Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast

• Ep. 9 VR and Pediatric Brain Injury (3 Takeaways to Apply Across OT Settings)

  Ever wonder how virtual reality could change your pediatric occupational therapy practice? Michele and Lacy dive into a randomized control trial where VR helped kids with brain injuries make progress in just four weeks of OT intervention! Hear about 3 game-changing elements occupational therapists can implement: instant feedback, kids actually wanting to do more repetitions in therapy, and automatic adjustments for that perfect "just right challenge" every OT strives for. No fancy equipment? No problem - these main ideas work in many OT settings. You'll also hear about a creative occupational therapy "Nailed It!" moment where a high schooler went from frustrating handwriting goals to playing guitar with adaptive equipment!We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Choi, J. Y., Yi, S. H., Ao, L., Tang, X., Xu, X., Shim, D., Yoo, B., Park, E. S., & Rha, D. W. (2021). Virtual reality rehabilitation in children with brain injury: a randomized controlled trial. Developmental medicine and child neurology, 63(4), 480–487. https://doi.org/10.1111/dmcn.14762KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; virtual reality; brain injury; cerebral palsy; CPStay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! Email us at [email protected] Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

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• Ep. 8 Ayres SI in Brazil: 3 Tools to Boost Your OT Practice

  Did you know that up to 16% of children have sensory processing challenges that impact their daily lives? In this evidence-packed episode, pediatric occupational therapists Michele and Lacy break down a groundbreaking randomized control trial from Brazil on Ayres Sensory Integration (ASI) that every peds OT needs to know about. Discover three practical tools that will transform your OT practice: data-driven decision making, the ASI fidelity measure, and goal attainment scaling. Plus, find out why golden retrievers and toddlers don't always mix in therapy sessions!We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Omairi, C., Mailloux, Z., Antoniuk, S. A., & Schaaf, R. (2022). Occupational therapy using Ayres Sensory Integration®: A randomized controlled trial in Brazil. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 76(4).KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; sensory integration; ASIStay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! Email us at [email protected] Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

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• Ep. 7 Parent-Powered Potty Training: The 4-Step Coaching Model in Telehealth

  Forget everything you thought you knew about toilet training—this evidence-based pediatric occupational therapy approach is changing the game. In this episode, we dive into a hybrid telehealth intervention that transformed toilet training success rates through occupation-based coaching strategies that every peds OT should know. Learn the 4-step  framework that empowers parents to become the experts in their child's potty training journey, showing significant improvement in just 12 weeks! We'll break down practical occupational therapy ideas that therapists are using to guide families through this challenging milestone and reveal which resources parents actually use (spoiler: it's not the handouts!). Whether you're an OT in early intervention or an outpatient setting, this episode delivers evidence-based pediatric occupational therapy solutions that respect each family's unique dynamics.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too. Little, L. M., Wallisch, A., Dunn, W., & Tomchek, S. (2023). A Telehealth Delivered Toilet Training Intervention for Children with Autism. OTJR : occupation, participation and health, 43(3), 390–398. https://doi.org/10.1177/15394492231159903KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; telehealth; toilet training; autismStay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! Email us at [email protected] Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

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• Ep. 6 The Surprising #1 Reason OT Students Fail Fieldwork (And How You Can Help)

  Struggling OT Fieldwork students? The shocking truth is that occupational therapy knowledge isn't what makes or breaks fieldwork success—it's professional behaviors! Join pediatric occupational therapists, Michele and Lacy, as they unpack evidence-based strategies for fieldwork in this must-listen episode. From communication skills to time management, discover the essential professional behaviors that make or break fieldwork experiences and learn practical tools that transform OT education. Whether you're a peds OT seeking fresh ideas, a fieldwork educator, or a student preparing for practice, this episode delivers actionable insights to ensure fieldwork success.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too. Hackenberg, G. R., & Toth-Cohen, S. (2018). Professional Behaviors and Fieldwork: A Curriculum Based Model in Occupational Therapy. Journal of Occupational Therapy Education, 2 (2). https://doi.org/ 10.26681/jote.2018.020203  KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; fieldwork; professional behaviors: sensory integrationStay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! Email us at [email protected] Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

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• Ep. 5 Tier 1, Tier 2, Tier 3: Top School-Based OT Interventions That Work

  Overwhelmed by your school-based OT caseload? Join Drs. Michele Alaniz and Lacy Wright as they discuss three decades of research into actionable, tiered interventions that deliver measurable results. Learn why the most successful school-based OTs are shifting from traditional pull-out services to classroom-embedded support, dramatically reducing waitlists while expanding their influence. This episode unpacks game-changing approaches at every tier with concrete, research-supported strategies, specific intervention dosage guidelines, and methods to convert teachers into enthusiastic collaborators. We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.Lynch, H., Moore, A., O’Connor, D., & Boyle, B. (2023). Evidence for implementing tiered approaches in school-based occupational therapy in elementary schools: A scoping review. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(1), 7701205110. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.050027Keywords: Occupational therapy; OT; evidence based practice; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; school-based; workload; tiered interventionStay informed, stay curious, and stay playful! Email us at [email protected] Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play

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