Harbour View Health

12/01/2026

Sensory bags are such an easy and fun way to keep your little one entertained.

Grab a zip lock bag, add some water, hair gel, or shaving cream, and toss in colourful pompoms, buttons, or tiny toys—whatever you’ve got at home.

Stick the bag down to the floor with tape so it doesn’t slide around, and let your child squish and poke to their heart’s content (just make sure you’re watching, since these are for playing, not chewing!) 🌟👶

08/01/2026

We always have a LOT of questions from parents about the 'right' kind of sensory play. Truth be told, there is no right or wrong. Sensory play doesn't have to be hard - anything that stimulates ONE or more of the senses counts ☺️

08/01/2026

How to get more out of story time! I use this technique almost every day when reading with little ones. Not only does it build cognitive skills, but speech and language too. Give it a try 📚📚📚

06/01/2026

Play = 'work' for kids (lucky them!)

It's how their little brains grow, and how they learn about the world around them. Here's a few key things to remember:

💛 Supporting play in a way that aligns with your child's developmental stage and age is essential.
💛 You don't need an abundance of fancy toys - kids of all ages love to play with things around the house. Some rice in an empty plastic container is a perfect DIY maraca!
💛 Visit your local toy library to borrow staged-based toys.
💛 For babies under 6 months, play might seem hard. Try playing different positions. Their whole world changes just by switching position from their back to tummy!

05/01/2026

Can you guess the 9 benefits of stacking cups?

These are a great open-ended toy for kids aged 3 months and above. Here's our favourite ways to use them:

🌟3 -6 months: developing reach and grasp skills or banging cups together to make noise.
🌟6 - 9 months: with supervision, hide small toys/snacks under the cups to encourage grasping and lifting, play peek-a-boo with an item under the biggest cup.
🌟9 months - 1 year: stacking cups inside each other, posting into a big container, scooping during water play or in the bath.
🌟1 - 2 years: building towers, digging at the beach, or making colour patterns.
🌟3 - 4 years (and above): for tea parties, building different shaped sand castles, scooping in water play.

25/11/2025

This is what 2 terms of handwriting support can do 😍

This young boy came to us as his teachers were unable to read his writing, which made it difficult for them to mark his assignments and tests. He desperately needed support before starting year 7 in 2026.

His skills have improved SO much and his writing is now consistently legible.

How do we achieve this? ➡️ By using novel, play-based tasks to build visual perceptual skills, letter formation, fine motor skills, and the child’s awareness of what is making their writing messy. In this case, it was line placement, formation and sizing.

If your child needs support to build their writing skills over the school holidays, please get in touch 📝

25/11/2025

25/11/2025

If you're already cleaning one mess, may as well clean another, right? 😅

20/11/2025

Memory games hold a permanent place in my bag as a paediatric occupational therapist!

These games not only boost memory skills, but also a range of other cognitive, social, and emotional skills.

How to make it more than *just* a memory game?

😭 Model how you regulate your emotions when you lose the game - “Argh, I really wanted to win! I’m feeling disappointed, but I know that’s just a game”

🎉 Teach kindness and empathy by praising one another’s matching skills. Similarly, practice consoling each other when you don’t get a pair.

✅ Encourage turn taking by not letting your child have your turn for you. Ensure they wait until you have completely finished your turn.

🎉 Talk about how they might feel if they win or lose during the game. Then, practice feeling the feelings by not letting them win every time! Encourage them to congratulate you, and do the same when they win.

19/11/2025

Neurodiversity reminds us that there is no single “right” way for a brain to work — just beautifully different ways of thinking, learning, feeling and experiencing the world. 💛

When we embrace neurodiversity, we create spaces where every child and adult feels understood, valued and supported. It means shifting from “fixing” to accepting, from “what’s wrong?” to “what does this person need to thrive?”

Celebrating diverse brains isn’t just important — it’s essential for building compassionate and inclusive communities, and a world where everyone has the chance to shine. 🌈✨

10/11/2025

Somewhere along the way, ‘sensory play’ evolved into something that now feels unmanageable for most parents to do at home. Sensory play doesn’t have to include big tubs of colourful rice, sand, and shaving cream.

Something as simple as peeling a mango or an orange provides the same opportunity for sensory exploration, without as much prep and mess 🥭🍊

06/11/2025

Is your child biting others? You’re not alone! 🦷 💬

If you have a toddler, chances they've bitten or been bitten! Biting is so incredibly common, however can cause a lot of shame and embarrassment for families. We are here to remind you that you're not alone, and biting is in fact a very common stage for young children!

Biting often happens when a child feels frustrated, excited, teething, or is exploring the world around them. The good news? With calm responses, clear communication, and a few practical strategies, you can help your child move past this phase.

Remember, biting is just one way little ones learn about their world. With patience, love, and support, they’ll soon find safer ways to connect and communicate 🤍