Tamar Ovadia Occupational Therapy

21/11/2025

Highly recommend giving this one a read! Medication has come a long way and under the right circumstances it can unlock so much potential for a child. I hope that this is validating for parents faced with this decision.

06/05/2025

Thank you Project Play for sharing this great explanation that is all about the magic powers of proprioception 💥 this informs a lot of the sensory work that we do SI based OT 💪🏻 It instant to carry over these simple ‘sensory snacks’ at home and school and not just during therapy sessions.

11/03/2025

Short interesting article on the different types of sensory based difficulties we encounter in OT and how they present thanks Your Therapy Source

Types of sensory processing disorder, how to help children manage their sensory challenges, and when it might be time to seek help.

09/12/2024

Very interesting and so true. Good to remember this moving into silly season. Thanks Orit Berman 🙏🏻

A reminder for the holidays:

It is important to remember that there is a difference between a tantrum and a meltdown when your little one is freaking out because the underlying reason is different and therefore the way we handle it is different too!

A tantrum usually needs an audience because they are trying to achieve a desired outcome be it a thing or a reaction. Their eyes are usually open. They are able to use cognitive strategies and are in control of what they are doing. A child can become extremely dysregulated while having a tantrum, which can lead to meltdown. Tantrums are usually resolved through reminders of boundaries and removal from a situation or by distracting them.

A meltdown on the other hand usually has a sensory base and is not a conscious decision. It is a reaction to an event or a feeling. It is NOT goal-oriented. It usually builds up and the meltdown is a way to get it all out. A meltdown continues with/without an audience. It has been described as a “out of body experience”. It only ends when the child is regulated and the feelings are “out”. The child is usually drained/exhausted after a meltdown. In this situation, it is important to keep the child safe and to co-regulate. The child cannot think in this state so talking and bargaining doesn’t work. It is helpful to know their sensory processing needs so that you can tap into that in order to help them regulate. Perhaps pop a hood over their head to “darken” the space if it is bright or busy. Perhaps hold them tightly. Perhaps don’t touch them, as this may exacerbate their overload.

Knowing your child and being able to identify what’s happening can really help you decide how you will handle it.

Always here to hold you, so you can hold your family 🌸

30/08/2024

❤️

03/02/2024

What a great article about hand clapping games and the many benefits. This also explains the many different skills were are constantly working on in OT.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest Clapping Games are an Awesome Way to Work on Motor Skills Remember all the clapping games you used to play when you were little? Nowadays, kids have a hard time playing with nothing. Meaning, if they don’t have a toy or an iPhone to keep them occupied, they don’t reall...

05/09/2022

Another great article on the importance of midline crossing and why we incorporate it into all of our sessions.

Crossing the midline plays a part in everything we do! Reading, writing, catching a ball, getting dressed, sitting cross-cross-applesauce, play, self-care...everything!

So, what exactly is midline? Midline of the body is an imaginary line that drops from the middle of the head, strait down over the nose, to the belly button and divides the body into left and right sides. Examples of crossing midline include:
👈Moving the left hand/arm/foot/leg across this line to the right side (and vise versa). Twisting the body in rotation around this imaginary line
👉Leaning the upper or body across the middle of the body
👈Touching the opposite side of the page when reading, writing, or cutting.
👉SO much more!

Here are fun ways to address and develop this skill:

https://www.theottoolbox.com/crossing-midline-march-gross-motor/

26/08/2022

https://holfamily.com/why-crossing-the-midline-is-key-to-your-childs-physical-and-emotional-development/?fbclid=IwAR393k_ThENO3zxIPrkAiTdBA_7ehbdRxifd7iEC5a9Bw6XBVPyvsbmdlmY

Midline crossing, so much more than just for developing fine and gross motor skills! We incorporate these skills into every therapy session 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

To learn why crossing the midline is key for everything from emotional regulation, fine and gross motor skills, reading and writing, and better behavior, click through to read this post now or pin for later! ...

02/08/2022

Dysgraphia…

02/08/2022

22/07/2022

Even in this day of technology handwriting remains super important!

“….two studies demonstrate that learning letters through printing creates the network of activation that is known to underlie reading in adults – even before children can read.”

Read this LDA article to find out more.

https://archive.ldaustralia.org/client/documents/Brain%20research%20shows%20why%20handwriting%20should%20be%20taught%20in%20the%20computer%20age%20-%20James,%20Berninger.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0b-W5gv5CyUfkmlxrVaRCieLi5_oJB5zizGYWejxCyT6TZxKxqokRiHNg

05/06/2022

Thank you for sharing The Happy Handwriter: Fine Motor, Pre-writing & Handwriting.
Tweets and tongs are a firm fine motor favourite for OT