Lancaster Children's Occupational Therapy

10/11/2025

🌟 Bendrigg – Making Adventure Accessible! 🌟

Bendrigg knows just how powerful adventure can be 💚 — spending time outdoors and in nature can truly transform health and wellbeing.

They offer inclusive and accessible activity breaks, courses, and residentials for disabled children & adults, and for anyone with additional support needs, including:
💙 Autism
💛 Neurodiversity
💚 Physical disabilities
💜 Learning disabilities
🧡 Sensory disabilities
❤️ Behavioural difficulties

There’s something for everyone! Check out their amazing range of activities:
🧗‍♂️ Climbing
🛶 Canoeing
🎯 Archery
🚴 Cycling
❄️ Tube slide
🌄 Fell walking
💫 Sensory swing & sensory room
… and so many more!

👉 Learn more here: https://www.bendrigg.org.uk/

✨ Bendrigg — Making the Impossible Possible ✨

04/11/2025

🌟 Happy OT Week! 🌟

Ever wondered what Occupational Therapy (OT) is all about? 🤔

Occupational Therapy helps people of all ages build the skills they need for everyday life — their “occupations.”

For children and families, that can mean:
🧩 Developing fine motor skills (like writing, using scissors, or buttons)
🗣 Encouraging independence with self-care (dressing, eating, toileting)
💛 Supporting participation at home, school, and in the community

For children with complex needs, that might also mean:
💬 Developing independence with self-care, communication, and routines
🏠 Adapting environments so every child can participate — at home, at school, and in the community
🪑 Providing specialist seating to support participation and posture

Every achievement, no matter how big or small, is worth celebrating!

In short — OT helps children and young people do the things that matter most!
It’s about turning challenges into strengths, and helping every child reach their full potential. 🌈

27/10/2025

🎃Happy Halloween from the OT Team!

Pumpkin carving can be tricky for little hands, but with a few simple tweaks, it can be fun, safe, and a great way to build skills!

🎯 Top Tips:
• Use a non-slip mat or damp towel to keep pumpkins steady.
• Wrap utensils with foam or tape for easier gripping.
• Choose smaller pumpkins—they’re easier to carve and less tiring.

✋ Fine Motor Fun:
• Scoop with an ice cream scoop or melon baller.
• Draw designs with thick markers or stencils.
• Try cookie cutters, push pins, or golf tees instead of knives.
• Or skip carving altogether—decorate with paint, stickers, or yarn for a no-cut option.

🍂 Sensory Bonus:
• Explore the textures of pumpkin guts and seeds—great for tactile play.
• Sort seeds from pulp to build focus and finger strength.
• Make pumpkin seed slime for play that lasts all day.
• Don’t worry about the mess—it makes for great memories!

⚠️ Safety Tip:
Always carve away from the body and supervise children when using tools.

We’d love to see your pumpkins and costumes! 📸
Share your creative photos in the comments below. 🧡

21/10/2025

🍂🦔 Autumn Craft Fun: Leaf Hedgehogs! 🦔🍂

There’s something so magical about autumn — the crunch of fallen leaves, the cozy colors, and the perfect excuse to get creative with nature! 🌰✨

It’s an easy and fun craft to try at home:
1️⃣ Go on a little leaf hunt outside — look for different shapes and shades of brown, red, and gold. 🍁
2️⃣ Draw or print a simple hedgehog outline (just the face and body).
3️⃣ Glue the leaves on to make the spiky back.
4️⃣ Add a cute face with googly eyes or markers — and don’t forget a tiny nose! 🖍️

Not only is this a great way to celebrate the season, but it also helps children explore textures, colors, and creativity. Plus, it’s a lovely reason to spend some time outdoors collecting nature’s treasures. 🌿

If you give it a try, we’d love to see your creations — share your little hedgehogs in the comments below! 🦔❤️

14/10/2025

Transitioning from children’s health services to adult health services is a critical phase in a young person’s healthcare journey.

For International Adolescent Health Week (13 to 19 October 2025), find out more about some of the tools available for young people and their parents, guardians and carers on moving from child-focused to adult-focused healthcare: https://www.uhmb.nhs.uk/news-and-events/latest-news/supporting-young-people-through-transition-child-adult-services-uhmbt

14/10/2025

In celebration of Allied Health Professionals Day 💙🙌
The paediatric AHPs came together to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the amazing work we do supporting children and families 🌈🧠👐
Proud to be part of such a dedicated, passionate team making a difference every day 💫

08/10/2025

Hand Strengthening Exercises for Kids! 💪✋

Looking for fun and easy ways to build ✨hand strength✨ at home or in the classroom? These activities use simple, inexpensive supplies you may already have! 🏠🏫

👇 Try these favorites:

🟣 Therapy Putty Fun!
👉 Power Grip – squeeze a ball of putty flat!
👉 Flat Pinch – pinch the putty log flat 🫳
👉 Thumb Press – press your thumb into the putty 👍
👉 Finger Curl – squeeze fingers into the putty to make a fist ✊

🔵 Squeeze Ball Games
💥 Gross grasp – squeeze & hold 3–5 sec
😆 Try squeeze balls with faces for silly fun!

🎾 Feed the Tennis Ball
👋 Squeeze open the “mouth” & feed it beans or pom poms!

