, you just want to know, how do I make my child stop stimming? To stop negative stimming […]

Occupational Therapy For Babies: Does My Baby Need An OT?
Learning and development are important occupations for a baby. These skills are important as they improve their independence while enhancing their ability to do daily life activities with ease. Unfortunately, some babies have developmental and sensory disorders that prevent them from developing these skills at a normal pace. Too much delay in skill development can […]

What is Oral Fixation?
Oral fixation is the constant need to put things in their mouths, whether it is sucking, chewing, or simply keeping an object in their mouth. Depending on the age of the child, this may or may not be appropriate. There are different reasons why your child may be mouthing objects. In this article, we explore […]

Heavy Work Activities for Kids
Apart from helping your child develop proprioception and body awareness, heavy work activities are very regulating and can help your child’s body feel more organized. Weighted blankets have gained popularity over the last few years as it helps people relax and sleep. This is because of the deep pressure stimulation that weighted blankets provide. However, […]

Best Chew Toys for Kids
Do you have a child who chews through their shirts or hats? Or a child who loves putting everything in their mouth? Although chewing sugar free gum may be a good option for older children, it may not be a viable option when they are at school. Oral Motor Seeker Your child might be an […]

Sensory Chairs
Keeping your child attentive at school or at home while studying can be difficult at times for both parents and teachers. Doing so when your kid has special needs, some learning or development disability, or sensory processing disorder, can be even more challenging. Many of these children have a constant need for movement or reduced […]
Sensory Toys For Toddlers: Benefits & What To Use Them For?
Sensory play is crucial for the development of young children. The earlier we can expose children to different sensory toys, the better. Sensory play that incorporates a sensory toy can help children learn about different types of sensory input and helps with their sensory integration. A sensory toy is designed to stimulate different senses, sensory […]

Child’s Average Attention Span By Age: From Toddler To Teens
Attention span refers to the time an individual can focus on a particular activity. However, when it comes to attention span in children, this can be tricky to measure. Nevertheless, it is essential to address children’s attention spans as it has a great impact on their day-to-day activities, education, and relationships. There are many reasons […]

How to Make a Sensory Bin
Sensory bins are excellent sensory tools that give children an opportunity to learn through tactile play (and sometimes visual and olfactory too). These bins engage their senses and support various other developmental skills like hand-eye coordination, exploration, and using both hands simultaneously. These play tools are very effective at calming and engaging your child while […]

Benefits Of A Sensory Room For Kids (An Expert Guide by OTs)
A sensory room, also known as a sensory space, is referred to as a specially designed space for individuals, especially children with sensory issues. These spaces, also referred to as sensory rooms or sensory spaces, are designed to help these children learn and develop coping skills for regulating their brain’s reactions to external stimuli. Some […]

Symptoms Of Dyscalculia: 9 Signs of Dyscalculia In Children
Children often struggle with math in school. However, if that struggle is far outside the norm, a mathematics-specific learning disorder known as dyscalculia may be contributing. Dyscalculia can be spotted by these subtle yet persistent signs. A child can exhibit difficulty with: Recognizing numbers or numerical patterns Learning to count or keeping track while counting Learning […]

Learning Through Play: The Benefits Of Play Learning
With the increased emphasis on testing in the last decade, play has become a 4-letter word in more ways than one to some in the education field. But are there benefits of learning through play? We have seen time for play decrease in the elementary schools. Is this a disservice to students, as a right […]

6 Most Common Learning Disabilities & Symptoms
The thought of potential learning disabilities often makes parents nervous because they can impact their child’s livelihood and chances for success and happiness. They often lead to difficulties with learning new material through traditional methods. However, the good news is that learning disabilities are entirely manageable, and a bright future for your child is not […]

Types Of Autism: Outdated Terminology For Autism Spectrum Disorder
Autism rates are steadily on the rise. The CDC released their 2020 report stating that in 1 in 54 American 8 year-olds have been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder. It is important to know that Autism itself is not one clearly defined disorder. Autism Spectrum Disorder covers a range of disorders that share a core […]

