Fine Motor Skills in Children: When to Seek Help
When your child struggles to hold a pencil, do up a button, or use scissors, it is natural to wonder whether everything is on track. Fine motor skills develop gradually across the early years, and most children get there in their own time. Understanding the milestones, the signs worth watching, and when a little extra […]
Auditory Processing Disorder in Children: Signs, Causes and Strategies That Help
If you have ever found yourself repeating the same instruction three or four times, or wondering why your child seems to “zone out” the moment there is background noise, you are not alone. Many parents come to us with similar stories, and one of the things we often explore together is whether a child might […]
Sensory Seeking Behaviour in Children and Teens
If your child cannot seem to sit still, is always climbing, crashing, or seeking the biggest hug, you might wonder whether something is wrong, or whether it is simply misbehaviour. Often, it is neither. Many children and teens actively seek out movement, touch, and other sensations as a way of feeling calm, alert, and regulated. […]
Understanding Sensory Diets and Strategies
Every child experiences the world differently. What feels comfortable, calming, exciting, or overwhelming for one child may feel completely different from another. You may notice your child constantly moving, seeking hugs, chewing on objects, avoiding loud places, or becoming overwhelmed after a busy day. These experiences can sometimes be connected to the way your child […]
Is My Child Oversensitive, or Is Something Else Going On?
Does your child cover their ears at birthday parties? Refuse to wear certain clothes because the fabric “feels wrong”? Spin or crash into furniture when they seem wound up, or go completely flat and zoned out when the day gets too full? You’re not imagining it. And it isn’t just a phase. For many children, […]
Autism and Sensory Needs Explained for Parents of Young Children
If your child has recently been diagnosed with autism, or if you have started noticing sensory behaviours that seem more intense than those of other children their age, you are likely looking for answers. Sensory differences are one of the most common and significant aspects of autism in young children, and understanding them is one […]
Sensory Processing Disorder in Children: What Parents Should Know
If your child covers their ears at birthday parties, melts down over sock seams, or seems to crash into everything on purpose, you may have wondered whether something more is going on. Sensory processing difficulties are one of the most common things occupational therapists see in children, and they can show up in ways that […]
OT Student Project: Regulation in Reach
MEET BRIANNA AND ZOE OT Students We are final year Occupational Therapy students from Adelaide University, currently on 10-week placement at Learn for Life. You might spot us around! We’re always happy to chat, or you can reach us anytime by email: zoe.fuller@student.adelaide.edu.au brianna.thiele@student.adelaide.edu.au ABOUT THE PROJECT What is Regulation in Reach? Our project […]
The Pyramid of Learning: Why the Basics Matter More Than You Think
At Learn for Life, we believe that understanding why a skill is difficult is just as important as working on the skill itself. One of the frameworks that guides our thinking is the Pyramid of Learning. The Pyramid of Learning helps us understand how skills build on one another, and why some children find certain […]
Understanding the Window of Tolerance
Some days your child handles change with ease. Other days, putting on shoes becomes a crisis. It can feel baffling, even exhausting, when you can’t predict what kind of day it will be. This isn’t inconsistency or manipulation. There’s a reason for it. The window of tolerance is a concept developed by neuropsychiatrist Dr. Dan […]