In this episode of Growing Strong Roots, occupational therapist Lee-Anne Bloom explores the importance of consent and communication when using touch with children, especially those who are sensory sensitive or have trauma histories. She explains how different kinds of touch activate the nervous system and why some children may react instinctively with fight, flight, or shutdown responses. Through real examples and practical strategies, Lee-Anne highlights how caregivers can use touch to build trust, co-regulate, and support emotional development. She discusses the difference between reacting and responding, and how repeated safe experiences can shift a child’s sensory processing over time. The episode also offers simple communication systems families can use to help children express what feels good, what doesn’t, and how to advocate for their bodies. Timestamps00:00:00 Introduction to podcast00:00:27 Parenting challenges and mission00:00:50 Growing stronger together00:00:58 Introducing topic of consent and touch00:01:17 Importance of communication and skilled touch00:01:42 Proceed with awareness for sensitive kids00:02:09 Light touch can be alerting or irritating00:02:38 Real example of defensive reaction00:03:01 Deep pressure as grounding and calming00:03:30 Tools for co-regulation in the clinic00:03:55 Weighted tools and ball squishes00:04:28 Why touch affects the nervous system00:05:20 Instinctive responses and brain pathways00:06:12 Rewiring through repeated safe touch00:06:34 Difference between reacting and responding00:07:26 Temperament and trauma influence touch perception00:08:18 Importance and controversy around therapeutic touch00:08:44 Touch builds trust and physiological change00:09:08 Intention behind touch matters00:09:29 Establishing communication systems00:10:02 Observing body language and emotional cues00:10:28 Using rough and tumble play to teach feedback00:10:49 Predictable touch builds safety00:11:15 Modeling signals and responses00:11:52 Teaching children to interpret body reactions00:12:15 Individualizing sensory tools with OT support00:12:36 Touch as calming or alerting00:13:00 Asking for consent and reading cues00:13:34 Choosing touch based on current state00:14:02 Combining touch with other regulation supports00:14:30 Gathering observations throughout the week00:14:50 Sharing insights with caregivers00:15:09 Website resources and research links00:15:25 Closing and invitation to connect

In this episode, host Lee-Anne Bloom, OTR/L, explores realistic, attainable self-care strategies for parents who are supporting sensitive or neurodivergent children. Instead of idealized or time-consuming routines, she shares simple, daily practices that nourish the body, mind, and emotions. Topics include physical regulation through small movement habits, supportive bedtime and meal routines, mental boundary-setting, emotional nourishment, and practical tools like habit stacking, visual cues, and setting reminders. The episode emphasizes that even five minutes of intentional self-care can help parents stay grounded, improve co-regulation with their children, and build resilience as a family.   Link to Youtube video 00:00 – Podcast Introduction00:27 – Mission: Raising Resilient Children00:50 – Invitation to Grow Together00:59 – Parenting When You’re Depleted01:24 – The Extra Demands of Parenting Neurodivergent Kids01:48 – Balancing Parenting With All Your Other Roles02:20 – Why Self-Care Matters for Parents02:40 – Simple, Realistic Self-Care Tools03:09 – Physical Self-Care: Movement as Regulation03:38 – Small Routines Build Resilience04:03 – Sleep and Nutrition as Foundational Supports04:29 – Practical Meal Planning Tips04:52 – Mental Self-Care Strategies05:19 – Protecting Your Mental Space05:40 – Emotional Self-Care Practices06:02 – Purpose and Meaning as Emotional Nourishment06:23 – Making Self-Care Realistic and Small06:52 – Habit Stacking to Build New Routines07:11 – Visual Cues to Support Consistency07:36 – Reminders and Gentle Prompts08:16 – Protecting Your Time and Energy08:37 – Accountability and Support from Others09:01 – Your Regulation Sets the Tone for Your Child09:16 – Encouragement for Small, Consistent Steps

