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Welcome to 2025: A Year of Community and Wellbeing!

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Girl Enjoying the outdoors - promoting community wellbeing

WELCOME TO 2025: A YEAR OF COMMUNITY AND WELLBEING!

Welcome to 2025: Explore and Soar is focused on community wellbeing!

Happy New Year, everyone!

Welcome to 2025! As we step into this new year, we’re thrilled to kick off our January School Holiday Group Programs and Intensives, starting January 13th. We can’t wait to see you all there!

Our Annual Theme: Community for Wellbeing

This year, Explore and Soar is focusing on community wellbeing by fostering strong connections within our local communities.

For us, being an active part of both the Explore and Soar and Occupational Therapy communities enriches our connections, support, and resilience, allowing us to provide the best practices for our clients and families. This highlights the importance of communities remaining connected to promote our collective wellbeing.

Every member of our Explore and Soar team is part of their own community outside of work—whether through hobbies, volunteering, or local activities. This community provides them with joy and support. When you think about “Community for Wellbeing,” what comes to mind for you?

What Does Community Mean to Us?

A community can be defined in many ways. While it’s more commonly known as a ‘geographical location or place of residence’, at its core, it’s about relationships that bind people together.

In occupational therapy, there are many definitions of community, but this one stands out for us:

“to do something that cannot be easily done in isolation

(Scaffa, 2001, Pg.8)”

It highlights that the basis of a community is in the relationships of people who come together. A community built around wellbeing thrives when its members come together to share values and cultures and support each other. For us, engaging in our community through jobs, schooling, sporting activities, volunteering, shopping locally, or advocating for community improvements (such as new parks or pathways) are just a few ways we can connect and support one another to achieve common goals.

When we contribute to something meaningful and can use our unique skills and talents within our community, we not only find joy but also enhance our contribution and connection within our community to help improve our health and, ultimately, our wellbeing. 

Understanding Wellbeing

Wellbeing is a personal and multifaceted journey. It is defined by what, how, and where each person is in a positive state. Wellbeing encompasses many aspects of our lives: Occupational/Work, Emotional, Financial, Social, Environmental, Intellectual, Spiritual, and Physical health. Each of these elements plays a vital role in our overall wellbeing, helping us find purpose, contribute, and find meaning in what we do.

When we actively work towards improving our wellbeing, we improve our health and enhance our everyday lives, by finding more motivation and meaning to keep going. 

Now, don’t get me wrong — improving our wellbeing isn’t always easy. It requires consistency, support, and adaptation. Some days, I find balance; other days, I need to focus on my social connections or my physical health. 

It is important to remember that everyone’s version of wellbeing and where they find meaning is unique, and that’s perfectly okay!

Building Connections for Your Wellbeing

Where can you start building connections to enhance your wellbeing? Consider your current relationships. Do they bring you joy, and are they conducive to my wellbeing? What areas could you improve? Reflect on the time you can dedicate to nurturing these connections.

These are all great starting points to direct yourself towards where you want to start building these relationships. 

Here are some great ways to enhance your wellbeing through connection:

  • Volunteer at your child’s school to meet other parents and teachers – This is both rewarding and helps build connections.
  • Say hello to someone who walks at the same time as you are taking a morning stroll – Connect over shared interests.
  • Join a group or activity that sparks your interest.
  • Sign up for a local team sport to enjoy camaraderie and physical activity.

Building relationships in your local community can significantly enhance your community wellbeing, helping you achieve a more balanced life.

Explore and Soar’s Commitment to Connection

At Explore and Soar, we are deeply committed to supporting our local communities and fostering meaningful connections. To learn more about our team, values, and the work we do to enhance community wellbeing, we invite you to visit our About page and discover how we’re making a difference in the lives of our clients and families.

