Built Like Me. Occupational Therapist: Child & Adolescent Mental Health

16/10/2026

I’ve got inside information about the Ringwood North Primary School family festival, and WOW!! It’s going to be so much fun, and there are so many fun and free activities.
I’m excited to be a part of both a chill-out low sensory space for when kids need a break, and a sensory exploration space, as well as providing a mini school readiness session.
Plus I hear there will be a fire truck, magic show, dog show 🐶 (sadly it will all be a bit much for old girl Millie), Lego, basketball comp and handball comp.

16/10/2026

Prep transition tip 1:
We want to make as much of the school experience feel as familiar as we can.
This reduces the sensory, cognitive, and emotional load as we transition to prep at the start of the school year.
All the big kids coming excitedly in and out of school can be a lot, so seeing that without the emotions of a school day can be helpful if you can swing it.
Morning arrivals are generally more staggered and less overwhelming then all the kids flowing out of the gates in the afternoon.
So why not time a walk to the park right past the school during drop off or pick up times in term 4.
(No one can logistically manage all the transition tips, and not everyone needs them, just pick and choose what works for you.)

15/10/2026

So Kinder has mentioned some areas to develop before starting school…..
Now What?
How do you practise at home?
That’s where Ready, Set, School comes in.
An interactive, supported group program where a highly experienced, Senior OT supports you and your child to both learn and practice new skills that you can take with you.
Flexible bookings, attend once, every week or the few sessions that work for you!

15/10/2026

Excited to be a part of the line up of Free events at the Ringwood North Primary School Family Festival on October 24th. Make sure you come and say hello!

14/10/2026

Back from annual leave ready for a very exciting term 4!
I will be at the Ringwood North Primary School family festival on Saturday October 24th with Free Mini sessions around school readiness!
Make sure you come and say hello!
And the Ready, Set, School parent-child program kicks off Oct 28th. It runs for 7 weeks and you can attend as many or as few sessions as suit you!
Term 4 is always busy, exciting and at times a little stressful with lots of change, but I am very excited for it!

29/09/2026

27/09/2026

Bookings are now open for term 4’s Ready, Set School!

A very special OT group for kinder children and their parents!
Where we work on the skills children need for school!

While parents are supported to develop the knowledge and skills they need to help them keep practicing.

All in a small supportive environment.

Facilitated by Carmen, Senior Occupational Therapist from Built Like Me.
Carmen has 18 years of experience and works clinically with children, families, kinder’s and schools.

Places are limited for each session, attend all of them, or the weeks that suit you.

prep earlyyears

17/09/2026

“My child isn’t into books”. I hear it all the time.
But often it just means we are expecting them to engage in books using skills they haven’t developed yet.
We are confusing loving stories, with being able to sit still and sustain attention.
We spend more time correcting behaviour then getting joy from stories.
Some kids do far better when they can move around while they listen.

You will be amazed how often kids will start showing interest when an adult is having fun and enjoying reading the book, rather then focusing on what the child is doing.