ARK's Blog

This special guest blog post on fidgeting comes to us from occupational therapist Katie Zelinski. Fidgeting. It’s something that we all do without even thinking about it. Let’s take a trip down memory lane: You were in school and had to give a presentation to your class. Even though you knew all the information, you hate public speaking and were feeling nervous and stressed. Did …

Do chewed up barbie hands or toy car tires sound familiar?  Stretched out shirt collars?  Is it hard to find a pencil or straw or bottle cap without bite marks on it? . You're not alone!  Chewing on non-food items is actually quite common at all ages from kids through adults.  For kids, the most common things we hear are (not in any order): fingernails, fingers, hands, ha …

A wonderful guest blog post from occupational therapist Katie Zelinski on ways to cope with stress and anxiety - perfect for all year round, but especially during these uncertain times with COVID-19. With all the changes in routines, not getting as much time to play outside, and having limited interactions with family and friends, we have to expect that our kids are going to be more dysregul …

This introduction to sensory diets is courtesy of Kristen Cooper, MS, OTR/L aka OT Mamacita. The term “sensory diet” has become more popular in recent years, but the understanding of what it is, let alone how to develop one, may not be clear to parents and educators.  Contrary to its name, it is not a diet of food you eat, rather, it is like the concept of a diet wherein yo …