Explorez tous les épisodes du podcast Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast
| Titre | Date | Durée | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ep.89 AI for Pediatric OT: What's Emerging and Where to Start | 28 Oct 2026 | 00:37:38 | |
Conversational AI in pediatric OT is moving faster than the research. Lacy and Michele discuss a 2026 narrative review that sorts the evidence into four pathways based on who the AI is talking to: therapists, caregivers, children, and students. Most of the ideas and research are just beginning to emerge, and a lot is borrowed from other fields, but one pathway is rising to the top as the best place to start. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articles too. Pergantis, P., Bardis, N., Skianis, C., & Drigas, A. (2026). Conversational artificial intelligence in pediatric occupational therapy: A comprehensive narrative review of emerging applications, transferable evidence, and future directions. International Medical Education, 5(3), Article 93. https://doi.org/10.3390/ime5030093 Cason, J., Gafni-Lachter, L., Richmond, T., & Jacobs, K. (2026). Worldwide survey on artificial intelligence in occupational therapy. Work. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/10519815261469529 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep.88 What Works for Cerebral Palsy? Matching Interventions to GMFCS Level | 21 Oct 2026 | 00:47:58 | |
Cerebral palsy interventions work best when matched to a child's GMFCS level, and one umbrella review sorts the evidence into green, yellow, and red. Michelle reviews what it found across postural control, postural management, and tone management, including one green-light intervention you may not expect, a few popular approaches the evidence doesn't support, and why the same intervention can be right for a child at level II and wrong for a child at level V. We break down what to trial this week based on the child in front of you. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Toohey, M., Blatch-Williams, R., Budini, K., Ferreira, A., Griffin, A., Hines, A., Jackman, M., Lind, K., Massey, J., Mc Namara, M., Mitchell, J., Morgan, C., Norfolk, E., Paton, M. C. B., Polyblank, D., Reedman, S., & Novak, I. (2024). Effectiveness of postural interventions in cerebral palsy: Umbrella systematic review. Paediatrics and Child Health, 34(8), 257–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paed.2024.06.003 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 87 Do Weighted Blankets Improve Sleep and Daytime Performance? | 14 Oct 2026 | 00:35:11 | |
Weighted blankets show up in therapy rooms, bedrooms, and shopping carts. Lacy and Michele discuss three recent reviews on weighted blankets for sleep, pain, mood, and daily function. Learn who they seem to help most (and who they don't) and where the research still has gaps. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articles too. Dawson, S., Charlton, K., Ng, L., Cleland, J., Bulto, L., Page, M., & Attrill, S. (2024). Weighted blankets as a sleep intervention: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78(5), Article 7805205160. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050676 Yu, J., Yang, Z., Sun, S., Sun, K., Chen, W., Zhang, L., Xu, J., Xu, Q., Liu, Z., Ke, J., Zhang, L., & Zhu, Y. (2024). The effect of weighted blankets on sleep and related disorders: A brief review. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, Article 1333015. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1333015 Jaślikowska, A., Niderla, N., Rzeszutek, J., Rachwał, N., Grzyb, W., Kurnik, M., Grzybowska, D., Idzik, K., & Kubicki, A. (2026). Weighted blankets as a non-pharmacological intervention for sleep, mental and neurodevelopmental disorders: A narrative review. Journal of Education, Health and Sport, 95, Article 73069. https://doi.org/10.12775/JEHS.2026.95.73069 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 86 Play as an Occupation: The Play-Work Continuum in Pediatric OT | 07 Oct 2026 | 00:37:23 | |
Pediatric OTs use play in nearly everything we do, but how much of it is actually play? In this episode, we review the play-work continuum, which separates free play from play as a vehicle for goals. Michele also shares 10 ways to apply it in your sessions, from writing goals for play to setting up the environment and how to facilitate safe rough-and-tumble play. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Brown, T., & Lynch, H. (2023). Children's play–work occupation continuum: Play-based occupational therapy, play therapy and playwork. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 90(3), 249–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/00084174221130165 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 85 Sensory Garments and Participation for Autistic Children | 30 Sep 2026 | 00:32:29 | |
Sensory garments are everywhere and frequently marketed to our clients and families — but almost none of the research asks what happens after a parent clicks "buy." This episode discusses a study with off-the-shelf sensory garments and their impact on participation for autistic children. The results split in a way that may change how you talk to families about these products — and expose a bigger problem with how we measure outcomes for autistic kids in the first place. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Mische Lawson, L., Foster, L., Hamner, K., & Wright, L. (2022). Exploring effects of sensory garments on participation of children on the autism spectrum: A pretest-posttest repeated measure design. Occupational Therapy International, 2022, Article 3540271. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3540271 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 84 CO-OP for Kids with DCD and ADHD | 23 Sep 2026 | 00:39:37 | |
Up to 50% of kids with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) also have ADHD — and that overlap changes how motor gains actually stick. We're back with another episode on CO-OP: goal, plan, do, check, and 8 strategies for building motor skills through problem-solving instead of repetition. If you've been using a repetition-based, motor-learning approach with a child and haven’t seen much success, this episode has an alternative worth trying. And....if you missed it, check out our other episode on CO-OP with episode 35. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Izadi-Najafabadi, S., Gunton, C., Dureno, Z., & Zwicker, J. G. (2022). Effectiveness of Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance intervention in improving motor skills of children with developmental coordination disorder: A randomized waitlist-control trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 36(6), 776–788. https://doi.org/10.1177/02692155221086188 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 83 Building Spoon-Feeding Skills | 16 Sep 2026 | 00:32:26 | |
