OTMe App, Perth (2025)

16/12/2025

If motivation feels inconsistent, you’re not alone and it’s not a you problem.
For many neurodivergent brains, routines and follow-through are shaped by executive function, energy, and regulation, not willpower.

That’s exactly why we’ve been building something new.
An OT-designed way to support routines, motivation, and daily life without guilt or pressure 🧩🌱

More soon 💟

09/12/2025

Early intervention isn’t just about helping children in the moment — it shapes the skills they carry with them into their teen years 🌈

When kids build strong foundations in emotional regulation, planning, independence, and confidence early on, they step into adolescence with the tools they need to cope, connect, and thrive.

🧩These early skills support them through:
• navigating friendships
• handling school pressure
• managing big emotions
• organising homework and routines
• communicating their needs
• developing a healthy sense of self

Teens who received early support often feel more capable and grounded — not because life got easier, but because they learned how to handle the hard moments.

Early intervention isn’t about “fixing” a child. It’s about giving them the strategies, understanding, and confidence they’ll use for life 💟

⭐️ If you’re looking for early tools to help your child grow with confidence, visit ot-me.com 📲

03/12/2025

Did You Know…?
Children can become overstimulated when their nervous system receives more sensory, emotional, or social input than they can comfortably process.
Some kids show obvious signs — but many hide it to cope 🎭

Here are common hidden (or masked) signs of overstimulation:
• Increased silliness or hyperactivity — the body tries to release built-up sensory energy.
• Quietness or zoning out — a protective “shut down” to reduce incoming input.
• Clinginess — seeking safety and co-regulation from a trusted adult.
• Irritability or frustration — their regulation capacity is running low.
• Difficulty following instructions — the brain is overloaded, not inattentive.
• Meltdowns later at home — once they’re safe, the nervous system releases everything it held in.

⛈️Overstimulation isn’t bad behaviour, it’s a neurobiological response.
Understanding the signs helps us respond with support instead of correction 🧩

Want to learn more about your child’s nervous system and how to support it?
Find helpful tools and guidance at ot-me.com 💟

30/11/2025

🧩Masked vs unmasked — two sides of the same child.
One is how they feel they need to act.The other is how they feel when they’re finally safe.

Swipe to learn what masking looks like and how you can support your child!

07/11/2025

We’re so glad to see The West Australian shining a light on something families have been living with quietly for years — the ADHD “black hole”

Right now, thousands of Australian families are stuck in a system that can’t keep up. Children with ADHD and developmental challenges are waiting years for diagnostic assessments and therapy — missing the window when early support makes the biggest difference!!

But here’s the truth. A diagnosis gives clarity, not capability.
Your child doesn’t have to wait to start building emotional regulation, routines, and independence 🌱💟

✨Occupational therapy focuses on skills, not labels. Research shows that consistent, practical strategies at home, from sensory supports to executive-function routines, can significantly improve a child’s participation, confidence, and wellbeing.

💡If you’re also waiting:
• Start small: build predictable routines 🕓
• Support sensory needs daily (movement, deep pressure, calm breaks)
• Teach emotional language early (“I feel… I need…”)
• Seek community — support reduces burnout ☀️

It’s encouraging to see this issue getting national attention — but families need tools now, not years from now. No child should be left waiting in the dark⭐️

06/11/2025

In a world of packed schedules and back-to-back activities, it’s easy to feel like a “good summer” means doing it all ☀️

But for many kids, especially those with sensitive nervous systems — slower summers are the secret to better regulation, creativity, and emotional growth!

When children aren’t overloaded with constant noise and stimulation, their brains can:
🧠 Rebalance sensory input
🎨 Explore creative, self-directed play
💬 Build social and emotional language
💤 Recover from school-year fatigue

✨ Fun fact: Research in child development shows that unstructured time allows the brain’s default mode network to activate — the system linked to creativity, emotional regulation, and problem-solving.

So if your child says “I’m bored”… that’s okay.
That’s their brain shifting from survival mode to imagination mode.

💡 OT tip:
Try creating a “slow day” each week — no plans, no agenda, just free exploration. You might be surprised by how much learning happens when you don’t plan it ☺️

05/11/2025

Everyone loves summer… right?
Except, for some kids, summer brings a sensory overload disguised as fun ☀️

🧴 The sticky sunscreen,
🏖 The bright sun and glare,
👃 The strong smells from BBQs,
🎵 The constant background noise,
👕 And the change in daily routine
…all add up to one overstimulated nervous system!

For neurodivergent kids especially, this can trigger meltdowns, avoidance, or withdrawal.
It’s not that they don’t want to join in — it’s that their brain is already working overtime to stay regulated.

💡 OT Tips for a Calmer Summer:
👒 Prep the senses: Use a hat and sunglasses to reduce visual input.
💧 Offer breaks: Quiet indoor resets between big activities.
👕 Comfort first: Choose light, non-irritating fabrics.
🧃 Stick to rhythm: Even loose routines (snack, play, cool-down) help kids feel safe.
🧠 Plan predictability: Talk through what’s coming next, transitions are easier when expected.

✨ Fun fact: Research shows that when children experience predictable routines and controlled sensory exposure, their nervous systems stay calmer and more organized (*Miller, 2006; **Schaaf & Mailloux, 2015).

