The Sensory Code Podcast

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In this episode, I dive into why some kids – especially neurodivergent ones – thrive on routine and struggle when things change.

 As a neurodivergent adult and occupational therapist, I'll share insights into the sensory and cognitive challenges that can make even small changes feel like big disruptions. I'll also dish out practical tips for parents to support their neurodivergent kiddos through these transitions. Join me as we uncover the secrets to smoother sailing in the unpredictable seas of routine changes.

Social story podcast: 
https://theotbutterfly.com/social-stories-for-kids/sws-podcast/ 

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Do you feel pulled in multiple directions trying to meet the unique sensory needs of each child in your home? In this episode, I’ll dish my top strategies for balancing the often conflicting sensory profiles within families.

You'll learn practical ways to create separate sensory spaces, set clear boundaries with alternatives, and rely on sensory layering to make any environment work for everyone. 

Whether you have an overstimulated child and a sensory avoider under the same roof or just struggle with dinner time chaos, you'll walk away with immediate tips you can start using tonight. 

By prioritizing inclusion, boundaries and regulation for all, you'll feel more confident in your ability to meet the needs of every unique individual in your home.

Link from show:
Sensory Layering podcast episode

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Parents, are you dealing with a kid who just constantly wakes up on the wrong side of the bed? NO matter what you do or offer them, they're just dysregulated no matter what. 

This episode is for you. I'll help you make sense of those non-sensical moods and give you an action plan to hopefully curb some of that dysregulation.  

Listen into learn: 

• That chronic dysregulation is a real thing and some children's nervous systems can get stuck in a state of fight or flight activation.  
• Why your child might be chronically dysregulated
• 3 in the moment tips to intercept the morning meltdown
• How waking up earlier oneself can help be more present for a dysregulated child.
• Ideas on how to start proactively regulating their nervous system

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

In this episode, I'm exploring an approach I've found really effective called collaborative problem-solving. I'll break down the steps so you can understand the process. And I'll share a real example from my own parenting journey - what happened when I tried validating my daughter's perspective and attacking the problem objectively (minimizing emotions) to find a creative solution that she could agree to? Collaborative problem solving has really shifted our dynamic from a battle of wills to a feeling of partnership.

Dr. Ross Greene's Book "The Explosive Child"

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

 I wanted to share a new concept I've been thinking about called the "nervous system budget." Basically, it's a way to visualize how different tasks and environments affect our nervous systems. I'll explain how we all have a limited amount of "nervous system cash" each day, and how certain things can cost more than others. 

I'll also give some ideas for how parents can help kids spend less and save more for the things that really matter. My hope is that framing it this way can help parents be more intentional about supporting their kids' regulation. 

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Dr. Alex Reed is a clinical psychologist who specializes in the assessment and support of neurodevelopmental diagnoses across the lifespan 

Alex and I are both contributors in Dr. Becky’s goodinside community- a movement and platform that we really enjoy supporting. Alex and I have so many sideline conversations about neurodiversity and are constantly sharing resources and posts that speak to our souls— they usually have to do with finding ND affirming care. So I invited Alex on today because she does most of her work within the more traditional DSM-medical model, so she can give us more insight into that lens… but more specifically, I invited her on because she and I have both been hearing about how many parents leave this process-their evaluation, their diagnosis with a referral to therapies they aren’t sure about, or they leave with more questions, or they leave feeling icky. 

I’m hoping Alex can peel back some of those layers for us today so we can understand a bit more about the process and the quote unquote system– and more importantly, what’s within our control as parents if we can ONLY access those services through “the system”- what are our options to help our neurodivergent kids thrive as they are? 

Find more from her on instagram @dr_alex_reed

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Liliana surprises me every single day. She’s intelligent, well spoken, mature, empathetic and so so caring. You can see all of those qualities through her in this episode, which was in part created by you who submitted questions for her to answer!

In this episode, you’ll hear Liliana give advice about

• What to do when you’re worried about going to school
• What to do when you can’t fall asleep
• Her favorite calming techniques
• What to do in the morning if you have a hard time getting up 

And so much more!