“You gain what you train” — but what does that actually look like session to session? In this episode, Michele and Lacy review a case study that has all the ingredients of a solid motor learning intervention for self-feeding with a spoon. We talk through how the intervention was built, what actually improved (and what didn't), and where the study's limitations leave room to make this more practical — think play, caregiver coaching, adaptive tools. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Jajal, R. N., Vaghela, M. R., & Patel, B. N. (2026). Establishing independent spoon feeding through a structured motor-based shaping protocol in a child with developmental delay. International Journal for Multidisciplinary Research (IJFMR), 8(2), 1–13. https://doi.org/10.36948/ijfmr.2026.v08i02.73433 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 82 Teaching Daily Living Skills to Autistic Teens | 09 Sep 2026 | 00:45:03 | |
Daily living skill performance can be hard to learn for autistic teens, even when their cognition is average or above average. This episode covers a randomized controlled trial testing a manualized program that teaches laundry, cooking, and money management to autistic adolescents, compared head-to-head with the well-respected PEERS program. We cover the results and how an OT lens could take this already-strong intervention even further. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Duncan, A., Meinzen-Derr, J., Ruble, L., Fassler, C., & Stark, L. J. (2023). A randomized clinical trial targeting daily living skills in autistic adolescents without an intellectual disability before the transition to adulthood. Journal of Developmental & Behavioral Pediatrics, 44(9), e590–e596. https://doi.org/10.1097/DBP.0000000000001222 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 81 OT Research for Down Syndrome | 02 Sep 2026 | 00:32:26 | |
Down syndrome is one of the most common diagnoses OTs work with, yet the research base behind it is surprisingly small. This week, Lacy and Michele discuss a new AJOT scoping review featuring some of the most unexpected interventions they've ever covered, from elephants to qigong massage to traditional dance. Behind the fun, though, is a bigger story about where this research is happening, and where it's falling short. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Long, K. L., Barrios Lago, M. S., & Nelson, E. L. (2026). Occupational therapy interventions in Down syndrome: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 0(0). https://doi.org/10.1177/19437676261464084 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 80 OT in Aotearoa New Zealand | 26 Aug 2026 | 00:46:24 | |
Picture a beach in Aotearoa New Zealand — a gnarled pōhutukawa tree perfect for climbing, a rope swing hanging over the sand, and a stick sized exactly to a child's height, ready for a game passed down through generations. In this milestone 80th episode, we sit down with, Susi King, a Playmaker from New Zealand to explore how culture, land, and indigenous wellbeing frameworks shape pediatric OT practice on the other side of the world. And, hear about the new burnout-day tradition she shares with her whole team and the talking button she never travels without. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 79 Executive Function (Working Memory) Strategies for Autism and ID | 19 Aug 2026 | 00:33:12 | |
A 6 year-old can't hold onto multi-step directions long enough to follow them — not because he isn't listening, but because his working memory drops the information before he can act on it. This week, Michele brings a real case to the table and digs into a 2024 study comparing two cognitive strategies — enactment and visualization — to see which one actually helps kids with autism and intellectual disability with working memory. Spoiler: one of them is the clear winner, and it's not the one you'd expect if you've ever thought about autistic kids as natural visual thinkers. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Xie, T., Ma, H., Wang, L., & Du, Y. (2024). Can enactment and motor imagery improve working memory for instructions in children with autism spectrum disorder and children with intellectual disability? Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 54(1), 131–142. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-022-05780-z Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 78 Handwriting, ADHD, and Telehealth | 12 Aug 2026 | 00:34:12 | |
Can a therapist facilitate meaningful handwriting improvement through telehealth? A recent randomized controlled trial out of Ankara, Turkey put that question to the test with kids ages six to eight with the inattentive type of ADHD — and the results are not what Lacy and Michele expected. Listen to hear what the researchers actually did over eight weeks of telehealth sessions and why the approach "shouldn't" have worked. Plus: a Nailed It story with an escalating four-year-old and a floor-mat find that solved a years-long clinic space war. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Kaplan Kılıç, B., Bumin, G., & Öğütlü, H. (2025). Effect of telerehabilitation on handwriting performance in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: Randomized controlled trial. Child: Care, Health and Development, 51(e70055). https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.70055 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 77 Outcome Measures for Autistic Preschoolers | 05 Aug 2026 | 00:37:19 | |
Michele found 74 outcome measures to consider for her autistic preschoolers! She and Lacy discuss the top measures from the recent scoping review: which tools show up most in the research, which ones earn a five-star rating for covering the most ground, and where our biggest blind spot as OTs is hiding. Plus, hear about a fun self-care app that may help you as we head into the new school year. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Ghahramani, S., Hassani Mehraban, A., Alizadeh Zarei, M., & Ghahramani, S. (2024). Occupational therapy outcome measures in preschool children with autism spectrum disorders: A scoping review. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 44(4), 568–576. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492241246547 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Summer of Discovery: Building a Money Management Program from Scratch | 29 Jul 2026 | 00:40:39 | |
