Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

As occupational therapy practitioners, we spend our careers working in teams—yet most of us learned to hate group work in OT/OTA school. Sound familiar? We're breaking down brand-new research from the Journal of OT Education that studied how to build better teams to avoid group disasters. Whether you're an OT/OTA student dreading your next group project, an educator trying to build the best groups for an assignment, a new grad navigating clinic dynamics, or an experienced occupational therapy practitioner leading interdisciplinary teams, you'll discover evidence-based strategies to use tomorrow. Plus, get tips on how to practice and use therapeutic use of self in the process.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Scheidler, B., Layne, K., Gillard, M., & Doucet, B. M. (2025). Intentional Grouping: Impacts on Cognitive and Social Presence in a Hybrid Classroom. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 9(2), 10.KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence-based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; group projects; intentional grouping; therapeutic use of selfThank 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/Fe79v8vUStay 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 what your pediatric OT clients will say about you when they grow up? In this episode, Lacy & Michele explore qualitative research where autistic adults share what they wish their childhood occupational therapists had known. Their insights challenge us to embrace neurodiversity by accepting (rather than “fixing”) autism, adapting environments instead of forcing compliance, and prioritizing client autonomy. These perspectives offer occupational therapy practitioners a roadmap to more effective, ethical, and empowering therapy approaches. Plus, Lacy shares a hilarious Failed It and Michele discovers a new pop-tube.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Sterman J, Gustafson E, Eisenmenger L, Hamm L, Edwards J. Autistic Adult Perspectives on Occupational Therapy for Autistic Children and Youth. OTJR. 2022;43(2):237-244. doi:10.1177/15394492221103850KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence based practice; OT; OT ideas; peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; Autism; neurodiversity; qualitative researchStay 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

Step into the NICU where beeping monitors meet tiny fighters and discover how sensory connections are changing the game for premature infants. We unpack the SENSE program that's putting occupational therapists at the forefront of preemie care, revealing why those first touches, sounds, and movements matter more than you think. Join Lacy and Michele as they take a deep dive into co-occupation. Whether you're a clinician seeking evidence-based strategies or simply fascinated by early development, you'll discover why co-occupation isn't just a clinical term—it's the powerful connection that shapes developing brains and strengthens families during their most challenging early moments together. Plus, learn about post-rotary nystagmus from a listener's question and hear why bubble tongs are such a versatile and fun therapy tool.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Richter, M., Angell, A., Kellner, P., Smith, J., & Pineda, R. (2024). Infant and Parent Outcomes Related to NICU-Based Co-occupational Engagement. OTJR : occupation, participation and health, 44(1), 3–12. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492231160690KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; NICU; co-occupation; SENSE programStay 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

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 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.KEYWORDS - Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; intervention; systematic reviewStay 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

Could better sleep for autistic children be as simple as shooting some hoops? In this episode, occupational therapists, Michele Alaniz and Lacy Wright, dive into fascinating research showing how a structured basketball intervention significantly improves sleep quality and executive function in children with autism. Learn how this intervention increases melatonin and boosts BDNF, enhancing neuroplasticity while being incredibly fun. Perfect for OT practitioners looking for innovative, effective approaches that can be implemented in clinics, schools, or home settings. Game-changing therapy doesn't get more playful than this!We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Tse, C. Y. A., Lee, H. P., Chan, K. S. K., Edgar, V. B., Wilkinson-Smith, A., & Lai, W. H. E. (2019). Examining the impact of physical activity on sleep quality and executive functions in children with autism spectrum disorder: A randomized controlled trial. Autism : the international journal of research and practice, 23(7), 1699–1710. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361318823910KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; executive function; sleep improvement; basketball therapy; autism intervention; inclusive sports; OT in actionStay 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

Up to 10% of children have difficulty with handwriting, yet only 12% of teachers feel adequately trained to teach it. This week, we break down the six evidence-based principles (plus one essential bonus) that should guide all handwriting instruction and occupational therapy intervention. We examine why focusing on the occupation of writing outperforms a sensory-motor approach, how immediate feedback accelerates progress, and why explicit instruction matters so much. Plus, get a glimpse into how AI technologies like Kaligo and Psymark are revolutionizing how OTs, teachers, and families can collaborate to support children's handwriting development in the digital age.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too. Bonneton-Botté, N., Miramand, L., Bailly, R., & Pons, C. (2023). Teaching and Rehabilitation of Handwriting for Children in the Digital Age: Issues and Challenges. Children, 10(7), 1096. https://doi.org/10.3390/children10071096The article comes from this special issue on motor learning, handwriting, and dysgraphia. Check it out!  https://www.mdpi.com/journal/children/special_issues/9F3723N2SM  KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; school based; handwriting; writing; penmanship; dysgraphiaStay 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 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