As we head into the holiday season, many families look forward to connection, tradition, and togetherness — but for sensory-emotional kids (and the adults who love them), this time can also bring overwhelm, unpredictability, and big feelings.
In today’s episode, we’re sharing practical tools to help your family enjoy Thanksgiving rather than simply get through it. We’ll explore perspective shifts, whole-family strategies, and support tailored to each Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP) within the Sensory Emotional Engagement Frame of Reference developed by Michele Parkins.
Whether you’re hosting, traveling, navigating big feelings, or supporting a child who experiences the world differently, this episode offers grounding, compassionate guidance for a more regulated and connected holiday.
In this episode, you’ll discover:
How a simple daily practice of sharing hopes, worries, and anticipated events builds safety, alignment, and emotional connection — especially during unpredictable holiday routines.
Why modeling apologies, practicing accountability, and using AnnMarie’s family “reset button” can reduce shame and support co-regulation when miscommunications or big feelings happen.
The importance of bringing safe foods, protecting sleep routines when possible, and preserving what supports your child’s (and your!) regulation.
Practical tips for supporting each Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP) throughout the Thanksgiving experience.
Holidays don’t have to feel chaotic — connection grows from regulation, predictability, and teamwork. Preparing together as a family strengthens emotional resilience and builds lasting positive memories.
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We know that sensory-motor experiences play a significant role in a child’s daily life and emotional well-being. Using playful interactions, The Sensory Emotional Center of Learning is designed to bring our therapeutic model, the Sensory Emotional EngageMent Frame of Reference, into your home or work.
https://www.sensoryemotionalcenteroflearning.com
Want more resources? Please visit our blog: https://greatkidsplace.com/category/blog/
and https://sensoryemotional.org/
About
AnnMarie Murphy, OTD, OT/L, PNAP
Occupational Therapist, Great Kids Place
Co-Director, Sensory-motor Emotional EngageMent
AnnMarie is an Occupational Therapist and Assistant Professor at FDU, where she teaches mental health, neuroscience, and interprofessional education. She holds a doctoral degree in occupational therapy, specializes in the evaluation and treatment of Sensory Processing Disorder, and is a fellow of Michele Parkins, MS, OTR/L, IMH-E.
Her background also includes a degree in Psychology, supporting her focus on social-emotional development, parent stress, and family dynamics.
A Tribute to Michele Parkins, MS, OTR/L, IMH-E®
Founder, Great Kids Place and the Sensory-motor Emotional EngageMent Frame of Reference
Michele Parkins dedicated her life to supporting children and families with sensory processing and social-emotional challenges. As both a professional and a parent of two sensory children, she combined expertise with deep personal understanding.
Passionate about empowering families and mentoring therapists, Michele taught internationally, consulted with schools, and co-authored a chapter in the 3rd edition of Sensory Integration: Theory and Practice, the leading textbook in the field. At the time of her passing, she was writing books to help families recognize their Sensory Emotional Personality styles and discover strength and joy within them.
Though gone too soon, Michele’s legacy endures in the lives she touched, the community she built, and the vision she entrusted us to carry forward.
