Shows
A Sensory Emotional Lens65. Gratitude for our Yets Using a Sensory Emotional LensNovember 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...
2025-11-2610 minA Sensory Emotional Lens64. Preparing to Gather through a Sensory Emotional LensAs 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...
2025-11-2424 minA Sensory Emotional Lens63. Regulating Ourselves through Transitions using a Sensory Emotional LensTransitions aren’t just tricky for kids — they challenge us as adults too! In this week’s episode, we explore how our own sensory and emotional profiles influence how we handle morning routines, unexpected changes, and the many moving parts of daily life. When we, as caregivers, teachers, or therapists, start our day dysregulated, our stress can ripple outward — leading to co-escalation instead of co-regulation. We’ll offer practical strategies for tuning into your own sensory needs so that you can model calm, confidence, and connection during transitions with your kids. In this epis...
2025-11-1113 minA Sensory Emotional Lens62. Playing through Transitions using a Sensory Emotional LensTransitions are a part of every moment — from waking up to heading out the door, from one activity to the next, and from one emotion to another. But while some transitions happen smoothly and almost unnoticed, others can feel like navigating a minefield. In this episode we invite listeners to explore playing through transitions through a sensory-emotional lens. We’ll shed light on what makes transitions so challenging for some children (and adults!) and how sensory processing and emotional regulation come together to shape these experiences. Learn how play can become a powe...
2025-11-0319 minA Sensory Emotional Lens61. Supporting Transitions Off Screen Time through a Sensory Emotional LensIn this final episode of our Screens with Purpose series, AnnMarie is joined once again by OT doctoral student Alexis Faria, and Geena Gaver, an OT at Great Kids Place, to explore one of the toughest challenges families face around screen time — helping kids transition off of screens. Over the past three episodes, we’ve talked about why screen time matters, what it looks like in our homes, and how to find balance between digital engagement and meaningful off-screen play. Today, we’re diving into what happens in those big emotional moments when the tablet turns o...
2025-10-2320 minA Sensory Emotional Lens60. SEL - The Who - Screens with Purpose through a Sensory Emotional LensIn this week’s episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens, AnnMarie Murphy and OT doctoral student Alexis continue the “Screen with Purpose” series — turning the focus from screens themselves to the children behind them. Every child experiences screens differently. Some turn to them for comfort, some for excitement, and others for connection or escape. Through a sensory emotional lens, we can uncover why screens hold such appeal and learn how to guide our kids toward balance — with playful, meaningful off-screen alternatives that meet their individual sensory and emotional needs. Alexis and AnnMarie wal...
2025-10-1527 minA Sensory Emotional Lens59. The What and Where - Screen Time through a Sensory Emotional LensIn this week’s episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens, AnnMarie welcomes back OT doctoral student Alexis to continue the conversation on screen time — but this time, through the lens of what kinds of screens kids are using and where they’re using them. Building on last week’s discussion about why kids are drawn to screens, this episode explores how the type and context of screen use can deeply influence a child’s sensory, emotional, and social development. Together, AnnMarie and Alexis unpack how screens can both support and challenge regulation, connection, and play — depending on...
2025-10-0821 minA Sensory Emotional Lens58. Why Screen Time through a Sensory Emotional LensScreens are everywhere—classrooms, living rooms, even in our pockets. But what makes them so appealing to our kids? And how can we, as caregivers, better understand the way children experience screen time through their unique sensory and emotional lenses? In this episode, host AnnMarie Murphy is joined by Alexis Faria, doctoral OT student at Kean University, who has spent months researching screen time and its impact on kids. Together, they kick off our 4-part “Screens with Purpose” series by exploring why children are drawn to screens in the first place. You’ll l...
2025-10-0122 minA Sensory Emotional Lens58. Why Screen Time through a Sensory Emotional LensScreens are everywhere—classrooms, living rooms, even in our pockets. But what makes them so appealing to our kids? And how can we, as caregivers, better understand the way children experience screen time through their unique sensory and emotional lenses? In this episode, host AnnMarie Murphy is joined by Alexis Faria, doctoral OT student at Kean University, who has spent months researching screen time and its impact on kids. Together, they kick off our 4-part “Screens with Purpose” series by exploring why children are drawn to screens in the first place. You’ll l...
2025-10-0122 minA Sensory Emotional Lens57. Adult Roles in Play through a Sensory Emotional LensWith the start of a new school year comes new routines, transitions, and a whole lot of change—for kids and adults. In this episode, we explore the incredible power you hold—whether you’re a parent, therapist, teacher, or grandparent—in supporting children’s developing brains and bodies through a sensory emotional lens. We’ll unpack how the brain develops, why kids can’t always do what we expect, and how understanding their sensory emotional personality (SEP) can transform daily routines from chaos to connection. In this episode, you’ll discover:Wh...
