STEPS Together

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! After a short break from the podcast, I'm back with some exciting news—and a new way of thinking about how we support children. As parents and caregivers, we're often searching for the next strategy, sensory tool, behavior chart, or quick fix that will make things easier. But what if the most powerful way to help your...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Why does something as simple as brushing teeth or getting out the door feel so hard some days? In this episode of STEPS Together, we’re diving into the science of habits and routines — and why they matter so much for our children’s brains, nervous systems, and long-term development. You’ll learn: How habits are formed in the br...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Change is hard — especially for children who thrive on predictability, routine, and a sense of control. If your child has big reactions to small changes, difficulty shifting plans, or intense feelings when things don’t go as expected, you’re not alone. In this episode of STEPS Together , we explore flexibility as a developmenta...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! The start of a new year often comes with pressure—to set goals, make resolutions, and “do better.” But what if that’s not what you actually need? In this episode, I’m sharing an honest reflection on the ups and downs of the past month, why I needed to pause, and what helped me reconnect with hope and confidence moving forward....

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Parenting can feel constant, demanding, and overwhelming—especially when you’re supporting a neurodiverse child. In the midst of routines, meltdowns, therapies, and daily demands, joy can start to feel distant or even unrealistic. In this episode of STEPS Together , we shift the focus from “doing more” to noticing, building, an...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Meltdowns are often misunderstood and when we treat them like misbehavior, everyone ends up more dysregulated. In this episode of STEPS Together , we break down the critical difference between tantrums and meltdowns, why that distinction matters, and what your child’s nervous system is communicating when regulation falls apart....

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! If you’ve ever thought, “I’m doing everything people tell me to do so why is my child still melting down, acting out, or struggling?” this episode is for you. In today’s conversation, we unpack one of the most frustrating experiences for parents: working incredibly hard, trying every strategy you can find, and still feeling stu...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! In this episode, I identify the five core pillars of wellness that support a child’s brain health and why they matter far more than most parents realize. Neurodiverse brains often struggle with one or more (sometimes all five!) of these areas; sleep, nutrition, physical activity, social relationships, and stress reduction. Rese...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Free PDF Guide to Aligning Expectations for Happier Holidays If the holidays tend to leave your family overwhelmed, overtired, and overstimulated, this episode is your reset button. We’re breaking down how to align expectations, routines, and rhythms so your child—and your whole family—can stay grounded in a season that often p...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! The holidays often bring excitement, connection… and plenty of unsolicited advice. In this episode, we explore how to stay confident, calm, and compassionate when family and friends don’t fully understand your child’s neurodiverse needs or your parenting approach. You’ll learn how to anchor yourself in what you know works for y...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Holidays are stressful for everyone. The rush of holidays at the end of the year can be especially rough. Changes in routines, new people, new places, new foods. All of it can be overwhelming for our children, as well as us! In this episode, I'll share why being prepared and proactively setting things in place for success...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! How the “Just Right” support creates growth and eliminates struggles. When a child fails to follow directions, makes mistakes or struggles physically with a task it is easy for us to slip into control mode. So much easier to just do it for them, especially as we are rushing out the door or trying to get dinner on the table at t...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! We’ve all been there. You thought you'd planned for everything, used your tools and had it under control. But now your child’s having a meltdown at a family gathering, bedtime turns into a battle, or you miss an appointment because your child refuses to get in the car. In the moment, it feels like chaos. Later you blame yo...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! If leaving the park turns into a meltdown, bedtime drags on forever, or screen time always ends in tears, you’re not alone — and your child isn’t trying to make your life harder. Transitions are tough because they require a whole set of developing skills most kids are still learning. In this episode, we’ll dig into what’s reall...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Ever wonder why staying calm when your child isn’t feels so hard? Co-regulation, the process of helping a child manage their emotions by managing our own, is one of the most powerful tools adults can use. But it’s also one of the hardest, because it requires our emotional skills to be strong first. In this episode, I'll br...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Self-regulation is one of the most talked-about topics in child development today. But too often, it’s treated like a destination: a place we expect kids to arrive at with enough strategies, visuals, or practice. In reality, self-regulation is a lifelong journey that grows through relationships, experiences, and co-regulation w...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Most parents want to know: “What do I do when my child is in the middle of a meltdown?” The truth is, by the time your child reaches that stage, there’s not much you can do except keep everyone safe and let the big emotions run their course. But here’s the good news, you can learn to be proactive with your tools and bring lasti...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Is your child “too sensitive,” or do they just have sensory quirks they’ll grow out of? Maybe you’ve heard that sensory diets can fix everything—or that sensory seeking is just ADHD in disguise. In this episode of the STEPS for Development podcast, pediatric occupational therapist Debra Johnson takes on six of the most common m...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Look closer, stay curious, and find out what’s really going on beneath the struggle. Let's dig  deeper and find solutions that work!  Last week we talked about the power of focusing on just one challenge at a time —because narrowing your focus allows you to get make progress with specific challenges rather than being overw...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Parenting can feel impossible when it seems like everything is a problem—your child never listens, can’t sit still, melts down at homework, interrupts every conversation. These big, vague concerns can leave you feeling stuck and exhausted. In this episode, we’ll explore how to shift from overwhelmed to focused by narrowing thos...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! You've tried all the tools - sensory breaks, behavior charts, all the "parenting hacks" from social media - only to end up frustrated when nothing seems to work. It's not that you or your child are failing, it's that the strategy isn't the right match. Too often, we are looking for the quick fix an...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Is your child’s “defiance” leaving you drained and second-guessing yourself? Are you feeling manipulated, controlled and lost about how to change the status quo?  What if those daily battles were really signs of persistence, resilience, independence and creativity that are your child's  strengths, just waiting to be guided...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind!  In this episode of STEPS Together , Debra Johnson, MS, OTR/L, explores what it really means to “work too hard” as a parent or caregiver—not in chores or daily tasks, but emotionally. When we try to control every behavior, feeling, or outcome, we often end up drained, stressed, and disconnected from our children. Instead of str...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! Supporting a child with unique needs comes with layers most people never see — balancing school meetings, therapy sessions, sensory needs, and emotional ups and downs, all while trying to connect and guide. It’s a constant juggle of time, energy, and emotions that can leave you feeling misunderstood, second-guessing yourself, a...

Question? Comment? Send a text to let me know what's on your mind! "Why won't they just listen?!" If you've found yourself asking this question (maybe even more than once today), you are NOT alone! In this episode, I explore what adults really mean when they say "they don't listen," unpack what really going on for the child, and identify a few simple strategi...