Ashley Thurn, MS, OTR/L

I'm Ashley. I am a mother to two little ones and a pediatric occupational therapist by trade. I have always loved being able to use my experience as an OT to encourage moms and caregivers in relating with their children. My goal is to help others in the pursuit of fostering healthy, confident and independent children. Follow our adventures on Instagram or my blog, Helping Hands Occupational Therapy.

Toddler Learn & Play

24 simple activities to help prepare your child for preschool

Help your child feel more confident in preschool by practicing these essential skills at home.

Parenting

The developmental benefits of letting your kids be messy, mama

Babies learn through touch.

Life

Having a second child totally changed my perspective on motherhood

The demands of motherhood laughed at my idea of picture-perfect motherhood. Every night I went to bed feeling like I had failed my children.

Life

How to raise a child who loves food

2. Consider the sensory component of food

Baby Feeding Guides & Schedules

10 nutrient-dense first foods for baby

...And how to introduce them using baby led weaning.

Parenting

Age-appropriate chores for your toddler—from 14 months to 5 years old

Keep their little hands and minds busy working alongside you.

Parenting

5 simple + effective ways to prevent a toddler meltdown

Go to hacks for lessening the drama.

Life

Motherhood challenges me to be a better person—every day

Even when I get it wrong, it doesn’t stop me from reflecting on my day and praying I get it right tomorrow.

Toddler Nutrition

11 ways to help your child overcome picky eating & develop healthy habits

8. Remove the words “eat it” or “try some” from your dinner vocabulary

Child

How to conquer potty training—at the right time

Here are some basic ways to determine potty training readiness.

Parenting

8 simple ways to develop + encourage speech in your toddler’s daily routine

Hint: It’s so fun!

Parenting

The building blocks babies need for language development

Before language and communication can emerge, there are a few building blocks that need to be established.