2025-09-2818 minA Sensory Emotional Lens56. Navigating Grief through a Sensory Emotional LensThis episode is tender and deeply personal for all of us at Great Kids Place. Just over a month has passed since the loss of our beloved founder, host, mentor, and friend, Michele Parkins. Michele was the heart of this podcast and the soul behind so much of what we do. Her vision for play, connection, and sensory-emotional work continues to guide us, and today we honor her by exploring grief through the very lens she taught us to use: the sensory-emotional lens.Grief doesn’t only live in our minds or hearts—it live...
2025-09-0928 min
A Sensory Emotional Lens55. Honoring the Life and Legacy of Michele Parkins Understanding Grief – The Truth About Emotions, Love, and LossIt is with the deepest sadness and heavy hearts that we share the unexpected passing of our beloved founder, host, and guiding light, Michele Parkins. Michele was the heart of A Sensory Emotional Lens, Great Kids Place, and a guiding light to so many families, therapists, and professionals. Her legacy of compassion, connection, and play will continue through the voices she inspired and the mission she passionately led. Jenna Hammond, Program Manager, and Laura Baldwin, Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist™ at Great Kids Place, host today’s heartfelt and reflec...
2025-08-0414 minA Sensory Emotional Lens54. Vacations Through a Sensory Emotional LensWith summer often comes vacations, and it’s important to remember that Sensory Emotional Kids tend to express their SEPs more vividly during vacations. Why? Because vacations often involve a break from routine and a flood of novel sensory-motor, social and emotional experiences. These changes can bring out new or more intense social-emotional responses—some that may not usually show up in day-to-day life. When we use a Sensory Emotional Lens, we recognize that the way we take in sensation and move our bodies affects how we feel, act, and interact with the world. At the s...
2025-07-1543 minA Sensory Emotional Lens53. Surviving & Thriving Summer Through a Sensory Emotional Lens (Part 2)Summer can bring freedom and fun — but with its new sensory and emotional experiences, summer can also be sensory overload, emotional fatigue, and unexpected challenges for kids with unique sensory-emotional profiles (SEPs). In this episode, we dive deep into how to support your child’s SEP through summer’s shifting routines, hotter days, unstructured time and newly structured time. With summer bringing new experiences, your child may also be presenting in new ways. It’s a great time to review all of the SEPs as your child may have some shifts within and between them this summer. W...
2025-06-3029 minA Sensory Emotional Lens52. Surviving & Thriving Summer Through a Sensory Emotional Lens (Part 1)Summer can bring freedom and fun — but with its new sensory and emotional experiences, summer can also be sensory overload, emotional fatigue, and unexpected challenges for kids with unique sensory-emotional profiles (SEPs). In this episode, we dive deep into how to support your child’s SEP through summer’s shifting routines, hotter days, unstructured time and newly structured time. With summer bringing new experiences, your child may also be presenting in new ways. It’s a great time to review all of the SEPs, as your child may have some shifts within and between them this summer. W...
2025-06-2529 minA Sensory Emotional Lens51. Picky Eating Through a Sensory Emotional LensPicky eating isn’t just about preferences — it’s about how a child is experiencing their world. Today’s episode is one that many of you have been requesting — we’re diving deep into picky eating, not from a behavioral or surface-level view, but through the powerful lens of sensory and emotional processing. This topic often resurfaces during times of change and stress — like the transition from the school year to summer — and it's important to look beneath the surface to understand why mealtime can become such a battleground. We’ll explore how a child’s sensory-emotional w...
2025-06-1328 minA Sensory Emotional Lens50. Revisiting Changes in Routine Through a Sensory Emotional LensAs we approach the end of the school year, many of us are preparing for big transitions—siblings coming home from college, summer camps kicking off, family vacations in the works, and those familiar routines starting to shift.So today, we're looking back at one of our most timely episodes—because it’s more relevant than ever. In that episode, we explored how changes in routine, while exciting for some, can be overwhelming for kids with sensory and sensory-motor differences. While most of us appreciate routine, our sensory kids depend on it.
2025-05-2833 minA Sensory Emotional Lens49. “It’s Not Sensory" Through a Sensory Emotional LensToday, we’re tackling a phrase many parents and professionals hear — “This child is not sensory.” As awareness of sensory processing grows, more families and caregivers are trying sensory strategies to help children with regulation and participation. But when these strategies don't work as expected, it's often too quickly concluded that the child doesn’t have sensory needs.The truth? Sensory processing is complex, highly individualized, and often misunderstood. We’ll explore why general sensory strategies might not always work — not because the child isn’t “sensory” — but because the strategy wasn’t the right fit for their uniq...
