Sensory Smart Child Therapies

19/11/2025

Last week was World Nursery Rhyme Week!
A celebration of rhythm, language, music and imagination but also a powerful learning tool for children.

Many children don’t just enjoy nursery rhymes, they learn through them.

Here’s why nursery rhymes are especially valuable for all children

✅ Language development
Repetition, rhyme and simple structure help children build vocabulary, understand sentence patterns and develop speech confidence.

✅ Memory & sequencing
Remembering the order of words and verses supports working memory and cognitive processing.

✅ Social connection
Singing together helps children communicate, build confidence and develop early social skills which is especially good for those who struggle in group settings.

✅ Routine & predictability
Familiar songs create safety. Children who find change difficult can relax into something they already know.

✅ Movement & coordination
Actions like clapping, tapping, and dancing support motor skills, body awareness and sensory integration.

✅ Sensory regulation
Music can soothe, stimulate or help children manage emotions and are a gentle way to support self-regulation.

World Nursery Rhyme Week isn’t “just singing.”
It’s speech therapy, memory practice, emotional development and confidence-building wrapped in rhythm and joy.

So this week, whether it’s 'Twinkle Twinkle', 'Wind the Bobbin Up, or 'Five Little Speckled Frogs'… keep singing, keep playing and keep making learning fun for every child.

🎤 What’s your favourite nursery rhyme?

12/11/2025

This week is Anti-Bullying Week 2025 and the theme: Power for Good.

The theme of Power for Good has come about following consultation with teachers and pupils by the Anti-Bullying Alliance which coordinates Anti-Bullying Week every year in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Teachers and children wanted a theme that empowered them to do something positive to counter the harm and hurt that bullying causes.

Following the success of the campaign in 2024 – when over 80% of schools marked the week, reaching over 7.5 million children and young people – this year, we’ll empower children and young people to use their Power for Good to speak out, support others, and build a world where kindness wins.
Find out more here

Anti-Bullying Week 2025 will take place from Monday 10th - Friday 14th November, with the theme: Power for Good.

11/11/2025

Can anyone help this incredible campaign to keep going - they are advocating day and night to protect the therapy our children need and deserve x

Hello All,

We’ve been campaigning solidly for seven months. The fact that we are as far as we are is a testament to our community and beyond.

We will never give up.

We do have an ask for you all. And we hate asking. But, unfortunately we can’t afford to underwrite the cost of all of this alone…we wish we could.

Things we need money for:

*We need to pay for practical things like travel to London from across the country to get to parliament or other meetings. We are all volunteers and are relying on our own limited household incomes to do this work.

*We need to update the campaign website to a provider with better security.

*We need to pay for cloud storage for evidence and videos work we create.

*We have early plans for other campaign work nationwide that will have a financial cost.

All monies will be used for the practical ‘hard’ costs of running a national campaign.

Our time is still being donated.

Accounts will be kept.

No money will be spent without agreement of all campaign organisers.

Can you help?

If so, go to: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/asgsfprotest?utm_medium=CR&utm_source=CL

Thank you.

07/11/2025

🎉 Happy OT Week! 🎉

This week we’re celebrating our amazing team of occupational therapists at Sensory Smart!

From mastering motor skills and building confidence to turning therapy into play, our OT's bring endless creativity, patience, and care to every session. 💕

If one of our wonderful OT's has made a difference in your child’s life, we’d love for you to share your experience!

Leave a Google review to help us celebrate their incredible work: https://g.page/r/CTF6fMH2wfPIEAE/review

Let’s give a big round of applause to our OT team — thank you for making therapy fun, meaningful, and full of smiles every day! 👏💚

05/11/2025

Firework Night isn’t magical for everyone.

While many families look forward to bonfires, sparklers and the sky lighting up with colour, for children with sensory processing challenges — including autism, ADHD, PTSD or anxiety — this time of year can be overwhelming.

✨ Bright flashes
✨ Sudden bangs
✨ Crowds
✨ Unpredictable noise
✨ The feeling of not knowing what's coming next

These can turn a “fun night out” into a stressful, frightening experience.

So this Firework Night, let’s be mindful, patient and kind.

✅ Some children may wear ear defenders
✅ Some might watch from indoors
✅ Some may leave early
✅ Some may not go at all, and that’s okay

Every family knows what works best for their child.

If you’re celebrating, here are ways to help make the night more inclusive:

🌟 Share estimated timings with neighbours
🌟 Choose quieter fireworks
🌟 Avoid surprise back-garden displays late at night
🌟 Check in on families who might find this time difficult
🌟 Celebrate in ways that don’t require noise — glow sticks, torches, music and light-up toys can be just as magical

Firework Night can be joyful — but it should never come at the cost of someone else’s peace.

