Tune in for this short but sweet episode where I interviewed my 5 year old about some of the things we talk about often at home, includinghow she expresses her emotionswhat she thinks about everyone having feelingshow meltdowns are handled and how she prefers to handle themwhat it's like being sensory sensitiveLinks:Podcast transcript: www.theotbutterfly.com/77Enroll in Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions

Do you have a child who avoids, is fearful of, or has meltdowns around sensory triggers related to: wearing certain clothes/fabrics/shoes/sockseating a variety of foodsbeing around loud sounds/busy environmentsgetting their hands or skin messy/stickyhygiene tasks like taking a bath, washing their hair or brushing their hairThis episode takes you through my 4 step process (W.I.S.E.) to supporting them through this at home!If you're looking for more details on this process, come to my free masterclass on Saturday May 27th at 5PM PST. Register at www.theotbutterfly.com/masterclassEpisode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/76The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyRegister for the free masterclass: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/masterclass

In this unscripted episode, I catch you up to speed with where we are with emotional and sensory regulation. Spoiler alert- Liliana is THRIVING. I talk about some of the big, foundational, anchoring concepts we focused on that I feel have made a huge  impact in getting to where we are today. You'll hear me talk aboutWhether or not I think development/age plays a factor in her progressThe top 5 game discussions/concepts/strategies that played a huge role in her growthSome examples of what we do proactively in terms of sensory and regulation strategiesLinks: Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/75The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsultRegister for the masterclass: www.theotbutterfly.com/masterclass

Educating your kids about how their brain and bodies work can be a game changer when it comes to supporting their regulation. When we give them the cheat sheet to how their brain works, they can start to understand why certain things are hard for them, and why they may have certain quirks or behaviors. More importantly, when we educate our kids about how their brain and bodies work, it can give them the language to self advocate with peers or other adults around them and give them the motivation to try the strategies that will support their regulation. In this episode, I’ll help you start the conversation with your child about their nervous system and how it helps the brain and body communicate with eachother. In this episode, you’ll learn: Why it’s important to explain to your child how their brain and body communicateHow to explain the body and brain connection to your child Links:Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/74The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyJoin the Sensory Detectives Boot camp: www.theotbutterfly.com/bootcamp

Dr. Tracy Dalgleish helps empower women and couples to improve their communication and build strong and healthy connections with themselves and their partner through therapy, wellness seminars, and her work outside of the therapy room. She contributes to popular media sites, including Motherly, Huffington Post, and Bustle. In addition to hosting the podcast, “I’m not your shrink” where she dives deeper into clinical knowledge and research in a relatable and informal way, her book “I Didn’t Sign Up For This: Stories of Unlocking Old Patterns and Finding Joy in Your Relationship” will be available in September 2023. A mom of two young children and owner of Ottawa’s mental health clinic, Integrated Wellness, she knows what it means to balance the full load.In this episode, we talked about Where to start when your partner is not on board with your parenting styleDo both parents need to have the exact same parenting style?What might be coming up for your partner when discussing neurodiversityWhen it’s time to seek professional support to feel more secure in your partnershipWhat to do about big decisions where compromising isn’t an option  Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/73Part 1 of this conversation on Dr. D's podcast (apple link)Part 1 of this conversation on Dr. D's podcast (spotify link) Dr. Tracy instagram Dr. Tracy websiteFree: 100 Questions to spark a deeper conversation with your partnerDetecting Dysregulation free training & community: www.theotbutterfly.com/trainingThe OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

Today I got to ask Kelly Mahler (aka the QUEEN of interoception) all about the 8th sense and how our experiences of interoception differ so much across individuals, but especially within the neurodivergent community. Kelly Mahler OTD, OTR/L, earned a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. She has been an occupational therapist for 20 years, serving school-aged children and adults. Kelly is winner of multiple awards, including the 2020 American Occupational Therapy Association Emerging and Innovative Practice Award & a Mom’s Choice Gold Medal. She is an adjunct faculty member at Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA as well as at Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. Kelly is a co-principal investigator in several research projects pertaining to topics such as interoception, self-regulation, trauma & autism. In this episode, you’ll learn:  What interoception is How early interoception starts developing  What we know (and don’t know) about interoception development in infants/early childhood Best ways to start when you want to start building interoception understanding in your neurodivergent childLinks:Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/72More from Kelly: www.kelly-mahler.com The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

Happy OT month! To continue our celebration, I'm re-airing an episode that gives you information on not only accessing OT in the US, but how to leverage and make the most out of the OT services you may already be getting for your child. Making the most out of your child’s OT services (that you had to fight tooth and nail for, go down very deep internet rabbit holes and stalk the local mom group just to find) is important, but how? In this episode, I’ll be answering common questions I get from parents, like what to do if your child isn’t making progress, how you can ask your OT to support you in non-traditional ways, when it might be time to take a break or pause from OT, and even some signs that you may need to switch therapists. Links: Work with me: www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsultTranscript/show notes at www.theotbutterfly.com/24instagram: @TheOTButterfly www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