2025-05-2125 minA Sensory Emotional Lens48. Personality Development Through a Sensory Emotional LensIn this episode, we explore the concept of Sensory Emotional Engagement and its role in personality development. Our research team is examining how Sensory Emotional Engagement bridges gaps between sensory integration, mental health, and early relational health. The central idea is that personality forms through repeated patterns of behavior in response to sensory and social stimuli. The way we take in sensations and move our body impacts the way we feel. The way we sense, move, and feel impacts the way we act and interact within environments and with others. The way we act and interact becomes our personality...
2025-05-1522 minA Sensory Emotional Lens47. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Through a Sensory Emotional LensIn today’s episode, we’re diving into a common theme many families bring up: kids who need to be in control and have things “just so.” Parents often describe their child getting upset when daily routines aren’t followed exactly—like needing to get dressed in a specific order, wanting food served on certain plates, or insisting the bedtime routine goes the same way every single night.We also hear stories about children needing things in a specific order or setup—whether it’s where they place their shoes, how their toys are arranged, or eve...
2025-04-2429 minA Sensory Emotional Lens46. Anxious Yet Deeply Feeling Road Map for Regulation and Engagement Through a Sensory Emotional LensIn today’s episode, we’re focusing on the Anxious Yet Deeply Feeling Sensory Emotional Personality map. We'll explore the specific sensory and emotional behaviors—essentially the landmarks—that you can expect to encounter on this SEP map. By recognizing these key traits, you’ll be better equipped to understand and navigate your child's world with connection, empathy, and insight. Just as a map offers guidance through unfamiliar landscapes, understanding your child's Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP) can provide clear guidance through your child’s behaviors and interactions. Each SEP serves as a guide, revealing how children...
2025-04-0827 minA Sensory Emotional Lens45. Needy Yet Compassionate Road Map for Regulation and Engagement Through a Sensory Emotional LensIn today’s episode, we’re focusing on the Needy Yet Compassionate Sensory Emotional Personality map. We'll explore the specific sensory and emotional behaviors—essentially the landmarks—that you can expect to encounter on this SEP map. By recognizing these key traits, you’ll be better equipped to understand and navigate your child's world with connection, empathy, and insight. Just as a map offers guidance through unfamiliar landscapes, understanding your child's Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP) can provide clear guidance through your child’s behaviors and interactions. Each SEP serves as a guide, revealing how children proc...
2025-03-2832 minA Sensory Emotional Lens44. Confused Yet Full of Wonder Road Map for Regulation and Engagement Through a Sensory Emotional LensIn today’s episode, we’re focusing on the Confused Yet Full of Wonder Sensory Emotional Personality map. We'll explore the specific sensory and emotional behaviors—essentially the landmarks—that you can expect to encounter on this SEP map. By recognizing these key traits, you’ll be better equipped to understand and navigate your child's world with connection, empathy and insight. Just as a map offers guidance through unfamiliar landscapes, understanding your child's Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP) can provide clear guidance through your child’s behaviors and interactions. Each SEP serves as a guide, revealing how...
2025-03-1838 minA Sensory Emotional Lens43. Take Time to Play Through a Sensory Emotional Lens - Bonus ChallengeIn today’s bonus episode, we invite you to join our Take Time to PLAY campaign and experience the transformative power of play!At Great Kids Place (and beyond), we’re encouraging families to engage in Sensory Emotional PLAY for just 15 minutes a day. Whether through creative games, hands-on activities, or sensory motor experiences, play has the power to strengthen emotional connections and boost overall well-being.Why play?When we observe the play of children, we are invited into their world of experiences. Play prov...
2025-02-2004 minA Sensory Emotional Lens42. Scattered Yet Intentional and Passionate Road Map for Regulation and Engagement Through a Sensory Emotional LensIn today’s episode, we’re focusing on theScattered Yet Intentional and PassionateSensory Emotional Personality map. We'll explore the specific sensory and emotional behaviors—essentially thelandmarks—that you can expect to encounter on this SEP map. By recognizing these key traits, you’ll be better equipped to understand and navigate your child's world with connection, empathy, and insight. Just as a map offers guidance through unfamiliar landscapes, understanding your child's Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP) can provide clear guidance through your child’s behaviors and interactions. Each SEP serves as a guide, revealing how children process sensa...
2025-02-1137 minA Sensory Emotional Lens41. Unaware Yet Deep Thinking Road Map for Regulation and Engagement Through a Sensory Emotional LensSometimes navigating parenthood seems like exploring uncharted territory. Just as a map offers guidance through unfamiliar landscapes, understanding your child's Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP) can provide clear guidance through your child’s behaviors and interactions.
