Lancaster Children's Occupational Therapy

05/11/2026

🎆🔥 Remember, remember… it’s Bonfire Night! 🔥🎆

Are you enjoying fireworks, sparklers and celebrations tonight?

Here are a few little reminders to help make the evening enjoyable for everyone:

💛 Ear defenders can help with loud noises.
💛 Wrap up warm and bring cosy comforts.
💛 Let children watch from a distance if they prefer.
💛 Take things at your own pace.
💛 Most importantly, enjoy the evening in whatever way works for your family!

✨ Every child is different, and there’s no right or wrong way to celebrate. Let’s make Bonfire Night a happy, positive experience for everyone!

Wishing everyone a happy and safe Bonfire Night! ❤️🎆

05/11/2026

💛 OT Week 2026 – Participation Matters! 💛

🌳 Meet Mia – The goal: Being able to climb across the logs in the playground!

Mia wanted to be able to join in with her friends when they played on the climbing logs in the playground. However, she felt scared and lacked the confidence to have a go.

Watching her friends take part while feeling unable to join in was frustrating, and she wanted to feel more confident trying something new.

We worked together to break the activity down into smaller, achievable steps and build Mia's confidence at her own pace.

Some of the things we explored included:
✨ Starting small: Practising balancing and stepping onto lower, more stable surfaces before moving on to the playground logs.
✨ Developing balance and coordination: Playing games and activities to practise moving her body, shifting her weight and maintaining her balance.
✨ Building confidence: Gradually increasing the challenge as Mia became more comfortable, without rushing or putting pressure on her.
✨ Exploring different ways to move: Practising stepping, climbing and finding different ways to position her feet and hands.
✨ Celebrating small achievements: Recognising each step forward and helping Mia see what she could achieve.

By breaking the activity down and working at Mia's pace, we helped her develop the skills and confidence to work towards joining in with her friends.

For Mia, this wasn't just about climbing across some logs. It was about feeling confident to try new things, joining in with playground games and being able to participate alongside her friends. 💛

That's what Occupational Therapy is all about – helping children do the things that matter to them and making participation possible!

**Mia is a pseudonym used to protect the child's identity.**

05/11/2026

🎆🔥 Are you going to Bonfire Night tonight? 🔥🎆

Why not try our 5 SENSES CHALLENGE while you’re there? 👀👂👃👅🖐️

Can you spot something for each sense?

👀 SEE – Colourful fireworks, sparkling lights and glowing bonfires.

👂 HEAR – Loud bangs, crackling fires and whistling rockets.

👃 SMELL – Bonfire smoke, fresh air and yummy food cooking.

👅 TASTE – Toffee apples, marshmallows or hot chocolate!

🖐️ TOUCH – Cosy gloves, fluffy scarves and the chilly evening air.

✨ Exploring our five senses is a fun way to develop sensory awareness, language and observation skills.

How many can you find? Let us know in the comments! ❤️

Have fun and stay safe! 🎇

04/11/2026

Lovely to hear Dr Emily’s experience on working alongside occupational therapists throughout her career! 💚

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1MJzy63Km2/?mibextid=wwXIfr

04/11/2026

💛 OT Week 2026 – Participation Matters!

Riley’s goal: To fasten his own seatbelt independently. 🚗

Riley wanted to be able to fasten his seatbelt without relying on an adult. It was important to him to feel more grown-up and independent, and to take part in everyday family routines.
We looked at ways to make this task easier for Riley. We practised the movements involved, including using both hands together, developing grip and coordination, and breaking the task down into smaller steps.

We also introduced some simple visual prompts:
• Bright-coloured tape near the correct seatbelt buckle to help Riley identify which one to use.
• Bright-coloured dots in the appropriate places inside the car to show him where to put his hands.

Practising in context was really important. We practised getting into the car and fastening the seatbelt in its usual position, helping Riley become familiar with the steps and movements involved.

With practice, encouragement and these little adaptations, Riley became more confident in taking part in this everyday family routine. An adult always checked that his seatbelt was correctly fitted and fastened before travelling.

