Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

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Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Michele Alaniz & Lacy Wright

39 episodes

11 hours ago

Want an OT intervention that tackles motor skills AND social communication? This week we're unpacking seated play intervention for autistic children—exactly what it looks like, why it works, and how occupational therapists can use these key ingredients in practice. We explore research revealing surprising BOT-2 results, the power of structured repetition, and whether telehealth matches face-to-face therapy effectiveness. Plus, Michele shares a vulnerable "Failed It" about balancing relationsh...

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Want an OT intervention that tackles motor skills AND social communication? This week we're unpacking seated play intervention for autistic children—exactly what it looks like, why it works, and how occupational therapists can use these key ingredients in practice. We explore research revealing surprising BOT-2 results, the power of structured repetition, and whether telehealth matches face-to-face therapy effectiveness. Plus, Michele shares a vulnerable "Failed It" about balancing relationsh...

Show more...

Health & Fitness,

Episodes (20/39)

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 38 Building Motor Skills & Social Communication with Autistic Kids

Want an OT intervention that tackles motor skills AND social communication? This week we're unpacking seated play intervention for autistic children—exactly what it looks like, why it works, and how occupational therapists can use these key ingredients in practice. We explore research revealing surprising BOT-2 results, the power of structured repetition, and whether telehealth matches face-to-face therapy effectiveness. Plus, Michele shares a vulnerable "Failed It" about balancing relationsh...

3 days ago

37 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 37 Is Interoception Worth the Hype? A Deep Dive into the Evidence

Interoception is everywhere in pediatric occupational therapy—but does the evidence support what OTPs are doing? We dig into a 2025 scoping review revealing the surprising truth: most research is preliminary and thin. We break down 3 intervention curricula (Kelly Mahler is leading the charge), explain why your brain's insula is the "Inside Out" dashboard for body sensations and emotions, and get real about the assessment gap leaving occupational therapists flying blind. Michele shares h...

1 week ago

35 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 36 Home Programs That Actually Work

An occupational therapist came into Michele's office complaining that parents weren't following through with home programs—sound familiar? The problem isn't the parents; it's how we're setting them up from day one. This episode flips that script with evidence from a 2024 scoping review on what actually drives caregiver home program adherence. You'll learn OT strategies to create programs that fit into real family life, train parents effectively (hint: it's not a five-page handout), and build ...

2 weeks ago

38 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 35 CO-OP for Improving Motor Skills

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 Orientation to Occupational Performance)—and the results are amazing! Join Lacy and Michele as they break down the 12-week protocol and the 7 surprisingly simple cognitive strategies (you're probably already using some!) that help kids meet THEIR goals for play/leisure, academics, and daily self-care activities. From verbal cues to body positioning, learn h...

3 weeks ago

36 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 34 Sensory Integration in Schools

Can sensory integration really work in schools, or are we just wasting instructional time? This week we're reviewing a study that finally gives us answers. Three students, 17.5 hours of intervention, and results that impressed both teachers and researchers. Michele and Lacy break down this single-subject design study using Ayres SI and weekly teacher consultation with outcome measures sensitive enough to show real change. You'll learn the exact intervention protocol, hear what teachers actual...

1 month ago

35 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 33 Play as Occupation with guest Dr. Anita Bundy

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 Bundy—the world-renowned OT behind some of the most transformative play research out there. She explains why kids actually need to take risks in play, how she facilitates risk-reframing conversations, and why American kids have way less play than their Norwegian counterparts. You'll hear stories about autistic kids finding their people through tire forts and p...

1 month ago

48 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 32 Sydney Playground Project

What do old tires, crates, pool noodles, and hay bales have in common? They're the secret ingredients that revolutionized recess for hundreds of kids in Dr. Anita Bundy's groundbreaking Sydney Playground Project. In this episode, we get into the occupational therapy research that proved when you add "junk" to a playground and let kids take risks, magic happens. Kids moved more, played harder, and got creative in ways that fancy equipment could never achieve. This study is changing how OTs and...

1 month ago

34 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 31 Zones of Regulation: the Good, the Bad, and the OT Way

What happens when one of occupational therapy's most beloved programs gets put under the research microscope? Turns out Zones of Regulation—despite being wildly popular—has a shaky evidence base. BUT don’t panic and throw out all your materials, we've got some promising news. A new study shows what happens when you take Zones and actually do it the occupational therapy way: with OT scaffolding techniques, play-based activities, positive reinforcement, and environmental modifications. We explo...

1 month ago

40 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 30 Making Hospitals Sensory-Friendly

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 making everything worse. Picture this: you're already in crisis, then you're hit with buzzing fluorescent lights, scratchy bedsheets, and the smell of industrial cleaning solutions. For autistic teens, it's a recipe for prolonged stays and increased meltdowns. But what if we actually asked them what would help? That's exactly what UK researchers did, and ...

