

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

Aug 31, 2022 • 17min
#219 - Tips For When Your Child's Sensory Preferences Don't Match Yours
Does your child seek out a certain type of sensory input that drives you nuts? Are your sensory preferences the complete opposite of your child’s? If so, this episode is for you! We dive into sensory preferences, what it looks like when your child’s sensory needs create a sense of overstimulation in you, and some tips, tricks, and strategies to help! Be sure to check out the show notes on our blog at Harkla.Co/Podcast.Brought To You By HarklaThis podcast is brought t...

Aug 24, 2022 • 23min
#218 - Easy to Implement After School Sensory Activities
Shop our Back to School Sale by clicking THIS link! Save 15% on ALL Harkla products, physical and digital! Sale ends Aug. 29, 2022! At school, a child is exposed to a lot of sensory information as well as they are required to sit and focus for long periods of time and interact socially with their peers. It’s a LOT of work! Many children hold it all together at school but then break down at home - home is their safe space and they feel comfortable enough to melt down.This episode is ...

Aug 17, 2022 • 29min
#217 - Recommended Products for Each of the 8 Senses!
This podcast discusses recommended products for each of the 8 sensory systems. They cover sensory products for the vestibular and proprioceptive systems, activities and tools for the auditory system, games for logic, reasoning, and visual perception, and recommended products for visual processing skills and oral motor skills. They also explore the benefits of targeting multiple sensory systems.

Aug 10, 2022 • 20min
#216 - Activities to Support Interoceptive Processing- Your 8th Sense!
In this podcast, the hosts discuss interoceptive processing and its impact on sensory processing disorder, anxiety, and depression. They share personal experiences and explore activities, such as visual schedules and primitive reflex integration, to support interoception. The connection between the vestibular and interoceptive systems is also discussed, along with the importance of social stories and emotional regulation programs. Additionally, listeners learn about emotional regulation techniques, mindfulness practices, and resources for teaching children. Check the show notes for more information and discounts on sensory products.

Aug 3, 2022 • 24min
#215 - 10 Easy DIY Sensory Activities for Kids of All Ages and Abilities
Sensory activities don’t have to be expensive! They don’t have to be Pinterest perfect either. Today we’re going to share 10 easy DIY sensory-based activities you can do from the comfort of your own home, at school or in the clinic!Don’t forget - our podcast is now on YouTube!!!!Be sure to check out the show notes on our blog at Harkla.Co/Podcast.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 a...

Jul 27, 2022 • 30min
#214 - Proprioceptive Dysfunction + Activities to Implement
Learn about proprioception and its impact on daily tasks. Discover activities and strategies to target proprioceptive sense. Explore ways to improve coordination and address proprioceptive dysfunction in children. Find out how sensory tools can enhance sitting and benefit anxiety, sensory overload, sleep, and attention. Engage with the podcast and enjoy a discount on Harkla products!

Jul 20, 2022 • 34min
#213 - The Vestibular System: Dysfunction and Activities to Implement
This podcast explores the vestibular system and its dysfunction, discussing reflexes, manifestations, and strategies to address it in children. It also provides various vestibular activities for infants and toddlers, such as rolling, swinging, and slides.

Jul 13, 2022 • 29min
#212 - Gross Motor Basics + Our Favorite Activities
In this episode, the hosts cover the importance of gross motor skills in development, offer tips on improving these skills with various activities, discuss speech therapy interviews, and emphasize the importance of understanding the goals and needs of the child and family. They also wrap up the episode by promoting their YouTube channel and Gross Motor Skills course.

Jul 6, 2022 • 28min
#211 - Sensory Strategies for the Dentist
Does your child enjoy going to the dentist? Or is it a struggle every time?Or maybe your child hasn’t been to the dentist yet, but you’re nervous because they already show signs of struggling with sensory processing and transitions to new locations. This episode is all about WHY your child might struggle at the dentist - from a sensory perspective of course!Then we dive into a variety of tips, tricks and strategies to help improve success and happiness with going to the dentist. Be ...

Jun 29, 2022 • 51min
#210 - Tips for Middle and High School Students with Brittini from @playtheotway
Brittini Barnes is a pediatric occupational therapist who has been working in the pediatric setting for 6 years. She currently works with middle school and high school students. She also serves on a local Autism Awareness Non-Profit in her small Florida town. She is a wife and a mother to a 4 year old daughter. She loves coming up with low prep/no prep activities that are simple, easy, and impactful to implement into treatment. Over the course of the recent pandemic, she tailored her therapy ...


