What a wonderful 2024! 

It has been a busy year for Your Kids OT, celebrating 10 years here on the internet.  In that time, I have "e-met" some amazing people. I'm encouraged by you...the online community who have sent me messages, emails and commented on social media.  You are the reason that I keep doing this! 

I may not be the most regular in sending blogs and emails, however I hope what I do share, continues to bring you inspiration and encouragement.  I want to journey alongside you as a life long learner.  To keep striving to become better occupational therapists, empathetic as parents, helping the children in our lives to reach the next milestone (or mini one), developing skills, enjoying play or advocating on their behalf when needed. 

2024 highlights

Some of the most popular reels and posts on Instagram and Facebook were:
* Squigz balance cushion
* Squigz pre-writing/writing
* Fine motor skills for typing
* Fruit avalanche re-imagined
* Putting a spin on Twister
* Scratch art with cookie cutters

There were 5 new FREE printables:

• Birthday Themed 
• Wikki Stix Challenge Cards
• Positive Affirmations
• I spy OT week page
• Christmas Breathing tools

I launched 13 new printable products: 

• Birthday bundle contained 10 products (Some of these have now been released individually)
  • Story Creation Grids
  • Self-Awareness for Children and Teens (Social, Sensory and Emotional skills)
  • Who stole the cookie from the cookie jar? (Handwriting challenge)
  • Handwriting True or False Game
  • Search and Find Grids
  • Coding Challenge Sea Themed
  • Story Board Picture Prompts
  • Mix and Match Therapy Activities
  • The Wheels on the Bus preschool printable 
• Handwriting Legibility Workbook
• Executive Functioning Tips for Parents (also helpful for professionals)
• Unique Therapy Planners (Australian)

You can also find most of these products on the YKOT Teachers Pay Teachers Store ($US).

In 2024, I participated in two online conferences speaking on topics that I'm passionate about - The Therapeutic Use of Self and Executive Functioning Tips for Parents. What an honour!

Suprisingly, I was also a clothing ambassador in 2024! Who would have thought? ! That was a lot of fun!

Watch the highlights reel on Instagram or You-tube. 

Behind the scenes, I had the priviledge of seeing my own daughter finish high school. What a milestone! I'm so proud of her and I'm excited to see what the future holds for her (unfortunately, I couldn't convince her to do OT at uni... she's doing law instead)!

In 2024, I worked at 9 different preschools and schools every week. I also made regular home visits to many families and supervised some wonderful OTs.  I presented an in-person workshop and also supervised a work experience student. I reduced my working time to Monday to Thursday (which was wonderful for helping with my work/life balance).  There was also that ongoing (not-so-secret) project which we made so much progress with this year (more on that soon). 

So what is happening in 2025? ... so many exciting things are already being planned. I can 't wait to share them with you as they become more definite.  There are new things that will put me out of my comfort zone (but you know, that I love a challenge)! 

Thank you again for your support. Your likes, emails and comments are always valued.  Thank you for purchasing from the YKOT shop and TPT store, this helps to support me financially to maintain this website. 

Happy New Year and see you in 2025! 
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It is the end of the school year here in Australia.  While we are busy winding up the year, most of us usually have some thoughts about the next school year. 

Are current clients staying with us? Are they moving on? 
Have we got a waiting list? 
What are we going to do the same and what changes need to be made in the next year?
What goals are we setting?

For me, January is a time of planning and organising.  It is usually a quieter time for Australian therapists so the perfect time to reflect and plan. 

I have designed planners before, but this one is unique! The unique pages includes self reflections including prompts for the therapeutic use of self, which is such a passion for me (contact me if your team is interested in training on this topic).

There are two designs (watercolour and neutral) this year and guess what? I've included them together in the one purchase. So you get two for the price of one!

Have a look at the slide show below to see the pages that are included. 

Pages can be printed as needed and you can choose the pages relevant to you. Re-arrange them in any order. 

Each design includes the following pages:

• 2 quote pages
• Therapist details
• Important contacts
• Yearly overview
• Therapeutic use of self reflections
• Personal reflections
• CPD record
• Supervision records x 2
• Daily, weekly, monthly schedules
• Client list
• Client attendance
• Goal tracker
• Session planner x 2
• Waiting list and Intake form
• To do list
• Projects page
• Resource wish list
• Notes pages: dot grid, blank, lined
• 2025 Calendar page (with Australian holidays)

These planners make the perfect end of year gift.  I have gifted them to my supervisees. Gift them to your graduating OT students, your new therapists starting or gift them to yourself! 

Happy planning!

I love this time of the year! 

Our Christmas tree is up and it is starting to look festive.  I'm looking forward to getting started with my Christmas baking and the upcoming holidays. 

However, all around me,  I feel surrounded with tension, stress and fatigue.  Children, parents, teachers, therapists...

I think many of us could benefit from a little reminder to remember to breathe.

Inhale.
Exhale. 
Inhale.
Exhale.

So simple but yet hard to do. 

We know that breathing helps us to reduce our heart rate. It helps to connect our bodies with our emotions.  We can reduce stress and anxiety. It can bring release from tension and helps us with mindfulness.

If we as adults can learn to stop and breathe, we can also model this for our children. 
 
The printables I create here are usually in response to children I am currently working with and I love to share these with you. This year I am working with a number of children who would benefit from more opportunities to practice deep breathing. These "Christmas Breathing tools" inclde large A4 sized pictures to place on a wall or in a binder. Place your finger on the big dot and follow the instructions to trace, breathe in and out.  I have also shrunk these down into palm-sized cards that your child can take with them.

Do these breathing activities WITH your child.  Practice when they are calm and have them available when they might need them. Pop them into a gift bag and your child will ask you to use them! 

Head over to the YKOT shop for the Christmas Breathing Tools Free Printable. 

​I always make my Christmas printables "freebies", so do go back and check some of my previous free Christmas printables. Find the Christmas page HERE.  You will find Christmas themed writing, scissor skills, visual-spatial, I-spy, colouring and more! 
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Enjoy the Christmas Breathing Tools (for yourself or the child/ren in your life). 

Until next time,
​

Cindy is a registered occupational therapist practising in Sydney, Australia.  She has two growing children who are a constant source of inspiration and learning.  Cindy loves working creatively to help children to reach their potential, finding opportunities in everyday living and making learning fun. She is also addicted to making printables (even when they take a long time to complete).  Cindy is the author of the Occupational Therapy blog Your Kids OT.  Read more articles from Your Kids OT at https://www.yourkidsot.com/blog

Cindy is a contributing author of the Functional Skills for Kids Therapy Team.  They have together published THE HANDWRITING BOOK, THE SCISSORS SKILLS BOOK and THE TOILETING BOOK.

​The information on this site is general in nature. The activities are safe for most children, however, you should consult an Occupational Therapist or health professional to address specific movement, sensory or other medical conditions. Affiliate links are used throughout this website to promote recommended products. Your Kids OT receives a small commission if any purchases are made through these links. Please see my disclosure policy for more details. ​​​
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