1 month ago

35 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 29 A Sleep Intervention with Dreamy Outcomes

95% of kids with neurodevelopmental disorders struggle with sleep—but there's an OT intervention that gives families an extra hour of sleep per night! In this episode, we discuss an occupational therapy study from Argentina that used telehealth and coaching to transform bedtime battles. This isn't the typical "try melatonin" approach—it's a comprehensive 5-step program addressing everything from parent self-care to zeitgeber (yes - that’s a real term and it’s amazing). Michele breaks down thi...

2 months ago

36 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 28 Responsive Feeding (and how OTPs are using this approach)

Many of our families know that sinking feeling when mealtime becomes a battlefield—tears, tantrums, and the stress of watching a child refuse meal after meal. But what is the best way to help? This week, we dive into a brand-new scoping review on responsive feeding for pediatric feeding disorders—an approach that's finally putting words to what many OTPs have been doing intuitively. We'll break down the two key pillars: environmental supports (consistent meal schedules, intentional positionin...

2 months ago

35 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 27 Group vs. Individual OT for Autistic Toddlers

Drowning in long therapy wait lists? Researchers found that group DIR Floortime (4 kids, 2 therapists) produced the same outcomes as individual occupational therapy sessions for autistic toddlers—AND slashed wait times from 108 to 52 days! We break down what worked, the challenges (parent participation was tricky), and what the therapists thought about it. Plus Michele's epic "Failed It" moment with bleeding lips and Lacy's activity up & down-grading breakthrough. If you're looking to ser...

2 months ago

34 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 26 Have Impostor Syndrome? (Here’s what to do)

Ever feel like you are in over your head? You're not alone—new research shows 84% of occupational therapy practitioners and students secretly battle impostor syndrome. From OT students to seasoned therapists, despite being well qualified, we're all wondering if we actually know what we're doing! In this episode, we break down the study that puts numbers to what we feel and reveal who may be hit hardest by these "Am I good enough?" thoughts. Then, Michele & Lacy share their strategies to m...

2 months ago

31 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 25 Hand Strengthening for Handwriting

Michele presents research that offers a completely different perspective on OT handwriting intervention. While previous episodes emphasized task-specific training (doing writing to improve writing), this study suggests that students receiving specialized resistance exercises—putty, rubber bands, clips—significantly outperformed control groups on handwriting legibility. We discuss the mechanisms behind these results and share practical strengthening activities OTPs can use in their sessions or...

3 months ago

24 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Summer of Play Series: Play Personalities

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 OT practice. Journey from Piaget and Vygotsky's foundational theories to Mary Reilly's revolutionary work for occupational therapy. We'll break down the National Institute of Play's eight distinct categories - from attunement and rough-and-tumble play to imaginative storytelling - revealing why recognizing these differences can shape your pediatric o...

3 months ago

28 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Summer of Play Series: Interventions for Play

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 play as both the vehicle AND the destination in pediatric OT. We'll discuss 5 manualized occupational therapy interventions that facilitate play for kids (and OTPs!) and 6 other evidence-based strategies for many diagnoses and practice settings. Discover how LEGO bricks build friendships, why getting down on the floor is a powerful OT clinical t...

3 months ago

31 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Summer of Play Series: Assessing Play

Ep 22 - 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 how this occupation is often overlooked in OT/OTA education programs and practice. You'll discover Bundy’s 4-part definition of play, the top 3 play assessments every pediatric occupational therapy practitioner should know, and learn simple ways to incorporate play observation into your OT evaluations. 🌞 Grab the free Summer of Play Guid...

3 months ago

28 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Summer of Play Series: 10 Fun Summer Therapy Ideas

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 activities. From DIY food trucks and table tennis for executive function to water balloons for social play to messy mud & shaving cream toy washes, these aren't just fun activities—they're strategic summertime interventions that your therapy kids will want to do again. Build your toolkit of seasonal strategies that work across all pediatric occupational...

4 months ago

27 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 20 Green Light Interventions for CP: Do What Works (with special guest Iona Novak)

Stop guessing and start knowing which occupational therapy interventions actually work. World-renowned OT researcher Professor Iona Novak discusses her revolutionary Traffic Light System that rates occupational therapy interventions with simple green, yellow, and red color coding. Learn why starting with client goals (not assessments) delivers faster outcomes, discover which interventions are moving from yellow to green (including stem cell research!), and discover her READ framework for evid...

4 months ago

48 minutes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Ep. 19 Pictures vs. Videos: Choosing the Right Visual Support for ADL Goals

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 living skills like brushing teeth, washing hands, and tying shoes, the visual support debate is real: static pictures or dynamic videos? Occupational therapists Michele and Lacy discuss research that puts these two visual strategies head-to-head, revealing insights about which kids thrive with which approach. Spoiler alert: it's not a simple winner! Plu...

4 months ago

35 minutes