How many times do parents and teachers tell a child to “sit properly and pay attention”? Almost everyday! Fidgeting, rocking back and forth, restlessness and slumping are commonly seen in the classroom. Consequently, children who can’t sit still are often deemed as “misbehaved, naughty and...
When we sleep our eyes are closed, our muscles are relaxed and our awareness to the outside world is diminished. Although our body is still, when we sleep our brains are quite active, working hard to get rid of harmful toxins and preparing for the next day. From around 6 months of age, our...
As Occupational Therapists we often receive referrals for children who have behaviour or emotional regulation challenges. These children are often described as unpredictable, explosive, naughty, avoidant or destructive. In the past a lot of attention has been given to reducing these behaviours,...
Declarative language is using comments or statements to say aloud what you think or know. Declarative language does not demand a verbal response from the communication partner. Declarative language invites the communication partner to share in an experience. Children who are neurodiverse often...
The tactile system refers to our sense of touch. We receive information from our tactile system via the skin (from head to toe) to gauge everyday sensations such as temperature, vibration, pressure, itch and pain. It helps us understand the world around us and feel secure exploring our...
We have 8 senses – sight, smell, taste, hearing, touch, vestibular, proprioception and interoception. There are 3 key types of sensory processing difficulties that can affect the way we process information through any of our 8 senses. These include: · Sensory modulation – difficulties filtering...
Imagine there is a line that runs down the centre of your body, called the midline. Moving our right arm or leg across this midline to the left side (vice versa) is referred to as “crossing the midline”. When children can cross their midline effectively, they are using both sides of their brain to...
Reading is a fundamental skill that all children are expected to be able to do. It supports learning, navigating the world (reading signs, shop names, packaging), and is considered an essential skill. It is not something that comes naturally. For many children learning to read can be hard for a...
There are three distinct parts of the brain that are responsible for arousal. These being the reticular activating system, thalamus, and the amygdala. The reticular activating system acts as a gate keeper for sensation. At this level, the sensation is categorised as either threatening, novel,...
Family Connections Sydney is a multi-disciplinary group of professionals dedicated to providing high quality services to children and their families.
