Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

61 episodes

Ep. 60 Ideas at Work Highlights
2026/04/08 | 26 mins.
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 works!
Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!
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📧 Email us a question or comment at [email protected]
👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Ep. 59 Coaching in Early Intervention
2026/04/01 | 40 mins.
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 article too.
Seruya, F. M., Feit, E., Tirado, A., Ottomanelli, D., & Celio, M. (2022). Caregiver coaching in early intervention: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(4), 7604205070. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2022.049143
Williams, C. S., & Sawyer, G. E. (2023). Going beyond "I'm a coach": Adopting a caregiver coaching framework in EI. Young Exceptional Children, 27(1), 3–15. https://doi.org/10.1177/10962506231153660
Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!
✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
📧 Email us a question or comment at [email protected]
👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Ep. 58 Zippers: An OT + Speech Approach
2026/03/25 | 26 mins.
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 goals feel stuck, this episode will give you a fresh, practical way to move them forward.
We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.
Silverman, F., & Knight, C. (2019). Facilitating zippering skills in preschoolers: An interprofessional pilot study using a pretest–posttest design. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 73(4 Suppl. 1), 7311515317p1. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2019.73S1-PO6026
Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!
✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
📧 Email us a question or comment at [email protected]
👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Ep. 57 Sensory Activity Schedules
2026/03/18 | 38 mins.
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 schedules.
We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.
Latifi, K., Patterson, K., Rider, J. V., & Lau, C. (2026). Impact of sensory activity schedules on school performance of students with sensory processing differences: A systematic review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 80(1), 8001185060. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2025.051334
Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!
✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
📧 Email us a question or comment at [email protected]
👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Ep. 56 OT Interventions for Autistic Children (20 Strategies!)
2026/03/11 | 38 mins.
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., Martis, J., Kromalic, M., Jarrott, S., Wengerd, L., & Darragh, A. (2024). Characterizing Occupational Therapy Intervention for Children on the Autism Spectrum. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 78(5), 7805205210. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050734
Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!
✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.
📧 Email us a question or comment at [email protected]
👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

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

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 pediatric OT practice.Real-world examples and listener questions about all things pediatric occupational therapy.Shout outs to People, Places, and Products that fill our occupational therapy heartsJoin the hosts, Michele Alaniz, OTD, OTR/L, BCP and Lacy Wright, OTD, OTR/L, BCP, as we explore innovative OT ideas, share professional insights, and help you stay up-to-date with the latest trends in pediatric occupational therapy. Subscribe now and unlock actionable strategies to help the children you serve thrive!Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter https://forms.gle/2aceiDDHBq6LR5TV6.📧 Email us a question or comment at [email protected]👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.playKeywords: occupational therapy, OT, pediatric occupational therapy, evidence based practice, peds OT

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