Can A Child Have Sensory Issues And Not Be Autistic?
Autism, also known as an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), is a developmental disability in children that affects the way they interact with the world around them. The effects of ASD can vary from person to person. Common signs of autism include the impact on social skills, repetitive behaviors, preference for routine and rituals, fixation on […]

Improving Your Child’s Attention Span in 9 Easy Steps
In a world of increased multitasking and smart devices that constantly compete for our attention, it has become harder to keep children on task during studying or household activities. Part of this is environmental, but part of it is also a lack of training that is taking place. Being attentive is a skill, rarely an […]

Can A Child Outgrow A Learning Disability? An Evidence Driven Answer
Children and adults can be diagnosed with a learning disability at any time in their life. Many times, children go undiagnosed because learning disabilities are difficult to identify. It is estimated that 4 to 6 percent of the entire population has a learning disability (Source: PBS). Children do not outgrow learning disabilities; this is a […]

What Are The 4 Signs of Autism In Children?
A diagnosis of autism in young children is not always easy to confirm. According to The American Academy of Pediatrics, one in every 59 children is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder, with a high percentage being males. Many parents wonder about what signs to look for and when to address developmental shortcomings if they […]

What Is Dysgraphia? 8 Signs And Symptoms
Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder that causes problems in writing. It affects comprehension and motor skills hence disrupting the efficient way a child can learn and write. However, not all children with bad handwriting have dysgraphia. After all, they just started to write and are learning how to master the craft. But when a child […]

What is a Sensory Diet? Including Examples & Activities
If you have a child with sensory processing issues or are diagnosed with Sensory Processing Disorder, you may have come across the term “sensory diet”. Most of the time when we hear the word “diet”, we think about food. But let me assure you that the sensory diet is definitely not the diet that you […]

Emotional Regulation In Children: How To Support Your Child (Strategies)
Being able to understand and manage emotions is can be very challenging for a child. It requires a range of skills that need to be taught by an adult. Learning emotional regulation skills takes time. For children, the development of their self regulation skills starts from when they are infants. Throughout their childhood, they develop […]

Emotional Regulation Skills Development: A Parent’s Guide
Emotional regulation is not a skill that we are born with. Throughout our lifetime, we learn to understand our emotions, why we are feeling that way and how to manage our emotions in different situations. When children are young, they rely on parents and surrounding adults to meet their needs and help them manage their […]

Self Care For Kids: A Parent’s Guide To What Is Self Care?
When children are developing independence, one of the first skills they learn is how to care for themselves. Self-care is the child’s ability to take responsibility for their own well-being. It includes skills ranging from hygiene, toileting, dressing oneself, feeding oneself, and also more complicated self-care tasks like taking medication, wound management if applicable. For […]

Constipation and Soiling In Children: 15 Questions Answered
As a parent of young children, poos are just part of our daily lives. From infancy to toilet training years, we help our children learn to poop. However, what happens when they stop pooping. In this article, we are going to be talking about poop! In particular, answering the most common questions around constipation, soiling, […]

Kids Weighted Blanket: What To Know Before Buying A Weighted Blanket
Weighted blankets are gaining popularity for their uses in helping people cope with anxiety, stress, and sensory processing disorders. The science behind the weighted blanket is that it provides well-needed deep touch pressure to an individual who needs calming or relaxation because it creates a feeling of being hugged or held. In this guide, we […]

Improve Self Care Skills For Children With Learning Disabilities
Self care skills can be taught to children with learning disabilities through hands-on practices that combine direct instruction, opportunities, and modeling. Activities like self-feeding and self-dressing, along with toilet training, shoe-tying, etc. can help them live independently and confidently. Self care skills are extremely important for a person to live independently. The process of developing […]

