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PODCAST

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

Michele Alaniz & Lacy Wright

Welcome to Ideas at Play, the go-to podcast for busy pediatric occupational therapy professionals! Whether you"re in school-based settings, early intervention, or outpatient practice, we bring you evidence-based strategies, practical tips, and engaging discussions to support your OT practice with children, teens, and young adults.Each episode features:A deep dive into recent pediatric OT research and how to apply it."Nailed It or Failed It," where we share what’s working—and what isn’t—in our

education courses

All Episodes

45:54

Ep. 66 Ayres SI vs. ABA

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/05/20

Send us a Text or Voicemail The study we've been waiting for is finally here. An NIH-funded, head-to-head RCT pits Ayres Sensory Integration against ABA for autistic children with sensory differences — and we have thoughts. We're breaking down what makes these two approaches fundamentally different (hello key ingredients and mechanism of action), what the evidence actually says, and what to tell families who are confused about the difference. Buckle up. We share our own thoughts in the ...

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41:37

Ep. 65 Early Intervention: The GAME Approach

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/05/13

Send us a Text or Voicemail Can a home program alone replace clinic-based therapy? This week, we put it to the test with a randomized controlled study on the GAME intervention (Goal, Activity, Motor, Enrichment) for toddlers with developmental delays. We discuss the steps of the GAME intervention, supportive parent coaching, and how you can implement this in your own caseload tomorrow. Plus, Michele shares about a rough consult, Lacy tries something new with student groups, and there's a tiny...

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46:34

Ep. 64 Handwriting Research Tour (yes, skip the...

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/05/06

Send us a Text or Voicemail If you've ever debated pencil grips or the perfect grasp pattern in an IEP meeting, this episode is for you. We take a tour of the handwriting literature — pulling from OT, education, ergonomics, and hand therapy — to find out what actually moves the needle in handwriting intervention. Learn with us as we dig into why force matters more than grip position, what the research says about weighted and adapted pencils, and why grasp patterns are way less important than ...

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40:57

Ep. 63 Preparing Autistic Teens for Adulthood

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/04/29

Send us a Text or Voicemail If you work with older kids, you know the feeling — suddenly your caseload has a teenager and the stakes feel higher, the clock feels shorter, and the parents feel more anxious than ever. Good news: the research has some clear direction on what actually moves the needle for autistic teens heading into adulthood. Spoiler — it might not be what you think. This week, we dig into the MAPSS program and come away with practical tools you can use in any setting. We share ...

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39:16

Ep. 62 CVI Interventions

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/04/22

Send us a Text or Voicemail Cerebral visual impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of low vision in children and one of the most underidentified conditions in pediatric practice. This week, we are getting into the research about CVI, sharing a free tool for collaborating with parents, and discussing 4 evidence-based interventions you can start weaving into your sessions. One of them is the most surprising and effective low-tech treatment idea we have come across in a long time. We share our ow...

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41:43

Ep. 61 Improving Food Intake & Family Vibes

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/04/15

Send us a Text or Voicemail 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 intake and family vibes. We discuss new research on responsive feeding for children with G-tubes and share how coaching caregivers, honoring child cues, and creating a positive mealtime environment can lead to meaningful change—without focusing on every tiny feeding skill. Real research, real strategies, and ideas you ca...

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26:22

Ep. 60 Ideas at Work Highlights

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/04/08

We're celebrating episode 60 by going inside our Ideas at Work pilot group. Real therapists, real sessions, real problem-solving. We troubleshoot a tough emotional regulation session, share how one therapist used a basketball intervention, and break down how to write airtight documentation when your funding source wants to put you in a box (hint - this is where the key ingredients and mechanism of action come into play). This is evidence-based practice in the wild — messy, creative, and it wo...

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40:01

Ep. 59 Coaching in Early Intervention

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/04/01

Most OTs in early intervention think they're coaching, BUT the research says otherwise. In this episode, we discuss a scoping review on caregiver coaching in early intervention — the five key ingredients, why the model can be hard to do in real life, and five action steps you can take into someone's living room on a Thursday morning. Turns out coaching is a skill, not a vibe. Let's get better at it. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articl...

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26:12

Ep. 58 Zippers: An OT + Speech Approach

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/03/25

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 down a simple, creative approach to teaching zippering skills that combines OT and speech strategies to help kids learn faster. We review a pilot study using storytelling, targeted vocabulary, and a themed zipper vest—and then show you how to apply it in real sessions using child-led language, special interests, and easy take-home supports. If zipper goa...

