Blog and Parent Guides to Pediatric OT, Speech, and Feeding

Skill regressions are common signals of fatigue or overload; to address them, observe patterns, lower demands, maintain routines, use visual supports, co‑regulate, model and scaffold, simplify language, and interleave practice. OT and SLP teams assess sensory load and communication, creating...

Kids need predictable yet flexible routines to handle changes; using visual schedules, co‑creating choices, consistent sensory cues, clear language, and small practice steps can smooth transitions at home and school. Sharing plans with teachers, using occupational and speech therapy tools,...

Children's brains are still developing impulse control, so intense emotions often arise when their nervous system perceives situations as unsafe. To help, first support the nervous system: validate feelings, breathe together, label bodily signals, offer safe physical actions, give tiny...

Speech and language evaluations are collaborative, low‑stress assessments that identify a child's communication strengths, challenges, and next steps across real‑life settings. They involve gathering history, caregiver interviews, play‑based observation, standardized tests (if needed), and screenings of speech sounds, language, social...

Every child develops communication uniquely, but certain patterns signal when a speech evaluation may be helpful. Watch daily interactions—how your child plays, connects, and expresses needs—rather than just word counts. Red flags include limited babbling by 9‑10 months, few gestures,...

The text explains how movement and language develop together in early childhood. Improved balance, posture, and breath support speech, while gestures act as early words that prompt labeling by adults. Milestones like crawling and walking boost vocabulary through increased exploration...

A weak or immature pencil grasp might seem like a small thing, but it can have a big impact on your child’s confidence and performance at school. When holding a pencil feels awkward or tiring, writing becomes frustrating instead of...

Dyspraxia, also called developmental coordination disorder (DCD), is a neurodevelopmental condition affecting motor planning and coordination, affecting 5‑6% of school‑age children. It manifests as frequent tripping, fatigue with playground activities, messy or slow handwriting, difficulty with buttons, zippers, multi‑step routines,...

Social anxiety in children often hides behind polite or quiet behavior, as they constantly scan for social threats. Signs include avoidance of social activities, somatic complaints, clinginess, perfectionism, delayed responses, and after‑school emotional dysregulation. Because these kids meet expectations and...

The core is a 360-degree network of muscles around the belly, back, diaphragm, and hips that stabilizes the body, enabling better posture, balance, breathing, and movement. Strong core support lets children sit taller, move with control, and conserve energy, which...

Parents should trust early signs that school is becoming harder for their child and advocate promptly for support. Warning signs include growing frustration with academics, frequent meltdowns or shutdowns, minimal progress despite effort, speech or multi‑step direction difficulties, fine‑motor or...

Handwriting involves many coordinated skills—posture, core and shoulder stability, finger strength, eye‑hand coordination, visual memory, and movement planning—so a weakness in any area can cause wobbly letters, poor spacing, and fatigue. Occupational therapy (OT) addresses these underlying factors by assessing...

A predictable calm‑down routine helps children move from overwhelm to control, shortening and lessening meltdowns while building confidence. Parents also benefit from reduced stress and consistency across settings. Children, especially those sensitive to noise, crowds, transitions, or on the autism...

Visual supports make language more accessible by using pictures, symbols, and written words, especially for autistic children, those with speech delays, or slower processing. Visuals are processed faster, stay visible for review, and can aid speech development without replacing spoken...

Family gatherings can overwhelm children, especially those with autism who often experience sensory and social challenges. To reduce anxiety and meltdowns, use visual schedules and photos to preview events, pack a sensory kit (headphones, fidget, snacks, soft clothing), create a...