Too cartoonish. Too advanced. Too many worksheets — nothing fit, so Lacy built her own money management program from scratch. This week she's breaking down exactly how she did it: from backwards design to key ingredients and changes made along the way, it's a behind-the-scenes look at turning a need into a working program. Plus, a listener question worth its own deep dive on neurodiversity affirming practice. Request the money management program discussed by using this form. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Summer of Discovery: Building & Trialing a Sensory Activity Schedule | 22 Jul 2026 | 00:38:33 | |
“Sensory” is everywhere in pediatric OT, but how do you actually know if and when to try a sensory activity schedule? How do you set one up? When do you know if it is working — or if you're just guessing and hoping? This week, Michele walks through her real system for building a sensory activity schedule from the ground up, from figuring out what a kid actually needs, to adapting it to classrooms or homes, to knowing exactly when to call it a win (or cut your losses). Use this link to request the research cheat sheet for sensory activity schedules. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Summer of Discovery: Building a Fieldwork Program | 15 Jul 2026 | 00:43:30 | |
Ep. 74 Michele and Lacy continue their Summer of Discovery series. This time, Lacy shares what she's learned from supervising more than 50 fieldwork students, from building a program to knowing exactly when to loop in the academic fieldwork coordinator (a lesson she learned the hard way, twice). Lacy walks through how she structures orientation, communication, and supervision to turn nervous students into confident new therapists — and shares the one rule she gives every student on their first day. *Student name "Dylan" in the Failed It segment is a pseudonym. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Summer of Discovery: Little Spot of Feelings | 08 Jul 2026 | 00:45:18 | |
Ep. 73. This summer, Michele and Lacy are switching things up with a six-episode series sharing programs or topics they genuinely love. The research articles may not always be front and center, but the same clinical reasoning is. First up, Michele shares the social-emotional program that's changed how she runs her social connection group where elementary-aged kids turn big feelings into something they can actually name, talk about, and work through together. We share our own thoughts in this episode and encourage you to check out the program too. A Little SPOT Series – Diane Alber Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 72 What New OTs Really Want in a Job (Encore) | 01 Jul 2026 | 00:39:11 | |
What do early career occupational therapists really prioritize when choosing their first OT job? Spoiler alert: salary ranks 9th out of 16 factors. In this episode, we break down a fascinating Canadian study that surveyed early career occupational therapists about what actually matters in their job search—and the findings might surprise you. We reveal the top intrinsic and extrinsic factors driving OT employment decisions, why 60% of new grad occupational therapists have jobs lined up before graduation, and how OT priorities shift between your first job and your second (or third!) job. Occupational therapy students will learn what to look for in job searches, OT employers will discover how to attract top talent, and experienced therapists can reflect on whether their current position aligns with what truly matters to them. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Lui S, Boniface J, Boniface G, Drynan D. Employment Decisions of Newly Graduated Occupational Therapists. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy. 2024;92(2):76-84. doi:10.1177/00084174241274742 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 71 Aquatic Therapy: Using the Pool for More Than Swim Lessons (Encore) | 24 Jun 2026 | 00:38:14 | |
When you think of therapy in the swimming pool, swim lessons probably come to mind. However, occupational therapy practitioners use water for so many life skills! This week, Michele dives into research from Spain that reveals how aquatic therapy can be beneficial for autistic children in OT settings. The results? Better school performance, improved social competence, and happier kids overall. Plus, Michele shares her own terrifying pool story of a little girl who loved staying under the water for a long time and the treatment strategy to ensure her safety. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too. Güeita-Rodríguez, J., Ogonowska-Slodownik, A., Morgulec-Adamowicz, N., Martín-Prades, M. L., Cuenca-Zaldívar, J. N., & Palacios-Ceña, D. (2021). Effects of aquatic therapy for children with autism spectrum disorder on social competence and quality of life: A mixed methods study. International journal of environmental research and public health, 18(6), 3126. Effects of Aquatic Therapy for Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder on Social Competence and Quality of Life: A Mixed Methods Study Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 70 Listener Questions: Pediatric OT in the Real World (Round 2) | 17 Jun 2026 | 00:36:42 | |
Episode 70 calls for something special! We tackle your real-world pediatric OT questions, from the buzzwords worth knowing to the advice that actually sticks. Thank you for being the heart of this podcast. Here's to 70 more! If you liked this episode, check out our first round of listener questions in episode #50. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 69 Comparing Motor Interventions for Autism | 10 Jun 2026 | 00:34:52 | |
Motor skill difficulties show up in nearly 9 out of 10 autistic kids, which means this question comes up in almost every caseload: what motor-based intervention actually works? This week we dig into a 2025 study that compares three different approaches head to head, and the findings remind us why skilled therapy is irreplaceable. And Michele talks about her session that ended with a Ziploc bag of very questionable slime. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Arabi, S. M., & Kakhki, A. S. (2025). Comparing the effects of fine, gross, and fine-gross motor exercises on the motor competence of 6–12 year-old autistic children: A quasi-experimental study with a follow-up test. Acta Psychologica, 254, 104842. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691825001556 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep 68 CIMT Summer Camp | 03 Jun 2026 | 00:31:01 | |
