Send us a text Dressing seems straightforward to us as adults, but for children, it's a complex developmental challenge requiring numerous hidden skills. This episode dives into the foundations of early dressing independence, revealing why undressing naturally comes before dressing and how seemingly simple tasks like putting on a t-shirt involve intricate motor planning, body awareness, and cognitive sequencing. We dive into the underlying skills needed to engage in dressing tasks and some o...

Send us a text This final episode of our play season explores how playful moments build the persistence skills children need throughout life. When children engage in play, they're not just having fun; they're developing the ability to notice problems, try different solutions, and maintain emotional regulation through challenges. Join me as we dive into the intricacies of how we can support the children in our lives to develop their persistence within play. From noticing the problem, trialli...

Send us a text Cooperative play marks a change within play where children begin working together to achieve shared goals. Whether building a tower, creating a fort, or solving an imaginary problem, this collaborative play helps children build so many skills within a fun, playful environment! When you watch children negotiate who gets which role in their pretend restaurant or see them problem-solve together to build the perfect blanket fort, you're witnessing the emergence of teamwork, communi...

Send us a text Symbolic play marks a fun milestone where children begin using objects to represent something entirely different. That wooden block becomes a phone, a spoon transforms into a microphone, and suddenly teddy bears need proper bedtime routines. This isn't just adorable behaviour – it's your child building new play skills, problem-solving, and creativity! We also dive into associative play - as children begin engaging with peers around common activities without formal organisation...

Send us a text Functional play is the gateway into our children exploring toys, objects for their intended purpose. This developmental milestone opens doors to deeper learning, independence, and confidence as children figure out that spoons are for eating, blocks are for building, and crayons can create beautiful marks on paper. In this episode we dive into how to find playful moments throughout your entire day. From morning routines to bath time, cooking to cleaning up, every interaction be...

Send us a text The journey from solitary to social play isn't a single leap but rather a fascinating progression through various stages. In this episode, we explore the often misunderstood phases of onlooker and parallel play. When your child seems to be "just watching" other kids at the park or following you around the house observing your activities, they're engaged in powerful learning. Far from passive, this observation phase is when children collect ideas they'll later reproduce i...

Send us a text This episode explores the building blocks of play our solitary and sensorimotor for children. We discuss the importance of these play types in fostering skills, encourage active engagement, and present practical strategies for parents to support their child's playful learning journey. We promise you'll walk away with practical tips to enrich playtime and foster those crucial early skills. Our episode gives you an insight into the incredible journey of how infants learn about th...

Send us a textThis episode explores the vital role of play for children and adults, unpacking its significance in learning and emotional well-being. We discuss the different stages of play, types of interaction, and the importance of fostering a playful environment for growth and development.Join me to learn more about:• Understanding the value of play for both children and adults • Unearthing personal experiences with play and its impact • Defining play and its implications for lea...

Send us a textDiscover how to use regulation to support a child's persistence to tricky activities! In this week's episode you'll gain insights into maintaining calm and teaching resilience to young children, turning challenges into growth opportunities. Wed discuss how to recognize and support stressors that affect task execution, and how assuming competence and breaking down tasks can lead to successful learning experiences. Proactive regulation strategies, such as validating and antic...

Send us a textIn this weeks episode we discover strategies for develop self-regulation skills in children We dive into activities to create an emotional toolkit tailored for kids, guiding them to acknowledge and manage their feelings. You'll gain insights into personal regulation strategies that empower you to model emotional resilience, and in turn, teach these vital skills to your children, nurturing confidence and self-awareness.Journey with us through the captivating world of shared...

Send us a textUnlock the strategies to support young children through their emotional highs and lows as we explore the essential techniques for regulation. We’ll share how to play detective with body language and environment to better understand what a child is experiencing. Just like adults, children can struggle to articulate their emotions, and we’re here to guide you in becoming an effective co-regulator who can help them navigate these overwhelming feelings.This episode equips you ...

Send us a textEver wondered what your child's challenging behavior is truly communicating? Join me in Belle's OT Corner as we unpack the secrets behind the actions of young children through the unique perspective of occupational therapy. By understanding the intricacies of the tasks children face, the environments they navigate, and the social dynamics around them, you'll be equipped with insights to better support their emotional development.We delve into the importance of autonomy and resil...

Send us a textJoin us in this episode, where we promise you'll gain the tools to support your child through their regulation challenges. We'll start by examining our personal self-regulation strategies—because understanding ourselves is the first step in guiding our children through their own emotional landscapes. Ever noticed how your mood can influence your child's behavior? That's no coincidence! This episode explores the fascinating interplay between our emotional states and those of...

Send us a textIn the next season of Belle's OT Corner we work to equip you with indispensable knowledge and practical strategies to foster regulation skills in early childhood. Through an exploration of self-regulation and co-regulation, you'll gain insights into the development of these crucial skills from a nuanced occupational therapy perspective. Join us as we break down the complexities of regulation, all the components and building blocks we need to work towards self-regulation. We...

Send us a textHave you ever wondered how small tweaks to everyday activities can support your child's motor skills? Discover the secrets to seamlessly integrating motor skill development into daily routines and making it fun in this finale of our motor skills season at Belle's OT Corner! We review all previous episodes and put it all together to offer practical tips to build them into your home and school setting. Learn to either add motor challenges to familiar tasks or adjust activiti...

Send us a textJoin me for the final episode of our motor skills season, where we uncover the secrets of effectively supporting kids motor skills development through modelling and language. We explore how to make a significant impact on their understanding and performance, through the adults use of modelling, language and embracing mistakes for meaningful learning.We place a spotlight on the importance of modelling both gross and fine motor skills, using simple language and exaggerated a...

Send us a textToday we unravel the fine motor progression children go through to move from banging toys to expertly tying shoelaces. We break down key concepts such as dexterity, in-hand manipulation, and motor planning elements. This episode is all about appreciating and understanding how these skills enable children to engage in their daily lives.Recognizing and addressing fine motor skill challenges early on can make a world of difference. We look at practical strategies for supporti...

Send us a textCan understanding motor planning transform the way you help children navigate their daily activities? This episode of Belle's OT Corner uncovers the world of motor planning and praxis, shedding light on the cognitive processes that enable us to execute everyday tasks effortlessly. Imagine the complexity of simple actions like carrying items upstairs or learning to walk. You'll gain a comprehensive understanding of motor planning and praxis, providing a foundation for suppo...

Send us a textHow do the brain's hemispheres work together to help you perform everyday tasks like dressing or writing? Discover practical strategies to support your child's bilateral coordination through engaging. We'll talk through the three stages of bilateral coordination—symmetrical, reciprocal, and asymmetrical. Whether it's catching a ball, peddling a bike, or writing, the tips and examples will help you understand these crucial developmental milestones. We also delve into recogni...

Send us a textJoin me as we discuss postural stability and tone and hoe they can impact upon a child's ability to engage in occupation! This episode is a treasure trove of practical strategies and playful activities that parents and educators can incorporate to support core strength and postural control in kids. I'll guide you through the nuances of muscle tone, a crucial yet often misunderstood aspect of postural control. If you've noticed a child who appears clumsy or in need of extra suppo...