Occupational Therapy

5 Tricks for Kids that Hate Getting Their Hair Washed

If hair washing turns into tears, resistance, or full-blown meltdowns in your house… I’m breaking down what’s really going on beneath the surface when kids struggle with having their hair washed, especially for sensory and neurodivergent kids. Because once you understand why this everyday task feels so overwhelming, everything starts to shift. We’ll talk about how past experiences, sensory sensitivities, and even hidden systems like the vestibular system can play...

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Kid Stuck in Negative Thinking? Do this Today.

Does your child quickly jump to: “I’m bad.”“I never do anything right.”“Everything always goes wrong.” That kind of negative thinking can be exhausting for kids and heartbreaking for parents to watch. In this episode, I’m breaking down what’s often really happening underneath these thought patterns in kids with ADHD, anxiety, sensory needs, and other uniquely wired challenges. I’m also sharing a simple shift you can start using today to help your child move out of...

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The Truth About Sensory Processing Disorder

Sensory processing disorder is something you’ve probably heard before… maybe from a therapist, a teacher, or even your pediatrician. But here’s the tricky part—it’s not actually an official diagnosis. And that can make this whole topic feel confusing and overwhelming. In this episode, I’m breaking down what sensory processing really is, what we mean when we say “sensory processing disorder,” and why it matters so much for your child’s day-to-day life. Because...

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How to Help Toe Walkers Walk on Their Whole Foot👣

Toe walking seems like an odd habit, and while it can become habitual there are almost always underlying reasons kids are toe walking! Getting to the bottom of what’s causing your kid to tip toe all over the place is key for helping them walk on their whole foot, which is important because long term toe walking can cause physical issues. But, I do have one thing you should no matter why your kid is walking on their toes and several more ways you can start...

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5 (More) Executive Functioning Skills Uniquely Wired Kids Struggle With

So often we see gaps in executive functioning skills as personality traits. Or, they frustrate the heck out of us. In my own parenting journey understanding my kid was struggling with executive functioning AND wasn’t just a difficult kid, changed everything. That’s why it’s important to understand more of these executive functioning skills in this part 2 edition of our episodes dedicated to executive functioning skills (see episode 5 for part 1....

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Stop Using Timeouts and Lecturing with Neurodivergent Kids: Do this Instead!

Neurodivergent kids often struggle with following directions, listening, and self-control. What are we to do? We worry they aren’t learning and want them to understand consequences. Both are very valid. In this episode learn why these popular parenting techniques we sometimes use intentionally and often out of desperation backfire with kids that have ADHD, Autism, or sensory needs. Full disclosure lecturing is something I struggle with using with my ADHD...

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4 Ways to Improve ADHD Symptoms (That No One Talks About!)

Most parents are told that ADHD treatment begins and ends with medication, which can be helpful for some kids. But there’s so much more to the story. (Grab a spot in the free Executive Functioning Week for parents below). In this episode we talk about four powerful — and often overlooked — ways to improve ADHD symptoms in kids. You’ll learn why ADHD is actually more than just poor attention, so much so that “ADHD” isn’t really the best name for...

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Vestibular Sensitivities: The Overlooked Issue Affecting Reading, Balance, and Anxiety

  If your child avoids swings, hates being tipped back to wash their hair, or panics when their feet leave the ground… there may be more going on than simple fear. In this episode, I’m diving into vestibular sensitivities — one of the most overlooked sensory challenges that can quietly affect everything from balance and coordination to reading, attention, and anxiety. You’ll learn what the vestibular system actually does, the subtle signs of gravitational...

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The Secret Key Each Parent Holds to Regulating Their Kid

What if the most powerful tool for reducing meltdowns isn’t a strategy, a script, or a consequence — but something you already carry with you? In this episode, Alisha breaks down the often-misunderstood role of co-regulation and why it works in every setting, at every age, and at every intensity level. She explains why common “in-the-moment” techniques fail when a child is dysregulated, and what actually has the power to shift the nervous system instead. Through...

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The Huge Iceberg Hiding Under Your Kid’s Biggest Struggle

The struggles are kids have can be hard, dysregulating, and cause lots of worry. Understandably so! What’s the best way to tackle them? How can we help them make lasting change? In this episode I’m diving into what really works and how to know which way to turn whether your kid is struggling with anxiety, bad handwriting, aggressive behaviors–or anything in between. It’s the question we all must ask for our kids and the various struggles...

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