Many little children have sensory sensitivities that may cause them to avoid or prefer certain foods based on their texture, taste, or even smell. In this session, an Occupational Therapist will help you develop strategies for addressing your picky eater's sensory issues.

Understanding sensory issues and picky eating

I am an occupational therapist with 13 years of experience working with children of all ages and diagnoses. I graduated from Cleveland State University with a Master's degree in Occupational Therapy. After working in the field for a number of years, I obtained my certification in sensory integration. I currently work with school-based children in a virtual setting, focusing on fine motor, visual motor, self-help and sensory processing skills. I am also pursuing my Doctorate of Occupational Therapy through Shawnee State University's on-line program.

Jessical Glenbocki, VitalExpert OT Specialist

Does your child have an extreme aversion to certain foods? Do they seem worried during meals? I am here to help! I will walk you through 5 simple yet effective themes drawing from the Get Permission feeding therapy approach to create a safe and inviting space for your child to experience food and form a sustainable and healthy relationship with eating. This offer includes a comprehensive guide outlining the five themes and tips for implementation, personalized notes from the meeting, and a refrigerator affirmation printable for your family to encourage you on your journey toward more peaceful and happy meals together.

5 Ways to Help Your Anxious Eater

Catie Madison, VitalExpert Occupational Therapist

Let’s get your questions answered.  Whether you’re new to OT or your child has been receiving services, my experience will help answer your questions. During our time together, please provide me with your child’s age and any pertinent medical information. I will then be able to guide you regarding helping your child with self-help and sensory processing skills.

An OT Helps Your Child with Sensory Processing Skills

You will meet with one of our certified experts in pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) to discuss your child's situation and how OT can help your child.   You will get clear guidance on where to find and choose a suitable therapist and what questions to ask them.

Finding the right occupational therapist for my child's early development issues

Kiera Rohan, VitalExpert OT Specialist

Let's get your questions answered.  Whether you're new to OT or your child has been receiving services, my experience will help answer your questions. During our time together, please provide me with your child's age and any pertinent medical information. I will then be able to guide you regarding fine motor and visual motor skills.

Get Your Questions Answered on Fine Motor and Visual Motor Skills from an OT

Dealing with a child who is a picky eater or who exhibits challenging behaviors when eating/feeding such as gagging, coughing, or refusal to eat can be stressful and exhausting.  I have professional experience working with children who are picky eaters from a sensory standpoint.  This half hour appointment will allow us to chat about your child's difficulties, the role that sensory processing and developing motor skills play in eating and feeding, how to help your child develop some of those skills, and the importance of identifying behaviors that are hindering your child's progress.  Learn simple, yet effective strategies that could help your child become more interested in eating and leave with a better understanding of the developmental progression of feeding and eating so that you are better able to help your child on a daily basis.

Get a better understanding of sensory issues and eating

If you decide my occupational therapy services are a good fit, you may choose this 30 minute session option for evaluation and treatment. During our time together, please provide me with your child’s age and any pertinent medical information. I will then be able to help you and your child with fine motor, visual motor, self-help abilities as well as sensory processing skills. I can help you ask the right questions of your therapy providers as well as provide you with things you can do at home.

Occupational Therapy Session

If you decide my occupational therapy services are a good fit, you may choose this 30-minute session option for continued evaluation and treatment. As your adult child grows, I’ll be able to help you and your adult child with fine motor, visual motor, self-help abilities as well as sensory processing skills. I can help you ask the right questions of your therapy providers as well as provide you with things you can do at home.

Occupational Therapy for Transition Adults

A pediatric occupational therapist will coach you through any of the following topics related to potty training:
1. Understanding if your child is ready for potty training
2. Helping you determine the best way to get your child started
3. Getting you and your child to the finish line with potty training

Talk to a specialist about Potty Training Issues

An experienced pediatric physical or occupational therapist will coach you through any of the following topics related to your baby's crawling:
1. Simple activities to help my baby crawl 
2. Should I be concerned that my baby does not crawl yet?
3. When and how to talk to my baby's doctor about crawling issues