Ever wondered how to actually do constraint-induced movement therapy? This week, we discuss a 2025 randomized trial out of Texas Women's University that ran a pirate-themed CIMT summer camp for kids with unilateral cerebral palsy — 60 hours, 10 days, and a treasure chest at the end. Arrrrr! We cover who qualifies, what a full day at camp looks like, and whether adding virtual reality (drones! robotic exoskeletons! Wii!) actually moves the needle. Plus, the TWU protocol is free, online, and basically ready to use tomorrow. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Roberts, H., Clegg, N. J., Wang, W., Chapa, S., Arellano, B., Trahan, M., Reyes, F., Delgado, M. R., Ram, S., & Shierk, A. (2025). Constraint Therapy with and Without Virtual Reality for Children with Unilateral Cerebral Palsy: A Randomized Trial. Children, 12(3), 283. https://doi.org/10.3390/children12030283 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 67 Polyvagal Theory and Listening Programs | 27 May 2026 | 00:46:45 | |
We're covering two topics that kept coming up in your emails and are linked in the literature — polyvagal theory and listening programs. Michele walks us through the principles of polyvagal theory, the recent scientific debate around it, and what a systematic review of sound-based interventions found. The polyvagal conversation is complicated and debated in neuroscience, but when it comes to the listening programs themselves, the research points somewhere surprisingly simple. Get the OT Evidence Checklist here to evaluate the evidence for and "red flags" against an intervention method/practice. Vincent, V., Skaczkowski, G., Hughes-Barton, D., & Gunn, K. M. (2025). Effectiveness of sound-based interventions for improving functional outcomes in children: A systematic review of the evidence. Occupational Therapy International, 2025, Article 1693722. https://doi.org/10.1155/oti/1693722 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 66 Ayres SI vs. ABA | 20 May 2026 | 00:45:19 | |
The study we've been waiting for is finally here. An NIH-funded, head-to-head RCT pits Ayres Sensory Integration against ABA for autistic children with sensory differences — and we have thoughts. We're breaking down what makes these two approaches fundamentally different (hello key ingredients and mechanism of action), what the evidence actually says, and what to tell families who are confused about the difference. Buckle up. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Schaaf, R. C., Ridgway, E. M., Jones, E. A., Dumont, R. L., Foxe, J., Conly, T., Sancimino, C., Yi, M., Mailloux, Z., Hunt, J. M., Kirschner, L., Leiby, B. E., & Molholm, S. (2025). A comparative trial of occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration and Applied Behavior Analysis interventions for autistic children. Autism Research. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.70099 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 65 Early Intervention: The GAME Approach | 13 May 2026 | 00:41:07 | |
Can a home program alone replace clinic-based therapy? This week, we put it to the test with a randomized controlled study on the GAME intervention (Goal, Activity, Motor, Enrichment) for toddlers with developmental delays. We discuss the steps of the GAME intervention, supportive parent coaching, and how you can implement this in your own caseload tomorrow. Plus, Michele shares about a rough consult, Lacy tries something new with student groups, and there's a tiny dragon too! We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articles too. Gündoğmuş, E., Bumin, G., & Yalçın, S. S. (2024). Effect of Early Intervention on Developmental Domains and Parent-Child Interaction Among Children With Developmental Delay: A Randomized Controlled Study. The American journal of occupational therapy: official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 78(6), 7806205110. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050706 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 64 Handwriting Research Tour (yes, skip the pencil grips) | 06 May 2026 | 00:46:04 | |
If you've ever debated pencil grips or the perfect grasp pattern in an IEP meeting, this episode is for you. We take a tour of the handwriting literature — pulling from OT, education, ergonomics, and hand therapy — to find out what actually moves the needle in handwriting intervention. Learn with us as we dig into why force matters more than grip position, what the research says about weighted and adapted pencils, and why grasp patterns are way less important than we were trained to believe. Plus, we land on the nine key ingredients that the literature says actually make a difference — rooted in motor learning theory and ready to use in your next session. **Get the additional handwriting resources at this link We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articles too. Schneider, M. K., Myers, C. T., Morgan-Daniel, J., & Shechtman, O. (2023). A scoping review of grasp and handwriting performance in school-age children. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 43(4), 430–445. https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2022.2151392 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 63 Preparing Autistic Teens for Adulthood | 29 Apr 2026 | 00:40:27 | |
If you work with older kids, you know the feeling — suddenly your caseload has a teenager and the stakes feel higher, the clock feels shorter, and the parents feel more anxious than ever. Good news: the research has some clear direction on what actually moves the needle for autistic teens heading into adulthood. Spoiler — it might not be what you think. This week, we dig into the MAPSS program and come away with practical tools you can use in any setting. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Kirby, A. V., Feldman, K. J. C., Himle, M. B., Diener, M. L., Wright, C. A., & Hoffman, J. M. (2021). Pilot test of the Maximizing Adolescent Post-Secondary Success (MAPSS) intervention: Supporting parents of autistic youth. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(3), 7503180070. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.045815 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 62 CVI Interventions | 22 Apr 2026 | 00:39:02 | |
Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of low vision in children and one of the most underidentified conditions in pediatric practice. This week, we are getting into the research about CVI, sharing a free tool for collaborating with parents, and discussing 4 evidence-based interventions you can start weaving into your sessions. One of them is the most surprising and effective low-tech treatment idea we have come across in a long time. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Weden, K., DeCarlo, D. K., & Barstow, E. (2023). A scoping review of intervention for pediatric cerebral visual impairment: Calling all pediatric occupational therapists. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 37(3), 326–356. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2023.2172761 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 61 Improving Food Intake & Family Vibes | 15 Apr 2026 | 00:41:29 | |
Feeding therapy doesn’t have to feel like a power struggle. In this episode, we explore how shifting from pressure to partnership can improve food intake and family vibes. We discuss new research on responsive feeding for children with G-tubes and share how coaching caregivers, honoring child cues, and creating a positive mealtime environment can lead to meaningful change—without focusing on every tiny feeding skill. Real research, real strategies, and ideas you can start using right away. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Foster, L., Lawson, L. M., & Moreland, H. (2025). Impact of a responsive feeding intervention on children and caregivers: A nonrandomized, repeated-measures study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(5), 7905205060. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 60 Ideas at Work Highlights | 08 Apr 2026 | 00:26:08 | |
We're celebrating episode 60 by going inside our Ideas at Work pilot group. Real therapists, real sessions, real problem-solving. We troubleshoot a tough emotional regulation session, share how one therapist used a basketball intervention, and break down how to write airtight documentation when your funding source wants to put you in a box (hint - this is where the key ingredients and mechanism of action come into play). This is evidence-based practice in the wild — messy, creative, and it works! Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 59 Coaching in Early Intervention | 01 Apr 2026 | 00:39:47 | |
Most OTs in early intervention think they're coaching, BUT the research says otherwise. In this episode, we discuss a scoping review on caregiver coaching in early intervention — the five key ingredients, why the model can be hard to do in real life, and five action steps you can take into someone's living room on a Thursday morning. Turns out coaching is a skill, not a vibe. Let's get better at it. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Seruya, F. M., Feit, E., Tirado, A., Ottomanelli, D., & Celio, M. (2022). Caregiver coaching in early intervention: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(4), 7604205070. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.049143 Williams, C. S., & Sawyer, G. E. (2023). Going beyond "I'm a coach": Adopting a caregiver coaching framework in EI. Young Exceptional Children, 27(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/10962506231153660 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 58 Zippers: An OT + Speech Approach | 25 Mar 2026 | 00:25:57 | |
Most of us teach zippers the same way—repeat, repeat, repeat—and hope it clicks. But what if there’s a better way? In this episode, we break down a simple, creative approach to teaching zippering skills that combines OT and speech strategies to help kids learn faster. We review a pilot study using storytelling, targeted vocabulary, and a themed zipper vest—and then show you how to apply it in real sessions using child-led language, special interests, and easy take-home supports. If zipper goals feel stuck, this episode will give you a fresh, practical way to move them forward. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Silverman, F., & Knight, C. (2019). Facilitating zippering skills in preschoolers: An interprofessional pilot study using a pretest–posttest design. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(4 Suppl. 1), 7311515317p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.73S1-PO6026 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 57 Sensory Activity Schedules | 18 Mar 2026 | 00:37:59 | |
Sensory activity schedules—often called sensory diets—are used every day in school-based therapy, but how strong is the evidence behind them? In this episode, we review a recent systematic review that examined whether sensory activity schedules improve classroom participation for students with sensory processing differences. We unpack what the research found about its effect on school performance and share six practical ingredients therapists can use to build more effective sensory activity schedules. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Latifi, K., Patterson, K., Rider, J. V., & Lau, C. (2026). Impact of sensory activity schedules on school performance of students with sensory processing differences: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(1), 8001185060. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.051334 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 56 OT Interventions for Autistic Children (20 Strategies!) | 11 Mar 2026 | 00:38:02 | |
Evidence-based OT for autism can feel overwhelming—but what if you had a clear menu of strategies to choose from? In this episode, we break down a study that identified 20 treatment components pediatric OTs use with autistic children and organized them into six major categories. Learn how this framework can guide your therapy sessions and strengthen your documentation. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Crasta, J. E., Martis, J., Kromalic, M., Jarrott, S., Wengerd, L., & Darragh, A. (2024). Characterizing Occupational Therapy Intervention for Children on the Autism Spectrum. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 78(5), 7805205210. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050734 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep.55 Burnout in OT Practice | 04 Mar 2026 | 00:36:48 | |
Let’s be honest: even the most playful, passionate OTs/OTAs can hit a wall. Burnout is more than just feeling tired after a long week — it’s a predictable response to specific job demands. In this episode, we unpack what research says actually drives burnout in OT practice — from workload and role ambiguity to the hidden strain of always being “on.” Then we walk through practical, research-based strategies — including job crafting — to help you prevent burnout, buffer growing stress, and recover if you’re already feeling fried. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Lynner, B., Stoa, R., Fisher, G., Del Pozo, E., & Lizerbram, R. (2025). Feel the burn, heal the burn: Job crafting and burnout among occupational therapy professionals. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(1), 7901205080. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.050731 Additional article: Cohen, C., Pignata, S., Bezak, E., et al. (2023). Workplace interventions to improve well-being and reduce burnout for nurses, physicians and allied healthcare professionals: A systematic review. BMJ Open, 13, e071203. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2022-071203 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 54 Big Feelings, Big Strategies: Emotional Regulation Meta Analysis | 25 Feb 2026 | 00:39:22 | |
