In this week’s episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens, AnnMarie welcomes back OT doctoral student Alexis to continue the conversation on screen time — but this time, through the lens of what kinds of screens kids are using and where they’re using them.

Building on last week’s discussion about why kids are drawn to screens, this episode explores how the type and context of screen use can deeply influence a child’s sensory, emotional, and social development. Together, AnnMarie and Alexis unpack how screens can both support and challenge regulation, connection, and play — depending on how intentionally they’re used.

You’ll learn:

• Why what kids watch and where they watch it matters just as much as the amount

• How children use screens to explore themes of safety, control, bravery, curiosity, and connection — just like in traditional play

• Sensory-emotional profiles and screen habits

• How shifting screens from bedrooms to shared spaces can transform isolation into connection

• Practical swaps and ideas

By noticing what kids are watching, where it’s happening, and why they’re drawn to it, we can guide screen use in ways that nurture regulation, connection, and real-world growth through a Sensory Emotional Lens.

Turning your child’s screen to grayscale can help reduce visual stimulation and make screens feel calmer and less “rewarding.”

Here’s how to do it: 

1. On an iPhone or iPad
2. Open Settings
3. Tap Accessibility
4. Tap Display & Text Size
5. Scroll down and tap Color Filters
6. Toggle Color Filters ON
7. Select Grayscale from the options

That’s it! Your child’s screen will now appear in black and white.

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About

AnnMarie Murphy, OTD, OT/L, CIMI-2

Occupational Therapist, Great Kids Place

AnnMarie Murphy is an Occupational Therapist with advanced training and certification from the Sensory Treatment and Research (STAR) Institute, specializing in the evaluation and treatment of Sensory Processing Disorder. She holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from American International College and a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Temple University.

Her background also includes a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, supporting her focus on the neurobiology of sensory processing and the impacts SPD can have on social-emotional development, parent stress, and family dynamics.

Alexis Faria, OTD Candidate

Alexis Faria is a doctoral student in Occupational Therapy at Kean University. She first joined the Great Kids Place community during her fieldwork in the spring, where she had the privilege of working closely with Michele and the team while learning the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model. Alexis is now thrilled to return for her doctoral residency project, Screens with Purpose: Fostering Intentional Tech Use to Support Child Development, where she is leading a series on guiding families toward balanced and purposeful screen time.

A Tribute to Michele Parkins, MS, OTR/L, IMH-E®

Founder, Great Kids Place and the Sensory-motor Emotional EngageMent Frame of Reference

Michele Parkins, MS, OTR/L, IMH-E®, dedicated her life to supporting children and families with sensory processing and social-emotional challenges. As both a professional and a parent of two sensory children, she combined expertise with deep personal understanding.

Passionate about empowering families and mentoring therapists, Michele taught internationally, consulted with schools, and co-authored a chapter in the 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice, the leading textbook in the field. At the time of her passing, she was writing books to help families recognize their Sensory Emotional Personality styles and discover strength and joy within them.

Though gone too soon, Michele’s legacy endures in the lives she touched, the community she built, and the vision she entrusted us to carry forward.