Why Touch Pressure Helps with Regulation
A tale of two touch pathways The term touch pressure, or deep touch pressure, are used by therapists to refer to firmer touch. Therapressure brushes or surgical brushes are one way to provide [...]
Teaching children scissor skills and cutting – what are the steps?
Scissor skills stages Learning to cut with scissors is more complex than it may initially seem. It requires good postural control, good hand-eye coordination and the ability to use both hands together. In [...]
Letter formation families – the ONLY way to teach handwriting
Making handwriting easier Handwriting is a complex skill, but there are tips which make learning it easier. One of the most helpful things you can do, as a teacher or parent, is to [...]
Pre-writing shapes – what are they and how to teach them?
The importance of pre-writing shapes Pre-writing shapes are the lines and shapes a child needs to be able to draw prior to learning to write. They are the shapes which form letters, such [...]
Teaching handwriting to children – what every teacher must know
Handwriting is a complex skill Handwriting is a skill that is taught in every school. There are many approaches to teaching handwriting. Some schools focus on the cursive first approach. Others teach handwriting [...]
How it feels when your child receives diagnosis
Navigating through diagnosis How it feels when your child receives a diagnosis can take you by surprise. It can be a very confusing and overwhelming time. During this time there is no right [...]
Our story – receiving a diagnosis of autism for our daughter
A personal story - Tina and Kelly It was not until her daughter Kelly started school, that Tina noticed there was something quite different about the way she interacted with others. Kelly had [...]
What is sensory overload? And how can I support it?
Sensory overloaded = too much information Sensory overload is a term which describes the experience an individual with sensory differences may have when they receive too much sensory information. The brain is unable [...]
Sensory Diet Tips – Using Them Successfully
The problem with a sensory diet Sensory diets are a structured list of sensory strategies which an individual can use throughout the day to help to support their arousal, attention and focus. They [...]
Arousal, Attention and Sensory Processing What’s the Links?
Arousal is all about alertness Arousal at its simplest is how awake or alert or how tired you are. It supports attention and focus. There are a number of things which impact an [...]
Sensory Processing with GriffinOT – A teacher’s story
Lisa's story - Supporting Sensory at School Sensory differences are thought to occur in between 5-16% of the population. This means up to four students in a mainstream classroom may experience sensory differences. [...]
Sensory movement breaks tips for success
A flexible sensory strategy Movement breaks are a frequently suggested sensory tool to help students increase their attention and readiness for learning. Like all sensory strategies, they should be individualised for each student. [...]
Sensory Diet Cards and Movement Breaks – Free!
Free sensory diet cards! Welcome to GriffinOT's sensory diet card and movement break page. Here you can download our cards for free to use at home or school. These cards are designed to [...]
What is Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)?
Understanding sensory processing Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) is a term that describes the challenges children (and adults) have when their brains are not interpreting the sensory messages they receive from their body effectively. [...]
Sensory Strategies and Supports for the Classroom
Embedding sensory strategies into classroom Occupational therapists often recommend sensory strategies, or sensory supports, to help to support children who experience sensory differences. This includes children with autism. We explore what sensory processing [...]
How to Help Children with Dyspraxia – 8 Support Strategies
Dyspraxia - Let's explore how to help A common question that arises within sensory OT is how to help children with dyspraxia. Dyspraxia is a term used to describe the difficulty children and [...]
How do I stop my child from sensory stimming?
Ask Kim - Question 1 Vestibular Stimming Ask Kim is a monthly post where occupational therapist Kim Griffin answers a question from our community. This month’s question explores sensory stimming. “How can I [...]
Sensory regulation strategies – what are they and how can they help your child?
Let's explore sensory regulation Sensory regulation, self-regulation and emotional regulation are terms often used by therapists. They relate to the child's ability to increase and decrease their alertness, or arousal, to match the [...]
Weighted blankets, benefits, precautions plus when and why to use them
What's the benefit of weighted blankets? Weighted blankets and other products come in all different shapes and sizes. Vests, lap pads, shoulder pads, blankets and animal shapes are all readily available for purchase. [...]
Sensory Chew Toys – advice on choosing the best one for your child
Sensory chew toys - which one to choose? Choosing sensory chew toys for children can be a daunting task. There are so many different ones available! They come in different shapes, different textures, [...]
Homeschooling During Coronavirus Tips for Parents
Supporting each other at home I write this post on the second day of official school closures in the UK following the Coronavirus outbreak. There are a lot of supports already popping up [...]
To pencil grip, or not to pencil grip?
Pros and cons of pencil grasps For children who have an immature pencil grasp, there are many pencil grips available to help. In this post we will use the term ‘grip’ to refer [...]
What does a good pencil grasp look like?
Pencil grasp is a complicated affair Developing a good pencil grasp is a big milestone for children. The way a child holds onto their pencil is often a focus of assessment in the [...]
