As a pediatric occupational therapist, understanding sensory processing was one of the most overwhelming aspects of my early career. When I started practicing five years ago, I often felt unsure about how to address sensory needs and regulation challenges in a structured, effective way.

Much of what I learned came through trial and error—without formal guidance or easily accessible tools. That’s why I’m excited to share something I truly wish I had back then: high-quality digital sensory courses from Harkla. These self-paced courses are specifically designed for pediatric therapists looking to deepen their knowledge and strengthen their clinical skills.

Why I Recommend Harkla Courses

Harkla was founded by two occupational therapy assistants who truly understand the needs of pediatric therapists. They’ve created courses that are practical, engaging, and based on real-world experience. In addition to continuing education, Harkla also provides sensory equipment and caregiver resources to support children with diverse needs.

I recently took three of their sensory-focused courses and found each one incredibly valuable. Here’s a breakdown of what you can expect:

1. Creating and Implementing Sensory Diet Routines to Improve Daily Activities

This course provides a strong foundation for understanding and applying sensory diets in both home and school settings. You’ll learn:

• The basics of sensory processing and how it impacts daily function
  
• When to introduce a sensory diet and how to tailor it to each child
  
• How to use visual aids to improve routine consistency
  
• Tools and activity suggestions that make up a “Sensory Activity Toolbox”
  
• How to align sensory preferences with emotional intelligence to improve participation
  

This course is ideal if you’re unsure where to begin with sensory diets or want a more structured approach.

2. A Balanced Brain: A Multi-Sensory Program for Learning and Focus

This 10-week program offers guided, multi-sensory activities that aim to improve:

• Focus and sustained attention
  
• Executive functioning
  
• Motor coordination
  

The activities are built around using two senses at once, such as vision and sound, often with the help of a metronome. This course is especially helpful for children who struggle with attention, transitions, or self-regulation in classroom or home environments.

3. Early Intervention Blueprint: Sensory and Developmental Milestones for Infants and Toddlers

If you work in early intervention or home health, this course provides essential training on:

• Developmental milestones from birth to age three
  
• Sensory processing milestones and how to support them
  
• The impact of primitive reflexes on function
  
• A sensory activity toolbox for infants and toddlers
  
• Goal-setting and treatment-planning tips for early childhood
  

This course gave me tools to clearly explain sensory development to caregivers and plan more effective sessions for my youngest clients.

These courses helped me grow my confidence as a therapist and allowed me to better support the children and families I work with. If you’re looking for accessible, research-informed continuing education, I highly recommend checking them out.

DISCLAIMER: As a proud affiliate, I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you sign up through my links above. I only share products and resources that I’ve personally used and found valuable in my practice.

Explore the Courses Here:

You can also read my related blog post: What is a Sensory Diet? Examples and Tips

Thank you for being part of the OT Latina community. Let’s continue to grow together through knowledge, culture, and connection in therapy.