HELPING ADULTS UNDERSTAND CHILDREN's REGULATION,
SO SUPPORT FINALLY MAKES SENSE.
Evidence-informed courses, practical tools and trusted resources that help
parents, therapists, educators and organisations support
children's regulation, participation and wellbeing.
Right Support. Right Time. Right State.
However you support children, you're welcome here.
If you've ever wondered...
- "Why isn't this strategy working?"
- "Why does my child cope one day but struggle the next?"
- "Why do consequences seem to make things worse?"
- "Why do I feel like I'm constantly guessing what to do?"
You're not alone.
Whether you're a parent, therapist, educator or part of an organisation supporting children, it can feel overwhelming when you're trying your best, but nothing seems to make sense.
The truth is, many strategies fail, not because they're wrong, but because they're used at the wrong time, for the wrong reason, or without understanding what the child needs in that moment.
That's where a regulation-informed approach can change the way we respond.
Understanding changes everything.
Every response has context.
Every child has strengths.
Capacity changes from moment to moment.
Before we can decide what to do, we first need to understand what the child needs.
When adults understand children's regulation differently, they respond differently.
When adults respond differently, children experience greater safety, connection, participation and growth.
That's why everything we teach begins with understanding.
I'm a Therapist
Strengthen your clinical reasoning.
Evidence-informed education, practical tools and professional development to help you confidently understand children's needs and make informed clinical decisions.
I'm a Parent
Support your child with confidence.
Practical guidance, everyday strategies and encouraging resources to help you better understand your child and navigate daily challenges with greater confidence.
I'm an Educator
Create calmer, more connected classrooms.
Professional learning and practical classroom strategies that strengthen participation, wellbeing and regulation-informed practice across your learning environment.
I'm an Organisation
Build confident, consistent teams.
Professional learning, consultancy and implementation support to help your workforce deliver regulation-informed practice.
We don't begin by asking,
"What's the strategy?"
We begin by asking,
"What does this child need right now?"
Built from more than 35 years of clinical experience
✓ More than 35 years of paediatric occupational therapy experience
✓ Evidence-informed and grounded in clinical reasoning
✓ Developed through real-world work with children, families and professionals
✓ National and international teaching experience
✓ Focused on participation, relationships and regulation capacity
Grounded in experience. Guided by evidence. Focused on participation.
Jenny - Parent
"Our experience with Sensory Smart OT through telehealth has been truly life-changing for my daughter.
At first, I was unsure how virtual therapy would work, but from the very first session, the therapist made a real connection with her. They tailored activities to her needs, provided practical strategies we could implement at home, and supported us every step of the way.
Since starting therapy, we've seen incredible progress in her sensory regulation, fine motor skills, and confidence. The convenience of telehealth allowed us to stay consistent, and the guidance we received has been invaluable. I’m so grateful for the compassionate and knowledgeable team at Sensory Smart OT – they have made a world of difference for our family!"
Meg - Parent
"Beryl and her team truly made a difference to our child and our family over many years. The therapies, strategies and skills we learned, both child and parents, continue to be useful daily. We found Sensory Smart OT to be a welcoming and professional practice which made us feel optimistic about goals and supported throughout the process. In both clinic and telehealth sessions,
Beryl pivoted session plans and delivery strategies on the spot to be relevant to recent events and the mood on the day. She provided us with resources and guidance for use between sessions. We can't recommend working with her or thank her and her team enough."
Educator - NSW
"Our students have been very blessed to have your support over the years.
We would welcome the opportunity for you to work with us again in the future if the need arises.
I have found your services to be very professional and beneficial for students”.
Hi, I'm Beryl Smith
Occupational Therapist | Educator | Speaker | Founder of The Regulation Hourglass™
For more than 35 years, I've had the privilege of working alongside children, families, educators and therapists.
Throughout those years, one truth has become increasingly clear:
Children thrive when the adults around them understand what they need.
I've seen that the same child can cope one day and struggle the next. A strategy can work beautifully in one moment and completely miss the mark in another. What changes isn't always the strategy — it's the child's capacity in that moment.
That understanding led me to develop The Regulation Hourglass™.
It brings together decades of clinical experience and evidence-informed practice into a practical way of helping adults recognise changing regulation capacity and respond with the right support, at the right time, for the child's current state.
Whether you're supporting one child or hundreds, my aim is to help you understand what children need and feel confident in how you respond.
Explore Learning & Support
However you're looking to grow, there's a place to begin.
Online Courses
Learn at your own pace with practical, evidence-informed training for parents, therapists and educators.
Free Resources
Download practical guides, checklists and tools you can use straight away.
Workshops & Speaking
Interactive presentations and professional learning for schools, organisations and conferences.
Professional Supervision
Reflective supervision and mentoring for occupational therapists wanting to grow in confidence and clinical reasoning.
Understanding is where change begins.
Whatever your role, you don't have to figure it out alone.
Join a growing community of parents, therapists, educators and organisations committed to helping children participate, belong and thrive.
What is The Regulation Hourglass™?
The Regulation Hourglass™ is a regulation-informed framework that helps adults understand a child's changing capacity and decide what kind of support is most helpful, right now.
Rather than asking a child to use the same strategies regardless of their state, it helps us recognise when to stabilise, when to scaffold and when a child is ready to learn, participate and build independence.
Right Support. Right Time. Right State.