Each SEP serves as a guide, revealing how children process sensations and navigate their emotional world, and unveiling their unique characteristics and behavioral tendencies, shedding light on why they act the way they do. As caregivers, this understanding empowers us to anticipate and respond to their needs more effectively.
In today’s episode, we’re foc...
2025-01-1536 minA Sensory Emotional Lens40. Take Time to Play Using a Sensory Emotional LensIn today’s episode, I share a personal story about the importance of play in our busy lives. Between running Great Kids Place and A Sensory Emotional Lens, and managing the hectic schedules of my kids—who are now almost 13 and 14—it's easy to forget the joy of play. We spend plenty of time together, like sharing meals, chatting during car rides, and reflecting at bedtime, but these moments aren’t the same as unstructured play.
A few weeks ago, I decided to intentionally carve out time to play with my son, and it was magi...
2024-12-2306 minA Sensory Emotional Lens39. Gratitude Through a Sensory Emotional LensRecently, I have been reflecting on gratitude, influenced by my own experiences with my Sensory Emotional kids during some challenging parenting moments. I’m trying to “practice what I preach” by applying a Sensory Emotional perspective to better understand situations where there may be a lack of gratitude. This approach helps me respond to such behaviors with greater understanding.
As we find ourselves in the holiday season, I believe it’s a great opportunity for many of us to pause and use a sensory emotional lens to consider why our children may not express gratitud...
2024-12-2027 minA Sensory Emotional Lens38. Revisiting Tricky Behaviors & The Holidays Through A Sensory Emotional LensThe holidays can be stressful for our sensory-emotional children and their caregivers. That’s why we want to revisit an earlier episode and share resources that may be helpful as we navigate the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.
You may have noticed some behaviors resurfacing in recent weeks. The period leading up to the holidays and major events can be challenging for our sensory-emotional kids and their families. At Great Kids, several of our families have reported that their children are experiencing increased neediness and are asking for help with tasks they we...
2024-12-121h 07A Sensory Emotional Lens37. SEPs As a Road Map for Regulation and Engagement Through a Sensory Emotional LensPersonality is a set of qualities that make up a person's character - their way of being. When we talk about someone's personality, we often describe the way they act and interact. For example, "he is the outgoing one who likes to talk a lot and try new things."
Sensory Emotional Personalities describe the characteristics - the way an individual acts and interacts - based on the way they are processing and moving in their world. Therefore, Sensory Emotional Personalities provide us with a way to understand our child's actions and interactions (their behaviors) by u...
2024-12-0623 minA Sensory Emotional Lens36. "Being Mean" Through a Sensory Emotional LensWe know that the way we take in sensation impacts how we feel and, in turn, how we act and interact. We've discussed the global emotional expressions of body-based experiences - emotions like anxiety, embarrassment, surprise, confusion, needy, etc. Today, we are going to dive into social situations and a topic that's been coming up lately - kids saying things to others that are unkind or saying seemingly purposefully hurtful or mean things to others.
Well, at least, the things being said were interpreted as purposefully mean or hurtful. It turns out the child wh...
2024-11-1829 minA Sensory Emotional Lens35. Potty Training Through a Sensory Emotional LensPotty training can be a rollercoaster of emotions for both caregivers and kids. The pressure and stress surrounding this milestone can feel overwhelming at times. Whether it's the comments from other caregivers or grandparents about it being "time" or the need to meet deadlines for preschool transitions, the pressure to help our kids achieve this goal can be intense.
As we chatted about in a recent episode, our stress levels can affect our kids, and stress can make it really hard for them to go to the bathroom. We also know that there are...
2024-10-2324 minA Sensory Emotional Lens34. Halloween Through a Sensory Emotional LensBelieve it or not, Halloween can sometimes seem more of a trick than a treat for our sensory emotional kids. On the surface we can see or sense the different sensory experiences that Halloween brings - lights and sounds of decorations, smells of candy and even decorations sometimes, and costumes of unfamiliar fabrics and textures.
When we consider movement experiences, we can anticipate navigation through crowds and navigating places in the dark with lots of people and lots of different uneven surfaces, not to mention needing to navigate around and over decorations.
...
2024-10-1424 minA Sensory Emotional Lens33. Parent & Caregiver Stress Through a Sensory Emotional LensDuring any big transition or change in routine for our children, we spend a lot of time talking about how to support our kids, and we, as parents and caregivers, put all our effort into this. We focus on understanding the tricky behaviors of our children and preventing and responding to them. What we don't spend time on is what supports us as caregivers during busy, tricky, crazy seasons in life. In fact, we often completely put our needs aside at times like these. Then what happens? You guessed it - WE are the ones with the tricky behaviors!
