🧠 What Opening Presents Really Requires (OT Lens)

I remember watching my little one stare at a wrapped gift for a full minute without touching it. Everyone around us was cheering him on—“Open it! Rip it! Tear the paper!”

But he just sat there, wide-eyed, taking it all in.

From the outside, it looked like hesitation.

From the OT lens, I knew what was happening:

His brain was processing the noise, the attention, the visual input, the expectation—and the unknown.

Once I slowed things down, helped him start one corner, and let him explore the paper first, everything shifted. He wasn’t “slow.” He was regulating.

🎭 Opening gifts taps into multiple developmental systems at once:

✋ Emotional Regulation

Anticipation, excitement, frustration, disappointment, joy—all in rapid succession. 

✍️ Fine Motor Skills

Grasping paper, pulling tape, stabilizing the box, coordinating both hands.

👀 Visual Processing

New colors, shapes, movement, and shifting attention.

🧠 Executive Function

Waiting, turn-taking, stopping when it’s not your turn, shifting from one gift to the next.

🧍‍♂️ Postural Control

Staying seated and stable while hands are busy.

When any one of these is still developing, gift-opening can feel overwhelming.

🎄 Why It Can Be Hard (and That’s Okay)

Some common behaviors you might see:

– Ripping everything at once

– Walking away mid-gift

– Crying after opening something

– Wanting to open everyone else’s gifts

– Needing help or refusing to touch the package

These aren’t signs of being ungrateful or “too much.”

They’re signs of a nervous system working hard.

🛠️ OT-Friendly Gift-Opening Routine

1️⃣ Fewer Gifts at Once

Offer one gift, pause, regulate, then move to the next.

Stacking gifts increases overload.

2️⃣ Help Them Start

Peel a corner. Cut a slit. Break the seal.

This supports fine motor success and confidence.

3️⃣ Narrate the Experience

“You’re pulling the paper.”

“That’s tape—it’s sticky.”

“You look surprised!”

This helps organize sensory input.

4️⃣ Expect Movement

Let kids stand, wiggle, pace, or sit on your lap while opening.

Still bodies aren’t required for learning.

5️⃣ Normalize Big Feelings

“It’s okay to feel excited.”

“It’s okay to need a break.”

“It’s okay to not love every gift.”

💬 Last Week’s Parent Check-In Results

Last week, we asked about your child’s reaction time—how quickly their brain and body respond during play and daily activities. Here’s what you shared:

⚡ 32% — Fast reactor
These kids jump in quickly and love fast-paced games, movement, and novelty.

🐢 28% — Slow to warm up
They need extra processing time before acting. Thoughtful, observant, and often very cautious.

🔄 25% — Depends on the day
Energy level, environment, and sensory load all play a role in how quickly they respond.

🤔 15% — Unsure
Reaction time is still emerging, and it can be hard to tell when kids are young—and that’s completely normal.

A helpful reminder: reaction time isn’t about “listening better” or “trying harder.” It’s about how efficiently the nervous system processes information—and that develops with time, movement, and play.

💬 This Week’s Parent Check-In

How does your child usually handle opening presents?

1️⃣ Wants to open everything fast

2️⃣ Needs help and time

3️⃣ Gets overwhelmed easily

4️⃣ Loves watching others open gifts

5️⃣ Depends on the day

👉 Reply with your number.

Next week, I’ll share the results—and OT tips for supporting each style.

_{Disclaimer: The content in Mom on the Clock is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, developmental, or therapeutic advice. Every child is unique—always seek the advice of your pediatrician, occupational therapist, or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or developmental concern. When in doubt, trust your instincts and seek personalized guidance}