Helping sensory-sensitive kids thrive

When we think about demands, we often think about the obvious ones: brush your teeth, sit at the table, get dressed, go to school. But what about the demands we can't see? In this conversation with pediatric occupational therapist Laura Petix (known online as The OT Butterfly), we explore how sensory experiences place demands on the nervous system—and why understanding those demands can completely change how we support our kids!

We talk about:

Why sensory tools don't work all the time

The difference between accommodations and demands

How to observe your child like a scientist

Why "good behavior" can actually be a sign of distress

The hidden costs of lights, sounds, textures, and environments

The concept of a "nervous system budget"

Why sensory sensitivity increases during burnout

How to support kids even when you don't fully understand their experience

This episode is a powerful reminder that our kid's behaviors aren't a "problem." They're showing us what the kid is carrying, often unseen, and giving us important clues of what it looks like to support them into thriving.

ABOUT LAURA: