the OT is IN cover image

the OT is IN

the OT is IN

By: Sarah Collins
Listen for free

Season's Savings | 0.99 €/mo for 3 months

6.99 €/month thereafter - terms apply. Cancel monthly.
The OT is IN podcast merges the worlds of education and occupational therapy to empower families like yours. Sarah Collins, your host, an occupational therapist and homeschooling parent of 3 ranging in age from elementary to high school. Sarah Collins has experienced occupational therapy by supporting families for over 15 years but also through seeking out support for her own children- so, she's right there in the trenches with you. Though there is not one right way to educate your child, there is a lot to consider when individualizing an education. The goal of this podcast is to explain some of the "why" behind what an occupational therapist is thinking so you can artfully apply it to your own family especially with executive functioning, handwriting, and sensory processing. Each episode will be packed with practical tips, expert interviews, and real-life stories aimed at helping you create a supportive learning environment for your child.2024
Episodes
  • Why Reminders and Timers Don't Always Work for Kids: time blindness, ADHD, and Working Memory

    Why Reminders and Timers Don't Always Work for Kids: time blindness, ADHD, and Working Memory
    15 Oct 2026

    If your child struggles with time management, can't seem to transition from one activity to the next, or you're constantly reminding them to "hurry up" or "stay on task," this episode is for you. For homeschool parents navigating ADHD, sensory processing, or executive function differences at home, questions about "time blindness" and practical solutions for daily routines naturally come up—especially as kids grow and demands change.

    In this episode of The OT is IN, I'm joined by Dr. Amy Moore, a cognitive psychologist and ADHD parent, about what time blindness really is (and isn't), how it shows up for neurodivergent kids, and what actually makes a difference. We'll share everyday examples—like what happens when a child is told to "just clean your room"—and unpack why strategies like timers don't always work on their own. Listeners will come away with a more nuanced understanding of why struggles with time are so common and some effective, flexible ways to support kids as they learn about time in real life.

    In This Episode You'll Hear About

    • What "time blindness" means, why it's not a clinical diagnosis, and why it matters to families with neurodivergent kids

    • The connection between time management, working memory, processing speed, and emotions—especially during transitions

    • Why tools like visual timers and analog clocks help some kids, and why they aren't always enough on their own

    • The importance of building a "sense of time" through games, visual schedules, estimation activities, and concrete experience

    • Why emotional connection and collaborative problem-solving matter more than any single strategy for transitions and routines

    • How to individualize remediation (underlying skills) and compensation (external supports) based on each child's needs—without aiming to make every brain "typical"

    • What's developmentally realistic to expect about time skills in early childhood, elementary years, and adolescence

    Links and Resources From Today's Show

    • Hearts on ADHD Parenting: Brain-Based, Grace-Filled Strategies for Raising Kids with Big Emotions and Challenging Behaviors by Dr. Amy Moore amymoorephd.com

    • LearningRx World Headquarters: learningrx.com/homeschool

    • Dr. Amy Moore's podcast: www.TheBrainyMoms.com

    Thank you to our title sponsor Lovevery. As an occupational therapist, I appreciate resources that recognize play as an important part of childhood development rather than something separate from learning. Learn more about Lovevery here Use the code homeschoolOT10 for 10% off.

    Connect With Our Guest, Amy Moore

    Dr. Amy Moore is a cognitive psychologist, clinical researcher, board certified Christian counselor, TEDx speaker, host of the Brainy Moms podcast, an ADHD mom, and a mom with ADHD. She is the Director of Psychology & Research for LearningRx in Colorado Springs, CO at the headquarters of the largest network of cognitive training centers in the world. Her ground-breaking neuroplasticity research has been published in peer-reviewed medical and psychology journals and presented at conferences around the country. She has a master's degree in early childhood education, a PhD in psychology, and 30 years of experience working with children and families. Dr. Amy and her husband Jeff have been married for 27 years and have 3 grown sons.

    • Listen To Her Podcast
    • Connect With Amy On Instagram
    • Freebies!
    Show more Show less
    49 mins
  • When Capable Kids Can't Get Started: ADHD Task Initiation with Lori Flynn

