2026-01-26 – Weekly Occupational Therapy News : Neuroplasticity at home: practical tips

Last week was rich with discussions on practical strategies for occupational therapy practice. Members shared their experiences and resources on creating therapeutic environments, such as sensory-friendly waiting rooms and calm corners for storytime. There was also a lively exchange on the effectiveness of various continuing education courses and tools to enhance OT outcomes. The community was particularly engaged in conversations about making neuroplasticity concepts accessible for home practice.


This Week’s Hot Topics

Evidence-based PTSD handouts for OT
This thread delves into resources that provide effective PTSD interventions. It’s a useful read if you’re seeking evidence-backed materials to support your clients.
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When playdough turned into a birthday party
A delightful discussion about how playdough activities unexpectedly transformed into a full-blown celebration, offering insights into spontaneous therapeutic opportunities.
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Building a calm corner for storytime
Members share their tips for creating a soothing space for children during storytime, highlighting the importance of environment in therapeutic settings.
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Simple tools that calm a room
This conversation revolves around easy-to-implement tools that help create a tranquil atmosphere, which can be crucial in therapy sessions.
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Making neuroplasticity feel doable at home
Explore practical ways to integrate neuroplasticity concepts into everyday home activities, making therapy more accessible for clients.
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Playful transitions for preschool sessions
Engage with strategies for smoothly transitioning preschoolers between activities using playful methods, enhancing the therapeutic experience.
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Open-source tools for OT outcomes
A deep dive into technology that supports occupational therapy outcomes, focusing on open-source tools available to practitioners.
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CE courses with proven clinical impact
This discussion evaluates continuing education courses that have demonstrated tangible benefits in clinical settings, helping you choose wisely.
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Competency-based CE, not clock hours
Participants debate the value of competency-based continuing education versus traditional clock hours, offering diverse perspectives.
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Making waiting rooms sensory-friendly
Discover strategies for transforming waiting rooms into sensory-friendly environments, enhancing client comfort and experience.
Read more here


Looking forward to another week of thoughtful exchanges and shared learning. If you have any questions or topics you’d like to discuss, feel free to jump in.

1 Like

I’ve had good success with a simple home β€œreset box” β€” a small, visible kit with two familiar items that cue a quick sensory-motor microbreak during daily routines; it gets used because it’s on the path of life, not tucked away. @RileyS, it’s β€œmake the desired action the easy action,” and clients say it feels less like homework. Small caveat: novelty fades, so I rotate items monthly to keep engagement up, like swapping coffee mugs so you notice what you’re drinking.

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I’ve been using a single doorway anchor at home: every time someone grabs the fridge handle, we pair it with one consistent calming cue (slow exhale plus a gentle shoulder roll) so the habit rides on the context, @josh_ramsay23. If the kitchen gets hectic, swapping the anchor to the kettle beep keeps it reliable without adding clutter.

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At home I’ve had good results putting a $3 sand timer on the bookshelf in our β€œcalm corner”; when someone flips it, we treat that minute as a quiet reset with a familiar fidget, and the consistency starts to stick by week two. Small caveat: if the timer becomes a novelty, I swap it for a small sticky-dot visual cue for a few days and bring the timer back later.

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