YKOT 2025 Highlights: Year in Review!

I am unwritten
Can't read my mind
I'm undefined
I'm just beginning
The pen's in my hand
Ending unplanned

Staring at the blank page before you
Open up the dirty window
Let the sun illuminate the words that you could not find*

When I started this blog, website, business in 2014... I didn't really have a plan. 

I thought I would share a few ideas, my experience and see what happens. 
I created resources that I used in my own OT practice and shared those too. 

The frequency, the content, the form of sharing was all unplanned... well that's not true... I tried to plan but couldn't stick to it.  When content flowed from my inspiration, from collaboration, from the children I worked with... it went to that plan. A bit adhoc and a bit episodic but always authentic. 

So in 2025, my plan was to give my blogs more structure (ie. OT Bingo) and have a more consistent approach. It worked for several months but then... you know, life happens... and I fell into my old ways. To be honest, I think you all preferred my old ways, so that's what I've stuck to.  I've never been afraid of trying new things and learning from mistakes. I have enough self-awareness to know that what I do may be temporary and people will come and go ... but I appreciate each and everyone of you who come back time and again! Thanks for your ongoing support!

On that note, let's recap some highlights of 2025!

I break tradition
Sometimes my tries are outside the lines
We've been conditioned to not make mistakes
But I can't live that way*

2025 Popular Blog Posts:
​* Sensory Profile Language 
* Vestibular Sensory Activities
​* A Comparison of the BOT 3 and MABC-3 Assessments
* Understanding Repetitive Play Patterns

2025 Original Popular reels: 
* Fine Motor Skills for Typing and More! - Part 2 (Instagram and Facebook) With over 550K +views (5K+ likes, 3K+ bookmarks, 1K+ shaes), this is the most watched reel of 2025.  The original was posted in 2024 with an update of progress featuring the same child addressing hypermobility concerns.  
* Occupational therapy principles (Instagram and Facebook) including regulation before expectation, respect, connection, sensory needs met, therapeutic use of self, active engagement and participation, client-centred and holistic. 
* Stop the Rolling Ball (Instagram )  - A simple body awareness activity, providing time to think and getting the body ready with a plan to stop the ball. Practical way to apply executive functioning skills in a slow achievable manner. 
* Metronome Steps (Instagram and Facebook) focusing on attention and concentrating with auditory processing.  A multi-sensory activity with proprioception, vestibualr, auditory, visual and tactile systems engaged with a highlight of interoception skills introducted by monitoring heart rates. 
* Metronome Pencil Control (Instagram and Facebook) using reptetive rhythmic beats to help focus and change handwriting speed. 
* Whole Body Balance and Crossing the Midline (Instagram and Facebook) - - A whole body activty using theraband as a balance beam, paper cups and balls. We work on balance, body awareness, crossing the midline, coordination, motor planning, impulse control and executive function skills while providing sensory input. ​
* Visual Prompt for Pencil Grasp (Instagram and Facebook) using patty pans to create a cute visual prompt for pencil grip.  
* Drawing shapes (Instagram) - Visual motor integration using a physical shape to use as guide to develop skills interpreting what is seen to coordinate with drawing. 

FREE Printables: I gave away 6 freebies!
* Workbook Covers
* Fingerprint drawing fun
​* Animal Walks 
* Toilet Time Interoception Visual Supports
* Quick Ways to Calm Down 2025 Edition
* Christmas 2025 Printable

NEW Resources: I launched 4 new printable products!
​* Growth Mindset
* Out of the Box Thinking and Drawing (Flexible thinking)
​* Body Scan Check: Interoception Awareness for Children
* Unicorns are Neat Handwriting Legibility

A major 2025 highlight for me personally (and professionally) was taking a trip to the US in April. Attending the AOTA conference in Philadelphia was an OT bucket-list activity! You can read more about my experience HERE.  Meeting my online colleague, Miss Jaime OT was a pleasure.  I'm so pleased to share what a genuine and passionate OT she is in real life! Long time followers will know that we have been working on a book together for 8 years and we are more than certain that this dream will become a reality in 2026! Exciting!

Here are a few more highlights:
* I have collaborated with a number of companies and affiliate programs in 2025.  You supported these collaborations, so I will continue to share these. 
* My direct OT services saw me work with a number of families in my local area; focusing on one preschool and 4 main schools. 
* I have enjoyed supervising a number of individual occupational therapists and a work experience student. Get in touch if you are an Australian OT who would like supervision in 2026.
* I presented in person on the "Therapeutic Use of Self" at a speech therapy clinic. 
* After 11 years, I finally had some professional bio photos taken thanks to TeaLily Photography.   
* I also continue to drive the Australian Paediatric OT FB Group as part of the admin team.  We have exciting plans for this group too. 
* Meeting fellow OTs in.real.life. Seriously the best!

Thank you again for your support in this small corner of the internet. Your likes, emails and comments are always valued. I always love hearing from you! Thank you for purchasing from the YKOT shop and TPT store, or from affiliate links.  Facebook now pay me a very small amount with your views and likes...  this all helps to support me financially to maintain this website. 

What else can you expect in 2026... it is mostly unwritten but will come! 

Happy New Year and see you in 2026! 

Live your life with arms wide open
Today is where your book begins
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten
The rest is still unwritten*

​* Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Danielle A. Brisebois / Natasha Anne Bedingfield / Wayne Steven Jr Rodrigues
Unwritten lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC

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. ​​​
YKOT shop:  https://www.yourkidsot.com/store/c1/Featured_Products.html
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You Tube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZUz_5nYEOCkj32DiOCQo4Q/featured
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