

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

Jan 1, 2025 • 15min
#341 - Five OT Tips to Improve Handwriting!
In this episode, we’re not going to talk about how to improve letter formation, placement on the line, or size. Instead, we’re going to focus on how to improve the underlying skills required for handwriting, including postural control, strength, dexterity, visual tracking, and more! We also chat about primitive reflexes and give you some specific ideas to help build hand strength!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
10 Hacks for Handwriting
What are Preparatory Activities?
Assess Ocular Motor Skills
Assess 6 Primitive Reflexes
Fine Motor Skills Activity Course

Dec 25, 2024 • 22min
#340 - Visual Schedules Made Simple: A Step-by-Step Approach
We talk a lot about using visual schedules to help children with routines, sensory diets, transitions, and more. But if you’ve never created and used a visual schedule with a child, how do you get started? We break it down step-by-step, starting with identifying the specific routine or activities you want to add to a visual schedule. We dive into different types of visual schedules and how to choose the right one for your child, how to make it easily accessible, and how to create a system so your child enjoys using their visual schedule!
LINKS
Free Visual Schedule Template
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
Sensory Diet Digital Course
Creating the Most Effective Visual Supports

Dec 18, 2024 • 20min
#339 - How Heavy Work Activities Can Help With Anxiety
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We are diving into the variety of benefits that can be gained from using proprioception - heavy work activities, specifically as it relates to anxiety and adults! Proprioception is typically calming to the nervous system and we dive into the reasons why - including how heavy work is grounding, how these activities can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, and more. Then we share our favorite heavy work activities that we use and the ones that we recommend! We talk about going on a walk, doing yoga, gardening, and more!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
What is Sensory Overload?
Sensory Overload in Adults

Dec 11, 2024 • 22min
#338 - Why is My Kid Bouncing Off the Walls Before They Go to Bed and What to do About it?!
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We get this question all the time! “Why is my child bouncing off the walls before bed?!” In this episode, we’re going to break down the WHY - why is your child bouncing off the walls before bed? Is it due to sensory seeking tendencies or is there something else going on? Then we dive into tips and strategies that you can use during the day and right before bedtime! We talk about changing the lighting in the house, going outside, how to use proprioceptive input, why a visual schedule might be helpful, and more!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
What it Means to Meet the Sensory Threshold
Tips and Tricks for Your Sensory Seeking Child

Dec 4, 2024 • 22min
#337 - 12 Things You Need to Know About Sensory Integration
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This episode is all about sensory processing, sensory integration, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). We dive into the 8 sensory systems, why SPD is not a recognized diagnosis, sensory meltdowns, and how SPD can affect daily life. Share this episode with a friend who is new to the ‘sensory world’!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
Research Article
8 Myths About Sensory Processing Disorder
Does Everybody Have Sensory Quirks?
Improving Focus and Behavior in the Classroom - Digital Course
Disciplining a Sensory Kiddo

Nov 27, 2024 • 26min
#336 - Sensory Products for Sensory Seekers and Sensory Avoiders: Holiday Edition
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In this episode, we are breaking down what it means for someone to be a “sensory seeker” and what it means for someone to be a “sensory avoider.” Then we talk about our favorite sensory products for both including the Harkla Compression Swing, lycra tunnels, weighted medicine balls, therapy/yoga balls, a crash pad, and more!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
5 Activities for a Sensory Seeker
5 Tips for a Sensory Avoider
Supporting Mixed Sensory Needs
10 Activities with a Yoga Ball
Tunnels (Amazon)
Medicine Balls
Rebounder Trampolines (Amazon)
Platform Swings (Amazon)
Therapy Balls (Amazon)
Pop Up Tents (Amazon)
Vibrating Pillow
Giant Bean Bag
SPEKS Adult Fidgets

Nov 20, 2024 • 23min
#335 - Listener Question: Tips for an Overstimulated Child and Parent!
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Today we are answering a listener question: how to help a 5-year-old who becomes overstimulated and how to help the parent who becomes overstimulated. We discuss strategies to set the child up for success before the overstimulating situations, strategies for the car ride, and how to decompress. We also talk about strategies for the parent, including getting outside, drinking enough water, asking for help, and more!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
When Your Child’s Sensory Preferences Don’t Match Yours
Free Primitive Reflex Webinar
What is the Moro Reflex?
Book: Building a Non-Anxious Life
Book: Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight
Tips for Getting Outside
8 Activities for Regulation
Sensory Strategies for Teens and Adults
Peaceful Parenting Tips
Free Sensory Diet Webinar
On-the-go Sensory Strategies
Free Social Story Template

Nov 13, 2024 • 12min
#334 - Listener Question: Tips for Safety During Transitions
We are answering a listener question today: a 4-year-old child who is receiving speech and OT services and the family is struggling “to prevent eloping in parking lots and helping him understand the dangers of moving vehicles.” We talk about some different ideas including a sticker/reward chart, different ways to transition to the car, practicing “safe” and “not safe” scenarios, creating a social story, and MORE!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
Eloping: The Why and How For Kids Who Run Away
Weighted Lap Animal
Gestalt Language Processing
Social Story Template
Social Stories

Nov 6, 2024 • 24min
#333 - The Difference Between Passive and Active Sensory Activities
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What is the difference between a passive sensory activity and an active sensory activity? Is one type better than the other? How long does a passive sensory activity “last” in the body, compared to an activity sensory activity?
We answer these questions and give you our favorite passive sensory activities and our favorite active sensory activities!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
Sensory Diet Digital Course
The Sensory Chef

Oct 30, 2024 • 22min
#332 - 10 Things We've Learned in 10 Years!
We’re sharing ten things that we’ve learned in the past 10 years! We’ve been certified occupational therapy assistants for just over 10 years and we’ve learned so many things, it was very difficult to pick just 10! We talk about mentoring, asking questions, referring out, and MORE! We’d love to hear from you - Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube and let us know what you’ve learned in your career or what you’ve learned from listening to us!
LINKS
We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form- https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3
All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram
Harkla YouTube Channel
Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products!
Harkla Instagram
What We Really Do in OT


