ARK's Blog

You've already tried everything. Bitter-tasting nail polish. Sitting on your hands. Activities to keep your hands busy. Sheer willpower and a running internal monologue of stop, stop, stop. If you're reading this (whether for yourself or for your child) you've probably tried some combination of the above and it hasn't stuck. Maybe it worked for a few days. Maybe it works until the bitter polish we …

Oral motor therapy works on the physical skills of the mouth - the lips, tongue, jaw, and cheeks - that are needed for eating, drinking, and speech. That's really the core of it. Those four structures have to work together with a surprising amount of precision. Eating a cracker, drinking through a straw, saying the word "elephant", etc. all require specific movements, strength, and coordination fr …

It's Not a Bad Habit - It's a Need If your child has ever come home from school with soaked collars or sleeves or holes in their shirts, you're not alone. Chewing on clothing is one of the most common concerns we hear from parents, and we completely understand the frustration that comes with it. Shirts get ruined. The sleeves stretch out. And at some point, you start wondering: is this normal? Sho …

It might come as no surprise to you that someone who covers their ears, can’t stop fidgeting, or has an extremely limited food diet would benefit from more sensory support. It’s encouraging to see more and more wiggly students being given sensory accommodations like a spinning chair instead of being expected to sit still. And I love when children’s museums and aquariums offer noi …