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the OT is IN

the OT is IN

By: Sarah Collins
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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
  • Teaching Kids to Speak Up: Confidence Without the Classroom

    Teaching Kids to Speak Up: Confidence Without the Classroom
    Oct 29 2026
    If you're a homeschool parent worried about your child's social skills—or finding yourself facing questions like, "But how will your child be socialized?"—you're in good company. Many families wonder if their kids are getting enough real-world practice talking with others, especially adults, or if there's a practical way to help children who aren't naturally outgoing or confident in conversations. In this episode of The OT is IN, Sarah talks with George Rivera, homeschool dad and entrepreneur, about how his son Leo's interest in podcasting became an unexpected way to build social and communication skills. They explore the practical side of teaching kids to interact, reflect, and grow—whether through structured support, "throwing them in the fire," or connecting learning to something meaningful. If you're looking for relatable, real-life ideas for supporting your child's conversations and confidence, especially outside typical classroom settings, this episode offers stories, tips, and nuance for families who want to nurture their children's strengths. In this episode you'll hear about: Why social participation for homeschoolers is more than just having friends or joining a co-opConcrete examples of helping kids interact with adults, from making real estate offers to asking for help in public settingsThe difference between preparing a child with scripts and models versus encouraging them to try new things with supportHow interests—like starting a podcast—can be leveraged as authentic opportunities to practice social and communication skillsUsing metacognition and self-reflection to help children understand conversations and grow from experienceNavigating perfectionism and supporting kids when they worry about getting things "just right" Related Resources Moving From Knowing To Doing- NICE GuideEpisode 31: Cultivating Calm: Understanding Nervous System Dysregulation in Children and Practical Solutions for ParentsEpisode 43: Collaborative Problem-Solving in Education and ParentingEpisode 79: How to Spot and Support Social and Executive Functioning Skills in Your ChildEpisode 80: Raising Resilient KidsEpisode 81: Understanding Social Pressures and Masking in Kids Thank you to our sponsor: CTC Math Thank you to CTCMath for sponsoring this episode of The OT is IN. As we explored in today's conversation, helping our children build confidence and independence isn't just about giving them more opportunities to interact with others. It's also about recognizing their strengths, providing the right support, and knowing when to step back and let them try something on their own. That same approach applies to learning at home. One reason CTCMath has worked well in our homeschool is that its short, clearly organized video lessons and step-by-step instructions give children opportunities to work more independently while still having the structure and support they need. Just as George shared how he coached Leo through conversations before giving him more room to lead, we can take a similar approach with academics. We can model a skill, provide guidance, encourage practice, and gradually give our children more ownership of their learning. Because whether we're helping our children communicate confidently with others or tackle a math lesson independently, the goal isn't to do everything for them. It's to give them the tools, encouragement, and opportunities to grow in confidence and capability. You can try CTCMath for free and find the HomeschoolOT discount through the links below. You can check out their FREE trial here. You can get 40% off here. Connect With Our Guest, George Rivera George Rivera is a husband, father, and 31-year entrepreneur whose life changed after his late father left him with one simple piece of advice: "Don't miss Leo's games." That message led George to redesign his business so he could become a fully present dad and intentionally invest in his son, Leo, who has been homeschooled his entire life. At eight years old, George taught Leo to negotiate his first real estate deal, and by age eleven Leo had interviewed more than 150 guests on his podcast. Together they co-founded Leo Interviews Academy, helping other kids develop confidence, communication skills, curiosity, and meaningful relationships through podcast interviewing. George's WebsiteLeo Interviews Academy
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    27 mins
  • 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
    Oct 15 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!
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    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
    Oct 1 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
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    40 mins
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