- 11 minutes 14 secondsHow do I manage fidget use in my classroom?
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In this episode, I discuss the nuances of using fidgets in the classroom, addressing common challenges teachers face and sharing practical rules to support neurodiverse students while maintaining a focused learning environment.
key topics
- Fidget rules and boundaries in the classroom
- Differentiating students who need fidgets from those who don't
- Guidelines for safe and effective fidget use
- The importance of inclusive strategies for neurodiverse students
- Replacing and managing fidget misuse
- Fidgets as tools for emotional regulation and focus
takeaways
- Fidgets should help students focus and regulate, not distract or harm.
- It's impossible to tell if a student needs a fidget just by outward behavior.
- Fidgets should be appropriately sized and used safely, with clear rules.
- When misused, fidgets should be replaced with appropriate alternatives.
- Fidget needs are universal, not limited to students with diagnoses.
- Teachers should model and normalize healthy fidget use.
- Having a plan for fidget removal and replacement is crucial.
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
28 October 2026, 12:00 pm - 12 minutesCan OT help with impulse control for my 5 year old with ADHD?
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Summary
In this episode, I explore how occupational therapy can support children with ADHD, especially in managing impulse control. I share insights on how OTs assess and tailor interventions to help kids participate fully in their daily occupations and develop lifelong self-regulation skills.
key topics- What occupational therapy is and isn't
- How OT helps with developmental milestones
- Occupations and barriers for children with ADHD
- Top-down and bottom-up OT strategies
- Environmental modifications and sensory needs
- Building impulse control through games and self-awareness
takeaways- OT can help children participate in daily activities by reducing barriers.
- Occupational therapy focuses on the things that occupy a child's time, not just jobs.
- OT strategies include environmental modifications, sensory regulation, and self-awareness.
- Games like red light, green light, and freeze dance help develop impulse control.
- Understanding sensory triggers and interoception is key to self-regulation.
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
21 October 2026, 12:00 pm - 11 minutes 37 secondsHelp! Both my kids have opposite sensory needs. How can I support both?
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Summary
Learn how to manage conflicting sensory needs among children, especially in limited spaces, and emphasize the importance of understanding neurodiversity. I’ll also share some practical strategies for creating supportive environments and fostering better communication about sensory needs.
Check these reels for examples of talking to kids about neurodiversity
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DB_08gSxS0_/?igsi=MWdtbXB1NW12dGg4dg==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DPt0xKuCYHJ/?igsi=azh2bmF6eG1keGZp
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DSQHxiZkaFK/?igsi=MWx3MGlrdGw0d2NodQ==
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCpuRjNzaCI/?igsi=MXJ4aTZ0NXNzajRjZg==
Key topics
- Understanding neurodiversity and sensory profiles
- The importance of conversations about neurodiversity
- Creative space management for conflicting sensory needs
- Using sensory tools and zones to support regulation
- Managing limited space with sensory sanctuaries
Takeaways
- You can't meet every child's needs perfectly at all times, especially in shared spaces.
- Talking openly about neurodiversity helps children understand and manage their needs.
- Creating designated zones and using sensory tools can reduce dysregulation.
- Limited space requires creative solutions like pop-up tents and sensory sanctuaries.
- Recognizing your resource limitations is key to managing expectations.
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
14 October 2026, 12:00 pm - 11 minutes 23 secondsTo the haters who think I’m raising a snowflake
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I share my thoughts on supporting neurodivergent children through accommodations and how to handle critics who oppose this approach. With my new book, The Sensory Code, out now, I want to encourage parents to embrace a lifestyle that meets their child's needs without guilt.
key topics
- The importance of sensory accommodations for neurodivergent children
- Addressing criticism and misconceptions about supporting children
- Building skills and self-advocacy in children
- The role of parents in creating supportive environments
- My new book, The Sensory Code, and its message
takeaways
- Supporting your child's needs does not make them 'soft' or incapable.
- Accommodations are similar to the strategies adults use to improve their daily lives.
- Haters often have unmet needs or unresolved childhood issues.
- Building skills alongside accommodations empowers children to advocate for themselves.
- Creating a supportive lifestyle benefits children at home and in school.
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
7 October 2026, 12:00 pm - 14 minutes 48 secondsProactive Regulation: The Nervous System Budget
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I share insights from my upcoming book, The Sensory Code, and introduce the nervous system budget framework to help parents and educators understand and support children's sensory processing differences proactively.
Key Topics:- Nervous system budget framework
- Proactive sensory support strategies
- Sensory processing differences and behavior
- Application of the spoon theory to sensory regulation
- How to build a sensory-friendly daily schedule
Takeaways- The nervous system has a limited 'budget' that gets spent on daily demands.
- Sensory triggers can 'cost' more for sensitive children, depleting their nervous system budget.
- Proactively reducing sensory 'costs' and adding 'deposits' can help prevent dysregulation.
- Understanding the nervous system budget helps foster compassion and patience.
- Sleep alone does not replenish the nervous system budget; ongoing support is needed.