When to Start Potty Training?
Potty training can be long and tiring. It can be costly and time-consuming. A common question asked by parents, especially first-time parents, is “When to start potty training?”. Children start potty training at different ages. Typically the age range for daytime potty training is between 2 and 5 years old. However as an Occupational Therapist […]

Vestibular System & Vestibular Sense In Children: Explained
Do you know a child who enjoys swinging all day long – whether they are out on the playground or swinging on their chair in the classroom, they just LOVE swinging. This child is probably a vestibular craver. A vestibular craver is someone who craves vestibular input. On the other side of the spectrum, do […]

What is Interoception: Develop Interoceptive Awareness In Kids
Interoception, or interoceptive sense, is an internal sense that interprets information from our internal organs. Interoception is also called the eighth sensory system or the hidden sense. Interoception is not a commonly known sense but is so important for us to have a well-integrated interoception sense. Interoception allows us to understand if we are full […]

Explain Occupational Therapy to A Child
Occupational Therapy is hard to explain to adults, let alone to a child. Before your child starts working with a Paediatric Occupational Therapist, show them this video so they can learn What is an Occupational Therapist? Transcript An Occupational Therapist, or OT for short, is an adult who helps you with activities that might be […]

What Is Proprioception & How To Improve Your Child’s Proprioceptive Sense
Did you know that we have 8 senses? Apart from our 5 external senses (visual, auditory, tactile, olfactory, and gustatory), we also have 3 internal senses (proprioception, vestibular, and interoception). In this article, we are going to talk about proprioception, what is it, why it is important, and how do we know if our child […]

Tactilely Defensive Child: Signs and Activities
Do you have a child that doesn’t like wearing clothes? Does your child not like to be touched and hugged? Or does your child constantly pull at their tags? Occupational Therapy often works with children with tactile sensitivity. If you have a child who is tactile defensive, you may see the impacts on their daily […]

Sensory Processing & Sensory Integration: A Complete Guide
What is Sensory Processing? Sensory Processing or Sensory Integration is the “organization of sensory information for functional behavior” (O’Brien & Kuhaneck, 2020). It is the ability of an individual’s nervous system to receive, interpret and respond to the sensory input from the environment. History of Sensory Integration Dr. A. Jean Ayres (PhD) was an Occupational […]

The W Sit: What is W-Sitting and How It’s Affecting My Child?
What is the W Sit? The W Sit is known by a range of names, including W sitting position or W position or W sitting. These all describe the same seated position. W-sitting is where an individual sits on their bottom with their knees bent and feet pointing out to either side. If you stand […]

Telehealth Occupational Therapy for Children: Does It Work?
Since the beginning of the global pandemic, there has been a major shift into telehealth, including telemedicine (appointments with doctors over technology) and virtual therapy sessions (appointments with other health professionals over technology). Although there has been a dramatic increase of health professionals using telehealth to deliver therapy, telehealth is definitely not something that is […]

Picky Eaters: 9 Tips that Health Professionals Recommend
When you are a parent and your child is not eating, this can be so stressful! This is often the case for parents of children who are picky or fussy eaters. Not only are parents stressed. This can greatly impact the whole family. As a Pediatric Occupational Therapist, I have worked with the family to […]

What is Sensory Processing Disorder? And How to Help Your Kids
Sensory Processing Disorder was coined in the 1950s by A. Jean Ayres, PhD, who was an Occupational Therapist. She was interested in how brain function impacted the way children developed and interacted with the world. Sensory processing refers to how our brains process information from our senses. Our five main senses are seeing, hearing, touching, […]

15 Ways to Make Your Child Enjoy Writing
From improving their motor skills and developing hand-eye coordination to making writing tasks fun, there are several ways to make your child enjoy writing. This article outlines several strategies parents and teachers can use to help their children build interest in writing. In today’s high-tech world, handwriting can be considered as not a crucial skill. […]