2024-10-0228 minA Sensory Emotional Lens32. Sensory Diets through A Sensory Emotional LensIn this episode, we're looking at sensory diets and sensory breaks through a sensory emotional lens. Sensory diets provide opportunities throughout the day for a child to engage in sensory input to support regulation. In the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model, we know that the way we move our bodies and take in sensation impacts the way that we feel. We also know that children with sensory processing differences tend to experience specific emotional expressions - specific ways of feeling. When using a sensory diet, we must consider these emotional experiences alongside the body-based sensory-motor experiences in order to fully...
2024-09-1039 minA Sensory Emotional Lens31. Back-to-School through A Sensory Emotional Lens (Part 2)Michele and Amanda are back to continue their conversation about supporting our sensory emotional kids in the classroom as we head back to school this year. Getting to know a new school, a new teacher, new routines, and expectations that are different from last year can be really overwhelming. We recognize that we all process sensory information differently and choose different ways of being according to our capacities to process information from the world and our bodies. In school, these ways of being can significantly impact performance and participation in school-based activities.
Michele and...
2024-08-2737 minA Sensory Emotional Lens30. Back-to-School through A Sensory Emotional Lens (Part 1)Getting to know a new school, a new teacher, new routines, and expectations that are different from last year can be really overwhelming for some. We recognize that we all process sensory information differently and choose different ways of being according to our capacities to process information from the world and our bodies. In school, these ways of being can significantly impact performance and participation in school-based activities.
Join Michele and special guest Amanda Newchok for this special episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens where they share valuable insights and strategies to help ease...
2024-08-1435 minA Sensory Emotional Lens29. Rewards through A Sensory Emotional LensLike many common “go to” strategies, tangible rewards do not always work for all kids - particularly for individuals who process sensation differently than yourself and others. In fact, an offering of a reward for an expected behavior often has the opposite effect for some kids – again, particularly our sensory kids – and results in further dysregulation and lack of participation. In this episode, we’ll take a sensory emotional lens on reward, focusing on the feeling of reward and the sense of reward, to provide new strategies for using rewards for expected behaviors.
In this episode y...
2024-07-3022 minA Sensory Emotional Lens28. Sibling & Peer Play Interactions through A Sensory Emotional LensSocial interactions with peers and/or siblings is a common area of challenge for children (and all individuals) with sensory emotional differences. There is often a mismatch in how we think the social experience will go and how it actually goes. This mismatch leads to decreased success in social interactions and accompanying tricky behaviors when our kids are in social scenarios. This mismatch is caused by underlying sensory motor differences and the emotional expression of them.
To better understand this, we’re using a Sensory Emotional Lens to dig deeper into peer and sibling social inter...
2024-07-2429 minA Sensory Emotional Lens27. The Benefits of Taking Risks through A Sensory Emotional LensThis week’s episode of a Sensory Emotional Lens builds off of last week’s show on the explorations of new experiences, but this time, we’re putting an emphasis on the benefits of taking risks. Taking risks when done in play is a rich sensory-emotional opportunity and brings several benefits. In addition to sensory-emotional exploration, taking risks brings novelty, ignites problem-solving abilities, builds regulation strategies, tests and learns boundaries, and allows the reformation of a sense of self.
In this episode you’ll discover:
The body-based and emotion-based experiences in taking risks...
2024-07-0129 minA Sensory Emotional Lens26. Changes in Routine through A Sensory Emotional LensWhile most of us thrive on and enjoy routines, individuals with sensory processing and sensory-motor difficulties tend to rely on them more so than most of us. Learn why routines are beneficial and why changes in routines can lead to significant challenges in emotion regulation and social participation. When we understand the body-based differences that occur as routines change, we can better understand the social-emotional reactions that are popping up and what to do about them through a sensory-emotional lens.
Don’t worry—we’ll also provide you with ways to make routine changes easier an...
2024-06-1232 minA Sensory Emotional Lens25. The Function-Dysfunction Continuum of Sensory Motor Capacities through the Lifespan through A Sensory Emotional LensWe all process sensory information and move our bodies differently. Sometimes, this happens in functional ways. Sometimes, this happens in dysfunctional ways. How we process sensation and move our bodies can lead to weaknesses AND strengths. These continuums of function to dysfunction and strengths to weaknesses fluctuate throughout development and the lifespan based on our relationships, environments, habits, and routines. Learn how this continuum applies to you and your family.
In this episode you’ll discover:
How to determine if sensory processing in your child and in you is functional or dysfunctional
...
2024-06-0441 minA Sensory Emotional Lens24. Amelia's Journey - Behind the Scenes through A Sensory Emotional LensIn the last episode, we met Amelia and heard about her perspective on her sensory-emotional journey and lifestyle. As she spoke, I found myself reflecting on her journey through the therapist’s lens—thinking through the clinical reasoning that we used as therapists to support each piece of her sensory-emotional personalities through her early childhood and now pre-teen experiences. Welcome to Behind the Scenes of Amelia’s Journey!
