Nature's Path Occupational Therapy

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Elbert, CO
Nature's Path Occupational Therapy

Nature based Occupational Therapy services.

02/18/2026

✝️Today marks Ash Wednesday, which for the Christian calendar marks the beginning of Lent. It often marks a season of people giving up things leading up to Easter.

✨Heading into this season of Lent, I wanted to share with y’all something I jotted down in my sermon notes when I had the pleasure of hearing preach last week.

God’s job is outcomes
Our job is obedience
God’s job is fruitfulness
Our job is faithfulness

✨Goodness when I heard him say that, it penetrated my soul. This is exactly the sanctification that the Holy Spirit has worked in and through me in my work with special needs families as a pediatric occupational therapist.

✨Through MUCH refining, the Lord taught me that my main job is to be obedient and faithful in that work He has called me into. The minute I focus on outcomes and fruitfulness, the whole ship starts to sink. Why? Because outcomes and fruitfulness are not my job! They belong to the Lord and the surrender of my heart to that is EXACTLY what the Lord wants.

➡️To the special needs family, caring day in and day out for your sweet child through doctor, therapy, and medical appointment, maybe this is exactly what you needed to hear this morning. THE LORD CONTROLS THE OUTCOME. CONTINUE BEING OBEDIENT.

➡️To the therapists working deep in the trenches of the suffering and brokenness of this work, maybe this is exactly what you needed to hear this morning. THE LORD CONTROLS THE FRUITFULNESS. CONTINUE BEING FAITHFUL.

✨Not my will, but your will be done Lord.

02/15/2026

🌳Children are a heritage from the Lord. They are fearfully and wonderfully made and their life has a plan and a purpose. We treat and care for them as such here at Nature’s Path OT. It is the heartbeat of our OT programs.

🌳We believe that children of ALL abilities can participate in meaningful occupations.

🌳We believe that relationship is the foundation of safety. When a child feels safe they thrive.

🌳We believe that the family is an integral part of the treatment program.

02/13/2026

🌳While it’s true that my personal choice is nature based OT sessions. That’s not specifically what I am talking about here.

🌳While the mountain views are great…I’m talking about the state of the child in this photo…

➡️Free to be unapologetically a child. Period. In a society that continues to strip childhood from children at far too early ages, I want to push back against that.

🌳If I’m not creating a space where the child feels safe to be who they truly are, a child. I DON’T WANT IT.

🌳Free to be everything they were created to be 🌳

02/09/2026

❤️When you share your story, it gives others permission to share their story. Did you catch that? Vulnerability means sharing imperfections, challenges, and emotional exposures. That my friends, is what yields relatability. The foundation of human connection is vulnerability and relatability.

➡️I would argue, it is also the quickest way for our children to relate to us as parents. Being vulnerable with our kids is a powerhouse for connection with them ❤️ A vulnerable parent is a relatable one.

02/04/2026

🧠We use swings in occupational therapy because the are an extremely powerful sensory and nervous system regulation tool. We aren’t just playing on swings, there is a science to it. Swings allow us to work on the brain-body connection. Not to mention, they are a whole lot of fun!

🧠Swinging stimulates the vestibular system which allows the brain to understand
1️⃣Where the body is in space
2️⃣Whether movement is safe
3️⃣Our state of alertness

🧠Depending on how the swing is used:
➡️slow, rhythmic swinging=calm and organizing
➡️fast, unpredictable swinging=alerting, energizing, activating

🧠Swings improve body awareness and coordination
➡️Balance
➡️Coordination
➡️Postural training
➡️Motor planning

🧠Swings support emotional regulation and safety
➡️Some swings offer a sense of containment which results in the child feeling safe
➡️Swinging promotes language. Have a kiddo who has a hard time opening up? Throw them on a swing and watch the language begin to flow. One of my favorite things is to talk about feelings while we swing.

🧠Swings assist with attention, learning, and behavior
➡️A regulated nervous system is able to focus better and learn better. Prepping the brain with swinging can improve learning outcomes.

🧠Swings are not random. I utilize swings in a couple of ways. Allowing the child to dictate what their nervous system needs by choosing a swing. While also keeping in mind these important factors…
➡️type of swing
➡️direction the swing will provide (linear vs rotational)
➡️speed
➡️duration
➡️timing within the session

Too much of the wrong kind of swinging can result in dysregulation. With knowledge of the vestibular system and sensory processing, swings are a powerful treatment tool in occupational therapy sessions. 💪🏻

02/03/2026

🪵We are big fans of loose parts play around here. Why? ⬇️

Benefits of Loose Parts Play in Occupational Therapy

🧠 Promotes Cognitive Development

Encourages problem-solving, planning, and cause-and-effect

Supports executive functioning (initiating, organizing, adapting ideas)

Allows open-ended exploration—no “right” or “wrong” way to play

✋ Builds Fine Motor Skills

Manipulating items like stones, lids, sticks, bolts, or fabric improves:

Grasp patterns

In-hand manipulation

Bilateral coordination

Great for hand strength and dexterity

🏃‍♂️ Supports Gross Motor & Sensory Processing

Lifting, carrying, stacking, or arranging objects provides:

Proprioceptive input

Vestibular and tactile experiences

Can be graded easily for sensory seekers or avoiders

🎨 Encourages Creativity & Imagination

Children create their own meanings and uses

Supports symbolic play, storytelling, and pretend play

Especially helpful for children who struggle with rigid or scripted play

🧩 Facilitates Emotional Regulation & Self-Confidence

Child-led play increases:

Sense of control

Motivation and engagement

Success with self-generated ideas boosts confidence

Can be calming and organizing for many children

🤝 Enhances Social Skills

Natural opportunities for:

Turn-taking

Negotiation

Joint problem-solving

📣You will hear me talk a lot about finding toys or activities where the child dictates how to play with it, NOT activities or toys that tell the child how to play with it. OPEN ENDED, LOOSE PARTS PLAY 👊🏻

Address

13955 Woodlake Road
Elbert, CO
80106

Website

http://www.naturespathot.com/

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