Everything you need to know about Therapy Putty
Therapy putty is a product specifically designed for hands and is loved by physiotherapists, occupational therapists, and hand therapists alike! It’s used by people who are suffering from hand problems, including carpal tunnel syndrome, arthritis, or in children to increase dexterity, fine motor skills, and hand strength. Many therapists find this tool effective because it […]

A Guide to Improve Your Child’s Handwriting: An OT’s Perspective
A common reason for referral to an Occupational Therapist is for handwriting. Whether the child has an interesting grasp, becomes tired during handwriting tasks, or refuses to attempt a handwriting task. This is where a child may benefit from seeing an Occupational Therapists. However, there are some things that you can try before seeing an […]

How to find and choose an Occupational Therapist for my child?
Once you discover that you need a Paediatric Occupational Therapist for your child, or if you need a new one, it can be hard to know where to start to find an Occupational Therapist, let alone choose one that is the right fit for you and your family. Although referrals through other parents might be […]

The Ultimate Guide to Teaching Your Child Self-Control
Self-control is not discussed much when it comes to teaching children life skills but learning proper self-control allows children to grow up to be adults who know how to regulate themselves emotionally in a healthy way. When children don’t learn self-control, it can lead to problems in adulthood, such as risk-taking behaviours. Children can be […]

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a learning disorder that might affect both children and adults equally and can be treated only when diagnosed on time. Knowing the symptoms, you can support the individual by building resilience, challenging negative thoughts and following other supportive techniques. Signs of dyslexia are difficult to recognise. Actually, there are no particular symptoms to […]

ADHD Writing Strategies For School And Home
It’s not uncommon for people to question whether ADHD has any effect on writing, but it does. After all, ADHD is an attention disorder that makes it difficult for the person with ADHD to focus and pay attention in certain situations or environments. So what are the effects of ADHD on writing? Writing tasks are […]

Sensory Sleep Guide For Parents: Sensory Processing Disorder and Sleep Issues
Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a neurological disorder that occurs when you perceive sensory information with either too high or too low of a response. Some children with SPD can have difficulty getting a good night’s sleep. Sensory processing disorder and sleep issues have a strong connection due to the overstimulation of certain senses experienced […]

What Is Paediatric Occupational Therapy And How Does It Help?
Paediatric occupational therapy is a type of occupational therapy that focuses on the development, growth and learning of children. Occupational therapists (OTs) help children develop the skills they need to function in day-to-day life, whether that is at home, school or in the community. They work with children with and without disabilities to help the […]

Fine Motor Skill Toys: 9 Top Picks for Infants and Toddlers
Fine motor skills are such an essential part of everyday life. From doing up buttons, zippers, opening containers and packets, handwriting and picking up small objects, all these require fine motor skills. Naturally, most people don’t even realise they’re utilising them. Ensuring your child is learning and improving their fine motor skills will help them […]

Help Your Child Write Faster In Less Than 5 Minutes
Just like reading or learning, writing is also an essential communication skill, especially in the field of education. To perform well in any school setting, students need to develop strong writing skills, including expression through words but also the speed of writing. From a very early age, children are taught to join and draw letters […]

8 Fun Ways To Encourage Cooperative Play at Home
Let your child develop cooperative play skills at home by participating in activities like art projects, household tasks, building and associative games, dramatic plays and so on. Encourage them to participate in activities that require association with other people for task completion. As a child grows, they go through different developmental […]

Toilet Training: Teaching Child To Wipe Their Own Bottom & Milestones
How often have you heard your child yelling “Mum! Dad! I’m done!” from the toilet? Wouldn’t it be nice if they could wipe their own bottoms? Wait, what age is that again? By 4 years old, your child should be to wipe their own bottom but may need some occasional help. Of course, each child […]

Toilet Training Milestone: Getting Started & Developmental Milestone
As a new parent, you may be concerned about whether your child is meeting their milestones, especially in the first five years of their lives. This is something that is constantly on the minds of new parents. Toilet training can be a stressful process for many parents but knowing whether or not your child is […]