Some ways we do this are:

  • We have continued to develop group programs to support our clients in socialising and engaging in fun activities with children of similar ages, consistently offering these opportunities within our local community in Branxton.
  • We have attended local community events and school expos. 
  • We have sponsored local sporting associations. 
  • Education has also been our way to connect. Volunteering our time to offer online and in-person educational talks to parents of children transitioning into Kindergarten and teacher education and training to further enhance their connection with our clients within the classroom and playground environments. 

Exciting New Initiatives!

We are continually creating opportunities for our clients and their families to connect, share their lived experiences, empathise, and feel supported in their communities.

This year, we’re excited to announce the launch of a Parent and Caregiver Support Group. Join us for coffee, conversation, and connection in a warm, welcoming environment. Keep an eye out for details in the coming weeks.

We cannot wait to see you there!!

Tracking Your Wellbeing Journey

Our own Jess Rodgers has been working behind the scenes to develop a Wellbeing Planner designed to help track goals and wellbeing progress. This planner originated during the rapid changes of 2020-2021 when Jess realised she needed a way to stay accountable and look after her health and wellbeing. 

Jess created a Wellbeing Planner to achieve this goal!

Our Explore and Soar team will utilise this Wellbeing Planner throughout the year to support our journeys and remain accountable for our health and wellbeing to ensure we are happy, healthy, and present to support you, our clients, and our families. And we’re thrilled to offer it to you as well.

If you’d like to join us on this journey, purchase your Wellbeing Planner today. With the new Wellbeing Planner, we hope this will help our clients track and improve their health through intentional goal-setting.

Wellbeing Planner for sale - https://www.jessrodgers.com.au/

We look forward to being part of our community this year, providing support, education, and engagement for all our clients and families.

By focusing on community wellbeing, we hope to inspire you to start building meaningful connections, too!

Stay tuned for exciting events and monthly blogs filled with valuable information just for you!

Until next time, 
Jess and the Explore and Soar Team

PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2024

References

  • Hyett, N., McKinstry, C. E., Kenny, A., & Dickson-Swift, V. (2015). Community-centred practice: Occupational therapists improving the health and wellbeing of populations. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 63(5-8).
  • Scaffa, M. (Ed.). (2001). Occupational Therapy in Community-Based Practice Settings. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis.

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Embracing Transitions and Growth: A Year of Learning and Achievement

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EMBRACING TRANSITIONS AND GROWTH:
A YEAR OF LEARNING AND ACHIEVEMENT

Embracing Transitions and Growth Fuels Our Success!

As we approach the end of the year, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the incredible journey we’ve shared. All I can say is, “What a year it has been!”

It was a year of exploring ways that we transition throughout our lives. From significant life changes such as transitioning into adulthood, moving homes, transitioning into a new school year (especially Kindergarten or year 7), starting new careers, trying a new sport, or managing health conditions to the everyday transitions we experience, like transitioning from home to school, catching the bus, transitioning from playtime to dinner, or switching off technology devices. The list is endless.

Every transition, big or small, contributes to our growth and learning.

By embracing transitions and growth, we develop new skills and gain valuable experiences at each stage of life.

Celebrating Success in Life Transitions

At Explore and Soar, we understand that embracing transitions is essential for both children and their families. Each step forward is a sign of progress.

What truly stands out this year is the unwavering support from parents and caregivers. Your dedication, love, and hard work in helping your children navigate these transitions have been truly inspiring. The effort, persistence, and love you pour into supporting your children as they reach their goals is a beautiful sight. We’ve witnessed the joy and pride on their faces as they master new skills – a testament to your hard work. We also recognise the challenges you face, and in those tough moments, please remember – we see you, we hear you, and we are here to help!

For more on managing life transitions, check out our previous blog to learn more about transitions in therapy.

Explore and Soar: Growing Together

This year, Explore and Soar has expanded its horizons! We introduced a fresh new look and broadened our age range to better support clients transitioning from school to university, work, or community life. We were also thrilled to open our new space in the Kurri Kurri clinic for therapy sessions when home or community settings aren’t ideal.

