Koi Wellness with Aya Porté
Join empowered parents and caretakers of children and teens, confidently practicing my proven strategies for ease and enjoyment at home, school, and beyond. The Koi Wellness newsletter provides tools to achieve confidence and self-reliance for your children, so they can finally feel the relief that comes from being understood.
🍳There Is No “Right Way”
Hello Reader! A little something about me—I love to cook and bake. This past year, I found myself cooking more than I have in a long time. But what stood out wasn’t how often I cooked—it was how differently I cooked depending on my environment. Over time, my “system” kept changing. Cooking in college looked different from cooking with roommates. Read more about this on the blog! Read the Blog Post Cooking alone in Japan felt different from cooking during a busy move to Texas. And each version...
〰️ Progress Isn’t Linear: One Conversation Changed Everything
Hi Reader! Lately, my Instagram feed has been full of “Japanese convenience store hacks.” Quick meals. Thoughtfully packaged snacks. Full lunches assembled in minutes. Every post makes me miss Japan a little—and reminds me how much everyday environments shape how we live. Growing up, I assumed 7‑Eleven was Japanese. I was shocked to learn it started in the U.S. Despite sharing the same name, the experience in each country feels completely different. In Japan, convenience stores (konbini) are...
🔝 Progress Isn’t Linear...
Hi Reader! One of the most meaningful reminders of why I do this work arrived in my inbox recently. It was a message from a former student—now a college-bound young adult—thanking me for a lesson they hadn’t fully appreciated at the time. Not a worksheet. Not a goal we tracked. But a moment that quietly reshaped how they understood themselves and their ability to grow. It was a full circle moment, from being told I would never succeed (read the article here), to empowering others to do just...
🧺 Carrying What Works Forward
Hello Reader, The start of a new year often brings a mix of emotions—hope, curiosity, hesitation, and sometimes quiet fatigue. New routines, new expectations, new environments. Even when change is welcome, it asks us to pay attention to what’s working—and what isn’t. This past year, I was reminded of that in an unexpected way while traveling to Germany for the first time. Everywhere we stayed, shared beds were made the same way: two people, two comforters.No tug-of-war.No negotiating...
2️⃣5️⃣ Closing the Year with Intention
Hey Reader! As the year winds down, many of us feel the same tug—gratitude and fatigue, side by side. There’s pressure to finish strong, yet a quiet part of us just wants to pause and breathe. Before setting new goals, take a moment to look back. What worked? What surprised you? What small victories are worth celebrating? Reflection …is about honoring growth and letting rest become part of progress. In therapy and in life, I often return to the “Big Rocks” idea: if you fill your jar with sand...
ABA vs. OT: Working Together—and When Each Makes the Difference
Hey Reader! If you’ve ever heard phrases like “We need an ABA plan” or “Let’s bring in OT” and wondered what those really mean for your child—you’re not alone. Both ABA (Applied Behavior Analysis) and OT (Occupational Therapy) support children with developmental or behavioral challenges. But while their tools may look similar, their lenses are different. The Lense ✩ ABA focuses on behavior—using data and reinforcement to understand what’s happening and why.✩ OT, on the other hand, looks at...
Let’s Be a Full Team: From Opposite Sides to Shared Support
Hey Reader! Have you ever found yourself on opposite sides of the same goal? A teacher wants more focus, a parent wants less pressure, a therapist wants measurable progress—and everyone is working hard, yet somehow, it feels like you’re not quite on the same side. The truth is: we all want the same thing. For the child to thrive. When we start seeing each other as teammates instead of separate roles, everything shifts. The parent brings comfort and deep knowing. The teacher brings structure...
Struggling to Help Your Child Focus? Try This Simple Strategy 🧠
Hello Reader, Ever told your child to “sit still and focus,” only to watch them fidget even more?You’re not alone, and you’re not doing anything wrong. One thing I know for sure: movement supports learning—especially for kids navigating multiple cultures, languages, or sensory systems. In my latest blog post, I share how Brain Gym®, a series of simple movement-based exercises, helps improve focus, memory, and emotional regulation. These aren’t workouts—they’re short, playful tools like: 🧠...
Is Your Child Struggling with Handwriting? ✏️
Hey Reader, Handwriting challenges often show up quietly—your child avoids writing, complains of hand fatigue, or struggles to keep their letters legible. For many neurodivergent, multilingual, or third-culture kids, handwriting can feel like a constant frustration. But, most handwriting issues aren’t about effort, they’re about unmet motor or sensory needs. In my latest blog post, I share what I look for as an OT and what you can do at home, including: Strengthening hands through play (yes,...
When Life Slows You Down Mid-Trip 🩼
Hi Reader, One awkward step mid-trip, and suddenly—I couldn’t walk. Yes, me. Aya here—pediatric OT, third-culture kid, and founder of Koi Wellness. This summer, a surprise injury left me navigating life in an air cast, unable to bear weight or access my usual tools and routines. Crutches? Painful and clumsy in a city without curb cuts.Showers? Modified to sponge baths.Hair washing? Skipped.Independence? Paused, but never gone. I leaned into the same principles I offer to families every...
Join empowered parents and caretakers of children and teens, confidently practicing my proven strategies for ease and enjoyment at home, school, and beyond. The Koi Wellness newsletter provides tools to achieve confidence and self-reliance for your children, so they can finally feel the relief that comes from being understood.