What is a Sensory Meltdown? + 5 Tips To Calming Kids During Meltdown
If you’ve only just experienced your first sensory meltdown with your child, you may be feeling completely overwhelmed and like you will never survive this. But, I can assure you that it does get easier! And if you’re not even sure if your child’s had a sensory meltdown, you’re probably here to understand what exactly […]

Teach Your Child to Read & Write: 9 Tips For 7 Year Olds
By age seven, most children should be on their journey as young readers and writers. Parents play a crucial role not only in developing their children’s literacy skills but, just as importantly, providing the right environment for learning to read and write.

How to Calm Down a Hyperactive Child: 8 Natural Remedies
Being the parent, educator, or caretaker of a child can be an overwhelming and exhausting ordeal. It can be made even more tiresome and demanding when one is dealing with hyperactive kids. You might be at a loss for what to do to reel this energy in. However, there is a myriad of tips, tricks, […]

Lack of Impulse Control In Children and What Causes It
Caring for a child with a lack of impulse control is overwhelming in several ways. Many parents suffer from devastating feelings of sadness and frustration because they do not know how to help their child combined with feelings of guilt brought on by their annoyance with some of their child’s impulsive behaviors. If you are […]

10 Best Activities for Kids with ADHD
Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have many gifts to offer the world. However, one of the biggest challenges of dealing with this disorder is that these children are prone to hyperactivity, a short attention span, and impulsive acts that can create social frustration and behavioral problems if their boundless energy isn’t addressed. This […]

Guide for Parents of Hyperactive Children at Home – Expert Tips
Raising a hyperactive child can be challenging. Every parent wants to be the best parent they can be for their child. You only want to guide them to do the right thing and have the right tools for adulthood. When there is a change in your child’s behavior, you may worry about your parenting skills. […]

17 Ways to Help Your Child Who Is Struggling with Handwriting
Handwriting can be a struggle for many children, especially those with developmental differences or fine motor issues. However, there are many things that a parent or educator can do to help children excel in the development of their handwriting. Below we have provided a list of some of the best practices to help a child […]

A Complete Guide to Making Reading Fun for A Seven-Year-Old
All kids struggle with reading at one time or another. Reading as a seven-year-old can be difficult since kids begin to become more independent in their reading skills and habits around this time. As a result, they may gravitate to other activities they like more than reading. So, how do you help your kid learn […]

Emotional Regulation Activities: 7 Fun Games to Improve Emotional Regulation
For many children with learning and mental disabilities or disorders, controlling and regulating emotions (emotion regulation) can be one of the most challenging aspects of daily functioning. This is a skill that can be difficult to master for any child but will often require more attention and time for children with special needs, especially autism […]

10 Signs Your Child May Need Occupational Therapy – Expert Tips
Occupational Therapy aims to helps people, both children and adults, learn how to effectively and appropriately live, act, and respond to their life, responsibilities, and others around them. Now, while most people don’t need help with these things, it is more common than you would think for someone to need Occupational Therapy. The best way […]

How To Encourage Gross Motor Skills – A Guide For Parents
Everyone learns things at different rates, and sometimes even then, we need a little help along the way. Especially in our infancy while our brains are still developing, children may require a little extra encouragement for their gross motor skills along the way. So what do we do as parents if our kids are struggling with […]

Why is Play Important for the Emotional Development of a child?
If you think back to your own childhood you probably remember playing with friends at lunchtime. Whether it was a simple game of tag, sports, or even fighting imaginary bad guys from your favorite cartoon, you probably saw these moments as a break from learning. Psychology, however, tells us that play is just important for […]

Occupational Therapy For Cerebral Palsy
There are 17 million people who have cerebral palsy, and of that figure, approximately 34,000 live in Australia. This means every 15 hours; a child is born with cerebral palsy in Australia. Cerebral palsy is a life-long disability that requires an occupational therapist’s services to improve the quality of life. Below, we illustrate the top […]

