Jeane Kolbe Occupational Therapy

18/07/2026

08/06/2026

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07/06/2026

Independence grows in small steps.

One of the greatest worries many parents carry is:

“Will my child always need me?”

The truth is that independence is rarely built through giant leaps.

It grows through everyday moments.

Pulling up a zipper.Packing a school bag.Making a simple snack.Moving through a routine with a little less support than before.

These milestones may seem small, but they are often the building blocks of confidence, dignity, and self-belief.

As Occupational Therapists, we help children develop independence by breaking skills into manageable steps, creating opportunities for success, and celebrating progress along the way.

Because independence isn’t about doing everything alone.

It’s about building the confidence to try, learn, and participate more fully in everyday life.

💚 Every attempt matters.💚 Every effort counts.💚 Every small victory deserves celebration.

Remember: Independence is not a destination.

It’s a journey built one step at a time.

Which independence milestone has made you the proudest as a parent? We’d love to hear your story below.

06/06/2026

When the Body Stays in “On” Mode: Understanding the Landau Reflex

Have you ever met a child who seems to be constantly “switched on”?

The child who struggles to relax, slouches at their desk, tires easily, fidgets constantly, or avoids tummy time and physical play?

Sometimes, one of the hidden pieces of the puzzle may be a retained Landau reflex.

The Landau reflex emerges around 3-4 months of age and is often called the baby’s little “superman” reflex. When held horizontally, babies naturally lift their head, straighten their arms and legs, and arch their back. This reflex plays an important role in developing posture, core strength, coordination, and movement skills.
But when the reflex doesn’t fully integrate, the body can remain stuck in a subtle state of extension and high alert.

This may show up as:
🌿 Difficulty sitting comfortably
🌿 Poor posture and core strength
🌿 Coordination and balance challenges
🌿 Fatigue during schoolwork or physical activities
🌿 Difficulty focusing and maintaining attention
🌿 Emotional frustration and reduced confidence

The important thing to remember is that these behaviours are not signs of laziness, lack of effort, or poor motivation. They are often the nervous system’s way of communicating that it needs support.

As Occupational Therapists, we don’t just look at the challenge we see on the surface. We look beneath it, searching for the roots that may be influencing a child’s ability to learn, play, connect, and thrive. 🌱

When we support reflex integration, sensory processing, postural control, and nervous system regulation, we help create a stronger foundation for everyday success.

💚 Sometimes the key isn’t pushing harder.
💚 Sometimes it’s understanding what the body is still holding onto.

Have you noticed any of these signs in your child or learners? We’d love to hear your experiences below. 👇

06/06/2026

🎈 The Balloon Theory: Understanding Behaviour Through a Different Lens

Imagine every child has an invisible balloon inside them.

This balloon represents their ability to cope with life’s demands, sensory input, emotions, expectations, and daily challenges.

Throughout the day, air gets added.

A noisy classroom.
A change in routine.
A difficult task.
A busy environment.
A social interaction.
A poor night’s sleep.

Each experience adds a little more air.

The challenge is that not all children start the day with the same amount of space in their balloon.

Some wake up feeling rested, regulated, and ready to take on the world.

Others may already be carrying yesterday’s stress, sensory overload, anxiety, fatigue, or emotional demands before the day has even begun.

And when more air is added than the balloon can hold?

🎈 It pops.

The “pop” may look like a meltdown, tears, aggression, refusal, shutting down, or big emotions.

But what if we stopped asking:
“What’s wrong with this child?”
And started asking:
“How full is their balloon today?”

As Occupational Therapists, parents, and educators, our role isn’t to prevent all of life’s challenges.

Our role is to help children release pressure in healthy ways and gradually build a bigger, stronger balloon.

🌿 Movement
🌿 Sensory regulation
🌿 Rest
🌿 Play
🌿 Connection
🌿 Predictability
🌿 Co-regulation
🌿 Understanding

These are the tools that help children let air out and increase their capacity to cope.

Because behaviour is often the signal, not the problem.

When we understand the balloon, we can respond with empathy instead of frustration, curiosity instead of judgement, and support instead of punishment.

💚 A child who feels understood doesn’t just survive the day.
They develop the capacity to thrive.

06/06/2026

The Balloon Theory: Understanding Behaviour Through a Different Lens

Imagine every child has an invisible balloon inside them.

This balloon represents their ability to cope with life’s demands, sensory input, emotions, expectations, and daily challenges.

Throughout the day, air gets added.

A noisy classroom.
A change in routine.
A difficult task.
A busy environment.
A social interaction.
A poor night’s sleep.

Each experience adds a little more air.

The challenge is that not all children start the day with the same amount of space in their balloon.

Some wake up feeling rested, regulated, and ready to take on the world.

Others may already be carrying yesterday’s stress, sensory overload, anxiety, fatigue, or emotional demands before the day has even begun.

And when more air is added than the balloon can hold?

🎈 It pops.

The “pop” may look like a meltdown, tears, aggression, refusal, shutting down, or big emotions.

But what if we stopped asking:
“What’s wrong with this child?”
And started asking:
“How full is their balloon today?”

As Occupational Therapists, parents, and educators, our role isn’t to prevent all of life’s challenges.

Our role is to help children release pressure in healthy ways and gradually build a bigger, stronger balloon.

🌿 Movement
🌿 Sensory regulation
🌿 Rest
🌿 Play
🌿 Connection
🌿 Predictability
🌿 Co-regulation
🌿 Understanding

These are the tools that help children let air out and increase their capacity to cope.

Because behaviour is often the signal, not the problem.

When we understand the balloon, we can respond with empathy instead of frustration, curiosity instead of judgement, and support instead of punishment.

💚 A child who feels understood doesn’t just survive the day.
They develop the capacity to thrive.

05/06/2026

It looks like play, but so much learning is happening! Skills being developed:

• Balance & postural control• Vestibular processing through looking down and up while maintaining stability• Core strength• Motor planning (praxis)• Bilateral coordination• Visual-motor integration• Colour matching & cognitive skills• Proprioceptive force grading by judging how much force is needed to land the square on the target• Body awareness

Every bend, reach, balance adjustment, and throw is helping to build the foundations for learning, play, and everyday life. 💙

Proprioception MotorPlanning BalanceSkills LearningThroughPlay

31/05/2026

He almost did it… watch this space… it is happening. I can feel this in my bones.