  Episode: Complaint O'Clock – A Family Ritual for Emotional Expression and conflict management Watch on Youtube Downloadable PDF instructions Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome and Podcast Overview 00:27 – Mission: Helping Families Raise Resilient Children 00:50 – Invitation to Grow and Bloom Together 01:00 – Introducing Complaint O’Clock 01:19 – Emotional Intensity in Neurodivergent Kids 01:40 – Wanting Children to Feel Heard Without Overwhelm 02:03 – Discovering That the Whole Family Benefits 02:37 – What Complaint O’Clock Looks Like 03:03 – Ground rules 04:00 – The "triforce of communication" framework for responses 04:30 – Using the Triforce Framework at Home 04:54 – Creating a Focused, Distraction-Free Space 05:19 – Explaining the Triforce in Detail- communication Goals in Three Categories 06:08 – Listening, Empathy, and Problem-Solving Options 06:32 – Additional Ground Rules for Respectful Sharing 06:59 – Three-Minute Pause for Regulation 07:25 – Why Complaint O’Clock Works 07:44 – A Safe Container for Family Expression 08:39 – Teaching Emotional Regulation and Communication 09:01 – A Real-Life Example of Vulnerability and Repair 09:22 – Growth Through Reflecting and Owning Mistakes 09:45 – “Know Better, Do Better” Mindset 09:53 – How Complaint O’Clock Has Transformed the Family 10:13 – Reducing Complaints and Strengthening Skills 10:18 – Encouragement to Try It at Home   Please like, subscribe, and share with someone who could benefit from creating a safe space for emotional expression in their family. Thanks for listening to Growing Strong Roots! About Oak Bloom OT Oak Bloom OT provides holistic occupational therapy for children in Oakland, California, helping them develop functional life skills through interest-led learning and strong family collaboration. If You Found This Episode Helpful Please like, subscribe, and share with someone who could benefit from creating a safe space for emotional expression in their family. Thanks for listening to Growing Strong Roots!

In this episode of Growing Strong Roots, occupational therapist Lee-Anne Bloom explains how to understand and manage aggressive behavior in children through a regulation-focused lens. Instead of viewing aggression as defiance, she explores the sensory, emotional, and communication needs underneath the behavior and offers practical OT strategies for prevention, co-regulation, emotional awareness, and meaningful repair after conflict. Watch on Youtube   Timestamps[00:00:00] Introduction to the podcast and mission[00:00:27] Raising sturdy children with science-based strategies[00:01:00] The goal: helping children self-regulate before they act aggressively[00:01:12] How OTs view aggression as a signal, not defiance[00:01:40] Looking beneath behavior to identify underlying causes[00:01:52] HALT framework: Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired[00:02:23] Why relationship and trust matter for co-regulation[00:02:43] Adults staying grounded and modeling calm[00:03:08] Using tone, body language, and breathing to co-regulate[00:03:36] Sensory diet activities for regulatory support[00:04:03] Creating a safe space for intense emotions and release[00:04:35] Deep pressure tools for calming the nervous system[00:05:10] Structure and predictability during transitions[00:05:38] Teaching emotional awareness and self-expression[00:06:30] Repair, reflect, and reset after aggressive moments[00:06:56] Practicing alternative responses and role play[00:07:18] Supporting meaningful apologies and understanding impact[00:07:41] Introducing consequences with clarity and consistency[00:08:39] Episode wrap-up and future topics   About Oak Bloom OT Oak Bloom OT provides holistic, child-led occupational therapy in Oakland, California, helping children develop functional life skills through meaningful activities and strong family collaboration. If You Found This Episode Helpful Please like, subscribe, and share with someone raising or working with young children. Thanks for listening — see you next time on Growing Strong Roots!

