Spark Paediatric Occupational Therapy

Website

Spark Paediatric Occupational Therapy ✨Led by Sally, Spark Paediatric OT supports Shoalhaven children to build confidence, regulation and everyday skills at home, school and in the community.✨

5 things I think are actually worth the money… as your kid’s Paeds OT 💸😂Do your kids need these things? Nope.Do I think ...
14/08/2026

5 things I think are actually worth the money… as your kid’s Paeds OT 💸😂
Do your kids need these things? Nope.
Do I think they can be bloody useful? Absolutely.
My 5 that get the OT tick of approval:
🤸 A trampoline: movement, heavy work, coordination, body awareness + somewhere to direct the need to BOUNCE that isn’t your lounge.
🛹 A scooter board: core strength, motor planning, bilateral coordination + chaos at ankle height. 10/10.
🥤 A straw drink bottle they’ll ACTUALLY drink from, because hydration is important… but apparently so is having the correct cup, straw, colour, temperature and alignment of the planets.
🧲 Magnetic blocks: fine motor skills, problem solving, creativity, planning, flexible thinking + the emotional regulation challenge that occurs when someone knocks down THE THING.
🎧 Noise-cancelling/reducing headphones for kids who need a little help turning down the volume on an already very loud world.
Looking at you, unnecessarily aggressive public bathroom hand dryers.
BUT…
The best thing you can give your child?
❤️ YOUR TIME.
Get on the floor.
Follow their lead.
Be silly.
Build the thing.
Knock it down.
Listen to the wildly detailed story.
Let them show you the same trick 16 times.
It doesn’t need to look therapeutic to be valuable.
And while we’re talking about value…
Some of the BEST play resources cost precisely $0.
🪵 A stick
📦 The cardboard box the expensive toy came in
🛋️ Couch cushions
🪨 Rocks
🍂 Leaves
🧺 A laundry basket
Give a child some random stuff & enough freedom and suddenly the stick is a fishing rod, the box is a spaceship, the cushions are a mountain and the laundry basket is apparently public transport.
Play doesn’t have to be expensive.
It doesn’t have to be educational.
And it definitely doesn’t have to look like therapy.
Movement. Imagination. Exploration. Connection. Participation.
✨ That’s the good stuff.
Your friendly Paeds OT who can clinically justify almost any household object as a therapy resource ✨

✨LONG WEEKEND VIBES: ACTIVATED! ✨Spark Paediatric OT has officially switched from therapy bag mode to sandy toes, salty ...
08/06/2026

✨LONG WEEKEND VIBES: ACTIVATED! ✨

Spark Paediatric OT has officially switched from therapy bag mode to sandy toes, salty air, campfire chats and “is this regulation or just a holiday?” mode.

Because rest counts.
Play counts.
Connection counts.
Little adventures count.
And honestly… sometimes the best sensory diet is sunshine, ocean air, bare feet, snacks and no real plan.

Wishing all of our beautiful Spark families a long weekend full of moments that fill your cup, whether that’s beach exploring, slow mornings, family time, movement, quiet, chaos, or a little bit of everything.

See you on the other side, hopefully with slightly more sleep and significantly more sand in the car. Back in the office Tues 9th ✨

✨ Play. Rest. Connect ✨
Love,
Sally - Spark Paediatric OT ✨

✨ Wrong answers only: what skills are my little Sparks ✨ working on here? Truck licence?Tiny mechanic apprenticeship?Fai...
28/05/2026

✨ Wrong answers only: what skills are my little Sparks ✨ working on here?
Truck licence?
Tiny mechanic apprenticeship?
Fairy real estate?
Potion making?
Gnome committee meeting?
Train CEO duties?
Ninja Warrior: lounge room edition?
Honestly… maybe.
But underneath the chaos, we’re actually working on some pretty important stuff:
✨ regulation
✨ connection
✨ motor planning
✨ fine motor skills
✨ problem-solving
✨ communication
✨ confidence
✨ flexible thinking
✨ attention and engagement
This is paediatric OT.
Sometimes it looks like trucks.
Sometimes it looks like trains.
Sometimes it looks like a sensory potion that absolutely should not be consumed.
Sometimes it looks like a child crawling, climbing, building, lining things up, pretending, testing, creating and leading the way.
And that’s the magic.
The goals are serious.
The play is powerful.
The props are just better. ✨
Wrong answers only - what do you think we’re working on in these slides? ✨✨

✨ Day in the life of Spark Paediatric OT ✨No two days ever look the same and that’s exactly what makes this work SO spec...
25/05/2026

✨ Day in the life of Spark Paediatric OT ✨

No two days ever look the same and that’s exactly what makes this work SO special.

Some days are filled with admin, planning, report writing and connecting with local families. Other days are full of throwing squigz, spinning toys, playdough emotions, magnetic kingdoms, imaginative worlds and carefully packed therapy tools ready to support each child in their own unique way.

At Spark, therapy is fun but it is never “just play”! Through play, we explore regulation, emotions, confidence, connection, sensory needs, problem-solving, motor skills, communication and independence.

Every toy has a purpose…
Every session is individualised…
Every child is met exactly where they are ✨

Spark Paediatric OT is all about bringing warmth, creativity and neuroaffirming support to children, families, schools and early learning settings across our local community.

