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. …

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 …

Living with a child with autism means that you get used to making compromises or, just downright giving up on things all together - because for most situations, nothing matters as much as their mental health and their sense of safety and autonomy. However, one of the very few things that can’t be compromised on is oral hygiene, which means regular trips to the dentist and twice daily brushin …