Supporting parents of toddlers and preschoolers
The doctor said "wait and see." Your gut says, "Can we start now?"
If mornings, outings, school drop-off, story time, T-ball, gymnastics, or mealtimes feel harder than they should, you are not crazy...and you are not a bad parent.
I help parents understand what's behind the hard days and what to do next. No diagnosis is required. No judgement. No long intake form that makes you feel like you are on trial.
"I don't know what to do anymore. I've tried it all!"
That's usually where parents are when they find me. They've tried the sticker chart, the pep talks, and different consequences. They've been down the Google rabbit hole and received too much advice from people who mean well but do not live in their house.
If your week involves any of these, you're in the right place:
She bumps into every kid at practice, but doesn't seem to notice.
He can build LEGOs for hours, but can't sit during circle time.
The preschool teacher pulls you aside at pickup. Again.
Your kid melts down at every transition - the park, the store, bedtime, all of them.
The doctor said everything seems fine, but parenting this kid is HARD.
You do not need permission from a diagnosis to start helping your child.
I am not here to "fix" your kid. I am here to help you understand them more.
Children communicate through behavior long before they can explain what is happening in their body or brain. Once you understand what the behavior is telling you the response gets a lot clearer
Skills to Thrive OT offers practical parent education for real life: the getting dressed battle, the parking lot meltdown, the child who hears you but somehow does not move, and the kid who loves an activity until it is time to actually go.
The crazy thing is two kids can look exactly the same on the outside but have different needs.
Both are...
Clinging or bouncing off the walls at dance class
Refusing to touch finger paint or covering themselves and their friends with it.
Losing it during transitions, even when you're headed somewhere they love.
These behaviors are signals. When you know what they're saying, you can start providing solutions that work.
Where parents usually need help
The details are different for every family, but the stress points are familiar.
Daily routines
Getting dressed, brushing teeth, leaving the house, bedtime, mealtimes, and the tiny moments that somehow become the whole day.
Focus & following directions
Story time, preschool, sports, gymnastics, and group settings where your child seems to miss what everyone else picked up.
Big emotions & transitions
Meltdowns, shutdowns, refusals, "wrong cup" disasters, leaving fun places, and moving from one activity to the next.
Meet Dr. Tamara Antonino, OTD, OTR/L
More often called "Dr. Tam,: I'm a licensed occupational therapist and a mom of three ranging in age from preschool to adulthood. I can tell you firsthand that raising kids right now is different than 10-15 years ago. You're not imagining it.
I started Skills to Thrive OT because I kept seeing the same thing play out at T-ball, gymnastics, library story time, and preschool pickup.
A child was struggling. The parent was doing their best, but it wasn't helping much. They may laugh it off while in public, but in the car and after bedtime, they were filled with worry, shame, and frustration. Those parents weren't failing. They cared deeply for their child and were going everything they could to help them succeed. They were just missing a few key pieces of information. Once they had them, things started to get exponentially easier.
Skills to Thrive OT offers parent education, not traditional OT Services in Dallas and the surrounding areas, as well as virtually. Everything is rooted in my OT background and experience as a parent. It's guided by my proprietary framework: Structure Boundaries, and Independence. When both you and your child have the structure boundaries that fit YOUR needs, independence comes more easily.
You don't need a diagnosis or a referral. This model gives you the understanding and resources to support your child's success without the exhaustion that comes with constantly searching for answers and filtering through advice online.
How Skills to Thrive Supports Parents of Preschoolers
Some families need a clear plan. Some need ongoing support. Some want a tool their child can use between check-ins. Some need more individualized help.
Whether you're just starting to notice something or you've been trying to get answers for a while, there's a path that fits.
Free Parent Workshops In Dallas and Surrounding Areas
In-person sessions at Dallas-area libraries, schools, and community spaces. Free, 30 minutes, no commitment. A good first step if you want to get to know my style before deciding on anything else.
Virtual Parent Community
For parents of preschoolers who want ongoing answers as situations come up, without dealing with keyboard warriors or questionable advice from AI.
Monthly live Q&A with Tamara plus chat access between sessions.
Family Success Plan
Individualized, quick insights about what's driving your child's behavior and a simple plan they can start using right away.
Start with one focused sessions, get tailored recommendations to address your tip frustrations, and follow up as needed.
Not Sure which best fits your needs?
What Dr. Tam's parent support looks like in action:
"We were just hanging out in the kitchen. My son saw her daughter grab a granola bar from the pantry and wanted one too. Without even thinking, I started to tear it open for him - and my friend quietly put her hand on mine and said, 'wait.'
She crouched down, told my son where to pull and how to hold it, then stepped back. And my son opened it himself. He was so proud.
I stood there feeling this weird mix of grateful and surprised that I wasn't embarrassed. But that's the magic of Tamara - she didn't judge, so I had no reason to be embarrassed like I would have if anyone but her had been in that moment with me.
She just saw something I couldn't see: that I was about to do something for my child that my child didn't need me to do.
That's what she does. She watches the small moments - the ones that happen a hundred times a day - and she gently shows you where you're accidentally getting in the way. She doesn't make you feel like a bad mom. She just helps you remember that your kid is more capable than your instincts are giving them credit for. That granola bar changed how I see my son."
- Rebecca B, mom of a 4 year-old boy
Small changes can make daily life feel very different.
Sometimes the answer is not a whole new parenting personality. thank goodness, becuase who has time for a full rebrand before breakfast?
How I can help
Some families need a clear plan. Some need ongoing support. Some want a tool their child can use between check-ins. Some need more individualized help.
Not sure where to start?
Start with a free 15-minute discovery call. Bring the thing that is driving you the most nuts right now. We will start there.
Skills to Thrive OT
Practical Support for Parents of Toddlers and Preschoolers.
Occupational therapy - informed parent support.
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