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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

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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41:57

Ep. 46 Zones of Regulation: the Good, the Bad, and...

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

2025/12/31

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...

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41:37

Ep. 45 The Ultimate Evidence Guide: What 52 Pediatric...

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

2025/12/24

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 ca...

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27:56

Ep. 44 AOTA Children & Youth Conference Recap

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

2025/12/17

Michele and Lacy recap the AOTA Children & Youth Conference where they presented on sleep interventions, hard conversations with families, and community-based fieldwork. They share the hottest topics in pediatric OT—parent collaboration, mental health strategies, handwriting, and more—plus the conversations and products that made this conference memorable. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! ✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here. 📧 Email us a question or comment at

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36:32

Ep. 43 Reflex Integration: What the Evidence Shows

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

2025/12/10

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 the Masgutova Neurosensorimotor Reflex Integration (MNRI®) method and uncover critical gaps that every therapist needs to know about. From inconsistent intervention methods to assessment measures missing statistical verification, to a stunning finding about retained primitive reflexes in typical preschool and elementary children (present in 93-1...

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36:27

Ep. 42 Sexual Education and OT's Role

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

2025/12/03

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 occupational injustice and what we can do about it. We talk about the research and cover everything from sensory considerations in relationships to teaching boundaries and safety. If you work with adolescents or young adults, this episode will give you the framework, practical tools, and confidence to start supporting clients and caregivers in this cri...

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31:42

Ep. 41 The Thankful Therapist's Gift Guide (OT Style)

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

2025/11/26

Holiday shopping with purpose starts here! This week we're sharing our favorite gift ideas for therapists, kids, and everyone on your list. Discover directories of disabled-owned businesses for fun new ideas, then hear about our favorite therapy products like light-up pop tubes, bubble tongs, and the bow-and-arrow set. We're also highlighting self-care essentials every therapist needs—from anxiety-reducing playlists to washable clinic rugs. Whether you're filling stockings or treating yoursel...

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38:20

Ep. 40 Let's Talk Ayres SI, Autism, & Play with Dr....

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

2025/11/19

Running in circles, flapping arms, spinning with ribbons—Heather Kuhaneck, PhD, OTR/L, FAOTA, explains why joining in play with kids creates the connection that makes therapy possible. As editor of Case-Smith’s Occupational Therapy for Children and Adolescents, co-creator of the Sensory Processing Measure, and program director at Southern Connecticut State University, Heather knows play and sensory integration inside out. She shares research-backed strategies for using imitation to spark conn...

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39:13

Ep. 39 What New OTs Really Want in a Job

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

2025/11/12

What do early career occupational therapists really prioritize when choosing their first OT job? Spoiler alert: salary ranks 9th out of 16 factors. In this episode, we break down a fascinating Canadian study that surveyed early career occupational therapists about what actually matters in their job search—and the findings might surprise you. We reveal the top intrinsic and extrinsic factors driving OT employment decisions, why 60% of new grad occupational therapists have jobs lined up before ...

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37:03

Ep. 38 Building Motor Skills & Social Communication...

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

2025/11/05

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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35:04

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

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

2025/10/29

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...

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38:00

Ep. 36 Home Programs That Actually Work

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

2025/10/22

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 ...

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36:39

Ep. 35 CO-OP for Improving Motor Skills

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

2025/10/15

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...

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35:41

Ep. 34 Sensory Integration in Schools

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

2025/10/08

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...

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48:17

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

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

2025/10/01

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...

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34:22

Ep. 32 Sydney Playground Project

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

2025/09/24

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...

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