Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

What happens when a child isn't able eat? In this milestone 10th episode, Michele and Lacy explore the complex world of pediatric occupational therapy and feeding with medically fragile children and our guest, Yovana Harris, BA, COTA/L.  She shares both "Nailed It" and "Failed It" experiences, explains her “just give them the food” feeding philosophy, and gives a shout-out to her favorite OT feeding resources. Learn why building trust with parents becomes the foundation for effective OT intervention and how finding moments of joy at mealtime can be life-changing, even when full oral feeding isn't always possible. With remarkable candor, she discusses her journey supporting families through their most vulnerable times while also taking care of herself to avoid burnout. This episode provides valuable insights for any pediatric occupational therapist working with families through feeding challenges or with medically fragile children.KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; feeding; eating; medically fragileStay 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  

Ever wonder how virtual reality could change your pediatric occupational therapy practice? Michele and Lacy dive into a randomized control trial where VR helped kids with brain injuries make progress in just four weeks of OT intervention! Hear about 3 game-changing elements occupational therapists can implement: instant feedback, kids actually wanting to do more repetitions in therapy, and automatic adjustments for that perfect "just right challenge" every OT strives for. No fancy equipment? No problem - these main ideas work in many OT settings. You'll also hear about a creative occupational therapy "Nailed It!" moment where a high schooler went from frustrating handwriting goals to playing guitar with adaptive equipment!We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Choi, J. Y., Yi, S. H., Ao, L., Tang, X., Xu, X., Shim, D., Yoo, B., Park, E. S., & Rha, D. W. (2021). Virtual reality rehabilitation in children with brain injury: a randomized controlled trial. Developmental medicine and child neurology, 63(4), 480–487. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14762KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; virtual reality; brain injury; cerebral palsy; CPStay 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  

Did you know that up to 16% of children have sensory processing challenges that impact their daily lives? In this evidence-packed episode, pediatric occupational therapists Michele and Lacy break down a groundbreaking randomized control trial from Brazil on Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) that every peds OT needs to know about. Discover three practical tools that will transform your OT practice: data-driven decision making, the ASI fidelity measure, and goal attainment scaling. Plus, find out why golden retrievers and toddlers don't always mix in therapy sessions!We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Omairi, C., Mailloux, Z., Antoniuk, S. A., & Schaaf, R. (2022). Occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration®: A randomized controlled trial in Brazil. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(4).KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; sensory integration; ASIStay 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  

Forget everything you thought you knew about toilet training—this evidence-based pediatric occupational therapy approach is changing the game. In this episode, we dive into a hybrid telehealth intervention that transformed toilet training success rates through occupation-based coaching strategies that every peds OT should know. Learn the 4-step  framework that empowers parents to become the experts in their child's potty training journey, showing significant improvement in just 12 weeks! We'll break down practical occupational therapy ideas that therapists are using to guide families through this challenging milestone and reveal which resources parents actually use (spoiler: it's not the handouts!). Whether you're an OT in early intervention or an outpatient setting, this episode delivers evidence-based pediatric occupational therapy solutions that respect each family's unique dynamics.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too. Little, L. M., Wallisch, A., Dunn, W., & Tomchek, S. (2023). A Telehealth Delivered Toilet Training Intervention for Children with Autism. OTJR : occupation, participation and health, 43(3), 390–398. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492231159903KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; telehealth; toilet training; autismStay 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  

Struggling OT Fieldwork students? The shocking truth is that occupational therapy knowledge isn't what makes or breaks fieldwork success—it's professional behaviors! Join pediatric occupational therapists, Michele and Lacy, as they unpack evidence-based strategies for fieldwork in this must-listen episode. From communication skills to time management, discover the essential professional behaviors that make or break fieldwork experiences and learn practical tools that transform OT education. Whether you're a peds OT seeking fresh ideas, a fieldwork educator, or a student preparing for practice, this episode delivers actionable insights to ensure fieldwork success.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too. Hackenberg, G. R., & Toth-Cohen, S. (2018). Professional Behaviors and Fieldwork: A Curriculum Based Model in Occupational Therapy. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2 (2). https://doi.org/ 10.26681/jote.2018.020203  KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; fieldwork; professional behaviors: sensory integrationStay 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  

