The Sensory Project

In this episode, we’re not going to talk about how to improve letter formation, placement on the line, or size. Instead, we’re going to focus on how to improve the underlying skills required for handwriting, including postural control, strength, dexterity, visual tracking, and more! We also chat about primitive reflexes and give you some specific ideas to help build hand strength!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram 10 Hacks for Handwriting What are Preparatory Activities? Assess Ocular Motor Skills Assess 6 Primitive Reflexes  Fine Motor Skills Activity Course

We talk a lot about using visual schedules to help children with routines, sensory diets, transitions, and more. But if you’ve never created and used a visual schedule with a child, how do you get started? We break it down step-by-step, starting with identifying the specific routine or activities you want to add to a visual schedule. We dive into different types of visual schedules and how to choose the right one for your child, how to make it easily accessible, and how to create a system so your child enjoys using their visual schedule!  LINKS Free Visual Schedule Template We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Sensory Diet Digital Course Creating the Most Effective Visual Supports

Save 20% on our digital courses through December 23rd, 2024! https://harkla.co/pages/digital-courses-holiday-sale We are diving into the variety of benefits that can be gained from using proprioception - heavy work activities, specifically as it relates to anxiety and adults! Proprioception is typically calming to the nervous system and we dive into the reasons why - including how heavy work is grounding, how these activities can stimulate the parasympathetic nervous system, and more. Then we share our favorite heavy work activities that we use and the ones that we recommend! We talk about going on a walk, doing yoga, gardening, and more!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram What is Sensory Overload? Sensory Overload in Adults 

Save 20% on our digital courses through December 23rd, 2024! https://harkla.co/pages/digital-courses-holiday-sale We get this question all the time! “Why is my child bouncing off the walls before bed?!” In this episode, we’re going to break down the WHY - why is your child bouncing off the walls before bed? Is it due to sensory seeking tendencies or is there something else going on? Then we dive into tips and strategies that you can use during the day and right before bedtime! We talk about changing the lighting in the house, going outside, how to use proprioceptive input, why a visual schedule might be helpful, and more!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram What it Means to Meet the Sensory Threshold Tips and Tricks for Your Sensory Seeking Child

Shop our Holiday Sale! https://harkla.co/pages/holiday-sale This episode is all about sensory processing, sensory integration, and Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD). We dive into the 8 sensory systems, why SPD is not a recognized diagnosis, sensory meltdowns, and how SPD can affect daily life. Share this episode with a friend who is new to the ‘sensory world’!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Research Article  8 Myths About Sensory Processing Disorder  Does Everybody Have Sensory Quirks? Improving Focus and Behavior in the Classroom - Digital Course  Disciplining a Sensory Kiddo

Shop our BIGGEST sale of the year! https://harkla.co/pages/black-friday-cyber-monday In this episode, we are breaking down what it means for someone to be a “sensory seeker” and what it means for someone to be a “sensory avoider.” Then we talk about our favorite sensory products for both including the Harkla Compression Swing, lycra tunnels, weighted medicine balls, therapy/yoga balls, a crash pad, and more!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram 5 Activities for a Sensory Seeker 5 Tips for a Sensory Avoider Supporting Mixed Sensory Needs 10 Activities with a Yoga Ball Tunnels (Amazon)  Medicine Balls Rebounder Trampolines (Amazon) Platform Swings (Amazon) Therapy Balls (Amazon) Pop Up Tents (Amazon) Vibrating Pillow Giant Bean Bag SPEKS Adult Fidgets

Shop our BIGGEST sale of the year! Today we are answering a listener question: how to help a 5-year-old who becomes overstimulated and how to help the parent who becomes overstimulated. We discuss strategies to set the child up for success before the overstimulating situations, strategies for the car ride, and how to decompress. We also talk about strategies for the parent, including getting outside, drinking enough water, asking for help, and more!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram When Your Child’s Sensory Preferences Don’t Match Yours Free Primitive Reflex Webinar What is the Moro Reflex? Book: Building a Non-Anxious Life Book: Too Loud, Too Bright, Too Fast, Too Tight Tips for Getting Outside 8 Activities for Regulation Sensory Strategies for Teens and Adults Peaceful Parenting Tips Free Sensory Diet Web