Supporting little sparks to shine in their own way. ✨ Please feel free to reach out if you know a little spark needing Spark Paediatric OT in their world - [email protected] ✨

ShoalhavenFamilies

This is SPARK ✨A little bit of play, a little bit of paperwork, a whole lot of creativity and always a child-led, neuroa...
21/05/2026

This is SPARK ✨
A little bit of play, a little bit of paperwork, a whole lot of creativity and always a child-led, neuroaffirming approach at the centre.
At SPARK Paediatric OT, therapy doesn’t always look like sitting still at a table. Sometimes it looks like beads for brave bracelets, sensory tools, silly mistake games, slime, movement, emotions, brain first aid, fidgets, connection, and big feelings being welcomed with compassion.
As a paediatric occupational therapist, my role is to meet children where they are, follow their lead, understand their sensory and emotional world, and support them to build confidence, regulation, independence and participation in ways that feel safe, meaningful and fun.
SPARK is built on:
✨ connection before correction
✨ play first
✨ child-led therapy
✨ neuroaffirming practice
✨ supporting big feelings
✨ celebrating every child’s unique brain
Because every child deserves to feel understood, supported and capable.
SPARK Paediatric OT
Neuroaffirming. Playful. Child-led.

What’s in my OT bag today… might surprise you...It’s not worksheets.It’s not “sit still and focus.”It’s tools for connec...
04/05/2026

What’s in my OT bag today… might surprise you...
It’s not worksheets.
It’s not “sit still and focus.”
It’s tools for connection, regulation, and understanding.
Today’s therapy bag is packed with intention:
✨ Tools for emotional regulation
✨ “My Brain First Aid” supports (because big feelings need support, not shutdown)
✨ Activities to build interoception awareness (understanding what’s happening inside the body)
✨ Play-based resources to prioritise connection before correction
Because before we can expect children to listen, learn, or regulate…their brain needs to feel safe, supported, and understood first
At Spark, we don’t jump straight to behaviour.
✨We start with the nervous system.
✨We connect.
✨We co-regulate.
And from there… everything else becomes possible 💫
If you could peek inside your child’s emotional world, what do you think you’d find?

✨ Not every breakthrough looks big ✨Sometimes… it looks like beads, fidgets, and getting it wrong on purpose!Today’s ses...
29/04/2026

✨ Not every breakthrough looks big ✨
Sometimes… it looks like beads, fidgets, and getting it wrong on purpose!
Today’s session focused on exploring the difference between our “Bossy Brain” and “Brave Brain”.
For this teen, her bossy brain often sounds like:
❌ “You have to get it perfect”
❌ “Don’t make a mistake”
❌ “Something bad will happen if you don’t fix it”
So we did something different…
We practised making silly mistakes on purpose
Using tactile tools (hello regulation!), we:
• Dropped beads “the wrong way”
• Got answers intentionally incorrect
• Sat with the discomfort instead of fixing it
Because therapy isn’t about eliminating these thoughts,
it’s about building the courage to not obey them.
This is what brave brain sounds like:
✔️ “I can handle this feeling”
✔️ “It doesn’t have to be perfect”
✔️ “I’m still okay even if it feels uncomfortable”
For neurodivergent teens navigating OCD, ASD & perfectionism…this work is BIG. Even when it looks small.

POV: your 4-year-old has 47 personalities before lunch!Check out the full emotional rollercoaster…But here’s the thing…W...
08/04/2026

POV: your 4-year-old has 47 personalities before lunch!Check out the full emotional rollercoaster…
But here’s the thing…
What looks like:
👉 “mood swings”
👉 “overreacting”
👉 “being dramatic”
Is often:
✨ developing emotional regulation
✨ a brain still learning control
✨ a nervous system still maturing
💛 This is childhood, Not misbehaviour.
Be honest… are we at 12 emotions or 47 before lunch today?
If this feels like your world right now… you’re not alone.
This is exactly what we support at Spark Paediatric OT, helping children (and their families) understand big feelings and build regulation in a way that actually works.

Happy Easter from Spark Paediatric OT 🌸A little bunny hopped our way,With eggs and smiles this Easter Day 🐰🥚But more tha...
05/04/2026

Happy Easter from Spark Paediatric OT 🌸
A little bunny hopped our way,
With eggs and smiles this Easter Day 🐰🥚
But more than chocolate, treats, and fun,
It’s connection, joy, and love we’ve won 💛
Through play, through growth, through every try,
We celebrate each step, big or small, reaching high ✨
Messy moments, giggles, and learning through play,
Are the magic we see in OT every day 🌈
So here’s to your little ones, just as they are,
Brave, unique, and shining like stars ⭐
May your Easter be filled with laughter and cheer,
And moments of connection we hold oh so dear 💫
From our Spark OT family to yours today,
Happy Easter in every beautiful way.
- Sally ✨
Spark Paediatric Occupational Therapy ✨

What’s in Sally’s OT bag today? 🎒✨It might look like a random mix of toys, tools and bits & pieces…but every single item...
01/04/2026

What’s in Sally’s OT bag today? 🎒✨

It might look like a random mix of toys, tools and bits & pieces…
but every single item has a purpose.
Inside this bag you’ll find supports for:
✨ emotional regulation
✨ sensory processing
✨ confidence building
✨ connection through play

Because in paediatric OT…
👉 play isn’t a break from therapy
👉 play is the therapy
I meet children where they’re at, whether that’s at home, at school, or in the community, using what feels safe, familiar and meaningful to them.
No two bags look the same… just like no two children are the same.

If you’ve ever wondered what OT actually looks like in real life...THIS is it 💫 What’s one thing your child loves to play with that you’ve noticed really helps them feel calm or regulated?

Address

Nowra, NSW
2541

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Spark Paediatric Occupational Therapy posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Shortcuts

Share

Category