In this episode of the OT is IN Podcast I chat with both Colleen Kessler and Christy Faith about community. Colleen opens our hearts to the evolving nature of finding and nurturing communities for our children, while Christy sheds light on creating meaningful connections beyond our traditional circles.

We covered a lot as we talked about the fluid essence of friendships and how some people fit into our lives for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I shared anthropologist Robert Dunbar's community model which underscores the sobering statistic that 29% of people lack community support. Christy Faith shared her bold approach to establishing a homeschooling mothers community, revealing the highs and lows of building a support system.

We all agreed about the working homeschool mom's dance with balance, while Colleen reminded us of parenting's unpredictable nature. My friends shared valuable resources and personal experiences that illuminate the importance of community for homeschoolers and beyond.

• Sarah, Colleen, and Christy talk about the relevance of community, with references to public school and church sermons.
• Colleen shares her journey of finding the right communities for her children as their needs evolve.
• People enter one's life for a reason, season, or lifetime is discussed, alongside the changing nature of friendships.
• The significance of learning until saturation and allowing children to explore their interests with the support of their community.
• Various levels of connections in Robert Dunbar's community model and the spectrum of community support.
• Research shows 29% of people feel they have no supportive community.
• Christy Faith encourages putting oneself out there and being open to rejection to find a fitting community.
• Overcoming challenges and leveraging existing friendships to combat isolation after leaving a church.
• Sarah notes the difficulty in finding friends at different life stages and the benefit of children engaging in play across age groups.
• The struggle of balancing homeschooling and work, Colleen stresses the impracticality of perfect balance in parenting.
• Colleen's experiences with shifts in homeschool community dynamics during the pandemic.
• Challenges in finding appropriate programs as family needs change and Colleen's emphasis on her neurodivergent kids' needs.
• The relationship with children is prioritized over other tasks, including suggestions for managing priorities during crisis periods.
• Mourning the changing dynamics of relationships as children grow and being okay with those changes.
• Recognition of the complexity of forming relationships in a tech-driven world, especially for the younger generation.
• The significance of guiding children in distinguishing authentic community and connections outside of social media's influence.
• The value of homeschooling in facilitating important conversations about emotional intelligence and healthy relationship skills.
• Encouraging children to recognize red flags in various types of relationships.
• A caution to homeschooling parents, to stay conscious of their own social life, as it may influence their children's social experiences.

• Robert Dunbar 5-15-50-150-1500 model
• Strengths Based Autism Interventions
• Christy Faith's Thrive Community
• Raising Lifelong Learners community
• 8 Quick & Easy Questions to Ask Your Homeschool Teen About Their Social Life

• Christy Faith's Website
• Instagram
• Buy Homeschool Rising

• Raising Lifelong Learners Website
• Connect with Colleen on Instagram
• Pre-Order the Homeschool Advantage

In this episode, Sarah delves into the philosophy of homeschooling, her challenges, and the questions that arose for her family. Using her expertise as an occupational therapist, Sarah discusses the broad and deep role of occupational therapy, shedding light on the various areas of occupation and the detective work involved in understanding and supporting clients in achieving their goals.

She explores the different systems through which families can seek occupational therapy services, including early intervention, the educational system, the medical system, and cash-based services. Sarah provides valuable insights into the positives and negatives of each option, helping families navigate the complex decision-making process.

• Definition of occupational therapy and its broad scope of practice.
• Explanation of OT's role in working with clients to support them in achieving their goals within their daily occupations.
• Examples of the various interventions and adaptations OTs may use to support clients.
• Discussion of the different systems through which families can seek OT services: early intervention, educational system, medical system, and cash-based services.
• Explanation of the differences and limitations of each system, including early intervention, educational system, medical system, and cash-based services.
• Emphasis on the importance of understanding the specific laws and regulations for seeking OT services in one's state.
• Discussion of challenges, limitations, and potential biases within each system, including insurance restrictions, productivity requirements, and socioeconomic limitations.
• Emphasis on the importance of understanding the strengths and weaknesses of each system when seeking OT services for homeschooling children.
• Explanation of the OT is IN membership and its role in providing support and guidance for families in making decisions about seeking OT services.

