Writing Difficulties Are Almost Never About Writing
Writing challenges are about underlying developmental skills that haven’t fully formed yet, like:
✅ Whole-body coordination
✅ Core stability
✅ Sensory processing
✅ Motor planning
Be More Cat: The Value of Cozy Spaces
Just like our feline friends, children often benefit from having cozy spaces where they can retreat, reset, or simply feel contained.
More or Less Sensory Input?
But remember: sensory processing is not static. Children can fluctuate between needing more and less, and many have what we call mixed responsiveness.
The ‘Calm Up to Calm Down’ Way
Most people think that calming down looks like sitting quietly, taking deep breaths, listening to soft music, or doing something still and gentle. And for some, that might work.
But for many neurodivergent people, kids and adults alike, that’s not what calming down feels like at all.
Why More Writing Practice Isn’t the Answer (and What Actually Helps)
Writing difficulties aren’t about willpower. They’re not a behaviour problem.
They are neurological.
They reflect how your child’s brain and body are wired ……. their sensory processing, coordination, motor planning, regulation, and how all of that fits together.
Why Your Child’s Writing Isn’t Improving (Even After All That Practice)
Writing isn’t just a cognitive skill.
It’s a complex coordination of multiple systems and it builds in a specific sequence.
At the base of this developmental pyramid is sensory processing. From there, each layer supports the next.
Join Me at the PDA Space Summit 2025: Exploring Equity for PDA’ers
As a brown, neurodivergent, single parent and Occupational Therapist, I see every day how much our systems ask kids (and families) to change themselves to fit in instead of adapting environments to effectively meet their needs. That’s why I’m so happy about the conversations this summit is bringing to the forefront.
Hypermobility in Kids’ Hands: Signs to Look For and How to Help
If your child avoids writing, says their hands hurt, presses too hard, or tires easily, it’s valid. They’re not being lazy. In fact, they’re often working extra hard just to keep up.
Does Your Child Hate Writing? Here’s Why (and How to Help)
Most parents think it’s a pencil grip issue or just lack of practice.
But writing struggles often have nothing to do with the hand.
The truth is, if your child avoids writing, the problem usually runs much deeper. And the solution isn’t “more handwriting practice.”
What is a Video-Based Assessment?
People are often surprised when I say I offer video-based assessments.
“Is that even effective?”
“Can you really assess a child that way?”
I get those questions a lot ……. and I get them!
So let me walk you through what a video-based assessment actually is, how it works, and why it can be so helpful.