In this episode, I explore one of the most nuanced topics in parenting - the use of labels for children. As an OT and mom to a sensory sensitive child, I've seen firsthand both the pros and cons that labels can bring. I discuss my own journey in understanding different perspectives on labels and how my views have evolved. Listeners will gain insight into why labels are so meaningful to some, yet controversial to others. I also share strategies for effective advocacy and community-building...

In this episode, I share my top comebacks for dealing with judgmental comments about parenting a neurodivergent child. As parents, we've all experienced unwanted advice or passive aggressive remarks from friends and family about our parenting style or our child's behavior. But it can be hard to know how to respond without causing conflict. I'll provide a variety of polite, informative, and sassy responses you can have in your back pocket for common comments like "My parents would never let me...

In this episode, Laura Petix interviews Casey Ehrlich, a social scientist and expert in Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA). Casey shares her personal story of discovering her son's PDA diagnosis and journey to understanding. She discusses PDA as a dysregulated nervous system perceiving threats to autonomy. Casey provides 5 key accommodation strategies for supporting PDA needs, including letting kids win games, using declarative language, strewing for engagement, letting go of demands for...

I recently had an open discussion with my instagram audience on whether or not someone with a clinical diagnosis of anxiety would be considered neurodivergent. This stemmed from an inner conflict I was experiencing and trying to decide– am I neurodivergent?  I actually shared a more in depth view of where I stand on this topic personally and it’s in the previous episode, 88 if you want to go back and listen to that after this.  This question brought up such great conversations in my DMs...

It all started when a 4th grader at my daughter’s school asked me if I’m neurodivergent after I finished doing a read aloud of my book to their school. And I don’t know why but I stumbled over my words.  I kept thinking about it over and over again that day and then shared it to my stories with a question, am I neurodivergent?  Sensory Detectives Waitlist (next cohort: early 2024) Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast The OT Butterfly Instagram:...

We talk a lot about noticing when your child becomes dysregulated and paying attention to their behaviors so you can identify a pattern, but what if the pattern isn't obvious? There are 4 main questions that you could be thinking about to help narrow down patterns around your child's behavior and I'm sharing them with you today. You'll also get to hear testimony from previous sensory detectives boot camp (SDBC) alum.  Sensory Detectives Waitlist (next cohort: early 2024) Episode...

Are you searching for the answers to help stop a certain behavior that keeps coming up for your child? Maybe they’re always hitting or yelling; maybe they are getting notes sent home from school that they’re not paying attention or keeps disrupting class. Before you can look for solutions to stop the behavior, you need to understand why the behavior is occurring. And the first place to look for the answer to that question is in “the gap”. Listen to this episode to hear how I talk about the...

Have you ever wondered how to help your child understand or process a certain life event, like when a pet dies, or when a friend moves away?  Or maybe you’ve wondered what’s the best way to prepare your child for something that’s going to happen like moving houses, welcoming a new sibling to the family or even going to the dentist? Perhaps you’ve needed to find a way to talk about a certain behavior or challenge that keeps coming up, like learning how to share toys with a sibling or how...

Have you ever used a combination of sensory inputs and sensory tools to build this ultimate, customized sensory strategy for your child? Mixing and matching, adding on or taking away sensory input?  If so- you’re already a pro at sensory layering. If not, give this episode a listen to understand how you can use what I call “sensory layering” to enhance nervous system regulation.  Sensory Detectives Waitlist (next cohort: early 2024) Episode transcript:...

Many of us are back into the swing of things at school, and with that comes so much more dysregulation! In this season premiere episode, we’re talking about where that dysregulation comes from and how you can try to get ahead of it (key word: try!).  You’ll learn:  What dysregulated behaviors are common to see after school How after school restraint collapse looks different for neurodivergent kidsSome immediate ways to regulate the nervous system right at school pick upWhat kinds of sensory...

The transition to summer comes with so many emotions and behaviors, it can be really exhausting. There are ways to support your neurodivergent child through this transition. In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why the transition from end of school to summer vacation is difficultHow to handle big feelings around the end of school How to optimize regulation at home How to structure your time at home 

I wanted to create a kids book about neurodiversity not only to help our neurodivergent kids feel seen and represented in a positive light, BUT also to help educate the greater population, the neurotypical population about what neurodiversity means- to foster more inclusion, to take control of the narrative about neurodiversity and change it more from a conversation centered around ableism and make it more about just differences- having a different brain is not bad; it’s just different. My...

One of the big topics I talk about and something i joke will be written on my tomb stone one day is “Sensory is behavior” i’m always trying to reframe the debate “is it sensory or is it behavior?” because everything that we’re noticing our kids do is a behavior, but what parents/teachers want to get to the root of is “is this kid doing this thing on purpose or is it out of their control?”  So what I try to reframe for them is is the behavior being driven by a sensory trigger- OR is it being...

Kindermusik  is a  purposefully created multisensory music and movement program for ages 0-7 that provides neurodivergent children the opportunity to improve in all learning areas by consciously stimulating the whole brain. Kindermusik creates shared research-based curricula that: Empower educatorsStrengthen family and teacher-child relationshipsEnhance community connectionsBuild a deep-rooted love for learningwhile providing early development strategies that are memorable, playful, and...

Tune in to this episode to learn about:  What is repair and restitution and why are they important?When should a parent repair with their child? What we should do when we’re in a constant cycle of rupture and repair.The power of re-writing the story What does it sound like for a parent to repair? How to facilitate repair from your child, even when they don’t want toWith Myla Leinweber B.Ed, M.Ed, PCI Certified Parent Coach Myla is a mom of two young girls, a former kindergarten teacher and...

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, including how 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/77 Enroll 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...

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 about Whether 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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...