Most parents want to know: “What do I do when my child is in the middle of a meltdown?” The truth is, by the time your child reaches that stage, there’s not much you can do except keep everyone safe and let the big emotions run their course. But here’s the good news, you can learn to be proactive with your tools and bring lasting change by influencing behaviors instead of controlling them. Reduce and even eliminate meltdowns by teaching skills before the meltdown ever happens.

In this episode, Debra Johnson, pediatric occupational therapist and founder of STEPS for Development, shares why being proactive is the real key to helping kids build self-regulation. You’ll learn:

• Why children can’t reason or “snap out of it” during a meltdown
• How to step into detective mode and spot patterns behind big emotions
• Practical examples of proactive tools you can use before situations escalate
• Why empathy and perspective-taking are the foundation of skill-building
• How consistent, proactive teaching leads to fewer meltdowns over time

If you’ve been stuck in a cycle of reacting to your child’s behavior, this episode will show you a different path with proactive steps to support changing  behaviors, not just stopping them. 

Is your child “too sensitive,” or do they just have sensory quirks they’ll grow out of? Maybe you’ve heard that sensory diets can fix everything—or that sensory seeking is just ADHD in disguise. In this episode of the STEPS for Development podcast, pediatric occupational therapist Debra Johnson takes on six of the most common myths about sensory processing and sets the record straight.

You’ll learn:

• Why Sensory Processing Disorder isn’t a formal medical diagnosis—but sensory challenges are very real.
• The difference between a “sensory diet” and a true “sensory life.”
• Why kids don’t just outgrow sensory differences 
• The wide spectrum of sensory responses—far beyond being “too sensitive.”
• The difference between ADHD and sensory seeking
• Why meltdowns aren’t about “bad behavior” but nervous system overload.

By the end, you’ll have a clearer understanding of what’s fact vs. fiction in the sensory world—and feel more confident in supporting your child with empathy and compassion for sensory processing differences. 

Look closer, stay curious, and find out what’s really going on beneath the struggle. Let's dig  deeper and find solutions that work! 

Last week we talked about the power of focusing on just one challenge at a time—because narrowing your focus allows you to get make progress with specific challenges rather than being overwhelmed by the big issues. In this episode, we take the next step: digging deeper with task analysis. Rooted in Occupational Therapy practice, the process of task analysis helps us by breaking down a challenge into its core parts and uncovering hidden factors impacting participation. Then we can develop stronger hypotheses, and problem-solve more effectively. Using the STEPS for Development (SFD) model and the ESCAPE framework for task analysis, we’ll explore how looking beyond the surface helps you choose better strategies, adapt when things don’t work, and find solutions that actually stick.

Grab your FREE PDF Guide to the STEPS for Development Task Analysis process to help you focus your thoughts and problem solve for solutions that are more likely to be successful. 

Parenting can feel impossible when it seems like everything is a problem—your child never listens, can’t sit still, melts down at homework, interrupts every conversation. These big, vague concerns can leave you feeling stuck and exhausted. In this episode, we’ll explore how to shift from overwhelmed to focused by narrowing those broad worries into specific, manageable challenges.

Once we have clear statements of a specific situation or task that your child is struggling with, we can then move forward with applying our knowledge and investigating the skills needed so that we choose the right strategies for success. 

In this episode, we'll explore how to hone in on what matters most to you, while gaining clarity on a specific challenge to work on. You'll learn how to: 

• Make a list of concerns, no matter how general
• Reframe vague statements into specific, solvable situations
• Prioritize and choose one concern to focus on first

Small steps really do lead to lasting change. This episode will help you let go of the pressure to fix everything at once and instead find momentum by tackling one challenge at a time. 

Episode bonus: Grab this PDF worksheet to help you frame your thoughts and gain clarity on the one challenge you want to tackle first! 

You've tried all the tools - sensory breaks, behavior charts, all the "parenting hacks" from social media - only to end up frustrated when nothing seems to work. It's not that you or your child are failing, it's that the strategy isn't the right match. Too often, we are looking for the quick fix and don't stop to think whether this tool in this moment is the right choice. Sometimes the tool we try even escalates behaviors and increases stress! In this episode we'll explore why even tried and true strategies might backfire, how to look beneath the surface of behavior to really know what your child needs, and what it takes to start "thinking like a therapist" so that you will be more effective and successful in supporting your child. You'll get a clearer lens for problem-solving, practical steps to start today, and the confidence to stop guessing and start knowing what works for your child. 