• What is occupational therapy?
• The Best Places to Find OT Services for Homeschool Families
• Smart but Scattered Study Guide
• Join the OT is In Membership
• Where to Get OT: A Guide to Different OT Service Providers

In this episode, I welcome Kim Hazelton, an experienced occupational therapist and fellow homeschool mom, to discuss the expectations parents should have when seeking occupational therapy for their children. We discuss the importance of understanding sensory systems and autonomic nervous system behaviors, emphasize the need for personalized and collaborative therapy sessions, and share insights into carrying over therapy techniques at home.

• Discussion on Challenges Faced by Families in Occupational Therapy
• Sarah shares a story of a family and their struggles with occupational therapy for their son.
• Kim explains the impact of autonomic nervous system on sensory system and reflexes, particularly in children.
• Emphasis on understanding the child's regulation struggles and the importance of not creating power struggles during therapy.
• Kim discusses the importance of understanding the parents' concerns, struggles, and priorities.
• Emphasizes the need for collaboration and individualized approach in therapy sessions.
• Kim discusses the approach of addressing the child's challenges and working on goals specific to the parents' priorities.
• Emphasis on involving parents in the therapy sessions and providing them with techniques to use at home.
• Providing concrete proof of a child's progress through videos and feedback.
• Kim highlights the importance of collaboration and communication with parents in therapy.
• The significance of parents being involved in the sessions and following up on the techniques at home.
• Being an educator for the parents and empowering them with techniques for immediate success.
• The haller method and body mapping as therapeutic approaches.
• Body mapping in providing tactile and proprioceptive input to a child's body.

• The Best Places to Find OT Services for Homeschool Families
• Calm Down Child
• Neuro Roots
• Learning about Interoception and Language Arts Together

In this episode, we'll be delving into the complex topic of sensory versus behavior in children. I teach the importance of asking the right questions as parents to truly understand the reasons behind certain behaviors. I talk about the challenges of homeschooling and parenting in a world filled with diverse opinions and resources. Providing practical tips and insights, I share the latest neuroscience behind behavior and offer guidance on how to regulate children's nervous systems before, during, and after engaging in different activities.

• Introduction to the Topic of Sensory vs Behavior
• Exploring the challenges of determining if behavior is sensory-related or not
• Sharing personal experiences as an OT and acknowledging past mistakes
• Emphasizing the importance of asking questions as parents and educators
• Challenges of Homeschooling and Parenting
• Discussing the abundance of resources and conflicting advice in homeschooling and parenting
• Highlighting the emotional challenges and feelings of guilt and fear faced by parents
• Emphasizing that there is no one right way to parent or educate children
• Discussing scenarios where children exhibit resistance or anger towards certain activities
• Reflecting on past experiences where therapy was not provided due to the child's behavior
• Acknowledging past shortcomings and committing to continuous learning and improvement
• Understanding the Fight, Flight, and Freeze Response
• Exploring the neuroscience behind the fight, flight, and freeze response
• Describing the automatic nature of the response and the involvement of different brain structures
• Providing examples of stimuli and the body's automatic responses in different situations
• Discussing the concept of authority as a parent and educator
• Emphasizing the need for mutual trust and understanding in the parent-child relationship
• Sharing personal experiences of co-regulating with children and modeling coping skills
• Exploring the concept of before, during, and after when engaging children in activities
• Discussing the importance of explaining the purpose of activities to children
• Sharing examples of regulating activities and the importance of processing experiences with children
• Emphasizing the role of verbal processing and inviting children to contribute to conversations
• Highlighting the applicability of these strategies to children at different developmental stages

• Is it Sensory or Behavior? Understanding Challenging Behavior
• Free Sensory Vs Behavior Checklist
• A Homeschooler's Guide to Sensory Processing & the Eight SensorySystems
• Two Important Sensory Systems Affecting Learning in the Homeschool
• Adding Movement Breaks to the Homeschool Day
• Sensory Input Activity List
• Sensory Balanced Homeschool Focus Group