An occupational therapist came into Michele's office complaining that parents weren't following through with home programs—sound familiar? The problem isn't the parents; it's how we're setting them up from day one. This episode flips that script with evidence from a 2024 scoping review on what actually drives caregiver home program adherence. You'll learn OT strategies to create programs that fit into real family life, train parents effectively (hint: it's not a five-page handout), and build the relationships that make collaboration actually work. Plus, Lacy shares a pediatric OT dentistry program, Nailed It!

We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articles too.

Wingrat, J., Price, C., & Wright, T. (2024). Facilitators of and Barriers to Caregiver Adherence to Home Therapy Recommendations for Infants and Children With Neuromotor and Neuromuscular Diagnoses: A Scoping Review. The American journal of occupational therapy : official publication of the American Occupational Therapy Association, 78(5), 7805205070. https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2024.050567

*Update Nov. 7, 2025* Author Jennifer Wingrat was excited to hear her work featured on the podcast and shared the link to her new article that was just published called Caregiver Perceptions of and Confidence in Training in Home Programs for Brachial Plexus Birth Injury:  https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/7UM3ZJWCB5TXEGIR3PFF/full?target=10.1080/01942638.2025.2583372

KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; home program; family collaboration

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