In this episode you’ll discover:
The whole body experiences that caused anxiety for Amelia
The need for clinical reasoning for intervention to go wel...
2024-05-2039 minA Sensory Emotional Lens23. My Sensory Emotional & Anxiety Experience - Amelia's JourneyOn today’s very special episode of a Sensory Emotional Lens, we are joined by two of our therapists, AnnMarie and Laura, and one of our great kids and her mom. Hear first-hand from Amelia and her mom, Rachel, as they share a bit about their sensory-emotional journey and anxiety.
In this episode you’ll discover:
The body-based experiences that cause anxiety for Amelia now, how to recognize them, and what strategies help her in the moment
The thought-based experiences that cause anxiety for Amelia now and how to recognize them
2024-05-0134 minA Sensory Emotional Lens22. Body-Based Intervention for Anxiety through A Sensory Emotional LensAnxiety is commonly treated with cognitive-based intervention. What if we told you that body-based intervention - in particular sensory Occupational Therapy - can treat anxiety, too?
Listen in to hear how sensory-motor play can help with your child’s anxiety.
In this episode you’ll discover:
How we can use movement and sensation experiences to impact change on emotions and how our kids feel
How can we help decrease anxiety through body-based, sensory motor intervention
How to reframe or change the feeling behind the thought to change...
2024-04-2325 minA Sensory Emotional Lens21. Body-Based Anxiety vs. Thought-Based Anxiety (Part 1) through A Sensory Emotional LensHistorically, the mind and body have been thought of as two different things that are not connected. In the recent decade, this has been challenged, and more and more professionals are recognizing that there is a clear connection between the two. Michele and Laura are ready to explore this idea further in the realm of anxiety assessment and treatment using a sensory emotional lens.
In this episode you’ll discover:
What is body-based anxiety? What is thought-based anxiety, and how to recognize both in your children
How body based and thou...
2024-04-1727 minA Sensory Emotional Lens20. Anxiety (Part 2) through A Sensory Emotional LensIn our practice, it is very common to see anxiety as a presenting experience for children with sensory processing differences or sensory processing disorders.
In the first episode, we explored how the first stage of sensory processing – sensory registration and modulation can lead to anxiety – feeling sensations too much or for too long OR not registering or noticing or registering sensations less than expected or needed.
We are back to talk more and discuss how challenges in sensory discrimination, postural instability, and motor planning difficulties can lead to anxiety.
In...
2024-04-0938 minA Sensory Emotional Lens19. Anxiety (Part 1) through A Sensory Emotional LensIn our practice, it is very common to see anxiety as a presenting experience for children with sensory processing differences or sensory processing disorders.
When we say anxiety, what are we referring to? How does it show up?
Anxiety can present itself as an “official diagnosis,” such as Generalized Anxiety, Social Anxiety, or Separation Anxiety. Anxiety can also present as a response to certain situations – an anxious response associated with a sensation or motor experience.
Because of this high incidence of anxiety “showing up” in sensory integration practice, we are going to dive into why this...
2024-04-0135 minA Sensory Emotional Lens18. Living with ADHD and SPD through A Sensory Emotional LensIn today’s episode, I’m shifting to my parent lens! In addition to being an Occupational Therapist working with children and families with sensory processing differences and social emotional differences, I am also a mom to two kids with both sensory processing differences and ADHD.
If the last few episodes helped you identify that there are sensory motor capacities impacting your child’s attention, activity level, hyperactivity, and tendency toward impulsivity - you are likely wondering, what do I do now? From a parent's perspective, I’ll share insights and my journey with my children.
...
2024-03-2627 minA Sensory Emotional Lens17. Help Attention and ADHD using A Sensory Emotional LensADHD, Sensory, Both?
If the last few episodes helped you identify that there are sensory motor capacities impacting your child’s attention, activity level, hyperactivity, and tendency toward impulsivity - you are likely wondering, what do I do now? Viewing these differences through a Sensory Emotional Lens can help!
In this episode you’ll discover:
How to shift to a sensory emotional lens to understanding your child’s inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity
How to make adjustments to how you respond and support your child through a sensory emotional understa...
2024-03-2223 minA Sensory Emotional Lens16: Hyperactivity, Impulsivity and ADHD (Part 2) through A Sensory Emotional LensWe’re continuing our mini-series on diagnoses and ADHD. In this episode, we focus specifically on the contribution of sensory discrimination capacities or sensory perception, postural instability or core weakness, and motor planning and coordination difficulties to hyperactivity, impulsivity, and ADHD.
