Ruth Waldrop Occupational Therapist

11/01/2025

Regulation is needed for learning! Here is information on HOW to support emotional regulation skills: https://www.theottoolbox.com/zones-of-regulation-activities-2/

11/01/2025

📝 **School-Based Occupational Therapy Checklist** 📝

Pediatric OTs, streamline your evaluations with this **2-page screening form** designed for school settings! 📚

✨ **What’s Included?**
- Comprehensive checklist covering:
🖐️ Fingers & hands
✍️ Pencil grasp & handwriting
🎒 Classroom & life skills
👀 Visual perceptual skills
🎨 Sensory processing & coordination
💪 Neuromuscular status
🛠️ Environmental modifications

🖥️ Available in **editable Word format** and **PDF** for easy use. Print as many copies as needed for your caseload! 🎉

📂 Get a clear picture of a student’s functional level in an educational setting—all in one place! 🚀

11/01/2025

Dysgraphia is a neurological disorder that affects a person’s ability to write coherently and efficiently. The term comes from the Greek words “dys” (meaning difficulty) and “graphia” (meaning writing). Individuals with dysgraphia may struggle with handwriting, spelling, and organizing written thoughts. This condition can affect both children and adults and often leads to challenges in academic, social, and professional settings. Over time, these difficulties may also impact self-esteem and mental health, making early recognition and supportive interventions crucial. There are five different types of dysgraphia.

Read more here: https://mind.help/topic/dysgraphia/types/

10/31/2025

“Sharing is caring”. In due time.

From

10/31/2025

We’re finding this to be a problem with more and more kids we see in OT.

ALL ABOUT INTEROCEPTION!

It’s the last day and the last sensory system! October is Sensory Processing Awareness Month. To help spread awareness, I am sharing a series of graphics about the 8 sensory systems. ⠀

To get a printable version of this graphic,
🗣️Comment SENSORY and I'll send you the link directly.

Interoception is the body’s internal sensory system that helps us notice and interpret signals from within. Receptors located in our organs, muscles, and skin send messages to the brain about what’s happening inside the body. Interoception helps us understand and respond to how we feel on the inside.

Things like our heart rate, breathing rate, emotions, when we need to use the bathroom, temperature, and pain are all part of these internal sensations.

BIG disclaimer here. When looking at interoception challenges, you have to rule out medical issues FIRST. ALWAYS talk to your child’s doctor if you have any concerns about any challenges listed here. This list is for educational purposes only.

Some ways that you can address interoception challenges, AFTER ruling out or addressing any medical concerns, are:

* Mindfulness activities
* Yoga
* Heavy work activities
* Alerting activities
* Repetitive and rhythmic vestibular input
* Visual prompts and cues to identify and communicate emotions
* Social stories

To get a printable version of this graphic,
🗣️Comment SENSORY and I'll send you the link directly.

10/31/2025

This one! ❤️❤️❤️

🌡️ Are you a thermometer or a thermostat? 🤔

As adults, we play a HUGE role in helping children manage their emotions. When we stay calm, steady, and in control—like a thermostat—we help kids feel safe and supported. 💚 But if we react to their every emotional spike like a thermometer, we risk escalating the situation. 😣

💡 Being the thermostat means YOU set the emotional tone.
✅ Stay grounded
✅ Offer calm cues
✅ Guide them back to regulation

This is what coregulation looks like in action! 🌈👫

📸 Save this visual reminder.
💬 Tag a teacher, therapist, or parent who needs to hear this today.

10/31/2025

A wonderful organization to support and foster sportsmanship for our youth ❤️

So much gratitude to Alrenwald-TheraNova for their generous donation toward our Hyperbolic wrestlers! Your support means the world — it helps our athletes grow both on and off the mat, and shines a light on creating opportunities for every child, including our incredible neurodivergent kids. Thank you for believing in them and helping make a difference. 💙💪🏼🤍

10/31/2025

Trick or Treat! 🎃🎃🎃

10/08/2025

Research shows that when children ask to be carried, even though their legs can walk, it’s not laziness. It’s longing.

They’re not incapable.
They’re reaching for closeness.

Because here’s the truth:
A child can run around the playground for hours.
They can climb stairs, chase friends, and jump without hesitation. But suddenly, with mom or dad nearby, they raise their arms and plead, “Carry me.” And in that moment, it’s not their legs that are tired. It’s their heart that needs holding.

Why?
Because physical closeness is emotional fuel.

🧠 Attachment research shows that touch, holding, and closeness regulate a child’s nervous system, lowering cortisol and strengthening their sense of security (Feldman, 2010). Being carried tells them, 'You are safe.' You belong. You don’t have to do life all alone.

Why does this matter?

Because when we don’t understand it, we believe the lie: They’re spoiled. They’re manipulating. They should be independent by now.

But science is whispering: Independence grows out of secure dependence first.

Here’s what supporting that can look like:
→ Offering to carry them when you can, without shaming.
→ Meeting their need for connection through cuddles, hugs, and presence.
→ Remembering that “carry me” today becomes the inner voice of “I can carry myself” tomorrow.

The truth is, children don’t ask to be carried forever. But they will never forget how it felt to be held.

So maybe the question isn’t,
“Why can’t they just walk?”
Maybe it’s,
“What if their raised arms are really saying, ‘Hold me close so I can keep going?’”

Because the world doesn’t just need kids who walk strongly, it requires kids who know the strength of love that carried them first. 🤍

10/03/2025

Ever wondered why worries can feel so overwhelming?

Today we’re zooming in on the brain – specifically, the amygdala. This tiny part of the brain plays a huge role in how children experience fear, stress and anxiety.

Our posts today break down the amygdala’s role in worry, helping you see what’s happening beneath the surface.

IN THE RESOURCE STORE - instant electronic download with secure global checkout. Only £3.75, introductory price until 19 October 2025.
Toolkit to accompany our new series:
When Worries Take Over: Supporting Children With Everyday Worries
The Toolkit for Parents & Educators contains parent information sheets which capture the content of our posts over the series as well as tools, resources and activities to support them young person.

Electronic download available at link in comments⬇️ or via our Linktree Shop in Bio.

09/30/2025

LINEAR VESTIBULAR SENSORY ACTIVITIES

The vestibular system, located in the inner ear, sends signals to the brain about the position and movement of the head. It becomes active whenever the head tilts, turns upside down, spins, or moves quickly or slowly—for example, when running, swinging, or sliding.

Today we are focusing on linear vestibular input -
Forward/backward, up/down and side to side. Broadly speaking these actions can help someone to soothe and calm, alert and energise, or organise and regulate. Some children will also combine vestibular input with proprioceptive input to have these outcomes.

Some activities allow for a combination of vestibular input such as the hammock swing. Allowing a child to direct their sensory input may also help them to include proprioception (eg. Pumping legs on the swing, pushing with arms on the scooter board, jumping on the trampoline). Stop/start activities will also bring alerting components.

We are embarking on lots of sensory content in the next month, come back to find out more. In the meantime, get your FREE ticket to the sensory summit. Let me know if you want the link!