Welcome to 4LittleONES Therapy Occupational Therapy

Interoception is our “inside sense.” It helps us notice body signals like hunger, thirst, needing the toilet, feeling hot or cold, a fast heartbeat, or a tummy “butterfly” when we’re worried.
An Interoceptive Awareness Assessment looks at how well a child notices, understands, and responds to these signals in everyday life.

Children who struggle with interoception may:

• Miss early signs of needing the toilet, food, water, rest, or a break
• Find it hard to name feelings (“I feel funny” but can’t say why)
• Go from “fine” to a meltdown quickly, with little warning
• Seem unusually sensitive to pain/temperature—or not notice them enough 

Improving interoceptive awareness supports toileting, feeding, sleep, attention, and emotional regulation at home and at school.

• Children aged 3+ (including non-speaking children)
• Autistic children, children with ADHD, developmental delays, anxiety, or any child who shows the signs above

• Parent/teacher conversation: brief history, daily routines, current concerns
• Play-based observation: simple activities (e.g., notice heartbeat before/after movement, warm vs. cool touch, body-map “where do you feel it?”)
• Child-friendly tools: visuals, feelings scales, choice boards, AAC as needed
• Questionnaires: short forms for caregivers/teachers to capture everyday patterns

This is not a test you pass or fail. It’s gentle, game-like, and non-invasive.

• A clear summary of your child’s strengths and needs
• Practical, step-by-step supports for home and school (e.g., visual toilet routine, water-bottle plan, movement/sensory breaks, calm-down tools)
• Functional goals we can track together (e.g., fewer accidents, earlier help-seeking, naming feelings, choosing a strategy)

• Frequent “sudden” upsets, or difficulty explaining what’s wrong 
• Limited awareness of hunger/thirst/fatigue; headaches by late morning
• Overheating after sport or not dressing for the weather
• Trouble spotting early stress signs (tight chest, fast breathing)
  We translate these observations into simple classroom supports and consistent language across the team.

• We fit strategies into your routines (mealtimes, bedtime, school mornings)
• We use visuals and small habit changes rather than big overhauls
• We coach you on noticing early body signals and responding early

No medical procedures or forced tasks. We follow child-safe practice, explain activities in simple language, and respect your family’s privacy.