On The Other Hand Therapy

02/25/2026

Raising a child with an upper limb difference comes with joy, questions, and unexpected moments 🩵

Over the next few months, I'll be sharing a series of practical, compassionate parenting and caregiving suggestions for families raising children with upper limb differences

These ideas come from:
🩷 lived experience
🩷 decades of work as a pediatric occupational therapist
🩷 parenting two children into adulthood
🩷 long-term involvement in this community

☑️ This series is meant to be a support, not a checklist
☑️ You do not need to do or know everything at once
☑️ Some ideas may resonate now, others later, and some may not fit your family

Parenting and caregiving a child with an upper limb difference is a long journey. You do not have to walk it alone

Follow along, save what resonates, and share with another parent or caregiver who might need this

Many thanks to:
🩵 intern Ava for creating the slides and alt text
🩵 .greentree and for review & comments
🩵 all of the limb difference creators & orgs

02/19/2026

Well it's 60 degrees here today, but winter isn't over yet, so let's talk about how cold weather can be hard on partial arms and hands:
☑️ Dry air leads to skin cracks
☑️ Cold temperatures can make extremities feel painfully cold 🥶

Some upper limb differences are associated with circulation differences

That helps explain why winter care matters so much

💡These tips are for children and adults, because this is a lifelong experience, not something that disappears with age

What winter strategies help you or your child most? ❄️

👇 Share below so others can learn too

Many thanks to:
🩷 interns Amanda & Cassie for creating the slides!
🩷 the incomparable .greentree for review & comments
🩷 all of the limb difference creators & orgs

02/17/2026

When a child expresses sadness about their limb difference, they are not asking to be convinced otherwise

They are asking to be understood

Many of us were taught to respond quickly with reassurance:
“But your hand/arm is amazing”
“You’re so strong”
“Your difference makes you special”

Those messages are often well-intended

But if reassurance replaces welcome for the hard or messy emotions, children may learn that sadness is uncomfortable for the adults around them

Emotional resilience is built through attunement, not redirection or reassurance

We can celebrate our children and build their pride

AND we can make room for their grief

All of it belongs 🩷

Many thanks to:
🩷 limb different colleague Joss of https://limbdifferencelife.com for reviewing and providing input
🩷 all of the limb difference creators & orgs

02/13/2026

stretch of the day: shoulder circles 💪
This stretch is great for children and grown-ups to open and activate the shoulders
🩵 No equipment needed
🩵 Sit or stand with your arms or nubs out to the side at shoulder height
🩵 Hands can rest on shoulders with elbows pointing away from body
🩵 Slowly rotate your shoulders backwards in small circles and then gradually increasing circle size
🩵 Avoid raising/hunching shoulders while keeping your chest facing forward
🩵 Repeat rotating circles to the front
🩵 Move at a comfortable pace while breathing
🩵 The movement should feel gentle but energizing
Parents & caregivers — try this alongside your child using music if you choose!
Here are playful cues to make it fun:
🩷 “You’re drying out (or winding up) your wings”
🩷 “Let’s paint the wall with our elbow(s)/nubs”
Adapt as needed: keep arms straight rather than bend elbows
Image description:
Laura stands with both arms extended to the side at shoulder height with elbows bent and hands touching her upper shoulders. Without hunching shoulders up, she slowly rotates her arms in small circles backwards, gradually increasing the size of the circles.
🩷 Follow along for more stretches and ULD-informed tips
This is general education, not individualized medical advice. Please check with your/your child’s provider if you’re unsure what’s best for your body.
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Supporting limb different bodies and families 💪

02/05/2026

This past weekend, I had the joy of watching Natalie step into an upper limb difference space that has meant so much to me since my graduate school years. 🩷
Natalie is a newly-minted occupational therapist (OT) with a congenital upper limb difference, and as a student she was part of the OT practice group I co-lead. Seeing her share her voice, her clinical thinking, and her lived experience, and be welcomed so fully at the Helping Hands Foundation Winter Outing, was incredibly heartwarming.
One of the joys of this work is helping create pathways for the next generation of clinicians with lived experience.
Grateful for mentorship, collaboration, and communities that prioritize welcoming new voices. 🩵
Video shared with permission.

01/31/2026

Starting this month, I’m sharing a gentle reflection prompt for parents raising children with disabilities. 🩵

Parenting in this community can be beautiful and complicated. These questions are here to help you notice what’s going well, for your child and for you.

