Episode 65: Judy Au (Occupational Therapist) - Unlocking Sensory Secrets: An OT's Guide to Child Development

The Empowered Parent with Dana Baltutis

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Occupational Therapist Judy Au explores the holistic approach of pediatric OT, explaining how foundational skills underpin a child's ability to participate in daily activities and engage with the world.
• Occupational therapy supports children in all daily activities including play, social interactions, and self-care
• The DIR Floortime approach is relationship-based, considering each child's individual differences and developmental level
• Foundation skills like sensory processing and regulation must be established before working on specific tasks like handwriting
• Children need the right amount of sensory input to feel calm and ready to engage, communicate and learn
• Each child has a unique sensory profile that affects how they experience and respond to their environment
• Movement before fine motor tasks helps prepare a child's brain for learning and focusing
• Sensory-friendly strategies can be adapted based on a child's changing needs rather than following a fixed "sensory diet"
• Co-therapy with multiple professionals allows for more comprehensive support for both child and parents
danabaltutis.com, mytherapyhouse.com.au, https://mytherapyhouse.com.au/your-childs-therapy-journey/ https://www.danabaltutis.com/services

Chapters

1. Episode 65: Judy Au (Occupational Therapist) - Unlocking Sensory Secrets: An OT's Guide to Child Development (00:00:00)

2. Meeting Judy Au, Pediatric OT (00:02:44)

3. Understanding Occupational Therapy (00:06:24)

4. DIR Floor Time Approach Explained (00:11:09)

5. Foundation Skills Before Fine Motor (00:16:01)

6. Regulation: The Essential Foundation (00:19:33)

7. Sensory Processing and Development (00:24:39)

8. Fine Motor Skills and Attention (00:30:01)