Talk to a specialist about helping your baby crawl

A pediatric occupational therapist will coach you through any of the following topics related to dressing themselves:
1. Simple activities to encourage my baby to dress themselves
3. My baby is showing no interest in dressing themselves.  (When) should I be concerned?
4. What skills does my child need before they are ready for pre-school or kindergarten?
5. When and how to talk to my baby's doctor or teacher about the dressing issues

Talk to a specialist about helping your child dress themselves

An experienced pediatric occupational therapist or early childhood development writing expert will coach you through any of the following topics: 
1. Simple activities to motivate my child to hold a pencil or crayon
2. Simple activities to encourage my child to scribble, draw or write
3. My child struggles to hold a pencil or crayon
4. My child struggles or is not interested in scribbling, drawing or writing
5. How should I prepare my child for preschool or Kindergarten when it comes to writing skills?
6. When and how to talk to my baby's doctor or teacher about my child's writing issues

Talk to a specialist about helping your child hold a crayon, scribbling, or writing

An experienced pediatric occupational therapist who is an expert in sensory development and tactile defensiveness challenges:
1. Understanding why your child is sensitive to clothing (tactile defensiveness)
2. How to choose clothing to minimize sensitivity
3. Should I be concerned about my child's sensitivity and seek medical attention?

Talk to a specialist about helping your child who is extra sensitive to clothing

A pediatric feeding therapist or an occupational therapist will coach you through any of the following topics related to feeding:
1. Simple activities to encourage my baby to feed themselves
2. When, how and what do I need (self feeding utensils, sippy cups, high chairs) to help my baby with self-feeding
3. My baby is showing no interest in feeding themselves.  (When) should I be concerned?
4. What skills does my child need before they are ready for pre-school or kindergarten
5. When and how to talk to my baby's doctor or teacher about their feeding issues

Talk to a specialist about helping your child with feeding themselves

An experienced pediatric occupational therapist or early childhood development expert will coach you through any of the following topics: 
1. Simple activities to motivate my child to develop the fine motor skills to snap a button or tie their shoes.   
2. My child struggles to tie their shoes or button
3. Should my child be able to tie their shoelaces or know how to button themselves before they go to preschool or Kindergarten?
4. When and how to talk to my baby's doctor or teacher if my child struggles with this issue and other fine motor skills

Talk to a specialist about helping your child with snaps, buttons, or tying shoes

An experienced pediatric physical or occupational therapist will coach you through any of the following topics related to your baby's walking or jumping:
 
1. Simple activities to help my baby walk or jump 
2. Should I be concerned that my baby does not walk or jump yet? 
3. When and how to talk to my baby's doctor about walking or jumping issues

Talk to a specialist about helping your child with walking or jumping

An experienced pediatric nutrition expert or occupational therapist will coach you through any of the following topics related to picky eating:
1. How do I help my child try different foods?
2. How does my child get enough nutrition?
3. How can I manage my child's challenging behaviors during mealtimes (throwing food, meltdowns)
4. How can I help my child with their aversions to foods and food-related sensory sensitivities
4. How do you prepare for social eating situations like family gatherings and holidays?

Talk to a specialist about how your child's picky eating

An experienced pediatric physical or occupational therapist will coach you to help your child build strength at various ages and stages in the following ways:
1. Simple activities to promote muscular strength and gross motor skills
2. I want to work on a specific gross motor skill or strength
3. I am concerned about my baby's strength and gross  motor ability
4. When and how to talk to my baby's doctor about strength issues

Talk to a specialist about your child's gross motor skills and physical strength and how to help them get stronger

If your child has a developmental delay, it is best to toilet train one step at a time. Don’t expect your child to learn to signal or announce their need to go, pull down their pants, use the potty, wipe their bottom, and wash their hands all at once, as their peers might. Toilet training will work best if you focus on the actual act of peeing and pooping first and address the other skills later. It is more important to keep them motivated than to achieve instant success.

Discuss your child’s unique situation by setting up a 30-minute session with an occupational therapist professional trained to help parents handle your child’s unique needs.

Talk to an Occupational Therapist about Toilet Training Your Child with a Development Delay

Let's get your questions answered on your child's IEP. I can assist in reviewing IEP objectives, reviewing progress,  and understanding what resources are needed to meet those updated goals. I can also assist you in developing questions before your IEP  meeting.