By exploring how sensory processing contributes to hyperactivity and impulsivity, we can understand the causes of these behavior patterns more comprehensively and, therefore, better help individuals with these challenges. We can also differentiate if we are looking for a sensory processing difference or ADHD, again allowing us to better help individuals with these experiences.
2024-03-1532 minA Sensory Emotional Lens15: Hyperactivity, Impulsivity and ADHD (Part 1) through A Sensory Emotional LensWe’re continuing our mini-series on diagnoses and ADHD. In this episode, we focus specifically on the contribution of sensory over-responsivity/hyper-sensitivity and sensory under-responsivity/hypo-sensitivity on hyperactivity, impulsivity, and ADHD.
According to the CDC, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or “ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.” Yet, underlying sensory processing differences as a potential cause or contribution are often overlooked. By exploring how sensory processing contributes to hyperactivity and impulsivity, we can understand the causes of these behavior patterns more comprehensively and, th...
2024-03-0432 minA Sensory Emotional Lens14: Attention and ADHD (Part 2) through A Sensory Emotional LensWe’re back to continue our conversation on ADHD. In this episode we focus specifically on the contribution of sensory discrimination capacities or sensory perception, postural instability or core weakness, and motor planning and coordination difficulties on attention and ADHD.
According to the CDC, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or “ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.”
Yet, underlying sensory processing differences as a potential cause or contribution are often overlooked. Sensory processing and social-emotional differences show up in many different ways and...
2024-02-2626 minA Sensory Emotional Lens13: Attention and ADHD (Part 1) through A Sensory Emotional LensAccording to the CDC, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or “ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood.”
Yet, underlying sensory processing differences as a potential cause or contribution are often overlooked. Sensory processing and social-emotional differences show up in many different ways and lead to many different ways of being - or behaviors - including inattention.
Sensory processing differences overlap with many diagnoses - including, Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Some studies suggest ADHD and SPD diagnoses overlap by up to 40% (conservatively), although with ou...
2024-02-2232 minA Sensory Emotional Lens12. Avoidance and Pathological Demand Avoidance through A Sensory Emotional LensPathological Demand Avoidance, a diagnosis commonly known as PDA, is on the rise for children in our area. Yet, underlying sensory processing differences as a potential cause are often overlooked. Sensory processing and social-emotional differences show up in many different ways and lead to many different ways of being - or behaviors.
Sensory processing differences overlap with many diagnoses - ADHD, OCD, PDD, ASD, ODD, PDA, Anxiety, and more. Sometimes, these diagnoses are simultaneously presented. Yet, many times, sensory processing differences are misdiagnosed as another diagnosis.
Over the next few episodes, Michele, along with special g...
2024-02-1254 minA Sensory Emotional Lens11. What’s Happening in PLAY (Part 2) through A Sensory Emotional LensWe’re back to continue our conversation on what’s happening in play… hint - we’re not just playing in therapy sessions and in the play that we recommend at home. Michele and Laura continue sharing specific play scenarios and describe in detail what is happening within each sensory motor system and how social emotional development is supported as we play each play theme and play scenario within the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model.
You’ll discover:
The therapeutic benefits of play styles within the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model
The detailed ways the sensory sys...
2024-02-0546 minA Sensory Emotional Lens10. What’s Happening in PLAY through A Sensory Emotional LensWe always say that we are not “just playing” in therapy sessions and in the play that we are recommending at home. In this episode, we tell you exactly what it is that we are doing!
We walk you through specific play scenarios and describe in detail what is happening within each sensory motor system and how social emotional development is supported as we play each play theme and play scenario within the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model.
You’ll discover:
The therapeutic benefits of play styles within the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model
T...
2024-01-2949 minA Sensory Emotional Lens09. Sensory Motor Systems and Personalities through A Sensory Emotional LensIf you’ve been following along in this mini-series, you’ve listened to why we play, and how we play. Today, we discuss who we play for - diving into understanding the Sensory Motor Systems and Sensory Emotional Personality™ styles of those with whom we play and interact.
In this episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens, you’ll discover:
An understanding of personality/temperament as a response to sensory motor experiences
An overview of the sensory motor process by which we understand and interact with others and tasks
What Sensory Emotional Personalities™ are and how they...
2024-01-2251 minA Sensory Emotional Lens08. Sensory Emotional PLAY through A Sensory Emotional LensLet’s play! The Sensory Emotional Engagement Model uses play to address sensory motor and social emotional development simultaneously. On this episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens on Sensory Emotional Play, Michele outlines the specific use of play themes within this model.
