The Sensory Code Podcast

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One of the big topics I talk about and something i joke will be written on my tomb stone one day is “Sensory is behavior” i’m always trying to reframe the debate “is it sensory or is it behavior?” because everything that we’re noticing our kids do is a behavior, but what parents/teachers want to get to the root of is “is this kid doing this thing on purpose or is it out of their control?” 

So what I try to reframe for them is is the behavior being driven by a sensory trigger- OR is it being driven by something ELSE. And that something else can be cognitive disabilities, learning differences, need for connection, communication differences etc- and while I always call those reasons out, I rarely get to dive into those and unpack it, because I heavily talk about all the ways sensory can impact learning. So today we get to hear more of the “other” reasons that behavior might be happening.

Caitlin Greer Meister is the Founding Director & CEO of The Greer Meister Group, a New York City-based private tutoring and educational consulting practice that specializes in content mastery, cognitive flexibility, resilience, and academic independence. She is trained in the Orton-Gillingham approach for teaching students with language-based learning differences and has extensive experience working with gifted learners and supporting neurodiverse students. Caitlin has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Parents Magazine, New York Magazine, Real Simple, WWD, and more

Follow Caitlin on Instagram @caitlingreermeister or visit joyfullylearning.com for more information.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• What a profoundly gifted student is and some early signs you might notice
• Examples of how you can meet your gifted child’s needs at home and outside the classroom
• When and how you should advocate with your child’s teacher about their different learning needs 
• Why you should be talking to your child about the way their brain works

Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/80

The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

Work with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

~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!

Kindermusik  is a  purposefully created multisensory music and movement program for ages 0-7 that provides neurodivergent children the opportunity to improve in all learning areas by consciously stimulating the whole brain.

Kindermusik creates shared research-based curricula that:

• Empower educators
• Strengthen family and teacher-child relationships
• Enhance community connections
• Build a deep-rooted love for learning

while providing early development strategies that are memorable, playful, and fun.

Diana has been working with neurodivergent children for over 30 years using music as a vehicle for change. She has a background in music, early childhood, learning differences, and sound therapy. Her personal and professional life has always been involved with children and adults with additional needs.

For the past 25 years, Diana has taught the Kindermusik curricula. Diana has seen firsthand the profound impact carefully crafted music programs can have on children and the neurodivergent brain.

In this episode, we talk about: 

• What is Kindermusik
• What is the role of music in a neurodivergent person?
• Why auditory processing can be so impactful on learning and behavior in a child 
• How does a Kindermusik class cater to the sensory needs of each individual? 
• How does Kindermusik help social and emotional skills in the ND child?
• Tips for parents- how you can get started today

Links:
Kindermusik:  www.kindermusik.com

Diana's book:  https://www.amazon.com/Insights-into-Autism-window-Childs/dp/0645389234/
Research studies:
https://s3.amazonaws.com/abt-media/pdf/science/Lucker_Doman_Autism_Research_Treatment.pdf
https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/03057356211008968 

~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!

Tune in to this episode to learn about: 

• What is repair and restitution and why are they important?
• When should a parent repair with their child? 
• What we should do when we’re in a constant cycle of rupture and repair.
• The power of re-writing the story 
• What does it sound like for a parent to repair? 
• How to facilitate repair from your child, even when they don’t want to

With Myla Leinweber B.Ed, M.Ed, PCI Certified Parent Coach

Myla is a mom of two young girls, a former kindergarten teacher and supports parents of young kids to enjoy parenting more and create long lasting connected relationships. 

When she’s not helping parents, she’s on her skis, mountain bike or yoga mat, or having a dance party with her family in the kitchen. 

Links:
@joyful.parents Instagram 

Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/78

Free temperament quiz

~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!

Tune in for this short but sweet episode where I interviewed my 5 year old about some of the things we talk about often at home, including

• how she expresses her emotions
• what she thinks about everyone having feelings
• how meltdowns are handled and how she prefers to handle them
• what it's like being sensory sensitive

Links:
Podcast transcript: www.theotbutterfly.com/77
Enroll in Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions
 

~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 have a child who avoids, is fearful of, or has meltdowns around sensory triggers related to: 

• wearing certain clothes/fabrics/shoes/socks
• eating a variety of foods
• being around loud sounds/busy environments
• getting their hands or skin messy/sticky
• hygiene tasks like taking a bath, washing their hair or brushing their hair

This episode takes you through my 4 step process (W.I.S.E.) to supporting them through this at home!