These transitions wouldn’t have been possible without the collaboration and commitment of our families and, most importantly, the continuous work of our dedicated team, who tirelessly support these transitions and consistently assist our families in new and evolving ways.

End-of-Year Celebrations & Transition Ahead

As we wrap up the year, the Explore and Soar team celebrated with a joyful Christmas party, creating beautiful macrame pieces and enjoying a delicious dinner. We had so much fun!

We also held our Annual Reflections and Projections Day, where we identified our achievements and worked toward an actionable plan for the new year. It was a wonderful opportunity to connect, share ideas, and commit to growing together as a team while continuing to support each other, our families, and our communities.

Important Dates: Holiday Closure & Upcoming January School Holiday Programs

At the end of each year, our team takes a well-deserved break to rest, recharge, and spend quality time with our families and friends!

This year, our Christmas closure will begin at the end of business on Friday, December 20th. We will return with our January School Holiday group programs starting Monday, January 13th, 2025!

If you’d like to join our January programs, be sure to secure your spot today! These fun and engaging programs will run from January 13th to 17th and again from January 20th to 24th, 2025. We cannot wait to see you there. Click here to see more about the programs and secure your spot!

Looking ahead to the new year, embracing transitions and growth will remain a central focus at Explore and Soar.

Until next time, we wish all of our Explore and Soar family a joyful Christmas break filled with quality time with loved ones, sunshine, and relaxation. Look after yourselves, and we can’t wait to reconnect in the New Year and continue this journey together!

Wishing You a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Until next time, 
Jess and the Explore and Soar Team

PUBLISHED DECEMBER 2024

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The Power of Play: Supporting Transitions in Your Child’s Development

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THE POWER OF PLAY: SUPPORTING TRANSITIONS IN YOUR CHILD’S DEVELOPMENT 

Did you know that play isn’t just for fun? It’s a powerful tool for your child’s development!? At Explore and Soar, we incorporate play into all our therapy interventions to teach essential skills, including managing transitions. 

Throughout the day, children experience numerous transitions—from waking up and eating breakfast to leaving the comfort of home and adapting to the school environment, to name a few. For many children, moving from one activity or situation to another can be particularly challenging. It can be one of the hardest times of their day, but through thoughtful play, we can help children become more comfortable with these moments and build the confidence they need to handle transitions more easily.

The Importance of Smooth Transitions in Effective Communication

Through play, we are constantly communicating, whether verbal or non-verbal, through words, gestures, or facial expressions. These moments require ‘opening’ the ‘communication circle.’ Children share their ideas, thoughts, wants, feelings, and needs while maintaining a back-and-forth exchange in conversation. Lastly, they need to “close” a communication circle, and when one is finished, they need to transition to the next. This can be challenging, as children may need time to think, can be easily distracted by noise or visual activities, or have different interest points that make this transition time extra tricky.

Therapeutic Strategies

Our Occupational Therapists use play therapy alongside the child’s Speech Pathologists, who help children with communication-based transitions, such as speech and language skills. 

You will see our therapists using a range of strategies to help in directing the communication and play ideas to make this easier for them:

  • Facial Expressions: Use big smiles and animated looks to help children understand emotions and stay connected.
  • Tone and Sounds: Varying our tone—We love to use sound to support transitions throughout our play and hold our clients in the moment with us. We whisper, talk louder in critical moments, or use sounds like “uh-oh” to create excitement or focus.
  • Body Language: Our bodies communicate too! Shrugging, clapping, and arms crossed or waving to show different emotions such as sadness, frustration, or excitement to help children navigate their feelings during play.

Utilising these strategies not only improves communication with our clients but also provides support during challenging times. This approach allows clients the space to work through difficulties together and transition between uncomfortable feelings and enjoyment while playing. This approach is powerful in supporting the development of Emotional Regulation Skills and Social Skills.