Emotional regulation is often treated as a behavior problem — but what if we’re missing the bigger picture? In this episode, we unpack what emotional regulation really is, why it’s so complex, and how executive function, coping skills, co-regulation, and environmental supports all play a role. We’ll move beyond surface-level strategies and explore what the research actually says about improving regulation in meaningful, sustainable ways. This will shift how you think about “big feelings” — and how to support them with big, evidence-informed strategies. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Let us know which emotional regulation tool you want to hear more about next! Restoy, D., Oriol-Escudé, M., Alonzo-Castillo, T., Magán-Maganto, M., Canal-Bedia, R., Díez-Villoria, E., Gisbert-Gustemps, L., Setién-Ramos, I., Martínez-Ramírez, M., Ramos-Quiroga, J. A., & Lugo-Marín, J. (2024). Emotion regulation and emotion dysregulation in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder: A meta-analysis of evaluation and intervention studies. Clinical Psychology Review, 109, 102410. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cpr.2024.102410 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 53 Clothes on Backward? A Super Simple Visual Cue for Dressing | 18 Feb 2026 | 00:31:07 | |
Why can a child complete every step of dressing… but still put the shirt on backward? In this episode of Ideas at Play, we explore a simple, research-backed occupational therapy strategy that improved clothing orientation using one small visual cue (yes — it involves duct tape). We break down why dressing orientation can be so tricky, how this approach compares to other OT and ABA interventions, and how motor learning can support independence. If backward clothes are a sticking point in your OT sessions, this episode offers a practical, low-cost strategy you can try tomorrow. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Foster, H. G., Elliott, T.-C. C., & Ayres, K. M. (2023). Using a tag as a stimulus prompt to increase correct dressing orientation. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 48(4), 203–214. https://doi.org/10.1177/15407969231205849 Cahill, S. M., & Beisbier, S. (2020). Occupational therapy practice guidelines for children and youth ages 5–21 years. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(4), 7404397010p1–7404397010p48. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2020.744001 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 52 Music for Social Skills and Mental Health in Autism | 11 Feb 2026 | 00:31:23 | |
Drumming might not be the first intervention that comes to mind—but the evidence suggests it deserves a closer look for regulation, connection, and mental health for autistic individuals. We unpack what therapeutic drumming actually looks like (spoiler: no musical talent required), why a simple structure matters, and how rhythm can bring motor, sensory, and social skills together in one joyful intervention. If you’re curious about evidence-based strategies that feel meaningful, energizing, and genuinely fun—for both you and your clients—this episode is worth a listen. 🥁 We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Friedman, Z. L., Ochoa, J., Prisco, D., & Seruya, F. M. (2023). Connected rhythm: A scoping review of therapeutic drumming as an intervention for autistic individuals. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 11(4), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2133 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 51 Sensory-Based Interventions - Tools or Toys? | 04 Feb 2026 | 00:36:10 | |
Sensory tools are a staple in pediatric OT—but not all of them are doing what we think they are. In this episode, we take a clear-eyed look at the evidence behind sensory-based interventions, from weighted vests and fidgets to caregiver coaching and environmental modifications. Drawing from a recent systematic review, we discuss what actually supports participation, what shows mixed results, and how to make data-driven decisions without losing sight of day-to-day practice realities. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Piller, A., McHugh Conlin, J., Glennon, T. J., Andelin, L., Teng, K., & Tarver, T. (2025). Systematic review of sensory-based interventions for children and youth (2015–2024). Frontiers in Pediatrics, 13, 1720179. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2025.1720179 Get the OT Evidence Checklist mentioned in the episode here Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 50 Listener Questions: Pediatric OT in the Real World | 28 Jan 2026 | 00:41:10 | |
Episode 50 is all about YOU! Michele and Lacy tackle the questions that keep pediatric occupational therapists thinking, problem-solving, and sometimes scratching their heads. We dive into recommending OT service minutes with evidence (not guesswork) explore how AI can make your OT life easier while keeping therapy person-centered, and share prep hacks that save time without skimping on quality. Plus, we get real about finding mentorship and continuing education to fit you. It’s practical, honest, and full of those “aha!” moments that keep ideas—and your OT sessions—fresh and fun. Articles/Resources mentioned: Listen to episode 20 with Dr. Iona Novak and learn more about the READ Model in this article. Novak, I., Te Velde, A., Hines, A., Stanton, E., McNamara, M., Paton, M. C. B., Finch-Edmondson, M., & Morgan, C. (2021). Rehabilitation evidence-based decision-making: The READ model. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, 2, 726410. https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2021.726410 Listen to episode 40 with Dr. Heather Kuhaneck and read about the development of the Classroom Sensory Environment Assessment (C-SEA) at https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2015.019430 Thank you to our sponsor OccupationalTherapy.com! Use the code PLAY25 to support the show and get a free month of continuing education access when you sign up today at our podcast link https://fas.st/t/Fe79v8vU Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 49 Folinic Acid and Autism: Translating the Research for Occupational Therapy | 21 Jan 2026 | 00:35:00 | |
