From Crawling to Climbing: How Movement Builds Brains, Boosts Learning and Helps Children Thrive
Movement Is the Brain's Favourite Teacher Children don't learn best [...]
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.
Ready, Set, Go! Is Your Child Ready for Toilet Training? A Gentle Guide for Families
Toilet training is one of the biggest milestones of early childhood—but success isn't determined by age alone. True readiness involves physical development, body awareness, communication, sensory processing, and emotional confidence. In this blog, we explore the signs that your child may be ready to begin their toileting journey, share practical Occupational Therapy strategies to make the process positive and stress-free, and explain when it may be helpful to seek additional support. Discover how following your child's lead can build confidence, independence, and long-term success.
From Chore Time to Skill Time: Turning Everyday Tasks into Growth Opportunities for Kids
Chores don’t have to be a battle—in fact, they can be one of the easiest ways to support your child’s development. This blog explores how everyday tasks like tidying, cooking, and folding laundry can build motor skills, independence, problem-solving, and confidence. With simple OT-informed strategies, you can turn routine moments at home into meaningful learning opportunities.
Grip, Strength, and Success: Preparing Your Child for Writing
Learning to write is more than holding a pencil—it requires the right hand strength, coordination, and fine motor control. This blog explains the connection between pencil grip, hand strength, and writing readiness, and provides practical tips for parents to support their child’s early writing skills. It also highlights how occupational therapists at The Therapy Network (TTN) guide families in developing the foundational skills needed for confident, independent handwriting.
Little Hands, Big Skills: 10 Simple Ways to Build Fine Motor Skills at Home
Fine motor skills are essential for everyday tasks such as writing, dressing, feeding, and play. Developing these skills doesn’t require complex equipment—simple, engaging activities at home can make a significant impact. In this blog, we share 10 practical and easy-to-implement activities that support the development of hand strength, coordination, and control, while highlighting how occupational therapists at The Therapy Network (TTN) can support children to build these skills in a fun and meaningful way.
More Than Attention: What Australia’s ADHD Guideline Means for Children and Families
The Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Guideline for ADHD highlights the importance of strengths-based, family-centred and collaborative support for children with ADHD. In this blog, TTN paediatric occupational therapists explain what the Guideline means in everyday life — and how occupational therapy supports children to participate, regulate and thrive across home, educational and community settings.
From Guideline to Everyday Life: How TTN Supports Autistic Children to Learn, Participate and Thrive
Australia’s National Guideline for supporting autistic children highlights the importance of inclusion, wellbeing and meaningful participation. At The Therapy Network (TTN), this Guideline closely reflects how our paediatric occupational therapists already work alongside autistic children and their families — focusing on strengths, real-life participation and family-centred care.
Disability Inclusion Profiles in Victorian Schools: How Occupational Therapist’s Can Make a Difference
Disability Inclusion Profiles (DIPs) are essential tools that help Victorian schools understand and support each student’s unique needs. This blog explores what DIPs are, why they are important, and how occupational therapists (OTs) play a vital role in creating them. By assessing a child’s functional abilities and collaborating with teachers and families, OTs ensure DIPs are practical, evidence-based, and student-centred. The blog also invites schools and families to connect with The Therapy Network to develop or enhance DIPs, fostering inclusive learning environments where every child can thrive.
The Role of Student Support Group (SSG) Meetings in Victorian Schools: The Clinical Contribution of Occupational Therapy
Student Support Group (SSG) meetings are central to inclusive education in Victorian schools. This blog explores the valuable role occupational therapists play in SSGs—supporting collaborative planning, translating assessment findings into practical classroom adjustments, and ensuring student-centred, functional outcomes that enable meaningful participation in school life.