The Magic of Pretend Play

Play is a vital part of development. By as early as 13 months, children begin to use functional play themes. Play is an exciting time when a child is learning all about their everyday life activities like sleeping, eating, and bathing. This early play is a sign of your child’s growing memory, as they can remember something they saw or what you did and reenact this. 

As children mature and develop their play skills, they shift from functional to pretend play. This occurs over a period of time, with different skills building upon one another to achieve these skills. This shift to pretend play is paramount as it symbolises that there has been a cognitive shift in their development. They are no longer imitating others but now engaging in activities with intent and a purpose. When children begin developing these skills, they seek solo play or with other children their age, exploring new ways of thinking and creating. (Keep an eye out for an upcoming blog breaking down all information on play). 

However, not all children can easily shift, adapt, and be creative in their play themes with others, often finding it more accessible to play by themselves with their own ideas and internal monologue. This can be challenging in social settings like preschool and peer conversations. This is where Occupational Therapy shines! By using the child’s interests and strengths in play, therapists support children in exploring play themes while building their confidence and skills necessary for play with others. Transitioning from single-play to multiple-person play requires different communication strategies and the ability to connect with the child to support their confidence and skills to play.

Strategies to Develop Play

To enhance play skills, consider these strategies:

  • Interests in Play: Initiate play with themes and interests to engage the child.
  • Creating Challenges: Introduce problems for them to solve together while encouraging collaboration.
  • Predictability: Allows the child to be engaged and develop their play skills while establishing a consistent routine that helps children feel secure.
  • Familiar Environments: Starting play in a safe, familiar space, such as the home loungeroom, helps ease the transition.
  • Humour and Fun: Use playful scenarios to make transitions enjoyable, such as using the child’s toy and self in fun ways, such as getting stuck, falling over, or supporting the child in their play themes and them in transitions. 

Working on these skills as an Occupational Therapist helps support children in having the confidence and skill set to transition into new environments, such as preschool and school when playing with other children with more ease and confidence.

Building Skills Through Pretend Play

If there are set skill sets that your children require additional support for, providing opportunities through pretend play, such as using dolls, teddies or trucks, is a great way to support the comprehension of different transitions, help them encounter potential problems through play, as well as resolving those problems. Pretend play is a gateway to helping our children process what is happening around them, learn from them, and understand what that means to them. Have you ever been playing, and your child has said or done something that has reflected your real life? It’s a natural way for them to make sense of the world!

The Importance of Repetition

As with developing any new skill, learning transitions can be challenging and requires repetition, emotional support, structure and predictability. Providing consistent support and opportunities for your children to practice playing with others is paramount in strengthening these skill sets. 

Another way to support your children with transitions in play is using storytime. Using different visuals and books helps children understand play themes more and a different modality of learning. Repetition through play will help consolidate their knowledge, make them feel confident when something unexpected happens, and help them transition through those changes. 

Remember, all of us are constantly transitioning through changes in our daily lives. Some days, we do it well. Some days, we don’t! This is perfectly normal, and the same is true for our children. If you feel like you need some more tools and strategies in your tool kit, call us so we can help. We’re here to help you navigate this journey together!

Happy Playing!

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If you’d like to chat more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! Call us on 0477 708 217 or email admin@exploreandsoar.com.au

Until Next Time,
Jess

PUBLISHED NOVEMBER 2024

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OT Week: Celebrating 80 Years of Connection – 21st to 27th October (Week 3, Term 4)

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OT WEEK – CELEBRATING 80 YEARS OF CONNECTION

21st to 27th October (Week 3, Term 4)

OT Week is a special time for Occupational Therapists. It’s an opportunity to reflect on the evolution of our profession, celebrate our journey professionally and individually, and share the Occupational Therapy profession with others in the community.

This October, in OT Week, Occupational Therapy Australia is excited to celebrate 80 years since the formation of the Occupational Therapist Club in Australia, which later became the Australian Association of Occupational Therapists (AAOT) in 1945. In 2009, all state divisions joined together under Occupational Therapy Australia, bringing our profession together under one national body.