To every child who finds this weekend tough:
💛 We see you
💛 You aren’t “too sensitive”
💛 You’re doing your best in a loud world

And to every parent supporting them: you’re doing an amazing job.

01/11/2025

Despite living amidst this craziness for the past 12 months. Hearing it this way just makes it even more absurd!!!
We can not be expected to maintain our moral and ethical code of practice with ‘best guess’ assessments!! And we can not provide evidenced based therapy on half the number of therapy sessions the evidence shows is needed!!
These cuts are having devastating consequences on the lives of children and their families!

Please share and tag your MP - we need this sorted NOW!! Monica Harding MP for Esher & Walton

01/11/2025

We all need to keep fighting to revert these devastating changes!

The Line of Duty actor is backing campaign urging a reversal of ‘cruel’ government cuts to a scheme paying for therapy for adopted and kinship kids

29/10/2025

🎃 This week you can't miss the fact it's Halloween 🎃

For many children, Halloween is full of fun. Many love dressing up, spooky sounds, flashing lights, and trick-or-treat excitement.

But for children with sensory processing challenges, it can can be very overwhelming.

Costumes that feel scratchy, masks that limit vision or breathing, loud noises, unexpected visitors, and bright decorations can all trigger distress rather than delight.

Here are a few ways to make Halloween more inclusive and sensory-friendly:

🧡 If your child does want to dress up make sure you choose comfortable costumes with soft fabrics or familiar clothes with a Halloween touch.
👂 It is important to talk through what will happen during trick-or-treating or parties to reduce surprises.
🌙 Some children might prefer calmer and quieter activities like pumpkin painting or drawing.
🍬 Not every child will want to dress up, go out, or answer the door and that’s okay.

Halloween doesn’t have to be loud or scary to be special.
Do share any tips that have worked for you.

22/10/2025

⭐We need your help for our 1000 voices campaign!⭐

Over the past 19 years, we’ve supported more than 9,000 children and families. We’ve seen first hand how truly individualised, inclusive, and child-centred support transforms lives.

As Sensory Smart Child Therapies turns 20, we want to showcase the true impact of therapy—through your stories. We're looking for more families willing to share their journey: when it began, what challenges were faced, what support helped, and where you are today.

Together, let’s advocate for a system where all children can access the right support, at the right time, and live their best lives.

Please click on the link below to share your story with us 💚
https://bit.ly/4nnVitD

22/10/2025

Thank you to Marian Cox for this lovely review.
Reviews make a big difference to our business and are great for staff morale who all work so hard.
If you have used our services do head over to Google and leave a review, we would be very grateful.

15/10/2025

Autumn is a season full of colour, texture, and change but for children with sensory processing challenges, it can be both exciting and overwhelming.

The sights, sounds, and sensations that many of us love, the crunchy leaves underfoot, brisk winds, new layers of clothing, and stronger smells, can trigger discomfort or anxiety for some children.

Here are a few gentle ways to help:
✨ Prepare for change in the season and talk about the shift in weather, clothing, and routines before they happen.
🍁 You can create sensory-safe experiences when exploring nature by choosing quieter spaces or collect leaves and conkers to explore indoors where it feels calmer.
🧣 Offer comfort items such as nice soft scarves, or familiar textures which can help ground and soothe.
🌤️ Keep routines predictable as seasonal change can be unsettling; consistent structure builds a sense of safety.

Every child experiences the world differently and with understanding, we can help them find comfort and joy in the changing seasons.

13/10/2025

Ten percent of the population are believed to be dyslexic, but it is still often poorly understood. With the right support, the strengths and talents of dyslexic people can really shine.

Dyslexia is a neurological difference and can have a significant impact during education, in the workplace and in everyday life. As each person is unique, so is everyone's experience of dyslexia. It can have varying impacts, and it can co-occur with other specific learning difficulties. It usually runs in families and is a life-long condition.

It is important to remember that there are positives to thinking differently. Many dyslexic people show strengths in areas such as reasoning and in visual and creative fields.

There is a misconception that dyslexia just affects the ability to read and write. If this were true, it would be much easier to identify. In fact dyslexia can have an affect on areas such as coordination, organisation and memory.

Each person with dyslexia will experience the condition in a way that is unique to them and as such, each will have their own set of abilities and difficulties.

However, if you know what to look for, there are common signs that can help you to identify whether the difficulties being experienced could be indicative of dyslexia and would suggest that further investigation could be beneficial.

Here is a link to the details and more information about dyslexia - there are a lot of myths out there about it!

https://www.bdadyslexia.org.uk/dyslexia/about-dyslexia/signs-of-dyslexia