Milestones Paediatric Occupational Therapy

08/10/2026

When a child repeatedly calls out in class, it can easily be interpreted as rudeness, attention seeking or defiance. But sometimes there’s something very different happening underneath the behaviour.

For some children, particularly those struggling with impulse control and working memory, the thought arrives and needs to come out immediately. By the time they’ve raised their hand, waited and been chosen, they may no longer be able to hold onto what they wanted to say.

Instead of repeatedly correcting the behaviour, small adjustments can help — such as a visual reminder, a non-verbal cue or simply acknowledging the thought and helping the child hold onto it.

Understanding why a behaviour is happening can completely change how we support it 💚

07/10/2026

When a child repeatedly calls out in class, it can easily be interpreted as rudeness, attention seeking or defiance. But sometimes there’s something very different happening underneath the behaviour.

For some children, particularly those struggling with impulse control and working memory, the thought arrives and needs to come out immediately. By the time they’ve raised their hand, waited and been chosen, they may no longer be able to hold onto what they wanted to say.

Instead of repeatedly correcting the behaviour, small adjustments can help — such as a visual reminder, a non-verbal cue or simply acknowledging the thought and helping the child hold onto it.

Understanding why a behaviour is happening can completely change how we support it. 💚

06/10/2026

Do mornings in your house often feel rushed, stressful or like a daily battle?

For many neurodivergent children, the difficulty may be coming from things like decision overload, sensory overload and unpredictability — not from them simply being “difficult”.

Small changes can often make a big difference, such as preparing choices the night before, reducing sensory triggers and creating a more predictable morning routine.

If mornings are a regular flashpoint in your home, please get in touch. I’d be happy to help you work out where to start 💚

05/10/2026

For professionals working in diagnostic clinics and paediatric teams, I’d really value your perspective 💚

When you think about the families you support day to day, would one-to-one coaching or a small group format feel like the better first step — or does it completely depend on the individual family?

Your feedback will help shape how I develop and explain these options when speaking with referrers and other professionals.

I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments 👇

03/10/2026

Why should children have to wait for the support they need? 💚

EHCP demand has risen sharply, and many families tell me they're facing long waiting lists and struggling to access support when their child needs it.

England's 2026 schools white paper outlines proposed SEND reforms, with a focus on earlier intervention and greater inclusion in mainstream schools.
For me, practical support within the school day is an important part of this conversation.

That's why I've developed a school-based occupational therapy programme to help teachers integrate practical OT strategies into everyday learning and support children across the school.

Are you a parent or teacher navigating SEND support? I'd love to hear your experiences. And if you'd like to know more about my school training and support programme, please get in touch 💬

02/10/2026

01/10/2026

Can your child recognise what their body is telling them? 💚

Hunger, thirst, tiredness and needing the toilet are all signals we recognise through interoception, often called our eighth sense.

For some neurodivergent children, recognising these internal body signals can be more challenging, affecting everything from eating and toileting to emotional regulation.

The good news? We can help children develop their body awareness through simple, regular check-ins and visual scales for hunger, temperature and energy levels.

As a paediatric OT, I believe understanding what's happening inside our bodies is an important part of learning to self-regulate.

Have you tried body check-ins with your child? I'd love to hear your experiences 💬

29/09/2026

What if fidgeting is actually helping your child focus? 👀

Fidgeting and rocking in the classroom aren't always behaviours that need to be stopped. Sometimes, they're how a child meets their sensory needs and stays regulated enough to learn.

From a paediatric OT perspective, the question isn't always “How do we stop the movement?” but “What is this movement helping the child do?”
A wobble cushion, fidget tool or regular movement break may help meet that need without disrupting the lesson.

Parents and teachers, have you noticed movement helping a child concentrate? I'd love to hear your experiences 💚

28/09/2026

💬 What’s the biggest challenge families face after an autism diagnosis?

For the clinicians, educators and professionals in my network, I’d love to hear your perspective.

Is it finding the right support, managing daily life at home, getting the right support at school, or navigating parental burnout?

Or is there something else families need more help with?

👇 Share your thoughts in the comments. I’m particularly interested in hearing from professionals across different referral pathways.

26/09/2026

What if challenging behaviour isn’t about a child refusing to do well, but something getting in the way of their ability to do well? 💙

One idea that has influenced Sian's approach over the years comes from Ross Greene, author of The Explosive Child:
“Kids do well if they can.”

His Collaborative & Proactive Solutions approach encourages adults to look for specific unsolved problems and lagging skills rather than treating behaviour simply as a compliance issue.

Sian sees an interesting connection with occupational therapy, which may bring an additional sensory and neurodevelopmental perspective when exploring what could be contributing to a child's difficulties.

Rather than seeing these as competing approaches, what can we learn by bringing different professional lenses together?

▶️ Watch Sian share her perspective.

💬 We'd love to hear what parents, teachers and fellow professionals think.