Folinic acid has been showing up everywhere in conversations about autism—but what does the research actually tell us, and why should occupational therapists pay attention? In this episode of Ideas at Play, we break down a high-quality randomized controlled trial on folinic acid and translate the findings into practical, OT-relevant insights. We unpack the brain-based “why,” highlight what the study found (including changes related to autism characteristics and language), and talk about how this information fits into real-world practice. As always, we center participation, functional outcomes, and collaboration with families and medical teams. This episode is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Families should always consult their physician before starting or changing supplements or medications. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Panda, P. K., Sharawat, I. K., Saha, S., Gupta, D., Palayullakandi, A., & Meena, K. (2024). Efficacy of oral folinic acid supplementation in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. European Journal of Pediatrics, 183(11), 4827–4835. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-024-05762-6 Update 2/4/26: The article we featured by Panda et al. (2024) was retracted on 1/29/26. It was discovered that the authors handled the data inappropriately and the journal lost confidence in the findings. Despite this, there is still solid evidence supporting the use of folinic acid with autistic children. Here are a few additional articles that support the information provided in this episode. Additional Citations: Hoxha, B., Hoxha, M., Domi, E., Gervasoni, J., Persichilli, S., Malaj, V., & Zappacosta, B. (2021). Folic Acid and Autism: A Systematic Review of the Current State of Knowledge. Cells, 10(8), 1976. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10081976 Rossignol, D. A., & Frye, R. E. (2021). Cerebral Folate Deficiency, Folate Receptor Alpha Autoantibodies and Leucovorin (Folinic Acid) Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(11), 1141. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11111141 Sener, E. F., Oztop, D. B., & Ozkul, Y. (2014). MTHFR gene C677T polymorphism in autism spectrum disorders. Genetics Research International, 2014, Article 698574. https://doi.org/10.1155/2014/698574 Bobrowski-Khoury, N., Ramaekers, V. T., Sequeira, J. M., & Quadros, E. V. (2021). Folate receptor alpha autoantibodies in autism spectrum disorders: Diagnosis, treatment and prevention. Journal of Personalized Medicine, 11(8), Article 710. https://doi.org/10.3390/jpm11080710 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 48 Effective Collaboration With Teachers | 14 Jan 2026 | 00:34:49 | |
Everyone agrees that collaboration with teachers matters in school-based OT practice, yet many occupational therapists struggle to make it work in real life. In this episode, we go beyond polite check-ins and quick info-sharing to unpack what effective interprofessional collaboration really looks like. We unpack a qualitative study and the key ingredients that make collaboration work: protected time and space, trust and power-sharing, and turning shared ideas into real classroom action. This conversation reframes collaboration as something you build together, not just talk about. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Quigley, D., & Smith, M. (2022). Achieving effective interprofessional practice between speech and language therapists and teachers: An epistemological perspective. Child Language Teaching and Therapy, 38(2), 126–150. https://doi.org/10.1177/02656590211064544 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 47 10-Minute Executive Function Interventions for ADHD | 07 Jan 2026 | 00:37:48 | |
Struggling to find practical interventions for kids with ADHD that actually improve executive function and/or mental health? This episode breaks down a Canadian study comparing two 10-minute interventions—exercise and mindfulness meditation—and their immediate effects on inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. We explain what worked best, why it works (hello, default mode network and prefrontal cortex activation), and how occupational therapists can implement these strategies in therapy sessions or as home programs. These interventions are easy to use as preparatory activities before challenging tasks, during transitions, or as part of a bottom-up OT approach to executive function deficits. Plus, Lacy shares creative ways to use different types of dice to add fun and modify activities in your therapy sessions. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Bigelow, H., Gottlieb, M. D., Ogrodnik, M., Graham, J. D., & Fenesi, B. (2021). The differential impact of acute exercise and mindfulness meditation on executive functioning and psycho-emotional well-being in children and youth with ADHD. Frontiers in Psychology, 12, Article 660845. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2021.660845 KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; executive function; ADHD; intervention; exercise; mindful meditation Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 46 Zones of Regulation: the Good, the Bad, and the OT Way (Encore) | 31 Dec 2025 | 00:41:36 | |
What happens when one of occupational therapy's most beloved programs gets put under the research microscope? Turns out Zones of Regulation—despite being wildly popular—has a shaky evidence base. BUT don’t panic and throw out all your materials, we've got some promising news. A new study shows what happens when you take Zones and actually do it the occupational therapy way: with OT scaffolding techniques, play-based activities, positive reinforcement, and environmental modifications. We explore why some previous research falls short, what this new "OT Zones of Regulation" approach achieved (hello, goal attainment!), and how occupational therapists can bridge that frustrating gap between clinic success and home carryover. Plus, Michele also spills about her biggest career regret involving salary negotiation. 👉 Click here to get the OT Zones of Regulation fidelity measure & planning resources, shared with permission by the author. Thank you Dr. Peters! We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the articles too. Peters, B. C., Gabriels, R., Schmid, A. A., et al. (2024). Occupational therapy using Zones of Regulation™ concepts: A feasibility study. OTJR: Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 44(4), 597-609. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492241246549 Mason, B. K., Leaf, J. B., & Gerhardt, P. F. (2023). A Research Review of the Zones of Regulation Program. The Journal of Special Education, 57(4), 219-229. https://doi.org/10.1177/00224669231170202 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 45 The Ultimate Evidence Guide: What 52 Pediatric OT Interventions & 90 Years of Research Reveal (Encore) | 24 Dec 2025 | 00:41:16 | |
