Teach-2-Connect

Jokes are a tool in the therapeutic use of self toolbox! Check out the OT jokes we love below. ⬇️

Does your child have these 7 essential motor skills for higher learning? https://ilslearningcorner.com/7-essential-motor-skills-needed-for-a-child-to-reach-academic-success/

Activities to implement in a child's everyday life to build foundational learning elements. For more activities...https://ilslearningcorner.com/201608-body-awareness-activities-for-stronger-proprioception-and-learning-development/

Just in case you need more proof that handwriting is better than typing when developing literacy skills in young children.

This article was published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology in May 2025 

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022096525000013

With The OT Toolbox – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers! 🎉

Thank you, The OT Toolbox! 💜🩷💛💙🧡🩵💚❤️

Stress in kids doesn’t always look like stress.
It can show up as outbursts, tummy aches, sleep issues, or “bad behavior.” But underneath it all, the nervous system is doing its best to cope. Remember the "iceberg" we always talk about?

When a child is dysregulated, their brain shifts into survival mode. The amygdala, the brain’s fear center, takes over. This brain center triggers a fight, flight, or freeze response. Logical thinking and self-control? Those go offline.

That’s why a dysregulated child needs connection first, not correction.

Watch for the signs: wide eyes, flushed cheeks, aggressive behavior, or even silence. These aren't "problems to fix". It's literally signals of overwhelm.

What can we do to help? Teach kids to recognize their stress, name it, and work through it with support. https://www.theottoolbox.com/understanding-sensory-dysregulation/

Difference between tantrum and meltdown: https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-meltdown-or-tantrum/
Red flags: https://www.theottoolbox.com/sensory-processing-red-flags/
Regulation strategies: https://www.theottoolbox.com/zones-of-regulation-activities-2/

Sensory meltdowns are more likely to happen when…

A child is not yet emotionally grounded. Helping kids build a strong foundation for emotional and sensory development is the key to emotional maturity.

To help the child establish a better emotional foundation, we need to build bridges from the right side of the brain to the left (logical thinking). Handwriting exercises can do this!

To use handwriting exercises to establish emotional grounding, you can check out the Rewiring the Brain Handbooks.

This is the only time we will be offering the discount of the full bundle this year for all three handbooks so don’t wait to get your copy.

Get your copy of the bundle or learn more by leaving a comment below, “Send me the bundle,” and we’ll provide you with the link.

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Important! 🧡

Notice the inclusion of “executive functioning skills” on this image. EF and handwriting are not always connected, but they definitely are!

There is more to legible writing than just forming letters and placing them on the writing lines! Underlying skills are the building blocks of handwriting. Read about these skill components here: https://www.theottoolbox.com/a-complete-guide-to-handwriting/

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