Importance of Parent and Me Classes
August 4, 2022
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As a parent, you know that few things are more rewarding than seeing your child happy. But….parenting is a lot of work! It can be
Uplift Therapy Journal
What is the interoceptive system?
July 26, 2022
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By Ani Oganesyan OTR/L Have you heard about the interoceptive sensory system? It’s the 8th sensory system that is most often overlooked and is considered
Navigating Early Intervention Services through the Regional Center: A guide for practitioners and caregivers
July 12, 2022
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By Angela Kurdzhukyan MS, OTR/L 1) The first step in the early intervention timeline starts with the identification of a problem: A problem is identified
Sensory Diets
July 7, 2022
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Does your child having a difficult time focusing? Are they always on the go? Climbing furniture, seeking touch, crashing into objects, placing inedible items in
Benefits of Social Interaction
June 28, 2022
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As children develop, they start using both verbal and nonverbal communication for a variety of purposes like requesting, commenting, and sharing. By observing and participating
What’s heavy work and why does your therapist keep recommending it?
June 23, 2022
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By Christine Hemelians, MSOT. OTR/L Heavy work is a commonly recommended sensory activity that occupational therapists oftentimes suggest to the families that they work with.
Feeding Difficulties
June 21, 2022
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By Angela Kurdzhukyan MS, OTR/L Have you ever wondered why your toddler refuses to eat certain foods? Or why they have a limited repertoire of
What is Stuttering?
June 16, 2022
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP All of us experience moments of disfluency in our speech. Do you remember a time when you felt stuck or
Brand new and state-of-the-art sensory gym at Uplift Therapy Center
June 14, 2022
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The brand new and state-of-the-art sensory gym at Uplift Therapy Center will be opening this summer. We will provide occupational therapy and speech therapy services
Calming Strategies for Sensory Overload
June 7, 2022
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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
Talk like me, mommy!
June 3, 2022
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By Russell Strause, MS-CCC, SLP Have you ever wondered why adults talk to babies as if they were one? Have you caught yourself exaggerating your
Building play and social skills
June 1, 2022
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L Play is a child’s main and most important occupation. Through play, children progressively develop skills within various domains such as
Communication Temptation
May 20, 2022
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By Deanna Sargsyan MS, CF-SLP As a parent, you are your child’s interpreter. You know when they’re hungry, when they want to take a nap,
Play and language
May 13, 2022
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP “Play gives children a chance to practice what they are learning.” ~ Mr. Rogers Flashcards, quizzing, educational television shows… it
Fun Games for Fine Motor Skills!
May 11, 2022
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By Anahit Grigoryan, OTR/L What are fine motor skills? Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hands, wrists, and fingers. Children need to
Promoting Utensil Use Through Play
May 4, 2022
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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
Brushing teeth with Sensory Processing Disorder
April 19, 2022
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By Deborah Lee OTR/L It is common for children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) to resist tooth-brushing activity day and night and as a result,
Exploring Autism and Occupational Therapy
April 15, 2022
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In honor of April being both Occupational Therapy and Autism Awareness and Acceptance Month we would like to highlight the importance of occupational therapy for
Autism: Preconceived Notions vs. Truth
March 28, 2022
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By Madison Gwizdalski MS-CCC, SLP In 2021, the CDC reported that approximately 1 in 44 children in the U.S. is diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder
Oral Sensory Seeking Behavior
March 23, 2022
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By Ani Oganesyan OTR/L Children use a multitude of their senses to learn about the world. Sometimes they might put food or other items in
Children Were Born Leaders!
March 18, 2022
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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
Oral Motor Skills
March 10, 2022
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By Deborah Lee OTR/L Does your child appear to have difficulties with feeding skills such as chewing their solid foods thoroughly or closing their lips
Does my Child have Speech and Language Difficulties?
March 4, 2022
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One of the most common questions we get as speech therapists is… “is my child normal?” Between the internet, social media, and talking amongst your
Importance of Carry-Over of Skills
February 23, 2022
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L Every therapist strives to educate parents, caregivers, and/or teachers of the skills being addressed during their sessions to promote long-term
Benefit of Outdoor Play
February 11, 2022
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By Ani Oganesyan OTR/L Outdoor play is an important occupation for many of our children. Children in general are very active and could benefit from
Benefits of Sensory Bins
February 1, 2022
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By Ani Oganesyan OTR/L Sensory bins provide an opportunity for hands-on tactile play while engaging the senses. They can stimulate a child’s senses, create new
Is Occupational Therapy Right For Your Child?
January 25, 2022
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What Does Your Child Need? When looking at your child, it may be hard to distinguish them from the little bundle of joy that you
Benefits of Nursery Rhymes
January 18, 2022
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Deanna Sargsyan SLP, CF Ever wonder why children tend to pick up on singing nursery rhymes so easily? Or have you noticed that your child
Bedtime Battles
January 6, 2022
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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
Brain Breaks
December 21, 2021
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By Ani Oganesyan OTR/L What are brain breaks and why are they so important to an individual’s learning? A brain break is a short, planned
Potty Training for Your Toddlers
December 14, 2021
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L “When can I start potty training with my child?” is one of the most commonly asked questions in early intervention.
Bad Behavior or Difficulty Regulating?
December 8, 2021
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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
The Importance of Gestures
November 30, 2021
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Few things are quite as joyful as when your baby starts to become an active participant in your conversations and games. Think about a game
Building Fine Motor Skills
November 9, 2021
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By Deborah Lee MS, OTR/L Occupational therapy stresses the importance of fine motor skills and here is why! Almost every activity or task that we
Strategies for Smoother Transitions for Kids
November 2, 2021
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By Christine Hemelians MS, OTR/L Transitions, like preparing for bedtime, or switching from one activity to another, can be a common trigger for children with
How the Pandemic has Affected Children’s Development
October 7, 2021
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By Madison L. Gwizdalski, MS-CCC, SLP Parents and providers know that the early experiences a child has can greatly shape their development. “Typical development” is
Let’s Pretend!
September 24, 2021
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By Christine Hemelians MS, OTR/L Picture the younger version of yourself. Now, picture all the times you participated in pretend play as a child; whether
7 Senses of the Sensory System
August 26, 2021
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By Talin Yacoubian OTD, OTR/L, CAS Did you know that there are 7 senses that make up the sensory system and not just 5? You