Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast
Episodes
Ep. 63 Preparing Autistic Teens for Adulthood
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a Text or VoicemailIf you work with older kids, you know the feeling — suddenly your caseload has a teenager and the stakes feel higher, the...
Ep. 62 CVI Interventions
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Send us a Text or VoicemailCerebral visual impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of low vision in children and one of the most underidentified conditi...
Ep. 61 Improving Food Intake & Family Vibes
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Feeding therapy doesn’t have to feel like a power struggle. In this episode, we explore how shifting from pressure to partnership can improve food i...
Ep. 60 Ideas at Work Highlights
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We're celebrating episode 60 by going inside our Ideas at Work pilot group. Real therapists, real sessions, real problem-solving. We troubleshoot...
Ep. 59 Coaching in Early Intervention
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most OTs in early intervention think they're coaching, BUT the research says otherwise. In this episode, we discuss a scoping review on caregiver...
Ep. 58 Zippers: An OT + Speech Approach
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Most of us teach zippers the same way—repeat, repeat, repeat—and hope it clicks. But what if there’s a better way? In this episode, we break dow...
Ep. 57 Sensory Activity Schedules
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sensory activity schedules—often called sensory diets—are used every day in school-based therapy, but how strong is the evidence behind them? In t...
Ep. 56 OT Interventions for Autistic Children (20 Strategies!)
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Evidence-based OT for autism can feel overwhelming—but what if you had a clear menu of strategies to choose from? In this episode, we break down a s...
Ep.55 Burnout in OT Practice
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Let’s be honest: even the most playful, passionate OTs/OTAs can hit a wall. Burnout is more than just feeling tired after a long week — it’s a p...
Ep. 54 Big Feelings, Big Strategies: Emotional Regulation Meta Analysis
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Emotional regulation is often treated as a behavior problem — but what if we’re missing the bigger picture? In this episode, we unpack what emotio...
Ep. 53 Clothes on Backward? A Super Simple Visual Cue for Dressing
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Why can a child complete every step of dressing… but still put the shirt on backward? In this episode of Ideas at Play, we explore a simple, researc...
Ep. 52 Drumming as an OT Intervention
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Drumming might not be the first intervention that comes to mind—but the evidence suggests it deserves a closer look for regulation, connection, and ...
Ep. 51 Sensory-Based Interventions - Tools or Toys?
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sensory tools are a staple in pediatric OT—but not all of them are doing what we think they are. In this episode, we take a clear-eyed look at the e...
Ep. 50 Listener Questions: Pediatric OT in the Real World
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Episode 50 is all about YOU! Michele and Lacy tackle the questions that keep pediatric occupational therapists thinking, problem-solving, and sometime...
Ep. 49 Folinic Acid and Autism: Translating the Research for Occupational Therapy
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Folinic acid has been showing up everywhere in conversations about autism—but what does the research actually tell us, and why should occupational t...
Ep. 48 Effective Collaboration With Teachers
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
 Everyone agrees that collaboration with teachers matters in school-based OT practice, yet many occupational therapists struggle to make it work in r...
Ep. 47 10-Minute Executive Function Interventions for ADHD
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling to find practical interventions for kids with ADHD that actually improve executive function and/or mental health? This episode breaks down ...
Ep. 46 Zones of Regulation: the Good, the Bad, and the OT Way (Encore)
31 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when one of occupational therapy's most beloved programs gets put under the research microscope? Turns out Zones of Regulation—des...
Ep. 45 The Ultimate Evidence Guide: What 52 Pediatric OT Interventions & 90 Years of Research Reveal (Encore)
24 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of Googling for interventions that actually work? We dive into the mother of all systematic reviews covering 129 studies and 52 occupational the...
Ep. 44 AOTA Children & Youth Conference Recap
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michele and Lacy recap the AOTA Children & Youth Conference where they presented on sleep interventions, hard conversations with families, and com...
Ep. 43 Reflex Integration: What the Evidence Shows
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
 Reflex integration is one of the hottest topics in pediatric OT right now—but is it evidence-based? In this episode, we examine the research on th...