That's what Occupational Therapy is all about – helping children do the things that matter to them and making participation possible!

**Riley is a pseudonym used to protect the child's identity.**

04/11/2026

💛 OT Week 2026 – Participation Matters! 💛

🚲 Meet Sam – The goal: Learning to ride a bike!

Sam's family love going out on their bikes at the weekends, but Sam was unable to join in.
This was something he really wanted to do, and not being able to take part had started to knock his confidence.

We worked together to break the skill down into smaller, achievable steps, finding ways to build Sam's confidence along the way.

Some of the things we tried included:
✨ Starting with balance: Removing the pedals so Sam could focus on balancing and getting used to moving on the bike without having to pedal.
✨ Finding the right environment: Visiting Salt Ayre Cycling Track in Lancaster, where it was quieter and Sam had plenty of space and time to practise without feeling rushed.
✨ Getting the bike set up right: Adjusting the seat and handlebar height to make sure the bike was the right size for Sam and that he felt comfortable and secure.
✨ Building confidence with brakes: Practising using the brakes so Sam felt more in control and confident about being able to stop.
✨ Overcoming the fear of falling: Helping Sam build confidence and understand that falling can be part of learning.
✨ Using adapted equipment: Exploring training handles to provide extra support and wearing knee and elbow pads so Sam knew that if he did fall, he was protected from injury.

By taking things at Sam's pace, celebrating little achievements and finding the right strategies and equipment, we helped him build his confidence and work towards his goal.

For Sam, this wasn't just about learning to ride a bike. It was about being able to join his family at the weekends and take part in something that really mattered to him. 💛

That's what Occupational Therapy is all about – finding ways to make participation possible!

**Sam is a pseudonym used to protect the child's identity.**

03/11/2026

💛 OT Week 2026 – Participation Matters! 💛

🎀 Meet Lily – The goal: Being able to tie up my own hair!

Lily wanted to be able to tie her hair up independently, particularly when at school after PE or playtime, just like her friends.
She was beginning to avoid energetic activities and games because she knew her hair might need retying afterwards. She found it difficult to do this herself and felt too embarrassed to ask a teacher for help.

We worked together to find ways to make this everyday task easier and help Lily feel more confident and independent.

Some of the things we explored included:
✨ Practising using both hands together: Working on gathering her hair and securing it in place.
✨ Developing coordination: Practising the hand movements and skills needed to manage her hair.
✨ Finding the right hairbrush: Trying an easy-grip hairbrush and one that didn't pull on her hair, making brushing less painful and stressful.
✨ Trying different hair accessories: Exploring snag-free hair ties, spiral hair bands and pre-looped hair ties to find options that were easier for Lily to manage independently.
✨ Building confidence: Breaking the task down into smaller steps and practising until Lily felt more confident doing it herself.

For Lily, this wasn't just about learning to tie her hair. It was about feeling confident to join in with PE, playtime and activities with her friends without worrying about what would happen if her hair came undone.

That's what Occupational Therapy is all about – helping children do the things that matter to them and making participation possible! 💛

**Lily is a pseudonym used to protect the child's identity.**

02/11/2026

🎭🎄 Would you love to take your child to the pantomime this Christmas but worry they might find it difficult to sit still or find the usual theatre environment overwhelming?

Lancaster Grand Theatre is offering a Relaxed Performance of Robin Hood on Saturday 5th December 2026 🏹✨

💭Here’s what the Grand theatre says:
“Join us for a special relaxed performance of our spectacular Christmas pantomime, Robin Hood.
Designed for adults and children with additional needs, along with their families, carers, and support workers, this performance offers a welcoming and supportive environment where everyone can enjoy the magic of live theatre in comfort.
Adjustments will be made to create a more relaxed atmosphere, allowing audiences to respond naturally to the performance and enjoy the show in a way that works for them. Our friendly team will be on hand throughout to ensure everyone feels welcome.”