✨ This month’s reflection prompt: What has surprised you about raising your child?

Share here if you’d like, or keep it private. There’s no right way to participate.

Thank you to:
🩷 intern Cali for her contribution to this series
🩷 for thoughtful review
🩷 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy

01/27/2026

That’s a wrap on the “5 Habits to Reduce Overuse Syndrome” series! 🎉

These habits are about protecting bodies that work harder, so children and adults with upper limb differences can keep doing what they love.

This series is designed for families, educators, coaches, and practitioners who want practical, supportive ways to build strength, balance, and rest into everyday life.

You don’t have to do all of this at once; these are habits you can return to, layer in slowly, and adapt as needs change.

If you want everything in one place, I created a free, printable handout with all five habits
👉 download the free “5 Habits” handout here: https://ontheotherhand.org/5-habits-to-reduce-overuse-risk-for-children-with-upper-limb-differences/

This content is intended for general education only and does not replace individualized medical or therapeutic guidance. Every child’s body and needs are different. If you have specific concerns, consult your child’s healthcare or therapy provider.

01/25/2026

Strong arms need a strong foundation 💪

Core strength and two-sided power protect the back, shoulders, neck, arm(s), and hand(s), especially for children who rely heavily on one side

Focus on playful movement, technique, and progressing slowly

🩵 Save or share this post with a family or provider

Thank you to:
🩷 interns Amanda, Cassie, Keleigh, and Cali for their contributions to this series
🩷 for thoughtful review
🩷 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy

01/23/2026

Using tools can help bodies work smarter 🧠💪 not harder

Adaptation is part of life, and when tools are used together as a family, children aren’t singled out

Tools can help with stabilizing objects, reducing grip strain, and supporting two-sided use

To see the entire post, look here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DT3ex9Ck8hw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
🗓️ Stay posted for Day 5’s post!
👉 Free tech + daily habits handouts
🏷️ EazyHold silicone straps help with grasp: use code ontheotherhand15 for 15% off on eazyhold.com
(note: as an “affiliate” for EazyHold, I receive a small commission on sales)

🩵 Save or share this post with a family or provider

Thank you to:
🩷 interns Amanda, Cassie, Keleigh, and Cali for their contributions to this series
🩷 for thoughtful review
🩷 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy

01/22/2026

Posture matters for all children, and especially for children who work harder with one side of their body

Strong posture supports efficient movement, protects joints, and reduces long-term strain 💪

And yes, this benefits the whole family

See the post on Instagram here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DT3ex9Ck8hw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
🗓️ Stay posted for Day 4’s post!

🩵 Save or share this post with a family or provider

Thank you to:
🩷 interns Amanda, Cassie, Keleigh, and Cali for their contributions to this series
🩷 for thoughtful review
🩷 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy

01/21/2026

Many of us learned the “no pain, no gain” mantra, but this may not be best for children with limb differences

For our children, learning to rest before pain starts is a critical body-care skill

Learning to listen to our bodies develops over years. Our role as adults; model & teach that rest is part of life

Let’s teach some new mottos:
💪 “smart bodies do, rest, & stretch”
💪 “work smarter, not harder”

🩵 We can model this every day

🗓️ Stay posted for Day 3’s post!
👉 Free “5 Daily Habits” handout 🔗 link:

Save or share this post with a family or provider who might need it

Thank you to:
🩷 interns Amanda, Cassie, Keleigh, and Cali for their contributions to this series
🩷 for thoughtful review
🩷 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy

Five simple, family-friendly habits that help children with upper limb differences reduce overuse risk and support strong, balanced bodies

01/20/2026

Children with one-sided upper limb differences often rely heavily on the unaffected side of their body

Over time, that extra work adds up

Encouraging two-sided use, with play, daily tasks, and sports, helps build balance and protect growing bodies 💪

Small habits now can make a big difference later

🗓️ Stay posted for Day 2’s post!
👉 Free “5 Daily Habits” handout: https://ontheotherhand.org/5-habits-to-reduce-overuse-risk-for-children-with-upper-limb-differences/

This content is intended for general education only and does not replace individualized medical or therapeutic guidance. Every child’s body and needs are different. If you have specific concerns, consult your child’s healthcare or therapy provider.

Thank you to:
🩷 interns Amanda, Cassie, Keleigh, Cali, and Ava for their contributions to this series
🩷 for thoughtful review
🩷 the many creators and organizations promoting limb difference education and advocacy