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38:13

Ep. 57 Sensory Activity Schedules

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/03/18

Sensory activity schedules—often called sensory diets—are used every day in school-based therapy, but how strong is the evidence behind them? In this episode, we review a recent systematic review that examined whether sensory activity schedules improve classroom participation for students with sensory processing differences. We unpack what the research found about its effect on school performance and share six practical ingredients therapists can use to build more effective sensory activity s...

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38:17

Ep. 56 OT Interventions for Autistic Children (20...

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/03/11

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 study that identified 20 treatment components pediatric OTs use with autistic children and organized them into six major categories. Learn how this framework can guide your therapy sessions and strengthen your documentation. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too. Crasta, J. E., Mar...

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37:02

Ep.55 Burnout in OT Practice

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/03/04

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 predictable response to specific job demands. In this episode, we unpack what research says actually drives burnout in OT practice — from workload and role ambiguity to the hidden strain of always being “on.” Then we walk through practical, research-based strategies — including job crafting — to help you prevent burnout, buffer growing stress, and reco...

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39:37

Ep. 54 Big Feelings, Big Strategies: Emotional...

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/02/25

Emotional regulation is often treated as a behavior problem — but what if we’re missing the bigger picture? In this episode, we unpack what emotional regulation really is, why it’s so complex, and how executive function, coping skills, co-regulation, and environmental supports all play a role. We’ll move beyond surface-level strategies and explore what the research actually says about improving regulation in meaningful, sustainable ways. This will shift how you think about “big feelings” — an...

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31:22

Ep. 53 Clothes on Backward? A Super Simple Visual Cue...

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/02/18

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, research-backed occupational therapy strategy that improved clothing orientation using one small visual cue (yes — it involves duct tape). We break down why dressing orientation can be so tricky, how this approach compares to other OT and ABA interventions, and how motor learning can support independence. If backward clothes are a sticking point in your ...

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31:38

Ep. 52 Drumming as an OT Intervention

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/02/11

Drumming might not be the first intervention that comes to mind—but the evidence suggests it deserves a closer look for regulation, connection, and mental health for autistic individuals. We unpack what therapeutic drumming actually looks like (spoiler: no musical talent required), why a simple structure matters, and how rhythm can bring motor, sensory, and social skills together in one joyful intervention. If you’re curious about evidence-based strategies that feel meaningful, energizing, an...

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36:25

Ep. 51 Sensory-Based Interventions - Tools or Toys?

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/02/04

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 evidence behind sensory-based interventions, from weighted vests and fidgets to caregiver coaching and environmental modifications. Drawing from a recent systematic review, we discuss what actually supports participation, what shows mixed results, and how to make data-driven decisions without losing sight of day-to-day practice realities.&nbs...

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41:33

Ep. 50 Listener Questions: Pediatric OT in the Real...

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/01/28

Episode 50 is all about YOU! Michele and Lacy tackle the questions that keep pediatric occupational therapists thinking, problem-solving, and sometimes scratching their heads. We dive into recommending OT service minutes with evidence (not guesswork) explore how AI can make your OT life easier while keeping therapy person-centered, and share prep hacks that save time without skimping on quality. Plus, we get real about finding mentorship and continuing education to fit you. It’s practical, ho...

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33:42

Ep. 49 Folinic Acid and Autism: Translating the...

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/01/21

Folinic acid has been showing up everywhere in conversations about autism—but what does the research actually tell us, and why should occupational therapists pay attention? In this episode of Ideas at Play, we break down a high-quality randomized controlled trial on folinic acid and translate the findings into practical, OT-relevant insights. We unpack the brain-based “why,” highlight what the study found (including changes related to autism characteristics and language), and talk about how t...

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35:10

Ep. 48 Effective Collaboration With Teachers

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/01/14

Everyone agrees that collaboration with teachers matters in school-based OT practice, yet many occupational therapists struggle to make it work in real life. In this episode, we go beyond polite check-ins and quick info-sharing to unpack what effective interprofessional collaboration really looks like. We unpack a qualitative study and the key ingredients that make collaboration work: protected time and space, trust and power-sharing, and turning shared ideas into real classroom action....

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38:09

Ep. 47 10-Minute Executive Function Interventions for...

Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast ·

2026/01/07

Struggling to find practical interventions for kids with ADHD that actually improve executive function and/or mental health? This episode breaks down a Canadian study comparing two 10-minute interventions—exercise and mindfulness meditation—and their immediate effects on inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. We explain what worked best, why it works (hello, default mode network and prefrontal cortex activation), and how occupational therapists can implement these strategies i...

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