Although Occupational Therapy as a profession dates back much further (it began in America in the 1910s-1920s), we are still a young and evolving profession that is making significant strides across the globe.

World OT Day – October 27

As part of OT Week, we celebrate World OT Day on October 27, a worldwide event led by the World Federation of Occupational Therapists (WFOT). This year’s theme is Occupational Therapy for All, emphasising the importance of inclusion and the far-reaching impact of OT.

Did You Know? 

  • No referral is needed for OT services.
  • Self-referrals are welcome at any stage.
  • Medicare rebates are available through selected health plans with your GP.
  • Most Private Health Insurance plans cover OT services.
  • OT supports people across their lifespans, from babies to aged care, from equipment to home modifications, from cognitive skills to physical skills, and everything in between!!
  • “Occupation” in OT refers to everything you do, not just paid work, but all activities that are meaningful to you.

Explore Your Potential with Us!

At Explore and Soar, we are passionate about empowering children and families.

Explore your potential through individual sessions, group sessions, intensives, education, and connection.

Soar to new heights when we work alongside you and your child to reach the goals that you and your child set.

Engage with us today by phone, email, or via our online contact form to find out how we can help you Explore and Soar.

What Does Connection Mean to Us?

To mark OT Week, our Explore and Soar team brainstormed what Occupational Therapy for all and what connection means to them. Here are a few highlights from our discussion:

  • Supporting the Whole Family: When we work with children, we extend our care to the family as a whole. OTs are brilliant at considering the broader lens of what is happening around and for their clients, creating a nurturing environment for families.
  • The Importance of Connection: Connection is vital for our survival. Just as animals seek out connections within groups to maintain their species, humans also need connections for physical and mental health. Connection is ingrained in us from birth — for instance, a mother’s autonomic hormonal release occurs to her baby’s cry. This is a clear indicator of the power of connection.

How We Foster Connection at Explore and Soar 

  • Peer Groups: Our peer group programs are a great way to bring children with similar goals together, fostering friendships and growth.
  • Sip n’ Soar: During lockdowns, we ran virtual meetups for parents to provide connection and support. Is this something you’d like us to bring back? Let us know!
  • Stay Informed: Through our monthly blogs, newsletters, and social media, we aim to keep you informed and connected with our community.
  • Educational Seminars: We love providing information to parents, teachers, and other health professionals about the role of Occupational Therapy and what we do at Explore and Soar.-  
  • Community Sponsorships: We proudly support our local community, helping to build strong, connected communities.

What Else Can We Do to Connect with You or Others in Our Community?

We’d love to hear your thoughts on how we can further strengthen our connection with you and our community. Would you like to see:

  • New parent meetups and chats?
  • Parent education groups on specific topics?

Let’s Reflect Together

We’d love to hear your thoughts! Consider these questions and share your answers with us:

  • How has connecting with Occupational Therapy impacted your life?
  • What areas or how do you want more connection with those around you? 
  • What connections are you most grateful for

We invite you to connect with us and shape the future of OT services for you and your family!

Whether it’s joining a group session, attending an education seminar, or sharing your thoughts on our programs, we want to hear from you.

Contact us today by phone, email, or online via our website to learn more about our services and how we can support your child’s journey.
Together, let’s EXPLORE connections and SOAR to new heights!

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If you’d like to chat more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! Call us on 0477 708 217 or email admin@exploreandsoar.com.au

Until Next Time,
Lori

PUBLISHED OCTOBER 2024

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Nurturing Early Sensory Development: The Critical Role of Suck-Swallow-Breathe Synchrony in Infants

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NURTURING EARLY SENSORY DEVELOPMENT: THE CRITICAL ROLE OF SUCK-SWALLOW-BREATHE SYNCHRONY IN INFANTS

As paediatric Occupational Therapists, one of the fundamental areas that we assess is infants and young children involving their feeding skills. A critical aspect of these skills is the Suck-Swallow-Breathe (SSB) synchrony. This coordination is essential for safe and effective feeding and plays a significant role in a child’s early sensory development. Today, I would like to delve into how SSB synchrony affects sensory development and why it’s crucial for us to monitor this with our clients.

