As a parent, you may already feel the weight of deciphering a million different things your child does each day, wondering what’s normal, what’s a phase, and what could be a sign of something more. In my work as an occupational therapist, I’m here to help you peel back the layers on some of these…
The Magic of Open-Ended Play (a solution for overwhelmed parents)
You may have noticed your toddler transforming an ordinary household item into a monster truck, ice cream cone, a puppy, or a rocket ship. In these moments, you are observing them use their imagination with open-ended play! What is open-ended play? Open-ended play is unstructured play with no limitations. There are no rules or “right”…
The Hidden Sense: Interoception
We’ve all been taught that we have five senses — smell, taste, touch, hearing, and sight. If you’ve worked with an occupational therapist or googled your own child’s development, you may have also learned about two additional sensory systems: the vestibular and proprioceptive systems. These systems play a key role in self-regulation, which is your…
5 Key Elements For Designing a Functional Play Space
As an occupational therapist, I have seen all types of play spaces for kids — cluttered, minimal, noisy, loud, overly stimulating, or simply just not the right fit. Creating a functional play space for your little one isn’t just about throwing some fun toys into a room. It’s about designing a space that emphasizes function,…