In this episode you’ll discover:
The bidirectional relationship between sensation and emotion
How the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model taps into these connections through play
How to facilitate exploration and discovery of different ways to act and feel to enhance emotion and body/behavior regulation states
Play theme ideas that ignite specifi...
2024-01-1527 minA Sensory Emotional Lens07. A Sensory Emotional Lens on PlayNow that the holidays are over, what will we do with all these new toys, activities, and games?!
We PLAY, of course! But there is a much deeper meaning to play.
On today’s episode of A Sensory Emotional Lens on Play, Michele and special guest Laura Baldwin begin to unpack theories, research, science, and what’s really happening when we play with our kids and why we as adults should play more.
In this episode you’ll discover:
Why we play
What play brings to us and our kids...
2024-01-0731 minA Sensory Emotional Lens06. YOU and Finding Joy During the Holidays through A Sensory Emotional LensThe hustle and bustle is always the theme of the season for us as parents, caregivers, and professionals – I’m sure you can relate… we have to finish this, we have to plan that, we have to order this, we have to prepare that, we have to coordinate this for school, and this for grandmas, and our kids need…
We often get caught up in the go, go, go, trying to make everything perfect. Still, we need to remember that WE have our own sensory emotional experiences and reactions to them. When we understand our own sensory emotional...
2023-12-2055 minA Sensory Emotional Lens05. Resurfacing Behaviors around the Holidays (Part 2) through A Sensory Emotional LensWe’re back with part two of A Sensory Emotional Lens on Resurfacing Behaviors around the Holidays. The weeks leading up to the holidays and big events can be a tricky time for our sensory emotional kids and their families. Michele, and special guest Kristin Ray dive deeper to discuss the behaviors of avoidance and explosive emotions - increased meltdowns, yelling, hitting.
In this episode you’ll discover:
Why these behaviors are resurfacing (hint: it’s not regression)
Different reactions that you can expect using a sensory emotional lens
How to monito...
2023-12-1944 minA Sensory Emotional Lens04. Resurfacing Behaviors around the Holidays (Part 1) through A Sensory Emotional LensMaybe you’ve noticed some behaviors resurfacing these past few weeks? The weeks leading up to the holidays and big events can be a tricky time for our sensory emotional kids and their families. Here at Great Kids, some of our families are mentioning that their kids are experiencing increased neediness and asking for help with things they were previously doing themselves. They are having more explosive emotions - increased meltdowns, yelling, hitting, and avoidance.
This is expected - and Michele and special guest Kristin Ray unpack all of this on today's episode of A Sensory Emotional Len...
2023-12-1526 minA Sensory Emotional Lens03. Tricky Reactions to Receiving Gifts through A Sensory Emotional LensWe all love giving and receiving gifts - but what happens when a child’s reaction isn’t quite what you expected when they receive a gift? Sometimes, our great kids can appear “ungrateful” for their gift - but that usually isn’t the case, and there’s a reason they are feeling this way.
Welcome to A Sensory Emotional Lens on tricky reactions to receiving gifts!
In this episode you’ll discover:
How to interpret those tricky responses to receiving and opening gifts
Different reactions that you can expect using a sensory emotio...
2023-12-0626 minA Sensory Emotional Lens01. A Sensory Emotional Lens on Holiday Gifts IdeasEveryone’s asking - what’s on your kids’ wish list for the holidays? Not sure how to answer?
You’re not alone!
Within the Sensory Emotional Engagement Model, we identify different personality styles based on the way our kids process sensations and move their body and the emotional expression of that processing. By understanding your child’s personality style, you’ll better understand the ways they act and interact and how to play with them based on this.
Using a sensory emotional lens, we’ll talk about the five different Sensory Emotional Personality styles...
2023-11-2923 minA Sensory Emotional Lens02. A Sensory Emotional Lens on the HolidaysThe holidays are upon us, and as parents of children with differences in sensory motor processing, gathering with family and friends for seasonal festivities can be stressful. We often deal with “the looks” from others about our child’s “behavior,” and we are left to explain the reason why our child is hiding behind us in social situations, does not respond to social greetings, or needs more support than the other kids when playing with others. We are often pulled between what we want to do for ourselves and our family and what our children need from us at that momen...
2023-11-2926 min
A Sensory Emotional LensWelcome to A Sensory Emotional Lens!Join Occupational Therapist and mom of two Michele Parkins on a journey into the world of sensory emotional processing on her weekly podcast, A Sensory Emotional Lens.
In short episodes, you'll discover the emotional expression of sensory and movement experiences and how this causes children to act and interact. You'll also explore the connection between sensory, movement, and emotion and the importance of play throughout the day with these connections in mind.
Through an understanding of Sensory Emotional Personality styles, you'll better understand your child's strengths and weaknesses in sensory motor and social emotional development and...
2023-11-2802 min