Podcast
Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast
Hosted by Michele Alaniz & Lacy Wright · EN
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 hearts
Join 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 IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com
👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Keywords: occupational therapy, OT, pediatric occupational therapy, evidence based practice, peds OT
34episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
Ep. 65 Early Intervention: The GAME Approach
1w ago00:41:37Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailCan a home program alone replace clinic-based therapy? This week, we put it to the test with a randomized controlled study on the GAME intervention (Goal, Activity, Motor, Enrichment) for toddlers with developmental delays. We discuss the steps of the GAME intervention, supportive parent coaching, and how you can implement this in your own caseload tomorrow. Plus, Michele shares about a rough consult, Lacy tries something new with student groups, and there's a tiny dragon too! We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articles too.Gündoğmuş, E., Bumin, G., & Yalçın, S. S. (2024). Effect of Early Intervention on Developmental Domains and Parent-Child Interaction Among Children With Developmental Delay: A Randomized Controlled Study. The American journal of occupational therapy: official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 78(6), 7806205110. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050706 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 64 Handwriting Research Tour (yes, skip the pencil grips)
2w ago00:46:34Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailIf you've ever debated pencil grips or the perfect grasp pattern in an IEP meeting, this episode is for you. We take a tour of the handwriting literature — pulling from OT, education, ergonomics, and hand therapy — to find out what actually moves the needle in handwriting intervention. Learn with us as we dig into why force matters more than grip position, what the research says about weighted and adapted pencils, and why grasp patterns are way less important than we were trained to believe. Plus, we land on the nine key ingredients that the literature says actually make a difference — rooted in motor learning theory and ready to use in your next session. **Get the additional handwriting resources at this linkWe share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articles too.Schneider, M. K., Myers, C. T., Morgan-Daniel, J., & Shechtman, O. (2023). A scoping review of grasp and handwriting performance in school-age children. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 43(4), 430–445. https://doi.org/10.1080/01942638.2022.2151392 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 63 Preparing Autistic Teens for Adulthood
3w ago00:40:57Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailIf you work with older kids, you know the feeling — suddenly your caseload has a teenager and the stakes feel higher, the clock feels shorter, and the parents feel more anxious than ever. Good news: the research has some clear direction on what actually moves the needle for autistic teens heading into adulthood. Spoiler — it might not be what you think. This week, we dig into the MAPSS program and come away with practical tools you can use in any setting.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.Kirby, A. V., Feldman, K. J. C., Himle, M. B., Diener, M. L., Wright, C. A., & Hoffman, J. M. (2021). Pilot test of the Maximizing Adolescent Post-Secondary Success (MAPSS) intervention: Supporting parents of autistic youth. The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 75(3), 7503180070. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2021.045815 Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 62 CVI Interventions
4w ago00:39:32Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailCerebral visual impairment (CVI) is the leading cause of low vision in children and one of the most underidentified conditions in pediatric practice. This week, we are getting into the research about CVI, sharing a free tool for collaborating with parents, and discussing 4 evidence-based interventions you can start weaving into your sessions. One of them is the most surprising and effective low-tech treatment idea we have come across in a long time.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.Weden, K., DeCarlo, D. K., & Barstow, E. (2023). A scoping review of intervention for pediatric cerebral visual impairment: Calling all pediatric occupational therapists. Occupational Therapy in Health Care, 37(3), 326–356. https://doi.org/10.1080/07380577.2023.2172761Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 61 Improving Food Intake & Family Vibes
Apr 1500:41:59Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailFeeding therapy doesn’t have to feel like a power struggle. In this episode, we explore how shifting from pressure to partnership can improve food intake and family vibes. We discuss new research on responsive feeding for children with G-tubes and share how coaching caregivers, honoring child cues, and creating a positive mealtime environment can lead to meaningful change—without focusing on every tiny feeding skill. Real research, real strategies, and ideas you can start using right away.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original article too.Foster, L., Lawson, L. M., & Moreland, H. (2025). Impact of a responsive feeding intervention on children and caregivers: A nonrandomized, repeated-measures study. American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 79(5), 7905205060. Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 60 Ideas at Work Highlights
Apr 800:26:38Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailWe'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!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 59 Coaching in Early Intervention
Apr 100:40:17Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailMost 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.2022.049143Williams, 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/10.1177/10962506231153660Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 58 Zippers: An OT + Speech Approach
Mar 2500:26:27Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailMost 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 IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 57 Sensory Activity Schedules
Mar 1800:38:29Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailSensory 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.2025.051334Stay informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️ Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧 Email us a question or comment at IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
Transcribe →Ep. 56 OT Interventions for Autistic Children (20 Strategies!)
Mar 1100:38:32Tap to summarizeSend us a Text or VoicemailEvidence-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 IdeasAtPlayPodcast@gmail.com👉 Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play
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