Butterflies Holistic Occupational Therapy

14/06/2026

Regulate to facilitate engagement.

Something we all forget.. we need to meet our young persons where they are... if we go in with an activity and they are dysregulated in anyway, they simply won't engage and we may turn the activity into a demand...

How do we turn an activity which is percieved as 'demanding' into one which isn't?

-Regulate yourself
-Meet the child where they are
-Come to their level - so sit down
-Turn activity into a game and add some humour
-Breathe and regulate yourself, they will feed off your energy

As can be seen from the pyramid of learning... everything starts with a regulated central nervous system!

04/06/2026

Dreading the weekend crowds and the noise of indoor soft play?

📍 Kirkstall Abbey, Leeds

This is an elite OT choice for a weekend escape. Why? It provides vast, open outdoor space without the claustrophobia of indoor echoes. Navigating the uneven ground and stone ruins provides excellent Proprioceptive input (heavy work for the joints), which neutralises a stressed nervous system.

Pack a picnic, let them run, and skip the sensory nightmare of a crowded shopping centre.

03/06/2026

"They can focus on Minecraft for 3 hours straight, so they definitely don't have ADHD."

We hear this constantly. But here is the reality: 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐃𝐇𝐃.

Video games provide immediate, predictable dopamine hits. For a neurodivergent brain, an iPad isn't just entertainment; it is a highly effective tool for blocking out a chaotic world and self-regulating.

Being able to hyperfocus on a screen does not mean they have the executive function to focus on double Maths in a noisy classroom.

Different environments. Different brain demands. 🧠

03/06/2026

I'm completing this in September (sore knee's incoming!).. if you can, any sponsorship would be much appreciated..it is for such a good cause 💜🦋

I am raising money for NEL Juniors to build them a home for community use, in memory of my beautiful boy Max Kuc

02/06/2026

When was the last time somebody asked how you are holding up?

Being a parent to a neurodivergent child can be exhausting. The endless advocacy, the school meetings, the judgment from people in supermarkets who think your child just "needs discipline."

At Butterflies OT, our waiting room is a zero-judgment zone.

When you bring your child to us, you can sit down, have a cup of tea, and breathe. You don't have to explain yourself here. We get it. ☕💙

01/06/2026

Monday challenge!!!!

An extra sticker for anyone who finds the body part of the person in the ball pit!

19/05/2026

Personalised sensory menu to be used as and when needed by this young person!

We are following this persons interests, motivations, gained an understanding of energy levels when doing these and specifically explaining that they are done as and when needed.... this has been explained to family and tutor to support the young person to join the dots of whats happening inside their body.

This is a neuro affirming and trauma led approach.

18/05/2026

https://butterfliesot.com/blog/f/sensory-strategies-in-autistic-burnout

New blog post out now!

Making positive change happen Holistic & Bespoke Leeds and Yorkshire

16/05/2026

A gentle return to the studio. ..

We welcomed back one of our young persons and to acclimatise we went back to their individual Sensory Menu which has activities on which have been identified as calming and organising. .. one of these is water beads... this helped as a non direct medium to catch up and reconnect our therapeutic relationship in a neuroaffirming way ❤️

05/05/2026

If your child is finding things difficult at home or in the classroom, you are not alone. 🦋 Read how our Occupational Therapist, Khazina, helped this family find clarity and a path forward at Butterflies OT.