November is a month of gratitude at Great Kids Place, and in this episode, AnnMarie honors the memory of Michele—our founder and mentor—who taught us to slow down, hold space, and see the world through a Sensory Emotional Lens. As we gather this month for her annual Thankful for You dinner, we reflect not only on the families we serve but also on the unique sensory emotional personalities (SEPs) that shape how our children sense, feel, move through, and experience the world.
This episode explores gratitude for the “yets” in each child’s journey and for the roles we get to play as their supporters, protectors, and encouragers. We break down each of the five Sensory Emotional Personalities, highlighting their challenges, their gifts, and the special role caregivers play in helping children navigate the world with confidence and wonder.
In this episode, we’ll explore the five Sensory Emotional Personalities (SEPs) and the strengths and “yets” within each.
We also share one of Michele’s most treasured reminders:
We don’t have to—we get to.
We get to support our children.
We get to slow down.
We get to notice the glimmers.
We get to watch them become them.
By shifting our lens, we deepen our relationships, honor each child’s unique way of sensing and feeling, and step forward with gratitude.
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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.