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
30 September 2026, 12:00 pm - 13 minutes 54 secondsHow much does diagnosis matter for OT intervention?
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I discuss whether a child's diagnosis influences occupational therapy treatment plans, emphasizing that while diagnoses can provide helpful context, they shouldn't define the intervention approach. I also highlight the importance of focusing on the child's current skills and needs, and when specific diagnoses like OCD require tailored strategies.
Points Discussed
- Diagnosis's role in OT treatment
- Focus on child's current skills
- Differences in clinic settings
- Impact of specific diagnoses like OCD
- Using diagnosis as a guide, not a box
- Supporting children with sensory needs
Takeaways
- Diagnosis shouldn't be the primary focus in intervention planning.
- Focus on the child's current skills and goals.
- Diagnosis can inform but shouldn't limit therapy.
- OCD requires specific considerations in therapy.
- Many children have misdiagnoses or no diagnosis.
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
23 September 2026, 12:00 pm - 12 minutes 28 secondsAm I over-accommodating my child?
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In this episode of the Sensory Code Podcast, I reflect on a personal realization about my daughter's accommodations as she turned nine. I discuss the complacency that can arise in parenting, particularly in providing support for children with sensory processing differences. I emphasize the importance of encouraging independence in daily tasks and the need for continuous assessment of accommodations to foster self-advocacy and personal growth in children.
Takeaways
- I was complacent with the routine accommodations for my daughter.
- I realized I was holding her back by not reassessing her needs.
- Accommodations can become habitual and unexamined over time.
- It's important to encourage independence in daily living skills.
- Children should learn to ask for the accommodations they need.
- Development happens under the surface, and children can surprise us.
- We should continuously check in with our children's needs.
- Teaching children to advocate for themselves is crucial.
- Accommodations may be lifelong, and that's okay.
- The goal is to help children understand their sensory needs.
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
16 September 2026, 4:00 pm - 13 minutes 16 secondsTop 5 things I'd do if I just realized my child was neurodivergent
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Summary
Let me tell you about the top five actions I would take if I just discovered my child was neurodivergent. I emphasize the importance of pausing to process the information, embracing accommodations, documenting progress, taking proactive steps for occupational therapy, and communicating about neurodivergence in a positive and affirming light.
Takeaways
Pause and process before taking action.
Accommodations can make daily life easier.
Documenting progress helps recognize growth.
Don't wait for referrals; seek occupational therapy directly.
Communicate about neurodivergence in a positive way.
Links & Resources:
- Instagram video: how to ask your pediatrician for an OT referral
- Autistic/ Neurodivergent content creators:
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
9 September 2026, 12:00 pm - 2 minutes 53 secondsWELCOME TO THE SENSORY CODE PODCAST
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Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Podcast — now The Sensory Code Podcast. Every week, pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix helps you view behavior through a nervous system lens. When parents, caregivers, educators, and therapists understand how sensory processing differences affect learning and behavior, it changes the game forever.
Laura brings a unique POV to the table: her clinical experience as a pediatric OT, her lived experience as a neurodivergent, ADHD, sensory-sensitive person, and her firsthand knowledge of parenting a neurodivergent child. However you're showing up — parent, provider, or both — you're in the right place.
Just pull up a chair, grab your fidget, and lock in.
~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
25 August 2026, 7:00 pm - 49 minutes 44 secondsThe best app for kids that won’t leave them in tears… even when they need to turn it off
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I’m an Occupational Therapist, and I’m also a Mom with an invisible mental load that never ends. Screen time is a tool that I am NOT afraid to use. But not all screen time is created equal.
Some games or apps are more dysregulating than others, which is probably a HUGE reason for the meltdowns and behaviors that come up when it comes to turning off the device. Since the day I was introduced to Pok Pok (in 2021) until now, this has remained our ONE app that has never, and I mean NEVER caused behaviors or meltdowns.
Melissa Cash is the Co-Founder and CEO at Pok Pok, the award-winning company reinventing healthy screen time for kids. One of Canada’s Top 100 Most Influential People of 2024, Melissa is also an advocate and start-up advisor for women and underrepresented founders. Previously, she was a Product Designer for the Walt Disney Company and worked at start-ups in Europe and Canada.
Esther Huybreghts is the Co-Founder and Chief Creative Officer at Pok Pok. With a Master's degree in Animation from the RITCS institute in Brussels, Belgium, she's the creative visionary behind the award-winning children's app Pok Pok, reimagining the way young children interact with technology from the ground up.
Ready to try Pok Pok for yourself? Click [ here ] and use code 25OTBUTTERFLY for a 25% off annual subscription, and a 7 day free trial!~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
21 October 2024, 4:00 am - 17 minutes 29 seconds“But everyone does that!” and other things people say about neurodiversity
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Listen to this short and sweet episode to help you understand the difference between kids who enjoy some sensory input, and kids who NEED some sensory input to function properly in their day.
I'm tired of hearing comments like "but all kids do that!" or "aren't we all a little on the spectrum?" and this episode is my attempt to address those conversations.~Formerly known as The Sensory W.I.S.E. Solutions Pocast~
The Sensory Code BookSensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
A Kids Book About Neurodiversity
16 September 2024, 4:00 am - More Episodes? Get the App