The fastest way to make mealtimes calmer isn’t a new gadget; it’s seeing what’s really happening beneath the spills. In this week's episode We unpack how posture, coordination, attention, and sensory processing shape every bite, and why small, smart changes can turn chaos into progress without power struggles or pressure.

We start with setup and posture, how this can impact on our ability to access feeding. We chat through the importance of mess and simple strategies to bring into mealtimes. We also chat through restricted diets through a sensory lens, showing how unpredictable textures and smells can shrink a child’s “safe foods,” and how low-demand exploring—an extra plate, silly food art, cooking together—opens the door to variety.

You’ll learn practical, OT-backed steps for self-feeding. For spoons and forks, we use backwards chaining and tiny prompts to fade support. We share simple cues that can help kids to organise their movements. For knives, we build bilateral coordination with the knife in the dominant hand, soft foods first, and a clear rhythm—fork in, saw forwards-back, press down then back. We round out with some quick strategies to support drinking from open cups. Along the way, we keep meals playful and social so learning sticks.

If these ideas help, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s in the thick of mealtime challenges, and leave a review to tell us what worked and what you want next. Your stories shape the topics we dig into next.

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Dressing skills are about so much more than just putting on clothes—they're a daily opportunity to build problem-solving abilities that last a lifetime. In this second episode of our self-care season, we dive deep into strategies for later dressing skills (zips, buttons, shoes) and also really discuss the thinking that goes on behind the scenes for dressing.

What exactly makes buttons and zips so tricky for little fingers? We break down these complex motor skills into manageable steps, sharing practical strategies to build confidence and independence.

Beyond the physical skills, we explore the hidden cognitive load of dressing—the thinking processes that make these seemingly simple tasks surprisingly complex. Learn why honouring children's choices in dressing sequence, even when you know they won't work, creates powerful "naturally occurring problems" that build problem-solving confidence. We share playful approaches to make dressing fun rather than frustrating, including dress-up games and modelling how to work through mistakes.

The episode concludes with an enlightening look at adaptive clothing options that work within a child's abilities to maximise independence. From magnetic closures that look like buttons to side-opening designs to many more.

Whether you're a parent, teacher, or therapist, these practical, playful strategies will transform dressing time from a daily struggle into a valuable learning opportunity. Share your own dressing tips or questions with us on Instagram @bellsotcorner or email bellsotcorner@gmail.com!

DISCLAIMER:
Whilst I will always make evert effort to share correct information as at the date of the podcast, research is constantly happening and as a profession we learn more everyday. One therapist may have a different way of doing things to another, and every child's needs are unique. By listening to this podcast, you agree not to use this podcast as medical advice to treat any medical condition in either yourself or others Consult your child's paediatrician or therapist for any recommendations for your child.

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Dressing seems straightforward to us as adults, but for children, it's a complex developmental challenge requiring numerous hidden skills. This episode dives into the foundations of early dressing independence, revealing why undressing naturally comes before dressing and how seemingly simple tasks like putting on a t-shirt involve intricate motor planning, body awareness, and cognitive sequencing.

We dive into the underlying skills needed to engage in dressing tasks and some of the many reason it can be frustrating for both children and parents!
Throughout this conversation, I share practical strategies you can implement immediately, including how to choose the right time to practice, why loose-fitting clothes make learning easier, the power of backwards and forwards chaining techniques, the role of problem solving within dressing!

The most powerful takeaway? Independence doesn't mean doing everything alone. It means supporting children to do as much as they can with the least amount of help, recognising their unique capabilities, and celebrating each step toward self-care mastery. Whether you're a parent frustrated with morning routines or a teacher supporting classroom independence, these foundational principles will transform how you approach dressing skills with the children in your life.

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