parent-resources Archives | Therapy Network

Beyond the Screen: Helping Children Find Balance Through Play, Movement and Connection

Screens are now part of everyday childhood — from educational apps and online learning to favourite shows, gaming and video calls with family. But children also need opportunities to climb, create, move, imagine, explore and connect with the people and world around them. From an Occupational Therapy perspective, the goal isn’t to label screens as “good” or “bad”. It’s about creating a healthy balance so technology complements, rather than replaces, the real-world experiences children need for development. In this TTN OT Insight, our Occupational Therapists explore why play and movement matter, signs that screen use may be crowding out other important activities, and practical ways families can build healthier technology habits into everyday life.

When Plans Change: Helping Children Build Flexible Thinking and Resilience

When the plan changes, does your child become upset, anxious or completely overwhelmed? Flexible thinking is the ability to adapt when things don’t go as expected — and for some children, this can be much harder than it looks. In this blog, The Therapy Network (TTN) explores why change can feel so challenging, how flexible thinking connects with emotional regulation and executive functioning, and practical ways families can help children build confidence, adaptability and resilience one small change at a time.

Emotional Regulation, Executive Functioning, Sensory Processing|Comments Off

Crossing the Midline: The Hidden Skill That Helps Children Read, Write and Thrive

Have you ever noticed your child swapping hands while colouring, turning the whole page instead of moving their arm, or using one hand for almost every task? While these behaviours may seem insignificant, they can sometimes point to an important developmental skill that is still emerging—crossing the midline. Crossing the midline is one of the building blocks for handwriting, reading, sports, self-care, and coordinated movement. It allows both sides of the body—and the brain—to work together efficiently. When this skill develops well, children move more smoothly, learn more easily, and tackle everyday tasks with greater confidence. At The Therapy Network (TTN), Occupational Therapists regularly assess and support midline crossing as part of a child's overall motor development, helping children strengthen the foundations they need for learning, independence and participation.

Daily Living Skills, Emotional Regulation, Executive Functioning, Fine and Gross Motor Skills, Sensory Processing|Comments Off

The Brain’s Air Traffic Control: Understanding Executive Functioning in Children

Ever wonder why your child can spend hours building LEGO but forgets to pack their school bag? Or why they understand instructions but struggle to get started? Executive functioning skills are the brain's "management system"—helping children plan, organise, remember, regulate emotions, switch between tasks, and complete everyday activities. In this blog, The Therapy Network explains executive functioning in simple terms, explores how these skills develop, highlights common signs of executive functioning challenges, and explains how paediatric occupational therapists help children build independence, confidence, and success at home, school, and in the community.

Daily Living Skills, Emotional Regulation, Executive Functioning|Comments Off

One Step at a Time: Helping Children Tackle Big Tasks Without Feeling Overwhelmed

Have you ever asked your child to clean their room, complete their homework, or get ready for school, only to be met with tears, frustration or complete shutdown? For many children, adolescents and young adults, the challenge isn't the task itself—it's that the brain sees too many steps at once. Breaking large tasks into smaller, manageable steps reduces cognitive load, making it easier to get started, stay organised and experience success. In this blog, our occupational therapists explain why this strategy works and how families can use simple visual and practical supports to build confidence and independence.

Daily Living Skills, Executive Functioning, School Readiness|Comments Off

When Research Changes the Way You See a Child: Reflections from an Occupational Therapist on Sensory Processing and Autism

As occupational therapists, we are constantly learning from the children and families we work with—but sometimes a research paper makes us stop and reflect on our own practice. A recently published article, Sensory-Processing Informed Autism Practice for Child-Centred Therapists (Daniel et al., 2026), challenged many traditional assumptions about autism, sensory processing and emotional regulation. In this reflection, TTN's occupational therapists share the key messages that resonated most, what they mean for families, and how they as a team continue to shape our child-centred approach to therapy.

News, Sensory Processing|Comments Off

Power Up Those Little Hands: Building Strength Through Play (No Worksheets Needed!)

When people think about developing hand strength, they often picture endless handwriting practice or repetitive exercises. The good news is that children build stronger hands best through play. Every time they squeeze, pinch, pull, twist, climb, build, or create, they're strengthening the muscles needed for writing, dressing, eating, and becoming more independent. At The Therapy Network (TTN), we believe that the best therapy often looks like play. Our Occupational Therapists help children build strong, capable hands through fun, meaningful activities that fit naturally into everyday family life.

Daily Living Skills, Fine and Gross Motor Skills, School Readiness|Comments Off

Beyond the Scores: How the ABAS Helps Us Understand Your Child’s Everyday Life

When families hear the word assessment, it's easy to imagine tests, scores and comparisons. But the Adaptive Behaviour Assessment System (ABAS) is very different. Rather than measuring intelligence or academic achievement, it helps Occupational Therapists understand how children manage the everyday skills that support independence, participation and quality of life. From getting dressed and communicating with others to following routines and participating in the community, the ABAS provides valuable insights into what life looks like beyond the clinic. At The Therapy Network (TTN), we use the ABAS as part of comprehensive Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) to better understand each child's strengths, identify areas where support may be needed, and develop meaningful recommendations that help children thrive at home, school and in the community.

Daily Living Skills, Emotional Regulation, Executive Functioning, Fine and Gross Motor Skills, News, Sensory Processing|Comments Off

Looking Beyond the Diagnosis: How WHODAS Helps Tell Your Child’s Everyday Story

When families begin the NDIS process, one of the biggest surprises is the number of questionnaires involved in a Functional Capacity Assessment (FCA). It's natural to wonder why they're needed. The answer is simple: the NDIS doesn't fund a diagnosis—it funds the impact that diagnosis has on everyday life. One of the key evidence-based tools Occupational Therapists use to understand this impact is the World Health Organization Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS 2.0). In this blog, we explain what the WHODAS measures, why it plays such an important role in Functional Capacity Assessments, and how it helps families, therapists and the NDIS gain a clearer understanding of a person's strengths, challenges and support needs.

Daily Living Skills, Emotional Regulation, Executive Functioning, Fine and Gross Motor Skills, News, Sensory Processing|Comments Off

More Than a Score: Understanding the PEDI-CAT and How It Helps Tell Your Child’s Story

When families hear that their child will be completing a PEDI-CAT assessment, they often wonder what it involves and why it's important. The Pediatric Evaluation of Disability Inventory – Computer Adaptive Test (PEDI-CAT) is much more than a questionnaire—it is an evidence-based assessment that helps Occupational Therapists understand how children participate in everyday life. From dressing and mealtimes to mobility, communication and social participation, the PEDI-CAT provides valuable insights into a child's strengths, areas of challenge and support needs. In this blog, we explain what the PEDI-CAT measures, how it contributes to Functional Capacity Assessments (FCAs) and NDIS planning, and why it plays such an important role in helping children achieve greater independence and participation.

Daily Living Skills, Emotional Regulation, Executive Functioning, Fine and Gross Motor Skills, News, Sensory Processing|Comments Off

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