PediatricDigest: 🥰 mama's morale boost, PDA parenting, & fall groups filling!

July 2026 Newsletter

Hi read,

Jasmine, one of our OKOT therapists, shared this lovely story about one of her camp kids, and I just knew I had to share it with all of you.

When this camper started this summer, she needed an adult right next to her...almost constantly throughout the camp day. 4 weeks later, she was catching herself BEFORE the overwhelm hit. Choosing the hammock swing. Or taking a few minutes of quiet space on her own. Then coming back to the group, ready to engage and interact again.

That's the part Jasmine couldn't stop talking about: not that this child did more "activities" ...but that she learned more about her own needs and made visible progress in simply feeling better in her body and having steady emotional control throughout the day. The friendships followed right behind it. She started sharing ideas. Trying things she used to avoid at camp.

Her mom sent Jasmine an email after getting the post-camp progress report. She said it was the first report in years that felt like a "morale boost for this mama heart!" 🥰 (instead of one more frustrating list of everything that was challenging for her daughter.)

THIS is why we do this work: so that kids can learn to read their own bodies, ask for what they need, and find their people…with help from the hammock swing and some outdoor OT with friends! 🌳

💚 Resource of the Month

Confession/hot take: As an OT for 30 years, I think a lot of the PDA ("Persistent Drive for Autonomy") parenting advice out there is misguided at best, or harmful to families at worst. BUT, the PDA Parent Podcast is neither. It's genuinely useful for any parent, not just parents of children with PDA profiles. The host Kirk Martin is a parent himself who has PDA and has a PDA child, and his advice is spot on: boundaries and warmth, no-nonsense and compassionate. If you've ever struggled with parenting (and who hasn't?!), it's worth a listen: celebratecalm.com/pda

🌳 OKOT Service Updates

Fall groups are filling now! We start in just a few short weeks at all locations. Enroll now if you want your child to start on the first day! We have just a few spots left in all locations.