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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! 

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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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.

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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Did you know some kids are getting their recess taken away as punishment for not focusing, being distracted, not getting their work done, and other behavioral issues in the classroom? Maybe you’re the parent to a child who has had this done to them. The American Academy of Pediatrics and The Center for Disease Control and Prevention have both made public statements emphasizing the necessity of at least 20 minutes of recess for elementary aged kids, and they both further state that recess should never be taken away as a punitive measure. 

This episode breaks down those research briefs and gives you the tools to advocate so that your child never misses out on their right to recess again.

Here are the links mentioned:

AAP statement

State Policies Database 

CDC + springboard brief

Results from the School Health Policies and Practices Study 2014

Sign up for the Sensory Detectives BootCamp 

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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Many of us are back into the swing of things at school, and with that comes so much more dysregulation! Listen in as I talk about where that dysregulation comes from and how you can try to get ahead of it (key word: try!). 

You’ll learn: 

• What dysregulated behaviors are common to see after school 
• How after school restraint collapse looks different for neurodivergent kids
• Some immediate ways to regulate the nervous system right at school pick up
• What kinds of sensory strategies to try after school once you get home

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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Listen in to this episode to hear more context and insight behind some of the wording and passages I used in my book, A kids book about neurodiversity. You might be surprised to learn that this book’s intended audience is actually neurotypical kids, because I want to spread awareness and acceptance and celebration for our neurodivergent kids; it shouldn’t always be left up to us neurodivergent folks and families to constantly explain ourselves and our kids’ behaviors and needs to the world; what if we lived in a world where everyone just knew that there are variations among humans?

Register for the free 60 minute masterclass here. 

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" here. 

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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

Listen in to this casual, story time episode where I catch you up to speed with my anxiety/ADHD journey and why I stopped medication. 

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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Do you ever feel like your patience runs out before your coffee does? In this episode, we focus on why it's essential for parents, teachers, and caregivers to prioritize their own regulation. It's not just about being able to stay calm when your child spills cereal all over the floor—it's about being equipped to handle life's daily challenges with a sense of calm and control.

Join me as I share some straightforward and practical strategies for self-regulation that you might already be doing without realizing their true potential. From chewing gum to changing your clothes, discover how these simple acts can actually help you maintain your cool. We’ll dive into the science behind why our bodies react the way they do and explore how we can proactively use these sensory strategies to reclaim our brain's resources and be the best versions of ourselves for our kids.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn:

• The importance of self-regulation for parents and caregivers.
• How to identify your own cues of dysregulation and what they might look like for you.
• The neuroscience behind why our bodies go into "protective mode" during stress and how it affects our ability to multi-task.
• Simple sensory strategies you can use throughout the day
• My most IMPORTANT tip for implementing these sensory strategies

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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

Are you receiving constant feedback about your child's behavior or learning challenges in the classroom? 

In this episode, we explore why classroom accommodations are crucial for neurodivergent children and how they can transform your child's educational experience. I'll touch on sensory needs, emotional regulation, and executive functioning, offering general starting points to advocate for your child's unique needs. 

Join us for the upcoming school accommodations workshop on August 11th  
https://theotbutterfly.com/schoolworkshop 

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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

The size of the problem is a common lesson therapists and teachers use to teach kids emotional regulation skills. As I have learned more about the neurodivergent community, I’ve started thinking about this lesson in a different late and want to share that with you in this episode. Don’t worry, it’s not all bad!

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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

The transition to summer comes with so many emotions and behaviors, it can be really exhausting. There are ways to support your neurodivergent child through this transition.

In this episode, you’ll learn: 

• Why the transition from end of school to summer vacation is difficult
• How to handle big feelings around the end of school 
• How to optimize regulation at home 
• How to structure your time at home 

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book

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

Calling all millennial parents! Did you grow up hearing things like:

"Because I said so!"
"You're too old to be acting like that!"
"Give your Grandma a hug, don't be rude!"
"If you don't clean up these toys, I'm throwing them away!"
"I told you that would happen! You never listen."

Our parents were doing the best with the information they had-- not to mention, many of them also growing up with the same narrative. Well, in the age of gentle parenting and respectful parenting, our generation is now doing the work to unlearn all of those and go off script as we try to raise a more emotionally intelligent generation. In this episode, Stephanie and I share examples of what it sounds like to set healthy boundaries in a respectful way with your kids.

Register for the Chaos 2 Connection Summit for free HERE.

Stephanie lives in Sydney, Australia with her family and is a certified Emotional Intelligence coach, paediatric anxiety therapist, and ex-speech pathologist. She is the founder of Let's Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids, an online community of over 90,000 parents.
Her ground-breaking book, From Chaos to Connection, was published in March 2023 and was an immediate Amazon Best Seller.
Stephanie was appointed as the Emotional Intelligence Mentor for Australia’s Nurture Parenting Magazine in 2021. She has also been featured in numerous international parenting summits and conferences and has now hosted 2 virtual parenting conferences with speakers from across the globe. 
Her platform focuses on supporting parents in learning how to manage their emotions, frustrations and stress so that they are happier, calmer and connect more deeply with their kids. She also helps parents to raise emotionally intelligent kids, who are self-aware and positively manage their emotions and behaviour.

**We are currently on a hiatus until 2025**
Sensory Detectives Boot camp Waitlist
Episode transcript: https://www.theotbutterfly.com/podcast

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

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

Buy "A kids book about neurodiversity" : www.theotbutterfly.com/book