Tired of Googling for interventions that actually work? We dive into the mother of all systematic reviews covering 129 studies and 52 occupational therapy interventions across nine decades of pediatric OT research. Discover which interventions landed in the green zone (do these!), which fell into the red (avoid!), and why parent collaboration and occupation-based approaches consistently outperform bottom-up methods. Michele and Lacy discuss this evidence-based, color-coded roadmap that you can apply in your therapy sessions tomorrow. Plus they answer a listener question about the differences between sensory integration, sensory processing, sensory stimulation, and sensory desensitization. ***In episode 20, Lacy and Michele interview one of the authors of this article, Dr. Iona Novak. She shares new intervention updates and trends she has seen since this publication. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Novak, I., & Honan, I. (2019). Effectiveness of paediatric occupational therapy for children with disabilities: A systematic review. Australian occupational therapy journal, 66(3), 258-273. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 44 AOTA Children & Youth Conference Recap | 17 Dec 2025 | 00:27:36 | |
Michele and Lacy recap the AOTA Children & Youth Conference where they presented on sleep interventions, hard conversations with families, and community-based fieldwork. They share the hottest topics in pediatric OT—parent collaboration, mental health strategies, handwriting, and more—plus the conversations and products that made this conference memorable. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 43 Reflex Integration: What the Evidence Shows | 10 Dec 2025 | 00:36:59 | |
Reflex integration is one of the hottest topics in pediatric OT right now—but is it evidence-based? In this episode, we examine the research on the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI®) method and uncover critical gaps that every therapist needs to know about. From inconsistent intervention methods to assessment measures missing statistical verification, to a stunning finding about retained primitive reflexes in typical preschool and elementary children (present in 93-100%). We break down what the evidence actually shows. We'll also give you a practical framework for evaluating any controversial practice and help you make informed decisions that balance research, clinical reasoning, and family values. This is the honest, thorough analysis you've been looking for. Get the OT Practice Checklist here to evaluate the evidence for and "red flags" against an intervention method/practice. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Berg, L. A., Brown, D., Kroll, K., Pfaff, C., & Cleveland, L. (2022). The Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI®): A Scoping Review. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 10(4), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.1927 KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; reflex integration; primitive reflexes; MNRI method; reflex integration therapy Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 42 Sexual Education and OT's Role | 03 Dec 2025 | 00:36:06 | |
Sex is an occupation, but how do we (or should we) address this in pediatric OT practice? This episode discusses why avoiding this topic is an occupational injustice and what we can do about it. We talk about the research and cover everything from sensory considerations in relationships to teaching boundaries and safety. If you work with adolescents or young adults, this episode will give you the framework, practical tools, and confidence to start supporting clients and caregivers in this critical—and often overlooked—area of daily life. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Urban, T. M., & Douglas, R. R. (2024). Occupational Therapists' Role in Sexual Education for Teens and Young Adults Living with Autism Spectrum Disorder. The Open Journal of Occupational Therapy, 12(1), 1-4. https://doi.org/10.15453/2168-6408.2093 KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; sex education; autism; teens Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 41 The Thankful Therapist's Gift Guide (OT Style) | 26 Nov 2025 | 00:31:06 | |
Holiday shopping with purpose starts here! This week we're sharing our favorite gift ideas for therapists, kids, and everyone on your list. Discover directories of disabled-owned businesses for fun new ideas, then hear about our favorite therapy products like light-up pop tubes, bubble tongs, and the bow-and-arrow set. We're also highlighting self-care essentials every therapist needs—from anxiety-reducing playlists to washable clinic rugs. Whether you're filling stockings or treating yourself, these are genuine recommendations from two OTs who love using great products. Check the newsletter (sign-up below) for links to everything we mentioned! Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||
| Ep. 40 Let's Talk Ayres SI, Autism, & Play with Dr. Heather Kuhaneck | 19 Nov 2025 | 00:37:45 | |
Running in circles, flapping arms, spinning with ribbons—Heather Kuhaneck, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, explains why joining in play with kids creates the connection that makes therapy possible. As editor of Case-Smith’s Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents, co-creator of the Sensory Processing Measure, and program director at Southern Connecticut State University, Heather knows play and sensory integration inside out. She shares research-backed strategies for using imitation to spark connection, introduces her Classroom Sensory Environment Assessment (C-SEA) tool for collaborating with teachers, and how to make the most of boring playgrounds. You'll hear unforgettable "nailed it" and "failed it" moments—first words emerging on swings, basketball victories with dad, and one critical safety lesson. This conversation will change how you approach play with autistic children in any setting. KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; play; autism; sensory integration; Heather Kuhaneck Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com 👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play | |||