    When Capable Kids Can't Get Started: ADHD Task Initiation with Lori Flynn
    1 Oct 2026
    Your child knows how to do the work. They understand the assignment. They may even tell you, "I know!" So why can't they get started? In this episode of The OT is IN, I'm joined by occupational therapist Lori Flynn, founder of OT4ADHD, to talk about ADHD task initiation and the gap that can happen between knowing what to do and actually doing it. Lori introduces the NICE framework: Novelty, Interest, Challenge, and Extreme Urgency. We talk about practical ways parents can use these ideas to help children get started without lowering expectations. From adding a little novelty to a familiar routine, to connecting learning with a child's interests, to creating small but meaningful deadlines, this conversation is full of ideas you can try in your homeschool. We also talk about why a strategy that works today may not work forever, how too many choices can create another executive functioning demand, and why helping children discover what works for their brains is an important step toward self-advocacy. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why knowing what to do doesn't always mean a child can get started Task initiation and executive functioning in ADHD Lori's NICE framework: Novelty, Interest, Challenge, and Extreme Urgency How to add novelty without losing the predictability of your homeschool routine Ways to connect schoolwork with your child's interests Using a just-right challenge to encourage initiation Why urgency can help and how to create small, critical deadlines without relying on last-minute stress Breaking large tasks into smaller, actionable steps Why some strategies lose their effectiveness over time Helping children recognize and communicate the supports that work for them Try the NICE Framework at Home I've created a free companion guide to help you take what you hear in this episode and apply it to your own homeschool. Use the Moving From Knowing to Doing: NICE Guide to identify a dreaded task and brainstorm ways to add novelty, interest, challenge, or urgency. Download the NICE Guide: Moving from Knowing to Doing- NICE Guide Thank You to Our Sponsor, CTCMath Thank you to CTCMath for sponsoring this episode of The OT is IN. When we're thinking about task initiation, it helps to look not only at the child, but also at how the work is presented. A long or complicated assignment can add another barrier when a child is already having trouble getting started. That's one reason CTCMath has worked well in our homeschool. The lessons are short and clearly organized, so my child can see what needs to be done without facing an entire page of problems at once. That doesn't make task initiation challenges disappear, but it can help make the first step feel more manageable. Sometimes we don't need to lower the expectation. We need to think differently about the support. Try CTCMath free HomeschoolOT 40% off CTCMath discount Connect With Lori Flynn Lori Flynn is a practicing school-based occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience and the founder of OT4ADHD, a platform dedicated to supporting students with ADHD through professional development and actionable resources. She specializes in helping misunderstood learners succeed by shifting the focus from "trying harder" to trying differently, Her knowledge and passion surrounding ADHD is shaped by extensive ongoing continuing education and lived experience.Learn more about Lori and find her ADHD resources at OT4ADHD: Lori's WebsiteConnect with Lori On FacebookConnect With Lori On Instagram Continue Learning With HomeschoolOT Join The OT Insiders Membership Inside OT is INsiders, we take ideas from the podcast and talk about how they apply to real homeschool days, with practical applications and live Q&A. Why Should I Seek Occupational Therapy?Connect with Sarah Collins on IGThe Homeschool OT Teachers Pay TeachersWhat Are Executive Funtioning Skills?Field Trips Can Build Executive FunctioningEpisode 2: Decoding Behavior in homeschooling- sensory overwhelm, emotional control, perseveranceEpisode 43: Collaborative Problem-Solving in Education and ParentingEpisode 60: Tackling Childhood Anxiety: How Occupational Therapy Can HelpEpisode 66: The Power Of Declarative LanguageEpisode 71: Raising Resilient Learners
    Show more Show less
    40 mins
  • Why Cursive Is Making a Comeback (And What It Means for Your Child)

    Why Cursive Is Making a Comeback (And What It Means for Your Child)
    24 Sep 2026
    Is cursive handwriting still important for kids? And when choosing between cursive, print, and typing, does it really matter how our children put their thoughts on the page? In this episode of The OT is IN, Sarah Collins, MSOT, OTR/L, talks with homeschool mom, educator, and Grooved Learning founder Jenna Coleman about why cursive is making a comeback and what handwriting can contribute to learning, memory, and confidence. Together, Sarah and Jenna explore the differences between cursive, print, and typing, what research tells us about handwriting and learning, and why handwriting is about much more than neat penmanship. They also discuss explicit handwriting instruction, multisensory handwriting practice, and how tactile experiences can help children build skills without turning handwriting into busywork. For homeschool families whose children struggle with writing, Sarah also shares why handwriting practice and written expression sometimes need to be separated. Narration, dictation, and speech to text can give children ways to communicate what they know while they continue developing handwriting as its own skill. In this episode: Why cursive handwriting is making a comebackWhat research tells us about handwriting and the brainCursive, print, and typing as different tools for learningWhy handwriting requires explicit instruction and practiceHow multisensory handwriting activities can support learningWhy meaningful practice matters more than busyworkWhen to separate handwriting from written expressionHow narration and technology can support children who struggle with writing Thank you to our title sponsor, Lovevery. Lovevery's Reading Skill Set brings hands on learning into early reading through phonics based games, books, and activities designed to build reading skills through play. Homeschool families can use the Reading Skill Set alongside their existing reading curriculum. You can get 10% off the Reading Skillset using the code HomeschoolOT10. Check it out here. Links and Resources From Today's Show From HomeschoolOT Join the OT is IN Insiders A Path to Thoughtful Learning: A Guide to NarrationUnderstanding the Handwriting Journey: Tools and Techniques for HomeschoolersBalancing Tech and Handwriting: Supporting Your Child's GrowthConnect with HomeschoolOT on Instagram Connect With Jenna Coleman Explore Grooved Learning and save 15% with code OTisin15Connect with Jenna on Instagram Handwriting Research and Resources Handwriting Leads to Widespread Brain Activity Handwriting Rewires Your BrainThe Science of CursiveLearningRx Today's Sponsor Thank you to Lovevery for sponsoring this episode of The OT is IN. Explore Lovevery and save 10% on the Reading Skill Set with code HomeschoolOT10. Connect With Our Guest, Jenna Coleman Jenna Coleman is a former classroom educator, homeschool mom of three, and the founder of Grooved Learning. Although she holds a Master's in Education, Jenna says homeschooling her own children has taught her some of her most valuable lessons about how children learn. Jenna originally started her business as Graceful By Design before expanding the educational side into Grooved Learning. She creates short, intentional resources that combine tactile learning with meaningful practice across subjects. Her goal is to help children build skills while also developing a genuine love of learning. Explore Grooved Learning and save 15% with code OTisin15. Connect with Jenna on Instagram
    Show more Show less
    33 mins
adbl_web_anon_alc_button_suppression_t1
No reviews yet