Summer doesn’t have to be “too much.” Sometimes, a little preparation helps the world feel just right 🧩💛

References:
*Miller, L. J. (2006). Sensational Kids: Hope and Help for Children with Sensory Processing Disorder. Penguin.
**Schaaf, R. C., & Mailloux, Z. (2015). Sensory integration. In J. Case-Smith & J. C. O’Brien (Eds.), Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents (7th ed.). Elsevier.

03/11/2025

To most people, play just looks like fun.
But as occupational therapists we know it’s how the brain learns to grow, regulate, and connect 🌱

Here’s what’s really happening beneath the surface:
🧱 Building with blocks → planning, fine motor coordination, spatial awareness
🏃‍♀️ Running and swinging → balance, core strength, vestibular regulation
🎨 Drawing and crafting → hand-eye coordination, bilateral integration, patience
🎭 Pretend play → emotional expression, perspective-taking, executive function

Research shows that play is one of the most powerful tools for brain development and emotional regulation (*Case-Smith & O’Brien, 2015; **Lillard et al., 2013). It strengthens neural pathways that support focus, problem-solving, and resilience — skills that make learning (and life) easier!

That’s why, at OT-Me., we don’t separate therapy from fun — we combine them! Because when kids are engaged and joyful, their brains are in the perfect state to learn 🌈

💡 OT tip: Try following your child’s lead for just 10 minutes of uninterrupted play. Notice how they problem-solve, take turns, and explore, you’ll learn more about their sensory and emotional needs than any worksheet could show.

Our References:
*Case-Smith, J., & O’Brien, J. C. (2015). Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents (7th ed.). Elsevier.
**Lillard, A. S., et al. (2013). The impact of pretend play on children’s development: A review of the evidence. Psychological Bulletin, 139(1), 1–34.

28/10/2025

Happy 🌈🦋
Here’s to all the amazing OTs making a difference every single day!
We see you and we appreciate you 💟

27/10/2025

It’s OT Week! 💙🦋
A time to celebrate the amazing occupational therapists who help children learn, grow, and thrive through everyday activities.

From supporting emotional regulation to building independence — OTs do so much more than most people ever realise.
They meet children where they are, see their unique strengths, and gently guide them toward new possibilities one step at a time 🧩

Whether it’s helping a child write their first sentence, get dressed on their own, or feel calm in a busy classroom — every moment matters.

This week, we say thank you to all the OTs making a difference in homes, schools, and communities.
Your care, creativity, and dedication make the world brighter for so many families ☀️

#2025

18/10/2025

When your child says ‘I don’t want to!’, it can sound like defiance, but often, it’s a signal that something deeper is going on⚠️

OT research shows that motivation and regulation are very closely linked (Porges, 2011*; Dunn, 2014**).
When a child’s sensory or emotional system is overloaded, their brain’s ability to plan, focus, or persist through a task drops. So what comes out isn’t “I can’t handle this” — it’s “I don’t want to!”😡

🧩Here’s what might be underneath those words:
• The task feels too big or unpredictable.
• Their body needs movement, a snack, or quiet time.
• They’re low on emotional energy or confidence.

🌱 Try responding with curiosity instead of correction:
• “What’s making it feel hard right now?”
• “Do you want to start together?”
• “Would a short break help?”

💡 Fun fact: Research on the Polyvagal Theory (Porges, 2011*) shows that when kids feel safe and regulated, their motivation naturally increases, because their nervous system shifts from defensive to engaged.

At OT-Me. we help families decode these moments and support kids in building routines that make daily tasks feel doable — not daunting 🌈🦋

*Porges, S. W. (2011). The Polyvagal Theory: Neurophysiological Foundations of Emotions, Attachment, Communication, and Self-Regulation. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
**Dunn, W. (2014). Sensory Profile 2: User’s Manual. San Antonio, TX: Pearson.

04/10/2025

We all know the classic 5 senses… but did you know there are two ‘hidden’ senses that are just as important for children’s development?

⚖️ Vestibular (balance & movement):
This sense comes from the inner ear and tells us where our head and body are in space. It helps kids stay upright, coordinate movements, and even supports attention. (That’s why spinning, swinging, or tipping upside down can be so regulating or overwhelming!)

📦 Proprioception (body awareness):
This sense comes from our muscles and joints. It tells the brain how much force to use, whether that’s carrying a backpack, holding a pencil, or giving a hug. Kids who seek ‘heavy work’ (like pushing furniture or crashing into pillows) are often craving proprioceptive input.

🌱 Fun fact (backed by research!):
Studies in occupational therapy show that movement and proprioceptive activities (often called ‘heavy work’) can calm the nervous system, improve regulation, and even boost focus in school tasks (Schaaf & Mailloux, 2015). Things like animal walks, jumping on a trampoline, or carrying groceries aren’t “just play” — they’re the body’s way of organising itself and getting ready to learn.

At OT-Me., we build activities around all seven senses — because supporting sensory integration is key to helping kids feel grounded, confident, and ready to learn 🧩🌈🦋

OTMe App

16/12/2025

09/12/2025

03/12/2025

30/11/2025

07/11/2025

06/11/2025

05/11/2025

03/11/2025

28/10/2025

27/10/2025

18/10/2025

04/10/2025

Address

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Featured

Share

Category