We are answering a listener question today: a 4-year-old child who is receiving speech and OT services and the family is struggling “to prevent eloping in parking lots and helping him understand the dangers of moving vehicles.” We talk about some different ideas including a sticker/reward chart, different ways to transition to the car, practicing “safe” and “not safe” scenarios, creating a social story, and MORE!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Eloping: The Why and How For Kids Who Run Away Weighted Lap Animal  Gestalt Language Processing  Social Story Template  Social Stories

Sign up for the Harkla Early Bird Holiday Sale - https://harkla.co/pages/early-sign-up What is the difference between a passive sensory activity and an active sensory activity? Is one type better than the other? How long does a passive sensory activity “last” in the body, compared to an activity sensory activity? We answer these questions and give you our favorite passive sensory activities and our favorite active sensory activities! LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Sensory Diet Digital Course The Sensory Chef 

We’re sharing ten things that we’ve learned in the past 10 years! We’ve been certified occupational therapy assistants for just over 10 years and we’ve learned so many things, it was very difficult to pick just 10! We talk about mentoring, asking questions, referring out, and MORE! We’d love to hear from you - Leave a comment on Spotify or YouTube and let us know what you’ve learned in your career or what you’ve learned from listening to us!   LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form- https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram What We Really Do in OT

We’re answering a listener question today - helping a parent understand how to help their child self-regulate, understand sensory challenges, how to find help, and how primitive reflexes might be connected to learning in school, specifically reading. This child was recently diagnosed with ADHD as well. We dive into using the Harkla Sensory Preferences Checklist (free download linked below), adding more sensory activities into the daily routine, how to improve emotional intelligence, and more!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Download Free Sensory Preferences Checklist Free Sensory Diet Webinar Sensory Diet Digital Course Build a Sensory Corner Free Primitive Reflex Webinar Free Classroom Webinar All About ADHD The Power of Vision Therapy

Today we are chatting all about Rachel’s new curriculum: Crawling for Brain Development. Get the inside scoop on how Rachel created this book, why she is so passionate about crawling, and how you can get your hands on this amazing curriculum!  Crawling for Brain Development© is a 5-week, guided program designed for children and adults ages 3-100+. It will benefit individuals of all abilities, whether they crawled in infancy or not. Parents can implement the program at home, teachers in their classrooms, and therapists in their treatment sessions and home exercise programs. In 150 pages, you will learn therapist-directed activities designed to move the brain out of fight-or-flight and into a higher level of functioning!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Crawling for Brain Development Curriculum 

Today we’re talking about sensory over-responsivity (what is it? What does it look like? Who can it impact?) and the connection to anxiety.  We dive into 2 different research articles (linked below) as well as provide 3 tips: Develop individualized sensory diet routines and environmental modifications  Look into retained primitive reflexes, specifically the Moro Reflex Find simple ways to decompress and regulate the nervous system LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Free Sensory Diet Webinar https://harkla.co/pages/sensory-diet-webinar-opt-in Free Primitive Reflex Webinar https://harkla.co/pages/register-primitive-reflex-webinar-2023 Motion Sickness Toolkit https://harkla.co/blogs/podcast/178-motion-sickness-toolkit?_pos=1&_sid=7ed041778&_ss=r Gravitational Insecurity https://harkla.co/blogs/pod

We are answering your questions in today’s podcast episode! Question 1: How to help with picky eating, specifically with fruits and vegetables. Question 2: How to help a toddler with daycare/preschool line up when it’s time to come back inside after playing outside. Question 3: Understanding if soccer is the ‘just-right’ sport for a child with SPD, Autism, and low muscle tone.  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  All Things Sensory YouTube Channel Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Feeding and Meal Prep Making Kids Nutrition Easy Muscle Tone vs. Muscle Strength Buddy Timer (Amazon)