What is Suck-Swallow-Breathe Synchrony?

Suck-Swallow-Breathe (SSB) synchrony refers to the coordinated pattern of an infant sucking, swallowing, and breathing during feeding. This skill is essential for infants to feed safely without choking and to ensure adequate nutrition. The development of this synchrony begins in utero and continues to refine over the first few months of life. 

Proper SSB synchrony supports not just nutrition but also sets the foundation for the child’s future eating habits and speech development. It is the first developmental pattern that requires timing and sequenced movements. Synchrony and its components are so primal that it is easy to take them for granted.

Suck-Swallow-Breathe Synchrony Involves Three Main Components

  1. Sucking: This involves creating a vacuum in the mouth, which draws milk or formula from the bottle or breast. Effective sucking requires good muscle tone and coordination of the lips, jaw, and tongue.
  2. Swallowing: Once the liquid is sucked into the mouth, it needs to be swallowed. This process requires the soft palate to lift and close off the nasal passage, ensuring the liquid goes down the esophagus and not into the respiratory tract.
  3. Breathing: Infants must coordinate their breathing around the sucking and swallowing actions. They typically breathe in through the nose between sucking and swallowing sequences.

Early Developmental Factors Impacting Suck-Swallow-Breathe (SSB) Synchrony

Several factors during early development can impact the normal development of SSB synchrony:

  1. Prematurity: Premature infants often have underdeveloped muscles and nervous systems, making it difficult to achieve proper SSB synchrony.
  2. Neurological Disorders: Conditions like cerebral palsy (a disorder that affects movement and muscle tone) or developmental delays can interfere with the neurological control necessary for effective SSB.
  3. Structural Anomalies: Issues like cleft lip or palate, tongue-tie, lip tie or other anatomical variations can disrupt normal sucking and swallowing patterns.
  4. Respiratory Issues: Chronic respiratory conditions or frequent respiratory infections can disrupt the delicate balance required for SSB synchrony.
  5. Sensory Processing Disorders: Children with sensory processing challenges may struggle with the textures and sensations associated with feeding, impacting their ability to maintain SSB synchrony.
  6. Primitive Reflex Activation: Primitive reflexes may not activate with the Suck-Swallow-Breathe synchrony, impacting coordination. This often occurs with latching onto the breast or bottle prior to the sucking reflex commencing. 
  7. Birthing Experience: Every child enters into the world differently. Their mother’s experience and their own can, on occasions, be high-stress, or medications administrated at the wrong time can initially impact the baby’s energy levels or alertness to engage in latching to the breast and coordinate the Suck-Swallow-Breathe synchrony.

The Connection Between SSB Synchrony and Sensorimotor Development

SSB synchrony is deeply intertwined with an infant’s sensorimotor and cognitive development. It involves multiple sensory systems and motor responses that enhance neural pathways crucial for later skills, including:

Speech and Language Development: The muscles and neural mechanisms involved in SSB are the same as those used in speech. Efficient SSB synchrony helps strengthen these muscles and neural connections, facilitating clearer speech articulation and language processing skills as the child grows. Early difficulties in SSB can indicate potential speech and language delays, prompting early intervention.

Regulation of State: SSB synchrony contributes significantly to a baby’s ability to regulate physiological and emotional states. This regulation is crucial for attention, learning, and interaction. Feeding times provide not only nourishment but also comfort and security, aiding in the development of self-regulation skills that are vital for emotional and cognitive growth.

Postural Control: Feeding involves more than just the mouth; it requires head and neck stability, trunk control, and, eventually, the ability to sit up independently. The repetitive act of feeding while maintaining SSB synchrony encourages muscle development and coordination, paving the way for improved postural control, which is essential for all future motor tasks, including walking and fine motor skills.

