Sensory Therapy Place · Pediatric OT Resources
Blog
Pediatric OT-written guides on sensory processing, primitive reflex integration, and the movement-rich home — by Earl Mamaril, MS, OTR/L, and the Sensory Therapy Place clinical team.
Understanding Autism Levels 1–3, "Profound Autism," and What Often Comes With the Diagnosis
A parent's guide to the DSM-5 autism severity levels, why there's no 'Level 4,' what profound autism actually means, the conditions that often travel alongside au...
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Why ARFID Research Is Behind — And What It's Missing About the Nervous System
A clinical opinion piece on why ARFID research still leans almost entirely on behavior — and what it misses about the nervous system, feeding reflexes, today's fo...
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My Child Screams During Baths and Haircuts: Understanding Tactile Defensiveness
If ordinary touch sets off a meltdown, your child is not overreacting - their tactile system is registering it as far more intense than it is. Here is what helps.
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Why Does My Child Chew Everything? An OT's Guide to Oral Sensory Seeking
Chewing on collars, sleeves, pencils and hair is not a bad habit - it is a proprioceptive need. Here is what is happening and how to redirect it safely.
Read article →The Complete Guide to Sensory Processing in Kids (Winnie Dunn Framework)
What sensory processing actually means, why some kids seek input while others avoid it, and how to figure out where your child fits.
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Your Child's Nervous System Is More Than 'Fight or Flight': Understanding Safety, Stress, and Healing
Your child's behavior is not always "just behavior." Often it is the nervous system trying to protect itself. Learn how the ventral vagal, sympathetic, and dorsal...
Read article →Why Does My Child Hide From Crowds, Refuse Hugs, or Crash Into Everything? Your Child's Sensory Profile Explained
Winnie Dunn's 4 Sensory Quadrants explain why one child crashes into walls while another covers their ears at the grocery store. Earl Mamaril walks parents throug...
Read article →Best Fidget Toys for Kids with Anxiety — A Pediatric OT's Guide
Not all fidget toys are created equal. Pediatric OT Earl Mamaril breaks down the 5 best fidget tools for kids with anxiety and ADHD — and explains the neuroscienc...
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Why Your Child Crashes Into Things, Can't Sit Still, or Trips on Flat Floors: The Vestibular System Explained
If your child can't sit still, crashes into walls, melts down on the playground, or trips over flat floors — their vestibular system may be the missing piece. Ped...
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Why Does My Child Flap Their Hands or Rock? A Pediatric OT Explains Stimming
Your child isn't misbehaving when they flap, rock, or hum. They're regulating. Pediatric OT Earl Mamaril explains what stimming actually is, when to support it, w...
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Are Weighted Blankets Safe and Effective for Children's Sleep? A Pediatric OT Explains the Science
A pediatric OT's evidence-based guide to weighted blankets for children's sleep — what the research actually shows for ADHD and autism, how deep pressure works th...
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Was My C-Section the Cause? How Cesarean Birth Affects Your Child's Nervous System — and What You Can Do About It
Pediatric OT Earl Mamaril answers the question parents ask quietly during evaluations: was my C-section the cause? Research-backed, guilt-free, hopeful — what the...
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