Understanding Your Child's IEP from an OT

Get help from an occupational therapist to understand the goals and objectives of the therapy your child is receiving.  We will discuss the details of your child's situation and ensure you understand the goals and objectives for the therapy they are receiving.  We will also discuss expectations and how to engage your therapist to review progress.

Understanding the goals and objectives treatment my child is receiving

An occupational therapy (OT) Vitalguide is a powerhouse of information to help parents with all aspects of a child's interaction with the world around them.  From learning how to move and use their bodies to learning how to play with toys, an OT is a miracle worker!  Here are some specific topics you can discuss with your OT VitalGuide:

1. Sensory Processing or Sensory Issues
2. Gross Motor Skills
3. Fine Motor Skills
4. Feeding issues and picky eating
5. Play 
6. Hygiene and self-care
7. Digital hygiene and screen-time
8. Diagnosis, Treatment, and Second Opinion if your child has been recommended for Occupational Therapy

Video coaching session with a Occupational Therapy VitalGuide

Work with an occupational therapist to review your therapy goals and objectives and your child's progress. We will help you understand expectations and generate a list of questions specific to you and your child's situation to ask your therapist.

What to do if you believe your child is not making progress with their treatment

I am an occupational therapist who specializes in autism, mental health, feeding therapy, and nature-based therapy. I also am trained in identifying and treating screen overuse and addictive tendencies toward technology in children. I am passionate about integrating your family’s expertise and experiences into my therapy. I am a coach for finding simple and meaningful solutions to the things that get in the way of living your best life.

I have worked for over four years for one of the leading autism and mental health clinics in MN. I bring a low-tech, mindful, and hands-on approach to my therapy. I use the latest research and evidence to guide my treatment. I also have over three years of experience providing therapy via telehealth. My clients and families see tangible results and can truly embrace their unique strengths and abilities.

Are you concerned about your child’s relationship with screens and technology? Wondering what level of screen use is appropriate? I’m here to help! In this 1:1 consultation, I will walk you through the warning signs for tech addiction, age-appropriate levels of screen use, and what type of screen use, and offer simple strategies to create a healthy relationship with screens for your whole family. This offer includes a warning signs checklist, personalized notes from your meeting, and a list of sensory and regulation activities to support your child.

Help! My child is hooked on screens!

Are you worried that your child is too dependent on TV, movies, iPad, or other 'screen time' distractions during mealtimes? Are you wondering what level of dependence is appropriate? As a therapist certified in tech addiction, I can offer simple strategies to reduce or eliminate dependence on screen time during feeding and other ways to build positive relationships with food and technology!

Strategies to reduce screen time dependence during mealtimes

An experienced pediatric therapist who is an expert in digital hygiene and early brain development will coach you on the following:
1. When and how should my child be exposed to screen entertainment?
2. Creating good screen time habits
3. Advantages and disadvantages of screen time
4. How to wean your child from screen time addiction
5. My child won't sit in his/her car seat without their iPad, tablet, or other devices
6. My child won't eat a meal without their iPad or tablet or other devices

Talk to a specialist about screen time (iPad, tablet, TV, phone) - good habits and rules

Kiera is a 2019 graduate of Radford University's Masters of Occupational Therapy program. She has experience working with children in outpatient pediatrics, early intervention, and the school system. She works at a private day school for children and adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder. Kiera enjoys spending her free time volunteering internationally with Therapy Missions to provide OT services to caregivers and their children in underserved communities across the globe. 

She currently is a level 1 certified handwriting specialist with the Learning Without Tears curriculum and is working towards being a licensed specialist in Ayers Sensory Integration. She loves incorporating fun, creative, and engaging activities to address the skills needed to participate in everyday activities. She has lots of experience working with families for their child’s self-care, handwriting, and independent living skill needs.

Ayres Sensory Integration® intervention is provided professional therapists. It improves sensory perceptual abilities, self-regulation, motor skills, and learning skills. In doing so, it supports your child's ability to show improved behavior, learning, and social participation.

Understanding sensory issues and picky eating

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