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20/10/2025

20/10/2025

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13/10/2025

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09/10/2025

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09/10/2025

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09/10/2025

09/10/2025

09/10/2025

09/10/2025

Sensory processing, executive function, and emotional regulation are deeply connected, especially in the children we see as occupational therapy providers.

When a child’s sensory system is either overwhelmed or under-stimulated, it can interfere with their ability to plan, focus, and control impulses, core components of executive functioning.

This sensory “traffic jam” can lead to frustration, shutdowns, or meltdowns, not because the child is being defiant, but because their brain is working overtime to manage input, organize thoughts, and regulate big feelings.

As OT practitioners, we support the foundation, helping kids process sensory input so they can better access higher-level thinking skills and emotional control throughout their day.
Here are resources:
🟢https://www.theottoolbox.com/emotional-regulation-and-executive-function/
🟢https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-processing-disorder-checklist/
🟢https://www.theottoolbox.com/lion-and-lamb-self-regulation-activity/
🟢https://research.aota.org/ajot/article/76/Supplement_1/7610505101p1/23472/Relationships-Among-Sensory-Processing-Behaviors

09/10/2025

Stress in kids doesn’t always look like stress.
It can show up as outbursts, tummy aches, sleep issues, or “bad behavior.” But underneath it all, the nervous system is doing its best to cope. Remember the "iceberg" we always talk about?

When a child is dysregulated, their brain shifts into survival mode. The amygdala, the brain’s fear center, takes over. This brain center triggers a fight, flight, or freeze response. Logical thinking and self-control? Those go offline.

That’s why a dysregulated child needs connection first, not correction.

Watch for the signs: wide eyes, flushed cheeks, aggressive behavior, or even silence. These aren't "problems to fix". It's literally signals of overwhelm.

What can we do to help? Teach kids to recognize their stress, name it, and work through it with support. https://www.theottoolbox.com/understanding-sensory-dysregulation/

Difference between tantrum and meltdown: https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-meltdown-or-tantrum/
Red flags: https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-processing-red-flags/
Regulation strategies: https://www.theottoolbox.com/zones-of-regulation-activities-2/