In honor of Occupational Therapy month, I’m interviewing Dr. Krupa Playforth to help us understand the challenges parents and doctors face when it comes to referring kids with sensory needs to OT. Dr. Playforth and I will unpack from a parent perspective, therapist and pediatrician perspective and give tips on specific questions to ask/what to say in order to best advocate for OT services with your pediatrician. Dr Playforth is a board-certified pediatrician (and a mother of 3) who believes every parent deserves clear, evidence-based, nuanced answers to their child health questions. Although social media and the internet are powerful tools, they can also be a mine of misinformation. Using a combination of sincerity, dry humor, and practical tips from her own experience as a mother, she created The Pediatrician Mom - a safe space and resource full of free information for parents on everything from milestones and constipation to ADHD and COVID.  Dr Playforth can be reached at www.thepediatricianmom.com or on social media (@thepediatricianmom).In this episode, you’ll learn: What makes someone a “good pediatrician?”How you can rephrase certain questions to get more support from your pediatricianWhat are some common roadblocks parents run into when trying to advocate for OT services with their pediatricianQuestions to ask the pediatrician if they don’t give you a referral to OT right awayStrategies, scripts and tips for getting a referral to OTHow you can self-refer to OT if you need to. Links: Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/70The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsultFind more from Dr. Playforth www.thepediatricianmom.comwww.instagram.com/thepediatricianmom

It's Occupational Therapy month and we are celebrating by highlighting some of the ways you can get OT support for your children. Today we're talking about OT support through the public school system, specifically in the United States. This episode covers basic information about IEP services and 504 plans, how they differ and how to effectively create a support team that has your child's best interests in mind. Casey Waugh is a pediatric occupational therapist with 11 years of experience in outpatient, early intervention, and school settings. Casey’s passion is to elevate parent confidence through education and advocacy.  Her social media channel OT Time with Casey was created in response to a desire to help fill gaps between professional knowledge and parent knowledge.  Casey has focused her effort on learning and training in the areas of feeding, sensory processing, and special education processes particularly in regard to ADHD and OT in schools. On a personal note, she is a mom of two active and sweet little boys, and the idea of a perfect date night with her hubs is a night on the couch watching The Office with their cats Frank and Beans. Links Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/69The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsultCasey’s instagramBook a free consult with CaseyFree download: how to start the conversation with your child's school about sensory needs in the classroom

If you’ve ever worried about your preschooler’s handwriting skills and whether or not they’ll be able to write their name or their ABCs by kindergarten, let us (a pediatric Occupational Therapist and a former teacher with a Masters in Early Childhood Education) put your mind at ease. You might be shocked to realize that some of the expectations placed on kindergarteners and young learners isn’t actually backed by evidence. This episode will give you insights into how handwriting is actually developed, what underlying skills we should be focusing on and how to start that conversation with your child’s school or teacher. Susie is a former teacher with a Master's in Early Childhood Education and a mom to 3 kids. She taught kindergarten and first grade for 8 years, and was also a math and reading curriculum specialist for a large school district outside of Seattle. Her mission is to bring hands-on play and learning back to childhood, support others in their parenting journey, and help everyone make it to nap time. Susie’s parenting book “Busy Toddler’s Guide to Actual Parenting” is available on Amazon and she also created Playing Preschool- a homeschool preschool curriculum.In this episode, you’ll learn: Why there’s such a huge discrepancy between natural childhood development and what schools are expecting of early learnerWhy we shouldn’t force preschoolers to practice handwriting too early What we should be focusing on instead The sequence of underlying skills that need to be mastered before even attempting to form lettersWhen is the right time to start practicing handwriting? Links: Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/68Companion blog post (email template to teachers is at the bottom): https://busytoddler.com/learning-handwriting/Susie’s instagram: https://www.instagram.com/busytoddlerSusie’s PlayingPreschool programSusie’s book on AmazonThe OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

Here’s a quick update on how our sensitivity to clothing journey has progressed, including the most game-changing hack I got Liliana to try (and hope it might save you some meltdowns in the future as well) Behind the scenes morning routine clothing challengeGrab the from stressed to dressed clothing guideBlog post on clothing sensitivity Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcastThe OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