🟡 Rubber Band Stretch
💫 Wrap around fingers & stretch them apart — feel the burn!

🤲 Hand Pushes & Pulls
✋ Push palms together
🫱 Pull interlocked fingers apart gently

🔴 Marble Roll Challenge
🌀 Rotate 2–4 marbles in one hand — tricky & fun!

🎹 Piano Push
Tap & press fingers on the table like piano keys 🎶

🧻 Crumple Paper Balls
🖐 Use one or both hands to crush paper sheets into balls

💦 Wring It Out!
Twist & wring wet sponges or washcloths 🧽

♻️ DIY Tongs!
Cut a Pringles lid into tongs & use them to pick up small items 🥔

🦃 Condiment Bottle or Turkey Baster Race
Squeeze to blow pom-poms or cotton balls — make it a race! 🏁

🐄 Milk the Glove!
Fill a latex glove with water & poke holes — squeeze out each “finger”! 💧

🌈 Spray Bottle Fun
Spray chalkboards or draw letters on sidewalks 🌧

📎 Office Tools for Strength!
Staplers, hole punches, scissors, glitter glue, marker caps — perfect for little hands! ✂️🖍

🧺 Household Helpers
Push/pull laundry baskets, plunger play, Velcro pulls, chip clips, or can lifts 🏋️

🧩 Fun Toys That Build Strength:
🌀 Pop Toobs
🐮 Squeeze Animals
🍕 Food Cutting Toys
🧱 LEGO Bricks
🥔 Mr. Potato Head

💬 Tip: Switch it up often! Kids stay engaged when exercises feel like playtime 💕

08/10/2025

Learn to Cycle this October Half Term 🎃
Back by popular demand our Learn to Cycle sessions are the perfect way to get children bike confident and riding in a fun, safe and supportive environment 🚲

📅Thursday 30th October at 10.30 - 11.30 & 12.00 - 13.00

Book via: https://www.lancaster.gov.uk/salt-ayre-leisure-centre/school-holiday-activities

Please bring your own bike to the session with relevant equipment to remove stabilisers.

03/10/2025

Helping Little Ones Feel at Home in Hospital
Sometimes, children find themselves in hospital unexpectedly, without even the basics they need for comfort and care. At Bay Hospitals Charity, we work hard to make sure no child ever feels unprepared or unsupported during their stay.
But we can’t do it alone. That’s where you come in.
Our Children’s Wards are currently in need of essential clothing items to help make young patients feel safe, warm, and cared for. We are asking for donations of NEW:
👶 Baby Sleepsuits and Vests
Sizes: 0–3 months, 3–6 months, 6–9 months, 9–12 months, 12–18 months
🧒 Pyjamas (non-fleecy) – for both boys and girls
Sizes: 3–4 years, 4–5 years, 5–6 years, 6–7 years, 7–8 years
Every item donated helps a child feel just a little more at home during a difficult time. If you’re able to help, we, and the families we support, would be incredibly grateful. Please drop off at Bay Hospitals Charity, FGH and RLI.
Thank you for making a difference.💜🩷

29/09/2025

29/09/2025

COMMUNICATING WITH A NON-VERBAL CHILD 🌟

Communicating with non-verbal children means tuning into their ways of expressing themselves 💕 — through gestures, facial expressions, sounds, or even assistive devices. Building trust, making it fun, and modelling language during play and daily routines makes a world of difference 🌈✨.

🕵️‍♀️ OBSERVE & INTERPRET
Watch body language, gestures, facial expressions, and little vocalisations 👀💬. They all have meaning!

🎲 ENGAGE IN SHARED ACTIVITIES
Play games that encourage turn-taking, copying sounds, gestures, or actions 🤲🎶.

⏰ ROUTINES
Use play routines so your child can start to anticipate what’s next and share their desires or preferences 🔄💡.

😄 MAKE IT FUN
Choose activities they love 💖 that encourage exploration and communication.

🗣️ MODEL LANGUAGE & ACTIONS
Talk through what you’re doing — describe, point, label 🏡🍎🚗.

🖼️ VISUAL AIDS
Try picture cards, symbols, or real objects to help them express needs 🎨🧩.

📱 DEVICES
Consider speech-generating devices as another powerful tool 💻🔊.

💡 Most of all: Respond promptly and positively to every form of communication 🌟👏💖.

15/09/2025

Screens are everywhere — and as occupational therapists, we want to remind you: it’s not about ❌ removing screens, but about ✅ finding balance that supports your child’s growth.

Here’s what to keep in mind:
✨ Connection first 🤝 – co-watch/play with your child & chat about what they see. Builds language + social skills.
✨ Protect routines 🛏️🍽️ – keep mornings, mealtimes & bedtime screen-free. Supports sleep + family bonding.
✨ Balance the day ⚽🌳🎨 – match screen time with movement, outdoor play & hands-on fun. Strengthens motor skills + creativity.
✨ Model healthy habits 👀📱 – kids copy what we do, not just what we say.
✨ Watch for signs 🚩 – meltdowns, trouble focusing, or less interest in play may mean it’s time to scale back.

💡 Kids learn best through play, movement & real-life connection 💛 Screens can be helpful, but they shouldn’t replace the experiences that truly shape development.