ARK's Blog

Chewing as Communication and Regulation Chewing is often one of the first things parents notice and wonder about. It shows up in different ways across development and can feel confusing when it suddenly increases or decreases without a clear reason. From the lens of a pediatric occupational therapist, chewing is not random or simply a habit to eliminate. It is communication. It is regulation. And …

Why We Think Sensory = Kids When you hear the term “sensory diet” or even just “sensory,” most people think of kids. And it’s true. Kids often need more direct sensory support because they don’t yet have the ability to recognize and meet their own sensory needs. But here’s what we don’t talk about enough. Those needs don’t go away in adulthood. …

As an Occupational Therapist, I often get the question "What are the best ways to support regulation for my Autistic, ADHD, or [insert neurodivergence here] child?" And I have to be honest. My reply is always "it depends." There is no one right way to support every single child. While there are some universal strategies that generally help, every child has a different brain, a different body, and …

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 …