What Are Play Skills?
You’re never too old to play, but did you know that playing is an important part of a child’s development? There are different play skills that children learn from infancy throughout their childhood that are crucial to social, psychological, and physical development that can affect their lives and relationships as adults. Play skills are different […]

Social Skills For Kids: 10 Ways to Practice Social Skills at Home
A growing number of parents are finding that Australia’s National Disability Insurance Scheme doesn’t cover their child’s needs especially if they have high functioning Autism or ADHD. If you’re one of these parents, you’ve likely noticed that the resources necessary to help develop your child’s social skills are few and far between. Therefore, at Ready […]

Is ADHD Bad? Exploring the Impact of ADHD
All kids lose attention and act impulsively from time to time. However, a child who frequently exhibits inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and hypersensitivity might be diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). But contrary to popular belief, ADHD is not necessarily “bad.” Although ADHD has a reputation for being “bad,” it isn’t as negative as it’s commonly […]

5 Benefits of Telehealth Therapy Sessions
Going to appointments can sometimes be a pain. There is time spent driving there and in the waiting room. If you have children, this can also increase the amount of time getting them reading, putting them in the car and entertaining them during this whole process. Luckily, more and more providers are offering telehealth services […]

Benefits of mobile paediatric Occupational Therapist
What Are The Benefits Of A Mobile Paediatric Occupational Therapy Clinic? There are some distinct benefits that mobile paediatric occupational therapy provides: As a parent of a child who needs occupational therapy, you know the commitments required. The time spent traveling back and forth, taking time from work or from other obligations, and the need […]

Controlled Choices: Unlocking the Secret Parenting Strategy
As an Occupational Therapist, I often work with children who have difficulty following instructions. One of the strategies I often use is called “Controlled Choices”. Controlled choices is where the adult presents the child with two or more options. For example, the child needs to complete two worksheets. The adult might say, “Billy, which activity […]

Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children (5-17 years)
In April 2019, Australia’s Department of Health released new guidelines for children and young people, aged 5 to 17 years. This document outlines the levels of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, screen time and sleep a child should receive. Below is a summary of the points from the Australian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines for Children and Young […]

What is Occupational Therapy? (Explained By OTs)
As Occupational Therapists, we often get asked questions like “So you help people get back to work after an injury? “So, that’s kind of like a physiotherapist?” “So, that’s like Occupational Health and Safety?” As Occupational Therapists, we get asked “What is Occupational Therapy” all the time – both professionally and personally. Sometimes it is […]

Sensory Play: Benefits, Ideas & Activities
When it comes to teaching young children new things, play is one of the single best strategies an adult can use. In fact, scientists have recently determined that it takes approximately 400 repetitions to create a new synapse in the brain – unless it is done with play, in which case, it takes between 10-20 […]

9 Multisensory Activities For Sensory Handwriting: Easy To Setup
Do you want your child to learn their alphabet but often find it difficult for them to focus? How often do you feel like a broken record, telling your children to practice handwriting? Well, handwriting is actually a really hard task! Handwriting requires a combination of complex skills such as visual, physical fine motor, gross […]

Helpful Websites for Parents (Curated By Occupational Therapists)
Here are some websites that parents might find helpful. Brisbane Kids: This website is super helpful for parents living in Brisbane. You’ll never run out of activities and events to take your children to. The Brisbane Kids website has a calendar full of activities to do around the Brisbane area, and directories to local […]

Handwriting Tips for Kids
Handwriting legibility is the quality of written output. A child’s handwriting legibility can impact their schooling, including their grades. Legibility is impacted by a range of skills such as word spacing, letter placement, letter formation, and pencil control. Improvement in one or more of these areas can assist in enhancing your child’s handwriting. In this […]
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