🎟️ Visit the Lancaster Grand Theatre website or get in touch with them directly for more details and booking information.
🔗 https://lancastergrand.co.uk/

A lovely festive activity to add to your Christmas plans! 🎅❤️

Join us for a special relaxed performance of our spectacular Christmas pantomime, Robin Hood. Designed for adults and children with additional needs,…

02/11/2026

🌈 RCOT OT WEEK 2026- What does participation look like to us?💜

To kick off RCOT’s OT Week 2026, we asked our wonderful OTs and Therapy Assistants to think about the occupations they enjoy doing and, most importantly, what it means to them to be able to participate in these activities.

💬 See what they said below…

🧵🪡 Alice- "I’ve enjoyed sewing since I was a child and still try to carve out time for it whenever I can. I love being creative and making things, especially gifts for family and friends.
For me, sewing is a great way to switch off and have some calm when life feels busy. It gives me time to focus on something I enjoy and create something with my own hands.
Sewing is more than just a hobby for me – it’s something that helps me relax, be creative and do something meaningful. It’s a lovely reminder of how important it is to make time to participate in the things that we enjoy and that matter to us. 💙"

🛶🌅 Anne- 'I love paddle boarding as it’s a great way to get outdoors and enjoy a bit of adventure. There’s something really enjoyable about being out on the water, taking in the scenery and escaping the busyness of everyday life. It’s also a lovely opportunity to spend quality time with family and friends, have a laugh and explore new places. I always come away feeling refreshed and glad I’ve made the most of my time outdoors!"

🏄🏻‍♀️🌊 Becki- "I love water sports, a hobby I only took up 3 years ago! It is fun, rewarding and really makes me laugh. It's a great way to spend time with my family throughout the weekend and I have loved pushing myself to learn a new skill- especially as I am not a very sporty person and find co-ordination hard at times!"

🐶🐾Ellie- "I love spending time outdoors with my dog, Wilbur, whether that’s exploring new walking routes or enjoying our usual favourite spots. It’s a great way to get some fresh air, enjoy a bit of exercise and spend quality time together. Wilbur especially loves a game of fetch, which always makes our walks that little bit more entertaining! Earlier this year, I injured my knee and wasn’t able to enjoy our usual walks, which I really missed. I realised just how much getting out and walking with Wilbur means to me and how much it contributes to my overall wellbeing. Since then, I’ve been working hard to build up my strength so I can get back to enjoying our walks together"

🧘🏽‍♀️🪷 Nicky- "My favourite activity is yoga. I love trying out new poses, challenging myself and having some time to slow down, relax and switch off from everyday stresses. It’s a great way to look after both my physical and mental wellbeing. My favourite pose is Warrior, which I really enjoy practising!"

🚶🏼‍♀️🌳 Ruth- "I love to get outdoors whenever I can, participating in a variety of activities such as walking, running, wild swimming and paddle boarding. The Lake District is my happy place; it gives me time to think and experience new adventures with family and friends. Having regular outdoor activities planned provides me with the motivation to complete activities at home that I do not enjoy doing."

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From hobbies and interests to everyday activities, each occupation has its own meaning and brings something special to our lives. Whether it’s enjoyment, connection, relaxation, independence or a sense of achievement, participation matters to us all! ✨

This is exactly what we aim to support in the children and families we work with – finding opportunities to participate in the activities that are meaningful and important to them.

Keep an eye out this week as we share more about ways to support participation and the difference OT can make! 💜

02/11/2026

🌈 RCOT OT WEEK 2026 – PARTICIPATION CHANGES EVERYTHING! 💜

This week, we’re celebrating the amazing difference Occupational Therapy can make in helping children to participate, thrive and reach their full potential.

Participation is about being able to take part in the everyday activities that matter – from playing with friends and joining in at school, to developing independence with dressing, mealtimes and family life.

As Children’s Occupational Therapists, we work alongside children and their families to understand what matters to them, overcome barriers and find ways to make participation possible.

✨ Throughout this week, we’ll be sharing posts about what participation means to us and how we support children to get involved in the activities that are important to them.

Because every child deserves the opportunity to feel included, involved and valued.

💜 Participation changes everything!