Finding a starting place for resources and information can be overwhelming if you’re new to the world of occupational therapy. To get you started, click here for some of the best websites, blogs, and social media pages we’ve compiled that feature tons of at home OT ideas, information, and materials for you and your child!

The most common misconception generally had about occupational therapy is that it is “just like physical therapy” or simply “focuses on handwriting.” Learn about the similarities and differences in these two important professions and find the answers to some frequently asked questions you might have at the beginning of OT journey.

There can be an overwhelming amount of information to take in and process at the beginning of your child’s OT journey. Here are a few sites that help lay out the step-by-step process of getting your child OT services, introduce you to early intervention programs in your state, guide you through an “ultimate list” of activities and products for those new to the world of OT, and ways to advocate for your child to receive any school-based accommodations and services they deserve in order to thrive.

You might be concerned about whether or not your child is hitting his or her appropriate developmental milestones. Learn more about childhood development and the milestones that are typically met at different age ranges!

The world of Occupational Therapy has its own unique terminology. Click here to build your OT vocabulary!

The stronger your child’s core and body muscles are, the longer they’re able to be upright and active and do the things they love. Click here to learn the signs to tell if your child may be struggling with core strength, ways to build and strengthen these muscles, and exercises for children with moderate to severe needs.

In order to develop an efficient pencil grasp, children need to move their fingers in isolation, develop shoulder and wrist stability, and build strong hand muscles. Learn about some activities that support the development of an efficient pencil grasp!

Getting dressed each day can sometimes be both time-consuming and a source of frustration for children with developmental delays or disabilities. Here are some sites with ideas for dressing with adaptable, sensory-friendly clothing, details and tips for dressing from head to toe, and activities for developing buttoning, zipping, and tying skills.

• Check out our sources for sensory friendly, adaptive clothing and accessories under the “Adaptive Clothing” tab!

Your child deserves to look and feel their best in clothing that both looks and feels good to them. Click here for sensory friendly, adaptable clothing options like tagless shirts and pants, Velcro belts, and clothes with magnetic snaps to allow your child to dress independently and feel comfortable all day!

Learning to put on socks and shoes can be a complicated, frustrating task for many children. Luckily, there are a few tips and tricks to help with this process!

We work with a lot of picky eaters at No Limits Therapy. Here are some sources with completed plans and useful tips and tricks similar to the ones we use here during your child’s sessions!

When it comes to the siblings or family members of those with disabilities and/or conditions, they may have questions or concerns about the condition or needs of that specific sibling or relative. With siblings, these differences can even sometimes be a source of confusion and maybe even frustration. Here are some ways you can build strong familial relationships that encourage open communication and questions and solve sibling challenges with sensory strategies!

For a child, creating positive, fulfilling social relationships with other children, their family, and others around them can, at times, be difficult. Check out some social and emotional learning strategies and activities as well as more in-depth information to develop your child’s social skills on speech-pathologist Jill Kuzma’s Social and Emotional Skill Sharing Site and Blog!

It can be challenging at times for children to effectively express their emotions and understand the emotions of others which can lead to difficulty cultivating meaningful relationships like those touched on in the Social Relationships resources tab. Learn how OT can help regulate these emotions, how to tell signs of emotional dysregulation in your child, and, most importantly, strategies to help your child better regulate and communicate their emotions!

Effective management of emotions can not only foster positive relationships for your child but goes hand in hand in helping prevent meltdowns. Here are some helpful sources that step you through potential triggers for meltdowns, how to support your child and regulate emotions during meltdowns, and strategies prior to and during meltdowns for both you and your child to implement through multiple stages of their life.

It can be difficult at times to really differentiate between behavioral vs. potential sensory processing issues in children. This source provides a deep dive into whether the answer really is a sensory processing disorder as well as a deep dive into answering this question with information about the vestibular system, whether your child’s diet could be affecting their behavior, sleep and screen time, and discipline strategies for parents of children with sensory processing issues.

It is common for children with autism to have traits of or a comorbid diagnosis of OCD. Click here to see what you can do to support your child and address, discuss, and manage OCD with them in a way that allows them to better understand their brain.

• The award winning self-help children’s book, What to Do When Your Brain Gets Stuck: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming OCD, introduces children and their parents to cognitive-behavioral techniques that are used to treat and mange OCD!

Children with unique brains need unique motivations and strategies for successfully functioning in their everyday life. Here are some ways you can help your child do so through identifying problems and implementing realistic strategies, goals, and motivations tailored to your child in order to improve their executive functioning!

• In relation to executive functioning, here is a video with sensory strategies for your child to improve their attention span!

In relation to the topic of executive functions and focusing, it can be difficult for children with Autism, ADHD, and other cognitive conditions to become fully interested in reading which can interfere with academic performance. Here are some issues that might be affecting your child’s ability to read and retain information and ways that OT can improve their motivation, interest, and ability to read!

Many parents choose to homeschool their children with special needs to provide them with a more personal and accommodating education experience. Here is a great source that lays out starting points if you’re beginning your homeschooling journey, tips for your sensory-seeking child to thrive through effective homeschool experiences, and resources about homeschooling curriculum for all school-aged children in the state of Alabama!

Family time management can be difficult to juggle, especially with multiple children, some of which may have special needs. Here are a few time management tips for both children and parents that can make day to day life smoother and more enjoyable!

Separation anxiety can interfere with you and your child in everyday life by causing fear and anxiety that impedes regular functioning and routines. Check out more in-depth information about separation anxiety, signs and triggers to take note of, and strategies for you and your child from their early childhood into their older teen years!

As hard as it is to think about sometimes, your child will one day grow older and taller and go through changes as they enter their teens. Click here for a brief overview of some important topics to appropriately address with your child at the beginning of this new stage in their life!

Though it’s a sensitive topic, ensuring your child with special needs or a disability is taken care of well into the years you may no longer be able to take care of and provide for them is crucial. It is also smart to start thinking of these matters early, so here are some helpful sources that step you through some of the most important aspects of planning and setting up a support system for your child’s future!

Here is an introduction to money management and skills, a more in-depth look at money management and activities, and ways to set up an appropriate allowance system for your child to better understand and manage their money!

If you have a child with autism and notice they have gastrointestinal or immune system issues, there is a proven reason for this! Check out these articles about just what’s happening in your child’s body that causes this and how it affects their immune function plus more information and studies on this topic!

Beginning the process of potty training with your child is always a huge step, but they might have some complex needs that require accommodation during this process. Visit these sources to learn basic tips and information to help all ages with toileting and potty training, discover ways that OT can help with this process, and strategies from a physical therapist that works with children with complex needs!

• Amanda Mathers, OTR/L runs a successful OT account on Instagram called “yourpediatricOT” that focuses primarily on potty training and toileting tips. Check it out here or in the Websites, Blogs, & Social Media resource tab!

It can be incredibly difficult for your child when it comes time to cut their nails, especially if they have a sensory disorder or disability. Here is a source that features tips and tricks to make this process easier!

Like clipping nails, it can be difficult to calm your child with special needs when it’s time for them to get a haircut. Here is some advice from a mother that cuts her down syndrome child’s hair and other tips for your child to remain still and calm during a haircut!

As more research has been done, it has been shown that autism can present much differently in females than it does in males, enough so that young girls can go years without diagnosis. Click here to learn more about the differences!

Here are some sources that detail the musculoskeletal and neurological symptoms present in those with cerebral palsy as well as a website that covers a wide variety of information and research!

• You can visit the Adaptive Clothing resource tab above for more, but here is a link to adaptive clothing sources specifically for those with CP!