All Things Sensory by Harkla
Rachel Harrington, COTA/L, AC & Jessica Hill, COTA/L
Rachel Harrington and Jessica Hill, are two passionate Certified Occupational Therapy Assistants who answer your questions related to all things sensory, occupational therapy, parenting, self-care, nutrition, and health, from a therapist’s perspective. Providing raw, honest, fun ideas, and strategies, for parents and families to implement into daily life. Great for those who work with children with sensory processing disorder, special needs, autism, and ADHD. This podcast is brought to you by Harkla. At Harkla, our goal is to help those with special needs live happy and healthy lives.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 12, 2023 • 16min
#264 - Bath Time Blues? We've Got You!
In today’s episode, we are answering a listener question!We discuss the importance of creating a calming and enjoyable bath time experience as well as practical tips and tricks on how to make bath time more sensory-friendly. We also touch on different games and modifications that can be used outside of bathtime. Whether you're a parent of a child with sensory processing challenges or a caregiver looking for ways to make bath time more enjoyable, this episode is packed with helpful information...
Jul 5, 2023 • 22min
#263 - PICA or Oral Seeking? Sensory Strategies for Both!
Today’s episode is an answer to a listener's question! We dive into what PICA is, its causes, and how it differs from typical oral seeking behaviors.We provide practical strategies for managing PICA and oral seeking, such as providing alternatives, using visual cues, and implementing sensory diets. Whether you're a parent, caregiver, or a professional working with children who struggle with sensory processing, this episode is filled with valuable information and insights!Make sure to che...
Jun 28, 2023 • 22min
#262 - 6 Key Components to Building a Sensory Friendly Home
Today’s episode is in response to a listener question - how to build a sensory-friendly home?We offer practical tips and insights on how to create a home environment that minimizes sensory overload, including the use of calming colors, lighting, and textures. We also touch on the importance of incorporating sensory activities into your daily routine, and the benefits of investing in sensory-friendly products and equipment.Whether you're a parent of a child with sensory processing challenges o...
Jun 21, 2023 • 30min
#261 - Sensory Friendly Bedtime Routines
In today’s episode, we dive into the topic of bedtime routines for kids. First we explore our own personal bedtime routines with our children and offer practical strategies for creating an enjoyable and effective bedtime routine. We then discuss the importance of incorporating sensory activities during the day and after dinner to help prepare children for a restful night's sleep.We also tackle some questions that our listeners have about sleep and the bedtime routine. From dealing with bedtim...
Jun 14, 2023 • 52min
#260 - Peaceful Parenting Tips for the Overwhelmed Parent with Sarah Rosensweet
Sarah Rosensweet is a certified peaceful parenting coach, speaker, and educator. She lives in Toronto with her husband and her 16 and 19 year old kids. Her 22 year old son has launched. Peaceful parenting is a non-punitive, connection-based approach that uses firm limits with lots of empathy. Sarah works one-on-one virtually with parents all over the world to help them go from frustrated and overwhelmed to, “We’ve got this!” Read more at: www.sarahrosensweet.com or listen to her top-rated par...
Jun 7, 2023 • 17min
#259 - Life Update - Rachel's ADHD Diagnosis and Jessica is Back in the Clinic!
Make sure to check out all of our links below! We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form -> https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3Looking for more in-depth help? Sign up for 2-on-1 Mentoring With Us!!Brought To You By HarklaThis podcast is brought to you by Harkla. Our mission at Harkla is to help those with special needs live happy and healthy lives. We accomplish this through high-quality sensory products & child development courses.Podcast listener...
May 31, 2023 • 54min
#258 - Functional Neurology for Kids with Dr. Conner Bor
Dr. Conner Bor was born and raised in Voorhees, New Jersey. He completed his undergraduate degree in Health & Exercise Science at The College of New Jersey and went on to earn his Doctorate of Chiropractic at Palmer College of Chiropractic. While at Palmer, Dr. Bor received many academic honors and was awarded the prestigious Clinical Excellence award upon graduation. Growing up, Dr. Bor’s passion for helping others was fueled by having two uncles who are chiropractors. While competi...
May 24, 2023 • 24min
#257 - Premature Babies + The Sensory System: Activities to Promote Integration
Today’s episode is diving into a question that we received from a listener. “I have a preemie (32 weeks) and would love to see content on preemies as I know their sensory experience for the first few months of life are quite different and their development is likely going to be off as well.”Get ready for some tips and tricks that you can implement in infancy, such as support for primitive reflexes, ideas for different sensory experiences, and feeding strategies. We also dive into tips for tod...
May 17, 2023 • 20min
#256 - Fight-Flight-Freeze Response and Sensory Processing Challenges
We recently completed a 2-on-1 mentoring session with a mother who described her son as “continually shutting down - won’t talk and won’t participate in anything.”Sounds very similar to the FREEZE response in fight-flight-freeze. The fight-flight-freeze response is a physiological response to stress, or to danger. Our children who have experienced trauma, or experience sensory overstimulation, often experience this stress response.We give you some tips and tricks to help proactively manage th...
May 10, 2023 • 16min
#255 - Sensory Seeker? Tips to Help This Toddler Meet Her Sensory Needs
We received a question from a listener and today we’re diving into her and her toddler’s situation! This toddler is a sensory seeker (seeks out heavy work), but also a sensory avoider (avoids certain textures). We talk about: primitive reflexes, sensory diets, vibration, messy play, and MORE!If you have an infant or toddler, check out our Infant and Toddler Sensory Development Digital CourseMake sure to check out all of our links below! We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill ...
