The Difference Between Developmentally Appropriate and Academically Appropriate: A Pediatric Occupational Therapist’s Perspective

As a pediatric occupational therapist, I often encounter parents, educators, and caregivers who struggle to understand the difference between what is developmentally appropriate and what is academically appropriate for children. In today’s fast-paced, achievement-driven society, there is a growing emphasis on academic milestones at younger ages, often at the expense of a child’s natural developmentalContinue reading “The Difference Between Developmentally Appropriate and Academically Appropriate: A Pediatric Occupational Therapist’s Perspective”

10 Tips For What To Do When Your Child Has BIG Feelings

If you are a parent, you are probably no stranger to “big feelings” from your child. They aren’t called the terrible twos and the teen years for no reason. But even children who are not 2 years old or a teenager can have big feelings. Sometimes, it can seem that our children always have bigContinue reading “10 Tips For What To Do When Your Child Has BIG Feelings”

What is School-Based Occupational Therapy?

Have you ever wondered, “What is school-based occupational therapy?” or have you ever wondered “What makes school-based OT different than other OT services?” In this blog post, I will explore the purpose of school-based OT, its benefits, and the process of receiving this type of occupational therapy. School-Based occupational therapy focuses on helping students developContinue reading “What is School-Based Occupational Therapy?”

Developing Self-Regulation Skills in Young Children

As parents and caregivers, one of our key responsibilities is to help young children develop self-regulation skills. Self-regulation refers to a child’s ability to manage their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors in response to different situations. It is an essential skill for success in school, relationships, and life in general. Parents frequently ask me what theyContinue reading “Developing Self-Regulation Skills in Young Children”

Checking In

We are a little over a year in to this global pandemic. How are you? How is your family? It hasn’t been easy for anyone, everyone has had to chart new territory, find a new normal and learn a new way of juggling everything. Anyone who says it was easy would be lying. It wasContinue reading “Checking In”

The Value of a Snow Day

As I sit writing this, there’s a large storm moving through the U.S. It started in the Midwest and is headed to the East Coast. Everyone’s talking about it in my area. Everyone is also talking about the fact that now that we know and have done (or are doing) virtual learning, snow days areContinue reading “The Value of a Snow Day”