Is your child’s “defiance” leaving you drained and second-guessing yourself? Are you feeling manipulated, controlled and lost about how to change the status quo?  What if those daily battles were really signs of persistence, resilience, independence and creativity that are your child's  strengths, just waiting to be guided? In this episode, we’ll reframe defiance and oppositional behaviors through a new lens—seeing the strengths behind strong-willed behavior and learning practical strategies to reduce power struggles, foster cooperation, and nurture independence.  I'll guide you in shifting your perspective and seeing how a strength-based approach changes everything and, most importantly, empowers you with the skills you need to tackle those challenging moments. Together, we’ll discover how strong will, when supported, can become one of your child’s greatest assets.

BONUS with this episode! Grab your copy of the Strength-Based Guide to Strong-Willed Kids here.

Resources mentioned in this episode: 

You Can't Make Me But I Can Be Persuaded by Cythina Tobias

How To Talk So Kids Will Listen, and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Faber and Mazlish

Celebrate Calm Podcast with Kirk Martin 

 In this episode of STEPS Together, Debra Johnson, MS, OTR/L, explores what it really means to “work too hard” as a parent or caregiver—not in chores or daily tasks, but emotionally. When we try to control every behavior, feeling, or outcome, we often end up drained, stressed, and disconnected from our children. Instead of striving for control, there’s a different path: focusing on what is really yours to control and fostering connection. Tune in to learn how letting go of what’s not yours to carry can reduce your stress, strengthen your relationship with your child, and create space for both of you to grow. 

Supporting a child with unique needs comes with layers most people never see — balancing school meetings, therapy sessions, sensory needs, and emotional ups and downs, all while trying to connect and guide. It’s a constant juggle of time, energy, and emotions that can leave you feeling misunderstood, second-guessing yourself, and wondering if you’re doing enough. Whether you are a parent, educator, childcare provider or healthcare professional you know how hard it is to be present and "on" for a child with different needs. 

In this episode, I See You: Acknowledging the Hard Work Behind Every Step Forward, we take a compassionate, judgment-free look at the reality of working closely with children whose needs go beyond the expected. You’ll hear a powerful reminder that struggling doesn’t mean failing — it means you’re human, showing up in ways the rest of the world may never fully see.

We’ll reframe self-criticism into recognition of effort, exploring how “trying” — whether it’s taking a deep breath before responding, researching new strategies, showing up for therapy, or simply being present during a hard moment — is success in motion. We’ll also uncover the hidden wins that matter most: building trust, modeling resilience, and helping children grow one step at a time.

You’ll walk away with practical strategies to keep learning and growing without burning out, from focusing on one change at a time to giving yourself the same compassion you offer the children in your care. Because supporting kids isn’t about perfection — it’s about alignment, connection, and the courage to keep going.

By the end, you’ll be reminded: You are not failing. You are trying. You are learning. And that is enough.

You can grab your PDF of self-care ideas and positive affirmations here: https://steps-for-development.kit.com/34f1b3365b

"Why won't they just listen?!" If you've found yourself asking this question (maybe even more than once today), you are NOT alone! In this episode, I explore what adults really mean when they say "they don't listen," unpack what really going on for the child, and identify a few simple strategies that you can implement today to shift that behavior and improve cooperation. From executive function challenges and sensory processing differences, to emotional regulation and language processing disorders, there's often much more beneath the surface that has nothing to do with defiance.

So, let's start shifting from being frustrated at lack of follow through or kids "doing whatever they want" by using practical strategies that really work - rooted in developmental approaches and based on neuroscience. I'll talk about ways to truly engage your child's attention, how to adjust your communication style to fit your child's needs, and why co-regulation is often more effective than correction. If you're ready to stop repeating yourself, eliminate the power struggles and start building understanding for real change, this episode is for you!  

When your child is overwhelmed, crying, yelling or shutting down, it can feel impossible to know what to do. But what if I told you that the most powerful tool isn't a strategy, sensory activity or consequence? 

Is this episode, we'll explore the power we as adults have in supporting children when they are dysregulated. Your calm presence can help regulate your child's nervous  system during moments of emotional distress. You'll learn what's really going in your child's brain when those big feelings take over, how the limbic system hijacks logical thinking, and what you can do regain calm.

I'll break down what co-regulation really looks like in everyday parenting moments and how to use connection, empathy and a few simple shifts in your approach to guide your child back to calm. You'll hear practical ideas for how to work towards being proactive in self-regulation and get a whole of encouragement to keep going and practice those skills!  

No matter what role you have in a child's life - parenting, educating, caregiving, or providing therapy, you'll find this episode offers practical support for helping you connect, co-regulate and carry-on together.