Episode: How Screens Impact Neurodivergent Kids and What Parents Can Do In this episode, Lee-Anne Bloom, occupational therapist and mom, dives into the challenges of parenting neurodivergent children in the age of screens. She explains how ADHD, autism, and sensory differences make screen use more intense, why dopamine crashes can lead to emotional and behavioral struggles, and how parents can structure balanced free time using a “plate” model of focus, movement, creativity, connection, and moderated screen use. Learn practical, research-based strategies to help your child self-regulate, enjoy screens without conflict, and grow resilient.   Download printable PDF for step-by-step at-home instructions Watch on Youtube   Timestamps:00:00 – Welcome and Podcast MissionIntroduction to Growing Strong Roots and supporting families through occupational therapy strategies. 00:48 – Parenting Challenges with ScreensWhy modern digital devices create new difficulties for children and parents. 01:30 – Neurodivergent Brains and Screen ImpactHow ADHD, autism, and sensory differences make screen use more neurologically intense. 02:20 – Dopamine Crashes and Behavioral ResponsesWhy overstimulation can lead to aggression, shutdowns, and difficult transitions. 03:15 – It’s Not Misbehavior, It’s Neurological RecoveryUnderstanding that children are regulating after intense screen exposure. 04:00 – Balancing Ease and Boundaries Around ScreensWhy screens can be useful but still require thoughtful structure and limits. 04:40 – The Balanced Plate of Free TimeA model to structure focus, movement, creativity, connection, and screens like a healthy meal. 05:10 – Protein: Focused, Skill-Building TimeActivities that strengthen learning, attention, and confidence. 05:40 – Vegetables: Movement and RegulationBody-based play that supports emotional and neurological balance. 06:15 – Carbs: Creative, Open-Ended PlayImaginative play and exploration that fuel curiosity and expression. 06:50 – Condiments: Connection with a ParentUsing co-regulation, conversation, and shared experiences to build trust and resilience. 07:25 – Dessert: Screens in Small PortionsHow screens can be a treat rather than the main activity when balanced with other play. 08:05 – Level Up: Screen Days Instead of Daily UseReducing screen frequency to prevent conflict and promote self-regulation. 09:00 – Expect Pushback and Stay FirmConsistency and adult leadership help children adjust and thrive. 10:00 – Takeaways and Next Episode PreviewLeading around screens builds resilience; next episode addresses screen-related aggression. 00:00 – Introduction Welcome to Growing Strong Roots. Host Lee-Anne Bloom introduces herself and the mission of Oak Bloom OT. 00:59 – The Screen Time DilemmaIntroduction to the episode’s main topic: the impact of screens on neurodivergent children. 01:25 – The Reality of Modern ChildhoodLee-Anne reflects on how today’s children face constant digital stimulation and social pressures. 01:49 – Navigating Screen ChallengesDiscussion of the difficulties for neurodivergent children and families in managing screen time. 02:19 – Research and Real-Life SolutionsLee-Anne shares her research and personal experience, emphasizing the importance of not just removing screens but replacing them with meaningful activities. 02:45 – The Double-Edged Sword of ScreensScreens can be helpful for parents but also create real problems, especially for motivation, mood, and relationships. 03:07 – The Impact on ChildrenHow screen time affects self-regulation and the parent-child relationship, especially in neurodivergent brains. 03:37 – Neurological Recovery After ScreensExplaining the intense reactions children may have after screen time and the science behind it. 04:01 – Transitioning from Screens to Real LifeThe challenge of moving from digital motivation to real-world activities. 04:08 – The Balanced Plate MetaphorIntroducing the "balanced plate" approach to free time, inspired by Dan

Learn how to set loving, effective boundaries that support your child’s emotional regulation, independence, and resilience. OT Lee-Anne Bloom shares practical strategies for scaffolding tasks, reducing overwhelm, and creating calm, connected family routines. She explores one of the most common but most challenging parenting topics: how to set loving, effective boundaries with children, especially those who are neurodivergent or navigating big life transitions.

Host Lee-Anne Bloom, an experienced occupational therapist and owner of Oak Bloom OT,  discusses how her diverse career background and experiences with her son’s neurodiversity have shaped her holistic approach to occupational therapy and helping "hard kids". She explains the importance of resilience, creative problem-solving, and personalized strategies in helping children and parents thrive. Listen in to gain valuable insights and practical tips for fostering strong, resilient roots in children.  Rooted in lived experience, creativity, science-based strategies, and 15 years of clinical work, Lee-Anne shares how OT can help children and families move from surviving to thriving.  Timestamps00:00 – Introduction to Oak Bloom OT and the Podcast00:28 – Why the Podcast Exists and Its Purpose00:51 – Invitation to Grow and Build Resilience Together00:58 – Personal Story and How Motherhood Shaped Her Career01:19 – What Occupational Therapy Is and What It Focuses On02:06 – Being Both a Parent and an OT Supporting Her Neurodivergent Son02:31 – A Diverse Background That Informs Her Approach02:55 – Overcoming Disability, Pain, and ADHD Builds Empathy and Insight03:18 – Family Influence and Lessons From Her Father’s Experience04:09 – Sensory Sensitivities and Real-Life Adaptations04:32 – Celebrating Creativity and Determination in Neurodiverse Learners05:19 – Tailored Strategies for Strong-Willed and Sensitive Kids06:02 – Challenging the Myth of Laziness and Supporting Atypical Learners06:41 – Embracing a Nonlinear Career Path as Valuable Preparation07:09 – Helping Families Thrive Through Experience and OT Training07:32 – Sensory and Emotional Tools as Essential Protective Armor07:58 – Collaborative Parent Coaching as a Key to Lasting Growth08:24 – The Ferret Approach: Following Interests in a Screen-Filled World08:47 – Helping Kids and Parents Discover Strengths and Coping Tools09:00 – What It Is Really Like Raising a Hard Kid09:14 – Building Systems That Support Confidence and Independence09:41 – Refining Solutions Together Over Time10:34 – Closing Message of Encouragement and Resilience10:54 – Contact and Outro At Oak Bloom OT, we provide holistic occupational therapy for children focusing on increasing functional life skills through interest-based learning and family involvement.  Questions?  Comments?  Suggestions for future episodes?  leave a comment here, contact us at https://www.oakbloomot.com/contact