Overwhelmed by your school-based OT caseload? Join Drs. Michele Alaniz and Lacy Wright as they discuss three decades of research into actionable, tiered interventions that deliver measurable results. Learn why the most successful school-based OTs are shifting from traditional pull-out services to classroom-embedded support, dramatically reducing waitlists while expanding their influence. This episode unpacks game-changing approaches at every tier with concrete, research-supported strategies, specific intervention dosage guidelines, and methods to convert teachers into enthusiastic collaborators. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Lynch, H., Moore, A., O’Connor, D., & Boyle, B. (2023). Evidence for implementing tiered approaches in school-based occupational therapy in elementary schools: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(1), 7701205110. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.050027Keywords: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; school-based; workload; tiered interventionStay 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  

Think a messy backpack or desk is just carelessness? We don’t think so. This episode cracks open the complex world of executive function in school, showing therapists how the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity assessment can unlock insights into how adolescents may be struggling to think, plan, organize, and navigate their world. Plus - Lacy and Michele answer a listener's question, exposing a sensory-based myth found on Instagram.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Tamm, L., Hamik, E. M., Zoromski, A. K., & Duncan, A. (2024). Use of the Weekly Calendar Planning Activity to assess executive function in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 78, 7801205040. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050295 Keywords: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; executive function; assessment; autismStay 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  

How can we make sports truly meaningful for children with autism? In this episode, pediatric OTs Dr. Michele Alaniz and Dr. Lacy Wright break down a comprehensive framework for quality participation in sports. Explore research-backed strategies for creating the perfect balance of challenge, autonomy, and social connection in sports programs. The hosts share their recent practice stories in "Nailed It or Failed It," introduce you to an inspiring autistic artist in Kansas, and reveal the story of their cross-country friendship and professional journey. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Streatch, E., Bruno, N., & Latimer-Cheung, A. E. (2022). Investigating strategies used to foster quality participation in recreational sport programs for children with autism spectrum disorder and their perceived importance. Adapted Physical Activity Quarterly, 40(1), 86-104.Keywords: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; autism; sports; recreationStay 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  

What if you could help children with cerebral palsy make significant motor gains with half the therapy hours while keeping both parents and kids engaged? Pediatric occupational therapists Dr. Michele Alaniz and Dr. Lacy Wright dive into the OT research comparing constraint-induced movement therapy and bimanual intensive training, revealing which approach might have the long-term edge for your pediatric therapy practice. Along the way, you'll hear Michele's inspiring OT story about a former client who now rides mountain bikes after successfully using constraint-induced movement therapy, discover practical pediatric occupational therapy strategies to overcome initial child resistance and laugh at Lacy's epic "Failed It" implementing the Zones of Regulation. This episode delivers evidence-based strategies to transform your interventions and elevate your pediatric therapy outcomes when working with kids with CP.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Liang, K.-J., Chen, H.-L., Huang, C.-W., & Wang, T.-N. (2023). Efficacy of constraint-induced movement therapy versus bimanual intensive training on motor and psychosocial outcomes in children with unilateral cerebral palsy: A randomized trial. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77, 7704205030. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.050104 Keywords: Occupational therapy; evidence based practice; OT ideas; OT; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; cerebral palsy; CP; motor skillsStay 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  

Did you know that over 80% of children with autism are at risk for motor impairment (Bhat, 2022)? Today, we're diving into new research that's changing how we approach motor development in autism. You'll learn five evidence-based steps you can implement immediately in your practice, including a surprising twist on video modeling that goes beyond just visual learning. Whether you're an OT or PT,  this episode will transform how you think about motor-based intervention. Join Dr. Michele Alaniz and Dr. Lacy Wright as we explore ideas that will impact your therapy sessions.Bhat, A. (2022). Multidimensional motor performance in children with autism mostly remains stable with age and predicts social communication delay, language delay, functional delay, and repetitive behavior severity after accounting for intellectual disability or cognitive delay: A SPARK dataset analysis. Autism Research, 16, 208 - 229. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.2870.Jin, Y. R., Sung, Y. S., Koh, C. L., Chu, S. Y., Yang, H. C., & Lin, L. Y. (2023). Efficacy of Motor Interventions on Functional Performance Among Preschool Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(6), 7706205020.  https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.050283 Keywords: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; autism; motor skills; motor-based intervention; video modelingStay 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