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.

little girl coloring- preschool prep

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.

Toddler Learn & Play

The developmental benefits of letting your kids be messy, mama

The developmental benefits of letting your kids be messy, mama

Babies learn through touch.

Having a second child totally changed my perspective on motherhood

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.

How to raise a child who loves food

How to raise a child who loves food

2. Consider the sensory component of food

Life, Child, Child Nutrition, Food, Parenting

a baby sitting in a high chair eating

Baby Feeding Guides & Schedules

10 nutrient-dense first foods for baby

And how to introduce them using baby led weaning.

Baby Feeding Guides & Schedules, Baby Feeding Tips

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

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

Keep their little hands and minds busy working alongside you.

5 simple + effective ways to prevent a toddler meltdown

5 simple + effective ways to prevent a toddler meltdown

Go to hacks for lessening the drama.

Parenting, Toddler

Motherhood challenges me to be a better person—every day

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.

family eating a picnic on a blanket

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

Toddler Nutrition, Parenting, Toddler

How to conquer potty training—at the right time

How to conquer potty training—at the right time

Here are some basic ways to determine potty training readiness.

Child, Child Milestones, Parenting

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

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

Hint: It’s so fun!

Parenting, Toddler

The building blocks babies need for language development

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.

Parenting, Baby, Baby Milestones