Veritas Physio

27/10/2026

💛 **Some moments remind you why you chose this profession.**

Today was one of those days that touched my heart in two very special ways.

🥪 The brother of one of my little patients packed a lunch for me. Such a simple, thoughtful gesture, yet one that made me feel truly appreciated. ❤️

🤗 Later, at the end of a therapy session, another one of my patients, a child with ASD, gave me a big, heartfelt hug.

And honestly? These are the moments that mean so much more than words can express.

As a paediatric physiotherapist, I celebrate progress, milestones, and every little step forward. But sometimes, the most meaningful moments happen outside the treatment goals and assessment forms.

They happen when a family thinks of you, when a child feels comfortable enough to show affection in their own way, and when you are reminded that the relationship you build with your little patients and their families truly matters.

Every child communicates differently. Trust, connection, and a sense of safety can look different for every child, and I feel incredibly privileged when a child chooses to share a moment of connection with me.

These little gestures may seem small to someone else, but to me, they mean the world. They remind me that paediatric physiotherapy is not only about movement and development. It is also about people, relationships, trust, and the privilege of being part of a child's journey. 🌈

**Today, I came home with a full heart. And that is one of the most beautiful rewards of doing what I love.** 💛

26/10/2026

🚫 **WHY SHOULDN’T BABY WALKERS BE USED TO TEACH CHILDREN TO WALK?**

Baby walkers may seem like a fun way to help little ones take their first steps, but they don’t actually teach children to walk. In fact, they can delay independent walking and put babies at risk of serious injuries.

Here’s why we recommend letting children develop their movement skills naturally! 👶💚

🔹 **1. They don’t promote natural walking patterns.**
Moving around in a wheeled walker is very different from learning to walk independently.

🔹 **2. They encourage movement before a child is ready.**
A walker supports the baby in an upright position without requiring the balance and postural control needed for independent standing and walking.

🔹 **3. They can delay independent walking.**
Research suggests that babies who use walkers may sit, crawl and walk later than those who don’t use them.

🔹 **4. They limit valuable floor time.**
Time spent freely exploring the floor gives babies opportunities to practise rolling, reaching, sitting, moving between positions and developing mobility.

🔹 **5. Walking is a developmental milestone, not something we need to rush.**
Children develop the strength, coordination, balance and postural control needed for walking through a variety of movement experiences.

🔹 **6. Floor play supports coordination.**
Reaching, looking around and moving towards toys help babies explore their environment and develop visual-motor coordination.

🔹 **7. Active play helps build strength.**
Pushing up through the arms, reaching, crawling and exploring different positions provide opportunities to develop strength and stability throughout the body.

🔹 **8. Children need opportunities to practise balance and transitions.**
Learning to move from the floor to sitting, kneeling, standing and eventually walking helps children develop control and confidence in their movements.

⚠️ **And don’t forget safety!** Baby walkers can allow children to move quickly into dangerous situations, including stairs, hot surfaces and hazardous objects—even when an adult is nearby.

💚 **Our advice?** Skip the walker and make space for safe, supervised floor play. Let your little one explore, practise and develop at their own pace.

Every child’s developmental journey is unique. Our role is to support that journey, not rush it!

💬 **What are your thoughts on baby walkers? Share your experiences or questions in the comments below!**

24/10/2026

👣 **FOLLOW THE FOOTPRINTS! 🌈**

Did you know that a simple footprint activity can support several important developmental skills?

By following colourful footprints, children can practise:

✅ **Balance and coordination** – controlling their bodies while stepping.

✅ **Motor planning** – organising movements to complete a task.

✅ **Body awareness and spatial awareness** – understanding where their bodies are in relation to their surroundings.

✅ **Attention and listening** – concentrating on the path and following instructions.

✅ **Bilateral coordination** – learning to coordinate both sides of the body during movement.

💡 **Make it easier or harder!** Adjust the distance between the footprints, change their direction, or ask your child to follow a particular colour.

Remember, every child develops at their own pace. The goal is to encourage movement, exploration and confidence through play! 💚

16/10/2026

Getting ready to

14/10/2026

🌀 **The Vestibular System: More Than Just Balance!**

Did you know that a tiny system in our inner ear plays a BIG role in how we move?

The vestibular system helps us:
🔹 Detect head movement and position
🔹 Maintain balance and posture
🔹 Stabilise our gaze while moving
🔹 Coordinate movement with visual and body-sensory information

For children, these skills are essential for everyday activities such as sitting, walking, climbing, jumping and playing.

💡 **Movement is not just about moving — it’s also about how our brain understands movement!**

Follow Veritas Physio for more insights into child development and sensory processing.

11/10/2026

📅 Save the date! Ireland's online safety charity, CyberSafeKids, is hosting their seventh annual from 7pm on Friday, 16th October, to 7pm Saturday, 17th October, 2026.
They're encouraging all schools, families, and companies across the country to completely ditch their smart devices (phones, tablets,
laptops, computers, and gaming consoles) and take a 24-hour break from the online world.
Almost 50,000 people signed up to take a CyberBreak last year. So what are you waiting for?!
⏰ Sign up your family, school, or company today:
👉www.cybersafekids.ie/cyberbreak
This CyberSafeKids initiative is proudly supported by the HSE.

09/10/2026

🖐️ **Fine Motor Skills: It’s More Than Just Little Hands!**

Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hands, fingers and wrists, working together with coordination and precision. They play a vital role in a child’s independence from an early age. 💛

From self-feeding and getting dressed to drawing, playing and eventually writing, children use fine motor skills every single day!

But did you know that **developing fine motor skills starts long before a child learns to use their fingers precisely?**

When a child experiences difficulties with fine motor activities, our first instinct may be to focus on hand strength and finger coordination. While these are important, they are only part of the picture!

✨ **Think of fine motor development as a pyramid.**

Just like building a strong pyramid, we need to start with a solid foundation before moving towards more complex skills. Without that foundation, the higher levels become much harder to achieve.

A child needs to develop postural balance, trunk and shoulder stability, and control of the arms and wrists before mastering more precise finger movements.

📌 **The key message?** Fine motor skills are built from the bottom up! Supporting the foundations helps children develop the control they need for everyday activities and greater independence.

💬 Have you ever thought about how posture and shoulder stability can influence the way a child uses their hands?

Follow **Veritas Physio** for more insights into child development and practical ways to support your little one’s progress.

04/10/2026

Under 18s no longer allowed to ride e-scooter 👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

E-scooters. Electric scooters. New laws on using e-scooters on Irish roads. Rules of the road for e-scooters in Ireland.

04/10/2026

One toy. So many developmental skills! 🦷✨

Pushing the teeth into the toy may look like a simple game, but it supports the development of important fine motor skills.

This activity helps children practise:

🖐️ finger strength and control
👀 hand–eye coordination
🤏 pincer and fingertip grasp
💪 hand and finger muscle activation
🧠 motor planning and coordination
🎯 precision and accuracy of movement

Play does not need to be complicated to be meaningful. A simple toy can create many opportunities to practise important skills in a fun and motivating way. 💛

Play. Practise. Develop.