We are answering a listener question today! Is there an age limit when it comes to sensory bins? Are sensory bins beneficial for older children? How can we make sensory bins beneficial and fun for a variety of ages?We dive into the benefits of sensory bins, including tactile modulation and visual processing. Then we talk about our favorite ways to make sensory bins fun and engaging for older children, including following a recipe, using a blindfold, and adding it into an obstacle course!  LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram 5 Ways to Use a Sensory Bin Messy Play All Day Picky Eating Resources Executive Function Skills Improve Classroom Engagement - Free Webinar

Kinsey Showers is an S2C practitioner based in Utah. She began her spelling journey in 2018 when she was working at Invictus Academy Tampa Bay, a school for students with sensory motor differences. She is also a cohort leader and mentor for the International Association for Spelling as Communication. Kinsey is very passionate about communication rights because that's what communication is- a right! She is so thankful to work with nonspeakers and their families. Kinsey’s background is in education and she has worked in both private and public school settings. While the main focus of S2C is not necessarily to provide an education, she is passionate about advocating for her clients in whichever educational space they are in. LINKS Follow Kinsey on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/kinseyshermansen/ The International Association for Spelling as Communication  We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram

Today’s episode we’re answering a listener's question about how sensory processing challenges affect learning and higher-level cognitive skills. We dive into the connection between vestibular processing and cross or mixed dominance.  We talk about research that has been done in this area as well as what it all means. Then we jump into strategies that we would recommend for this family, including vestibular-based activities, bilateral integration activities, looking into primitive reflexes, and more! LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3  All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram Mixed (Cross) Dominant The Pyramid of Learning SPD Training When Should Children Establish Hand Dominance? Vestibular Dysfunction  5 Bilateral Integration Activities  Multi-Sensory Processing Activity Course The Power of Vision Therapy Advanced Brain Technologies Safe and Sou

Shop the Harkla Back to School Sale - Save 15% on physical products and save 20% on digital products through September 8, 2024  https://harkla.co/pages/back-to-school Executive function skills are the higher level cognitive skills that are required for every day tasks. These skills begin to develop in toddlerhood and aren’t fully developed until a person is in their 20s! For students in the classroom, executive function skills are required for everything from social interactions, to navigating between classes, to turning homework in on time. In today’s episode, we’re giving you a breakdown on the importance of executive function skill development, how to teach these skills, and 5 tools and strategies to incorporate into the classroom to help students develop and improve their executive function skills.  LINKS Improving Focus and Behavior in the Classroom - Digital Course for Teachers, Therapists, and Professionals Working in the School Setting https://harkla.co/products/classroom-sensory-training We’d love to

Special gift from Kokeb: “Harkla25” for 25% off of RITP at Home Family Bundle - https://www.integratingreflexes.com/family-bundle/ Kokeb Girma McDonald is a pediatric occupational therapist and the founder of the Reflex Integration Through Play™️ (RITP) program. She is the mother of two wonderful children, and has extensive professional experience working with young people of all ages and backgrounds since 2004. Recognizing the need for practical and universally accessible primary motor reflex integration programs, Kokeb created the Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Play and Exercise book series and the Reflex Integration Through Play™️ method to empower and reassure frustrated parents, and to offer fellow professionals a tool to expand their clinical reach. LINKS We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3 Follow Kokeb on Instagram www.instagram.com/reflexintegrationthroughplay/ RITP Certification and Coaching https://www.integratin

We received a question on Instagram: “Help! My child won't participate in their sensory diet!” And today’s episode is all about how you can help your child complete their sensory diet routine so they feel more cool, calm, and regulated! First we talk about play - this is a child’s main occupation - and how using play during the sensory diet is the #1 way to get them involved.  Then we talk about the sensory activities that your child seeks out - what are they? Add those activities into the daily routine for the sensory diet!  We also talk about emotional intelligence, using visuals, and more! LINKS Creating Sensory Diet Routines We’d love to answer your questions on the podcast! Fill out this form - https://harkla.typeform.com/to/ItWxQNP3 All Things Sensory Podcast Instagram  Harkla YouTube Channel Harkla Website - Shop Sensory Products! Harkla Instagram What it Means to Meet the Sensory Threshold The Zones of Regulation