This week I get to share the great conversation I had with Elizabeth Sautter, an SLP who specializes in social communication, emotional regulation and executive functioning for over 25 years. She strives to provide neurodiverse affirming therapy, training, resources and an online course for parents with a passion to make it simple and sprinkled into everyday life as an “add IN”, not an add “ON” to everyday routines and activities. She’s an author of Make Social and Emotional Learning Stick! Practical Activities to Manage Emotional, Navigate Social Situations and Reduce Anxiety (elizabethsautter.com). She is a collaborator and trainer with The Zones of Regulation team and co-author of The Zones storybook set, Tools to Try card decks and Navigating the Zones game.  She strongly believes in supporting regulation and advocacy for all individuals (everydayregulation.com). She resides in California, with her husband, two sons, dog and cat.In this episode, you’ll learn: How the idea of whole body listening came to beWhy whole body listening needed to be redefined How we should be teaching the idea behind whole body listening in a neuro-affirmative wayAn ideal way to integrate regulation strategies and awareness into the mainstream classroomLinks:Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/66The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsultDownload the template to email your child’s teacher Episode on my issues with Whole Body Listening ElizabethSautter.comhttps://www.instagram.com/elizabeth.sautter/https://www.facebook.com/ElizabethSautterMACCCSLPMore information about the Larry Resources: EverydayRegulation.com

This is a re-air of episode 20. All behavior is a form of communication, but sometimes it can be hard to decipher what our children are communicating. When kids hit, kick, spit, punch, throw or push, parents often ask me, “is this sensory or is it behavior?” I’m here to end that debate once and for all. Well, maybe not end it, but at least help you reframe it.Because what the real question should be is “What is it my child is trying to communicate with me right now?”Listen to this episode to hear more about the sensory and behavior link. Links: Grab the course:  www.theotbutterfly.com/behaviorTranscript/show notes at www.theotbutterfly.com/65instagram: @TheOTButterfly www.instagram.com/theotbutterflywebsite/blog: www.theotbutterfly.com

Description (buzz sprout & meta):We all benefit from using sensory supports throughout our day (regardless of neurotype). However, some individuals, particularly neurodivergent individuals with sensory processing disorder need a more specialized, proactive and consistent schedule of sensory input throughout their day, which is often referred to as a sensory lifestyle. Listen to this episode to learn: What a sensory lifestyle is Signs your child may benefit from a sensory lifestyle Examples of how we are all engaging in sensory regulation tools How to get started with a sensory lifestyle Links Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/64The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

What exactly is proprioceptive input and why do Occupational Therapists keep talking about it? If you’ve never heard of the term proprioceptive input, you might have heard of “heavy work” which is the more commonly used term. Keep reading to find out what proprioceptive input is, and why it’s probably the answer to some of your sensory regulation questions.Links:Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcastThe OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyHeavywork freebieHeavywork webinarWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

I often preach about spending time after the meltdown to help your child “fill in the blanks” for some things you may have to do during a meltdown (like leave the room, hold a boundary). In this episode, I give you a behind the scenes listen to how that actually plays out in ur house and my play-by-play reflection and reasoning for everything I said. Link:Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcastThe OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult5 finger breathing demonstration meltdowns workshopworry bug book

Have you ever heard of interoception? It’s one of the 8 senses and it’s responsible for alerting us of our internal sensations, such as heart beat, hunger/thirst, fullness cues, aches, pains and other miscellaneous sensations. Have you ever said “I have butterflies in my tummy” or “My heart dropped”? Those sensations are interoception signals to your brain and it’s highly linked to emotional regulation. Listen to this episode to find out exactly how it’s linked to emotional regulation and some quick ways to start helping your child today. Links: Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/61The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsultKelly Mahler: https://www.kelly-mahler.comSitting Still like a Frog: https://www.shambhala.com/sittingstilllikeafrog/ Podcast episode on emotional regulation: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/15

We had our first experience of a family play-date hang out at our house and, it went way worse than I ever could have imagined. I knew meltdowns would be possible, but I’ve never seen my daughter explode completely in front of new people before. In this episode, you’ll hear 2 parts:  My initial, next day raw reaction with very vulnerable thoughts… and then a 2nd part where I come back a few weeks later after having processed my thoughts about it (both with my therapist and internally) and sharing some tips in general for anyone else who plans to have a playdate. Links: Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/60The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

One of my absolute favorite books is The Out of Sync Child from Carol Kranowitz. If you haven’t read it yet, and you want to learn more abut SPD in a really easy to understand way, then check out this book. One of the post it notes that I have from when I still read it was the one with the quote, on page 28, “low self-esteem is one of the most telling symptoms of Sensory Processing Disorder.”  and this is in the section of the book where she talks about all the social and emotional challenges that are often associated with SPD. Today I want to unpack that idea and call to light some of the reasons why I think this is the case, based on my personal experience as a parent to a child with sensory needs, and as a clinician who’s worked with hundreds of kids over the past 7 years. Links: Register for the winter 2023 SWS cohortEpisode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcastThe OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyWork with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

You’ve heard me share my own story and progress as I work to support my neurodivergent daughter at home, and you’ve heard me share stories of other families I’ve helped support… but for the first time ever, you get to hear directly from another parent about their entire story. Listen to this episode to hear Carrie share Will’s story and how he went from anxious meltdowns about bath time to jumping into the lake with a huge smile on his face and becoming the confident kid he is today. Links :Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcastThe OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterflyJoin the S.W.S. Winter 2023 cohort: www.theotbutterfly.com/swswinterWill’s reel