Billy is a 7 year old boy who loves outer space. He knows a lot about outer space. Billy is very active but he gets irritable very easily. He doesn’t like loud sounds, but he makes them all of the time. Billy likes things to be “his way” and he often gets argumentative about getting...
Head inversion: The Sensory Tool known for Centuries First of all, I really never thought about inverting your head as being a therapeutic tool, until I started doing yoga. I realized that when I did downward dog pose; I felt extremely calm. Later, I completed a 400 hour yoga teacher certification. Looking further into inversions,...
What is deep pressure touch (DPT)? Deep pressure is the deep, touch pressure that results from stimulation of our touch receptors deep under our skin. When you touch the skin, the receptors send the information to the brain and or areas of the brain that process touch of a related or given body part. Deep...
A sensory lifestyle is a concept that we all have sensory needs. The idea is important for all people. It is doubly important for a child with a Sensory Processing Disorder. So what can you do to create good “Sensory Health?” Here are my top 10 tips to keep in mind when implementing a sensory...
The vestibular system is a powerful system! The vestibular system is found in your inner ear. You have two, one on either side of your head. The cool thing about the vestibular system is it is activated by movement of the head through space. This can be movement back and forth, up and down, or...
As a pediatric Occupational Therapist in Mountain View, CA and the Bay area, I have been working with autistic children and their parents for over 25 years. I love Halloween! It is “just right” for for my nervous system. A little scary, a little loud, a bunch of yummy treats and a fun night. BUT...
Every year at this time spring sports are in full bloom. Soccer, swimming, baseball, gymnastics, etc. We are itching to get our kids outside, to see other parents, to join together and have some fun. We know that sports are a great way to get exercise, learn to work as a team, learn a new...
I love toys! I’m not sure if when I was a kid I just didn’t have enough or if I just have an inner child that needs extra attention. But I love toys. My sadness occurs when I go to big box stores such as Target or Walmart. I literally don’t understand how the toy...
In kindergarten, you probably learned about the five basic senses. Taste, touch, hearing, vision, and smell. All of these senses are important to a human in helping them with learning about their environment and how to interact within it. When a baby is first born, her first experience with the mother is to feel her...