Feeding and Eating Behaviour: The development of SSB synchrony is directly linked to feeding success. Infants who master this coordination are likely to experience fewer feeding problems. As children grow, efficient feeding supports the exploration of different textures and types of food, fostering positive eating behaviours and preferences that contribute to healthy growth and development.

Ego Development: Ego development, or the formation of a robust sense of self, begins in infancy. SSB synchrony supports attachment and trust by allowing effective feeding and interaction with caregivers. Each successful feeding reinforces the infant’s sense of mastery and autonomy, which are critical components of healthy ego development.

Eye-Hand Coordination: While not immediately apparent, the coordination required for effective SSB synchrony can also influence eye-hand coordination. As infants reach and grasp for the bottle or breast, they develop fine motor skills alongside visual tracking abilities, setting foundational skills that later translate to tasks such as writing, typing, and other manual activities.

Occupational Therapy Interventions: How Do We Support This? 

In Occupational Therapy, we use a variety of strategies to support the development of SSB synchrony.

Building Awareness Through Oral Motor Exercises 

C Stretches: This is a facial massage technique that provides tactile input to the cheeks, chin, and lips to activate muscles to assist with oral motor awareness, planning, exploration, developmental structures, calming, and regulation.

ARK Z Vibe: This vibratory oral motor tool can help build oral tone and improve speech, feeding, and sensory skills. The vibration provides a higher level of sensory stimulation to increase awareness and attention to the lips, tongue, cheeks, and jaw. This tool will support the ability to work through ineffective sensory processing capacities, helping the nervous system sort, filter, and organise information.

Suck and Breath Exercises:

Suck Exercises:

  • Using straws, crazy straws, or coffee stirrers for drinking (Consider the diameter and texture of the straw to best fit). 
  • Drinking from sports bottles and small plastic cups with lids and holes for straws.
  • Moving small bingo chips with a straw from one place to another.
  • Sucking in on a piece of theraband or bubble gum over lips, sucking on a sucker/lollipop, pacifier/dummies or finger and creating a loud pop as it is pulled out.

Breathe/Respiration Exercises:

  • Blow bubbles in water.
  • Playing games with the tongue, such as making lip sounds, raspberries or tongue-clicking.
  • Blowing cotton balls, paper wads, and ping pong balls over obstacle courses.
  • Bumper cars: Blow ping-pong balls around a tub of water with a straw or a long piece of tubing.
  • Use toys that offer resistance to respiration.

Why Early Detection Matters?

Goal-Based Face-to-Face Intervention: 

The development of Sucking, Swallowing, and Breathing synchrony is more than just a feeding skill; it’s a cornerstone of early sensory development and has profound implications for a child’s growth and comfort in their environment. Identifying issues with SSB synchrony early can prevent future complications, such as feeding difficulties, speech delays, and sensory processing challenges. Early intervention leads to better outcomes and can significantly improve a child’s quality of life.

As paediatric Occupational Therapists, it’s our role to ensure that this skill develops appropriately, providing the foundation for a healthier, more integrated sensory experience for the child.
Through early intervention and targeted strategies, we can help support not only your child’s ability to eat and grow but also their overall ability to experience and interact with the world around them in a positive way.

Take the Next Step: Contact Us

If you notice any feeding difficulties or have concerns about your child’s Suck-Swallow-Breathe synchrony, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team. Early intervention can make a significant difference. Contact us today to schedule an assessment and give your child the foundation they need for a healthier future.

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If you’d like to chat more, please don’t hesitate to contact us today! Call us on 0477 708 217 or email admin@exploreandsoar.com.au

Until Next Time,
Maddie

PUBLISHED SEPTEMBER 2024

REFERENCE: Oetter, P., Richter, E.W. & Frick, S.M. (1993). MORE: Integrating the Mouth With Sensory and Postural Functions. Farmington, MA. Therapro, Inc.

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