If you're looking for more details on this process, come to my free masterclass on Saturday May 27th at 5PM PST. Register at www.theotbutterfly.com/masterclass

Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/76

The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

Register for the free masterclass: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/masterclass 

~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 unscripted episode, I catch you up to speed with where we are with emotional and sensory regulation. Spoiler alert- Liliana is THRIVING. I talk about some of the big, foundational, anchoring concepts we focused on that I feel have made a huge  impact in getting to where we are today. 

You'll hear me talk about

• Whether or not I think development/age plays a factor in her progress
• The top 5 game discussions/concepts/strategies that played a huge role in her growth
• Some examples of what we do proactively in terms of sensory and regulation strategies

Links:
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/75

The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

Work with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

Register for the masterclass: www.theotbutterfly.com/masterclass

~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!

Educating your kids about how their brain and bodies work can be a game changer when it comes to supporting their regulation. When we give them the cheat sheet to how their brain works, they can start to understand why certain things are hard for them, and why they may have certain quirks or behaviors. More importantly, when we educate our kids about how their brain and bodies work, it can give them the language to self advocate with peers or other adults around them and give them the motivation to try the strategies that will support their regulation.

In this episode, I’ll help you start the conversation with your child about their nervous system and how it helps the brain and body communicate with eachother.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why it’s important to explain to your child how their brain and body communicate
• How to explain the body and brain connection to your child 

Links:

Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/74

The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

Join the Sensory Detectives Boot camp: www.theotbutterfly.com/bootcamp

~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. Tracy Dalgleish helps empower women and couples to improve their communication and build strong and healthy connections with themselves and their partner through therapy, wellness seminars, and her work outside of the therapy room. She contributes to popular media sites, including Motherly, Huffington Post, and Bustle. In addition to hosting the podcast, “I’m not your shrink” where she dives deeper into clinical knowledge and research in a relatable and informal way, her book “I Didn’t Sign Up For This: Stories of Unlocking Old Patterns and Finding Joy in Your Relationship” will be available in September 2023. A mom of two young children and owner of Ottawa’s mental health clinic, Integrated Wellness, she knows what it means to balance the full load.

In this episode, we talked about 

• Where to start when your partner is not on board with your parenting style
• Do both parents need to have the exact same parenting style?
• What might be coming up for your partner when discussing neurodiversity
• When it’s time to seek professional support to feel more secure in your partnership
• What to do about big decisions where compromising isn’t an option  

Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/73
Part 1 of this conversation on Dr. D's podcast (apple link)
Part 1 of this conversation on Dr. D's podcast (spotify link) 

Dr. Tracy instagram 

Dr. Tracy website
Free: 100 Questions to spark a deeper conversation with your partner

Detecting Dysregulation free training & community: www.theotbutterfly.com/training

The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

~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!

Today I got to ask Kelly Mahler (aka the QUEEN of interoception) all about the 8th sense and how our experiences of interoception differ so much across individuals, but especially within the neurodivergent community. 

Kelly Mahler OTD, OTR/L, earned a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. She has been an occupational therapist for 20 years, serving school-aged children and adults. Kelly is winner of multiple awards, including the 2020 American Occupational Therapy Association Emerging and Innovative Practice Award & a Mom’s Choice Gold Medal. She is an adjunct faculty member at Elizabethtown College, Elizabethtown, PA as well as at Misericordia University, Dallas, PA. Kelly is a co-principal investigator in several research projects pertaining to topics such as interoception, self-regulation, trauma & autism. 

In this episode, you’ll learn:  

• What interoception is 
• How early interoception starts developing  
• What we know (and don’t know) about interoception development in infants/early childhood 
• Best ways to start when you want to start building interoception understanding in your neurodivergent child

Links:

Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/72

More from Kelly: www.kelly-mahler.com 

The OT Butterfly Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

Work with Laura: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

~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!

Happy OT month! To continue our celebration, I'm re-airing an episode that gives you information on not only accessing OT in the US, but how to leverage and make the most out of the OT services you may already be getting for your child.

Making the most out of your child’s OT services (that you had to fight tooth and nail for, go down very deep internet rabbit holes and stalk the local mom group just to find) is important, but how? In this episode, I’ll be answering common questions I get from parents, like what to do if your child isn’t making progress, how you can ask your OT to support you in non-traditional ways, when it might be time to take a break or pause from OT, and even some signs that you may need to switch therapists. 

Links: 

Work with me: www.theotbutterfly.com/parentconsult

Transcript/show notes at www.theotbutterfly.com/24

instagram: @TheOTButterfly www.instagram.com/theotbutterfly

~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