The OT Toolbox

Your Prescription for Fun: The Occupational Therapy Blog You Need.
All ADHD affordable game busy-toddler child development cognitive ding ding ring early development educational toy educational toys South Africa emotional regulation executive function fight-flight-freeze fine motor fine motor skills fine-motor-skills gross motor development gross motor skills imaginative play intentional-parenting loose parts play memory game nervous-system occupational therapy occupational-therapy open-ended play oral sensory OT-advice OT-approved OT-curated OT-curated toys paediatric OT parenting tips parenting-tips play-based learning pour and play pretend play Remedial teaching screen-free-play sensory development sensory diet sensory feedback sensory integration sensory modulation sensory play sensory processing sensory room sensory tools sensory toys sensory-meltdown sensory-overload sensory-play sensory-processing sensory-regulation sensory-tools South-Africa-parenting tantrum-vs-meltdown tantrum-vs-sensory-overload tiny tree toys toddler behaviour toddler biting toddler development toddler-behaviour toddler-development toddler-meltdowns toddler-tantrums toy boredom toys for toddlers Travel game tricky fingers wobble stepping stones
Child playing with wooden open-ended toys on a wooden floor - Tiny Tree Toys South Africa

Why Play Doesn't Need Rules

— Ezette Potgieter
Tagged: child development educational toys South Africa executive function fine motor skills gross motor skills imaginative play loose parts play occupational therapy open-ended play OT-curated toys paediatric OT play-based learning pour and play pretend play sensory play sensory toys toy boredom toys for toddlers wobble stepping stones
The Power of Open-Ended Play and Why Your Child Keeps Getting Bored with Their Toys Picture this: it's a Saturday morning, the playroom is overflowing with toys, and your child...
Parent calmly comforting distressed toddler on lap.

Is it a tantrum or sensory overload? Here's hoe to tell the difference.

— Ezette Potgieter
Tagged: busy-toddler fine-motor-skills intentional-parenting nervous-system occupational-therapy OT-advice OT-approved OT-curated parenting-tips screen-free-play sensory-meltdown sensory-processing sensory-regulation sensory-tools South-Africa-parenting tantrum-vs-sensory-overload toddler-behaviour toddler-development toddler-meltdowns toddler-tantrums

Not every meltdown is a tantrum and not every tantrum is sensory overload. Paediatric OT Ezette shares the 5 clues she uses in practice to tell the difference, and why responding correctly changes everything.

Toddler meltdowns that “Come out of nowhere” - an OT explains what's actually happening.

Toddler meltdowns that “Come out of nowhere” - an OT explains what's actually happening.

— Ezette Potgieter
Tagged: busy-toddler fight-flight-freeze fine-motor-skills intentional-parenting nervous-system occupational-therapy OT-advice OT-approved parenting-tips screen-free-play sensory-overload sensory-play sensory-regulation sensory-tools South-Africa-parenting tantrum-vs-meltdown toddler-behaviour toddler-development toddler-meltdowns toddler-tantrums

Every toddler has big moments. But how do you know when it’s a normal tantrum or something more? Paediatric OT Ezette breaks down what’s really happening in your toddler’s nervous system, and what actually helps.