The Power of Following and Leading: Helping Your Child Feel Understood and Confident

Children thrive when they feel seen, heard, and supported — especially when they experience social, emotional, or developmental delays. As an occupational therapist using the Marte Meo method, I work closely with families to strengthen their child’s ability to communicate, connect, and co-regulate.

Two key developmental skills we focus on are:

• Following your child’s lead – noticing what your child is interested in and joining their world without jumping in with your own ideas.

• Leading your child’s actions or behaviour – offering clear, supportive guidance to help your child take the next step in a task or interaction.

These are core foundations of emotional development and social interaction, and they’re built into simple, everyday moments:

·         When a child points to a toy and the parent names it

·         When a toddler offers a book, and the adult responds with interest

·         When a preschooler shows a drawing, and we ask about their idea

These moments may seem small, but they are powerful. They help your child feel confident, competent, and connected — and that’s the real key to improving behaviour, attention, and emotional regulation.

Why These Skills Matter for Children with Developmental Delays or Disabilities

Many families I work with come to me saying things like:

• “I want to help my child’s behaviour, but nothing seems to work”

• “My toddler has daily tantrums and I don’t know how to connect with them”

• “I want to connect with my child with a disability, but I feel stuck”

Using Marte Meo, we break through that stuck feeling by focusing on what’s already working — the small, everyday interactions where your child feels safe and seen. Instead of worksheets or drills, we use real-life moments from your daily routines to show you how you’re already helping your child develop — and how to do it even more effectively.

How We Support You

In our telehealth OT sessions, we guide you to:

• Recognise your child’s non-verbal cues and interests

• Join their play or communication at their level

• Offer gentle leadership when it’s needed

• Build moments of joy, cooperation, and calm into daily life

This approach helps children:

• Feel emotionally safe

• Learn how to take turns, listen, and share

• Reduce behaviours like tantrums, meltdowns, or withdrawal

• Strengthen attention, communication, and independence

Whether your child is on the NDIS, has developmental delay, autism, or other disability, or you’re just seeking extra support as an everyday parent or caregiver, our approach helps you feel confident in your parenting and supports your child to grow.

Want support to help your child thrive — emotionally, socially, and developmentally?

Book a free discovery call with Inspire Co to see how we can help.