Sensory Integration Theory vs Sensory Processing Disorder What’s the Difference?
People often use the terms 'Sensory Integration' (SI) and 'Sensory Processing' to refer to the same theory. Dr A. Jean Ayres first published her first book on sensory integration theory in 1972. She was [...]
Autism (ASD) and Sensory Processing Disorder
Sensory processing and autism Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) describes the challenges children (and adults) have when their brains are not interpreting the sensory messages they receive from their body and the environment effectively. [...]
Five essential motor skills for handwriting success
There's more to handwriting than meets the eye Handwriting is an incredibly complex skill. Before children can hold a pencil, they need to be able to sit up and move their arm independently [...]
Cutting Skills – Six Tips for Teaching Children How to Use Scissors
Helping with cutting skills Cutting skills are a typical activity taught in every classroom. Using scissors to cut successfully is almost a rite of passage for any child. Especially those who have ‘accidentally’ [...]
Seven ideas to help children with sensory processing challenges at Christmas.
The holiday period, including Christmas, is loaded with additional sensory information. There are new lights, sounds and smells. You go on extra visits to family and friends. If you're lucky, there are presents! While [...]
Using occupational therapy recommendations in your classroom
Embedding OT supports into your classroom When I first graduated, quite some time ago now, I was frustrated at what I interpreted as a lack of support from educators in following through with [...]
Help! Why is my child chewing on clothing and other things?
Let's explore why kids chew on clothing When a parent or teacher sees their child chewing on clothing or other items it can cause alarm. Some children chew on other items like toys, [...]
Oral Sensory Seeking – Why is my Child Still Putting Things in Their Mouth?
Let's explore oral sensory seeking Oral sensory seeking, where a child continues to put things in their mouth after the age of two, is commonly reported alongside sensory issues, autism, developmental delays and [...]
The Mystery of Heavy Work
The benefits of heavy work Heavy work is a commonly used term, but not everyone knows what it actually refers to! This post aims to give you a better understand of what it [...]
Dyspraxia symptoms – Is my child dyspraxic?
Dyspraxia - Let's explore the signs and symptoms The term 'dyspraxic' originates from the latin ‘dus’ ‘praxis’ meaning difficulty with action. It is used to describe the sensory processing difficulty children and adults [...]
What is Dyspraxia? It’s much more than clumsiness!
Dyspraxia Explained - Let's explore some common myths Dyspraxia is a term that describes the sensory processing difficulty children and adults have when they struggle to plan and organise their movements. The term [...]
Auditory Sensitivity: Signs, Causes, Overload and How to Help
Let's explore auditory sensitivity and overload People with Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD) or autism may report auditory sensitivity, auditory hypersensitivity or hypersensitivity to sound. This sensitivity can lead to auditory overload. The medical term [...]
Sensory Processing and the Hearing Sense
Hearing is an essential sense! Our hearing sense, or auditory sense, is a sense everyone has typically heard of. It responds to noises in the environment. These noises, or sound waves, travel through [...]
What is Tactile Defensiveness, or touch sensitivity?
Tactile defensiveness or touch sensory sensitivity Touch sensitivity is commonly reported by children or adults who experience sensory processing differences . Sensory integration trained occupational therapists would usually call this tactile sensory issue [...]
Everything you Need to Know About the Touch Sense
Sensory processing and the touch sense Our touch sense, or tactile sense, is a sense that most people are familiar with. It is one of the five senses you would have been taught [...]
It is a Sensory Issue? Symptoms and Signs of Sensory Issues in Children
The signs of sensory processing differences This page defines and describes some common signs of sensory issues. You might see the behaviours if your child has Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). We explore common [...]
Sensory Seating – Tips for Choosing Sensory Cushions and Sensory Chairs
Using sensory seating in the classroom Occupational therapists sometimes suggest sensory seating for children who are constantly fidgeting in their seat. There is a wide variety of different types of alternate seating on [...]
Let’s talk about Proprioception – our hidden sixth sense!
Proprioception - our sixth sense Proprioception is our sense of called body awareness. It is essential to help the brain to know where the body and limbs are in space. It helps us [...]
Sensory Processing and the Vestibular System
Its supports much more than balance! When most people think about the vestibular sense, they think about balance. However, there is much more to the story. In this post you will discover that [...]
Ten Tips for Using Wobble Cushions in the Classroom in 2021
There's a wobble cushion in my classroom! You will often see wobble cushions or sensory cushions in classrooms at school. One example is the sensory wedge-shaped cushion called a Move and Sit cushion [...]
Top Five Tips for Choosing Fidget Toys at Home and School
Why might you use a fidget toy in the classroom? Sensory fidget toys (also known as sensory fiddle toys) are commonly recommended by occupational therapists or tried out by teachers for children who [...]