Amazing Kids Occupational Therapy

15/12/2025

Interoception is the foundation for emotional regulation. A child must first notice their body signals before they can connect the body signal to an emotion (sensation) and then take action to regulate.

08/12/2025

This is an informative post that offers practical yet impactful strategies to help parents regulate their emotions in challenging moments and model appropriate responses for their child.

Regulating Your Emotions as a Parent

Parenting is full of moments that test our patience, and learning to regulate your own emotions is key to responding rather than reacting. Children mirror the adults around them, so when we manage our emotions, we teach them how to do the same. Start by noticing your triggers and taking a pause before responding — even a few deep breaths can shift your nervous system.

Self-talk can help you stay grounded: remind yourself, “I can handle this,” or “This is a moment, not a crisis.” Physical strategies like stretching, stepping outside for a brief break, or grounding exercises can help release tension and restore calm. Reflecting on your feelings after a challenging moment allows you to learn and prepare for next time.

Modeling empathy and calm presence shows children that all emotions are valid, and they can be managed safely. It’s okay to acknowledge your feelings to your child: “I’m frustrated right now, so I need a moment to calm down.” Consistency and patience in your own regulation helps create a predictable, safe environment for your child to express their emotions.

Remember, self-regulation isn’t about perfection—it’s about showing up as a calm, supportive guide through life’s ups and downs.

20/10/2025

The posts from The Contented Child really resonate with me. We frequently encounter young neurodivergent students who appear to spend a significant portion of their school day masking. It is essential for the adults in their world to recognise these signs and provide the necessary co-regulation, compassion and supports to assist and avoid long-term struggles.

At school, some children seem to ‘hold it together’ all day — only to fall apart once they’re home.

That’s not manipulation or attention-seeking. It’s masking.

Masking means suppressing natural responses, mimicking peers, or pushing through overwhelm to appear "fine".

It’s exhausting — and over time, it can lead to burnout, anxiety, and loss of self.

Recognising the signs of masking helps adults see beyond the surface — and offer support that feels safe and authentic.

Available in our Resource Store

Masking – The Toolkit
Practical strategies to help schools and parents support children who mask their true needs.
After School Restraint Collapse, the Toolkit for Parents & Educators
Links in comments or via our Linktree Shop in Bio.

15/10/2025

This information can make a significant difference in understanding the vital role of coregulation.

It takes the body time to calm — not just a few deep breaths.

When a child is overwhelmed, their nervous system can take 20–60 minutes to fully settle after a surge of stress hormones. That’s why calm can’t be rushed. They need safety, patience and connection — not pressure to “get over it.”

Understanding this is at the heart of brain-based parenting. Regulation isn’t instant; it’s built through co-regulation and trust.

This also demonstrates why a child needs longer than 5 minutes out of class after an incident.

There is a full range of calming strategy prompts in our toolkit below.

NOW AVAILABLE IN THE RESOURCE STORE - to accompany our series on social media.

The Child Brain Explained: How the Upstairs & Downstairs Brain Shape Behaviour, a Toolkit for Parents & Educators - available for only £3.75 until 3 November 2025

Electronic download available at link in comments ⬇️ or via our Linktree Shop in Bio.

14/10/2025

Strategies to assist with de-escalating a meltdown!

13/10/2025

Yes, let's examine stimming from an Autistic perspective.

Let's talk about stimming.

The autistic community advocates that stimming behavior is a self-regulatory coping mechanism, and efforts to control this behavior could have negative effects for autistic people. Research exploring stimming from the autistic perspective supports this position and suggests these behaviors are actually incredibly beneficial.

There is a long history in both research and clinical practice, of efforts to reduce, minimize or eliminate stimming behavior in autistic people.

This article contains great information that can help in the movement toward acceptance >>> https://www.altogetherautism.org.nz/stimming-a-movement-towards-acceptance

Graphic via Mollys ADHD mayhem

08/09/2025

This explains Regulation beautifully!

🧠 People often use the word “regulated” as if it is a synonym for “calm.”

⚖️ Regulated means your energy levels match the task at hand. Dysregulated means your energy levels do not match the task. Executive functioning skills, such as working memory, cognitive flexibility, and self-control, play a significant role in helping individuals regulate their energy levels.

🌟 Helping a child regulate can sometimes mean placing them in an environment where their energy levels match the setting. Other times, it involves helping their body meet its needs so that their energy levels align with the upcoming task. This can include strategies to improve executive functioning skills, such as practicing self-control or using tools to enhance working memory.

Being REGULATED means your energy levels match the task. It does not mean ‘calm’.
The image is by

17/08/2025

This says it all!

28/07/2025

23/07/2025

This is a simplified outline of Vesitbular processing but it provides a good overview.

13/07/2025

Play is the primary occupation of children and it supports brain development in so many ways.

11/07/2025

I love this!

We’re often so quick to correct, to manage, to change a child’s behaviour — but what if their behaviour is inviting something to shift in us?

What if the meltdown is asking us to slow down?�The defiance, to reflect on how we lead?�The clinginess, to reconnect?�The boundary-pushing, to examine our own?

Children don’t always have the words — but they do have the wisdom.�
Their behaviour isn’t just a reflection of their needs. Sometimes, it’s a mirror for our own growth.

So before we rush to fix the surface,�let’s be brave enough to look underneath.�
Because the change we seek in them, might just begin within us. ❤️