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

We cannot co-regulate our kids if we aren’t regulated ourselves. And most of us (I’m raising both of my hands here) need to make extra effort to activate our parasympathetic nervous system because our sympathetic nervous systems can go into overdrive so quickly as parents to neurodivergent kids. Chronic dysregulation and chronic sympathetic nervous system activation is definitely a THING, our kids can experience, and we can too. And when we’re chronically dysregulated, literally everything in our day just becomes harder, less efficient, and we become crankier, more burnt out, and less able to access the best parenting skills. I put off creating an exercise routine for a long time because I  just wasn’t the most active person and it didn’t motivate me- which I’ll share in the podcast, but trust me when I say- it’s true! It’s true what they say- consistent movement in a way that feels good to your body, that incorporates a good warm up and cool down can do WONDERS for your mental health, and I am truly a better parent and wife now that I have a fitness regime that works for me.

Dr. Shannon is a former physical therapist and the founder of Evlo Fitness. Her mission is to help women get stronger and build muscle with less strain on their bodies. She believes in the power of educating about the physiology of our bodies to create fitness programs that aren’t overly depleting or exhausting. 

This episode dives in to:

> A little background on my workout journey 

> Why it’s important to NOT skip the cool down in an exercise program 

> What is gentle consistency (™) and how can it help you maintain an active lifestyle that works for you

> How to get started with an exercise routine if you feel completely overwhelmed 

Links: 

Fit Body, Happy Joints podcast episodes Laura recommends: 

Is walking enough?

Productive vs. unproductive stress

Nervous system tools to improve your results

How to train your nervous system

Code THEOTBUTTERFLY on www.evlofitness.com for 1 month free trial 

Evlo fitness instagram

Dr Shannon instagram

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Let's normalize screen time use in whatever way works for your family. I know as parents we are CONSTANTLY bombarded by a list of shoulds and shouldn’ts and really big, click-baity headlines that really create a lot of fear and guilt among parents. You see this for almost every childhood concern, but I see it a lot around screens. And in 2024, we’re definitely not decreasing our kids’ exposure to screens so let’s lean into it a bit and really find out- do we really need to stress about limiting screen time? Are there differences between the screentime use our kids are having, and what does this say about neurodivergent kids? 

Ash Brandin, EdS (they/them) has been a public school educator for over a decade. In that time they found innovative ways of using student interests- including video games- to increase engagement and make learning more fun and effective. Since February 2021, their Instagram page- TheGamerEducator- has helped tens of thousands of families make screen time beneficial for the whole family. Ash believes screens should be part of our lives, not the center of our lives, and helps caregivers navigate the world of tech using consistent, loving boundaries. In their free time, Ash loves to hike, bake, play video games, and spend time with their family. 

Links:
https://thegamereducator.com/

@thegamereducator

20% pokpok discount using code 25OTBUTTERFLY

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity

What'd you think of the episode? Send me a note!

Dr. Joy and I chat about why nervous system regulation is so important for parents and kids to understand, and how you can start to explain it to them. We then touch on how you expand the knowledge of nervous system regulation into understanding that some brains and bodies are different, and their nervous system regulation (and finding the green energy) can look different for neurodivergent kids. 

Dr. Joy Malik-Hasbrook, PsyD (she/her), is a licensed clinical psychologist who helps children feel seen and grownups heal. She provides regulation and resiliency-based parenting support, specializes in neurodiversity assessments with kids, and presents on nervous system regulation and neurodiversity-affirming assessment. She is a mama of 2, a highly sensitive human, and biracial of South Asian Indian/white descent. She values integrating both Asian contemplative practices and contemporary psychology into her work and is committed to anti-oppressive practices. Dr. Joy understands how challenges with dysregulation create more distress. She believes that understanding nervous system regulation leads to compassion and resiliency and that all families should have access to this information—this book is a start!

You can find more of her work at: 

https://www.drjoymalikhasbrook.com/

[email protected]

IG  @drjoy_compassionateparenting
Enter for a chance to win BOTH of our books on THIS instagram post
Register here for a FREE meet the author Q&A session on Feb 8th, 5:30 PM PST

~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code Book

Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist 

The OT Butterfly Instagram

Work with Laura

The Sensory Code Newsletter

A Kids Book About Neurodiversity