Ep. 92 Sensory Integration & Balanced Brain Development: Practical OT Tips for Early Childhood with Kendra Worley

In this episode of Reimagine Childhood from the Early Childhood Christian Network, host Monica Healer talks with pediatric occupational therapist and skidamarinkkids.com founder Kendra Worley about rising developmental concerns in young children, including sensory regulation challenges, speech delays, anxiety, ADHD, and autism-related symptoms. Kendra explains functional disconnect syndrome and God's design for brain development, describing the right brain as the foundational "brake pedal" and the left brain as the "gas pedal," and how modern life can over-stimulate left-brain activity through stress, screens, early academics, overstimulating environments, and reduced movement. She shares practical classroom strategies to support balanced development, including big-body play, stop-and-start games, breathing, encouraging an upward gaze, using the left side/left hand, visual tracking, and gratitude practices, and points listeners to her Tantrum Tamer app and resources at skidamarinkkids.com.

00:00 Welcome to Reimagine Childhood

01:37 Why Kids Are Struggling More

04:23 Gods Design for Brain Balance

13:48 Modern Triggers and Practical Fixes

22:04 Stressed Parents and Connection

22:56 Screens Replace Outdoor Regulation

25:38 Classroom Tools for Self Regulation

36:39 Gratitude Big Picture Wrap Up

Here's a great article on that goes more in-depth about what you might see as far as behavior goes in children with delayed right-brain development or left-brain development! So fascinating!

Find other amazing resources at https://skidamarinkkids.com/

Download the free Tantrum Tamer app to help you with tools for the classroom (or as a resource for parents).