Ep. 42 Sexual Education and OT's Role
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Sex is an occupation, but how do we (or should we) address this in pediatric OT practice? This episode discusses why avoiding this topic is an occupat...
Ep. 41 The Thankful Therapist's Gift Guide (OT Style)
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Holiday shopping with purpose starts here! This week we're sharing our favorite gift ideas for therapists, kids, and everyone on your list. Disco...
Ep. 40 Let's Talk Ayres SI, Autism, & Play with Dr. Heather Kuhaneck
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Running in circles, flapping arms, spinning with ribbons—Heather Kuhaneck, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, explains why joining in play with kids creates the con...
Ep. 39 What New OTs Really Want in a Job
12 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do early career occupational therapists really prioritize when choosing their first OT job? Spoiler alert: salary ranks 9th out of 16 factors. In...
Ep. 38 Building Motor Skills & Social Communication with Autistic Kids
05 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Want an OT intervention that tackles motor skills AND social communication? This week we're unpacking seated play intervention for autistic child...
Ep. 37 Is Interoception Worth the Hype? A Deep Dive into the Evidence
29 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Interoception is everywhere in pediatric occupational therapy—but does the evidence support what OTPs are doing? We dig into a 2025 scoping review r...
Ep. 36 Home Programs That Actually Work
22 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
An occupational therapist came into Michele's office complaining that parents weren't following through with home programs—sound familiar?...
Ep. 35 CO-OP for Improving Motor Skills
15 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could peek inside a child's brain and actually SEE therapy working? That's exactly what researchers did with CO-OP (Cognitive Or...
Ep. 34 Sensory Integration in Schools
08 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Can sensory integration really work in schools, or are we just wasting instructional time? This week we're reviewing a study that finally gives u...
Ep. 33 Play as Occupation with guest Dr. Anita Bundy
01 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if the biggest barrier to children's play isn't the kids—it's us? We are thrilled to chat with our special guest, Dr. Anita Bund...
Ep. 32 Sydney Playground Project
24 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do old tires, crates, pool noodles, and hay bales have in common? They're the secret ingredients that revolutionized recess for hundreds of ...
Ep. 31 Zones of Regulation: the Good, the Bad, and the OT Way
17 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when one of occupational therapy's most beloved programs gets put under the research microscope? Turns out Zones of Regulation—des...
Ep. 30 Making Hospitals Sensory-Friendly
10 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
70% of autistic individuals have at least one mental health condition, but here's the kicker—the very hospitals meant to help them might be mak...
Ep. 29 A Sleep Intervention with Dreamy Outcomes
03 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
95% of kids with neurodevelopmental disorders struggle with sleep—but there's an OT intervention that gives families an extra hour of sleep per...
Ep. 28 Responsive Feeding (and how OTPs are using this approach)
27 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Many of our families know that sinking feeling when mealtime becomes a battlefield—tears, tantrums, and the stress of watching a child refuse meal a...
Ep. 27 Group vs. Individual OT for Autistic Toddlers
20 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Drowning in long therapy wait lists? Researchers found that group DIR Floortime (4 kids, 2 therapists) produced the same outcomes as individual occupa...
Ep. 26 Have Impostor Syndrome? (Here’s what to do)
13 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever feel like you are in over your head? You're not alone—new research shows 84% of occupational therapy practitioners and students secretly b...
Ep. 25 Hand Strengthening for Handwriting
06 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Michele presents research that offers a completely different perspective on OT handwriting intervention. While previous episodes emphasized task-speci...
Summer of Play Series: Play Personalities
30 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ep 24 - In our final Summer of Play episode, we're uncovering the rich history and complex science that makes play genuinely unique in pediatric ...
Summer of Play Series: Interventions for Play
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ep 23 - Ready to turn your occupational therapy sessions into playgrounds of learning? In this episode of our Summer of Play Series, we explore using ...
Summer of Play Series: Assessing Play
16 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ep 22 -Â Think you know how to assess play? We break down the surprising gap between how important play is for EVERY PART of child development and ho...
Summer of Play Series: 10 Fun Summer Therapy Ideas
09 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ep 21 - Summer just got a whole lot more fun! 🌞 Michele and Lacy kick off their Summer of Play series with 10 fun, evidence-based therapy activitie...
Ep. 20 Do What Works! (with guest Dr. Iona Novak)
02 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stop guessing and start knowing which occupational therapy interventions actually work. World-renowned OT researcher Professor Iona Novak discusses he...
Ep. 19 Pictures vs. Videos: Choosing the Right Visual Support for ADL Goals
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
You've heard that a picture is worth a thousand words, but what about a thousand prompts? When it comes to helping autistic kids master daily liv...
Ep. 18 Aquatic Therapy: Using the Pool for More Than Swim Lessons
18 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you think of therapy in the swimming pool, swim lessons probably come to mind. However, occupational therapy practitioners use water for so many ...
Ep. 17 Time Management Treatment Ideas for ADHD
11 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ready for an ADHD intervention that tackles the root problem of time management? This Swedish research hands occupational therapy practitioners a comp...
Ep. 16 From Student Projects to Group Therapy: How to Build Better Teams
04 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 famil...
Ep. 15 Accept, Adapt & Advocate: Autistic Adults Share Insights for OTPs
28 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder what your pediatric OT clients will say about you when they grow up? In this episode, Lacy & Michele explore qualitative research wher...
Ep. 14 Role of OT and Co-Occupation in the NICU (and why it matters!)
21 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Step into the NICU where beeping monitors meet tiny fighters and discover how sensory connections are changing the game for premature infants. We unpa...
Ep. 13 The Ultimate Evidence Guide: What 52 Pediatric OT Interventions & 90 Years of Research Reveal
14 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Tired of Googling for interventions that actually work? We dive into the mother of all systematic reviews covering 129 studies and 52 occupational the...
Ep. 12 Shooting for Better Sleep: How Playing Basketball Improves Sleep & Executive Function
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Could better sleep for autistic children be as simple as shooting some hoops? In this episode, occupational therapists, Michele Alaniz and Lacy Wright...
Ep. 11 Handwriting & OT: Guiding Principles for Today and the Future (with AI)
30 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
Ep. 10 Tubes & Tables: Supporting Mealtime with Medically Fragile Kids (special guest episode)
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when a child isn't able eat? In this milestone 10th episode, Michele and Lacy explore the complex world of pediatric occupational th...
Ep. 9 VR and Pediatric Brain Injury (3 Takeaways to Apply Across OT Settings)
16 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ever wonder how virtual reality could change your pediatric occupational therapy practice? Michele and Lacy dive into a randomized control trial where...
Ep. 8 Ayres SI in Brazil: 3 Tools to Boost Your OT Practice
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Did you know that up to 16% of children have sensory processing challenges that impact their daily lives? In this evidence-packed episode, pediatric o...
Ep. 7 Parent-Powered Potty Training: The 4-Step Coaching Model in Telehealth
02 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Forget everything you thought you knew about toilet training—this evidence-based pediatric occupational therapy approach is changing the game. In th...
Ep. 6 The Surprising #1 Reason OT Students Fail Fieldwork (And How You Can Help)
26 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Struggling OT Fieldwork students? The shocking truth is that occupational therapy knowledge isn't what makes or breaks fieldwork success—it&apo...
Ep. 5 Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3: Top School-Based OT Interventions That Work
19 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Overwhelmed by your school-based OT caseload? Join Drs. Michele Alaniz and Lacy Wright as they discuss three decades of research into actionable, tier...
Ep. 4 Beyond the Messy Desk: Assessing Executive Function in Adolescents
12 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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, ...
Ep. 3 Scoring Success: Quality Sports Participation for Kids with Autism
05 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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 c...
Ep. 2 Play that Works: Engaging & Effective OT Motor Interventions for Kids with CP
26 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What if you could help children with cerebral palsy make significant motor gains with half the therapy hours while keeping both parents and kids engag...
Ep. 1 Play With Purpose: An OT Motor Skill Intervention for Autism
19 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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&apos...
Welcome to Ideas at Play!
08 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Welcome to Ideas at Play, your go to podcast for practical and engaging insights into pediatric occupational therapy. We're your hosts, Michele A...