ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, or both?
By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L When children appear to have poor sustained attention to task, they typically attend to an activity for only several seconds before transitioning onto the next activity, and parents often worry that their child may have Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). However, what most parents do not realize is that some of the […]
Calming Strategies for Sensory Overload
By Anahit Grigoryan, OTR/L Sensory overload is what happens when you get more input from all of your senses than your brain can process. It is overstimulation that does not feel manageable. When a child experiences sensory overload, they may become very irritable, have difficulty focusing, feel restlessness and discomfort, become overly excited, show stress, […]
Promoting Utensil Use Through Play
As occupational therapists (OT’s), one of the many areas that we target during intervention is promoting and enhancing self-care/ adaptive skills. Mealtime success can be challenging for children that struggle with decreased fine motor skills, eye-hand coordination skills, poor body awareness, difficulty with seated posture and positioning, and decreased bimanual skills (ability to use two […]
Children Were Born Leaders!
By Angela Kurdzhukyan, OTR/L As parents, teachers, and caregivers we are often under the impression that we must always guide children. We tell them what they should be doing, how they should be doing it, and try to create strict rules to follow. Although these techniques can be useful for setting boundaries and preparing children […]
Bedtime Battles
By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L When a child is fighting his or her sleep constantly, not only is their overall quality of life being impacted but also their parents’. A good night sleep is extremely important as it can positively affect one’s overall mood, task efficiency, and joint attention skills for the following day. And […]
Bad Behavior or Difficulty Regulating?
By Christine Hemelians, MSOT, OTR/L Emotional regulation allows children the ability to self-calm during stressful or overwhelming situations. In children, issues with emotional regulation are oftentimes labeled as “bad behavior.” Almost all children have tantrums from time to time; however, children with emotional regulation issues often tantrum more frequently, and for longer durations, than their […]