Julia Occupational Therapist

Best. Christmas. Ever!!!! But seriously…. If you want other ideas I have a TON of equipment and toy Recs on my Amazon storefront, categorized into type of input (ex vestibular seeker/tactile seeker) and gift ideas by age. Amazon store is linked in bio, and highlight “link”. As always for full transparency, I make a very small commission from Amazon sales at absolutely no change in cost to you. This small compensations helps me justify running a page with free resources year round. I only recommend products that I genuinely love or think are great additions to sensory lifestyles, and your support through the Amazon page is greatly appreciated ❤️

🎄 …and no they still did not “sleep well at night”. 😂 Happy holidays from my high energy crew (minus myself) to you ❤️ this was fun to make but let’s go into the holiday season and new year driving in some main themes I get on these posts. ❄️ YES all of this play is “normal”. The frequency, Intensity, and impact on daily life are what stand out in a seeker. ❄️ sensory seeking does not mean wrong/bad or need to fix ❄️ sensory processing disorder (spd) is a SECONDARY diagnosis to a primary diagnosis such as autism, adhd, anxiety, ocd. ❄️ no you don’t “need” to label your child. It’s not about diagnosing or labeling. Its about helping the individual understand their brain + body and what it needs and how to meet those needs so that they can participate in things that they want and need to do daily 🎤 Does the holiday season looking like these videos in your house 🤣 what would you add to this list?! #sensoryseeker #sensoryseeking #sensoryprocessingdisorder #adhd #autism #neurodivergent #sensoryplay #occupationaltherapy

Repeat after me: We are not encouraging masking this holiday season! We are not putting the burden of change on the family of a child with a disability! I think some people get so caught up in what’s “right” or how holidays “should look” that they forget we are celebrating being together and enjoying each other’s company. #holidays #parenting #neurodivergent #autism #adhd

Note to self: 📢 cut that shit out You are enough. What you are doing is enough. You don’t need fancy to create memories. Stop comparing. Stop with the mom guilt. Send this to a friend who needs to see this. #halloween #momguilt #parentproblems #parent #holidayseason #motherhood

None

👻 spooky #sensoryprocessingdisorder #sensorydiet #sensorylifestyle #regulation #neurodivergentfamily

📢 A sensory meltdown is very rarely the result of a single antecedent. But rather a build up of sensory “triggers” that finally sends the nervous system over the edge. The mushy cereal The loud bus ride Classmates in my personal space The heat The “sit in my seat” rule The bell ringing at dismissal Water dripping on my clothes when I took a drink 💥💥💥 Is this example helpful? #sensory #regulation #neurodivergent #occupationaltherapy #sensoryprocessingdisorder #sensorylifestyle

🕯️ my kids are loving telling spooky stories to the family at night. Sure- every story involved “fart” “butt” “poop” or some other off the wall plot - but nonetheless this special time crowded around the (battery operated) candlestick will be a core memory for sure! (A flashlight or even phone light will work too). Of COURSE my OT brain can’t turn off the activity analysis so I want to share how this also builds skill development. (For reference my kids are in kindergarten and 1st grade). Imagination /fun Language development , vocabulary Practicing tone and intonation “Parts of a story” (beginning middle end) Writing with detail Character building Past /present tense Pronoun use Listening, comprehension Focus/attention/regulation Self-confidence Would your kids enjoy spooky story time? #kidshalloweenactivities #kidactivities #reading #occupationaltherapy #halloween #spookyseason

😱😱😱anyone else?! The energy The noise The rough housing The questionable safety choices The arguing The touching …it’s a lot 😅 Sometimes you just have to scream it out #parenting #boymom #highenergykids #motherhoodunplugged

NICU awareness. Forever grateful for the neonatologists, nurses, respiratory therapists, OT, PT, SLP that cared for our twins. Forever grateful to the friends and family members that held us up for those very long 56 days. The sterile medical environment is not at all how I imagined I’d meet my twins for the first time, hold them, read their first books, feed them over a month after they were born, or how we would spend first holidays (thanksgiving Christmas and new years). But somehow over the nearly 2 months it became our normal, it became home, and a safe place. I never thought leaving and going home to do it “the normal way” would be so scary, but it was terrifying! So thankful for all the NICU team 💚 Sending big virtual hugs to all #nicuparents and #nicuwarrior babies. #nicuawarenessmonth #niculife #nicu

Anyone know an OT 😉 Oof so many forms, my hand was cramping 😅 #backtoschool #parenting #otmom #motherhoodunplugged

The feeling of getting to move on with my life as another familys is shattering never gets easier for me. #pediatricoccupationaltherapy #pediatricoccupationaltherapist #pediatriclongtermcare #pediatricnursinghome #medicallyfragile #medicallycomplex