Ep. 35 CO-OP for Improving Motor Skills episode artwork

EPISODE · Oct 15, 2025 · 36 MIN

Ep. 35 CO-OP for Improving Motor Skills

from Ideas at Play: An Occupational Therapy (OT) Podcast · host Michele Alaniz & Lacy Wright

Send us a Text or VoicemailWhat if you could peek inside a child's brain and actually SEE therapy working? That's exactly what researchers did with CO-OP (Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance)—and the results are amazing! Join Lacy and Michele as they break down the 12-week protocol and the 7 surprisingly simple cognitive strategies (you're probably already using some!) that help kids meet THEIR goals for play/leisure, academics, and daily self-care activities. From verbal cues to body positioning, learn how OTs teach children to problem-solve their own challenges. Plus, brain imaging reveals CO-OP literally rewiring neural connections.We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the original articles too.Schwartz, S. P., Northrup, S. R. K., Izadi-Najafabadi, S., & Zwicker, J. G. (2020). CO-OP for children with DCD: Goals addressed and strategies used. Canadian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 87(4), 278–286. https://doi.org/10.1177/0008417420941980Polatajko, H. J., Mandich, A. D., Missiuna, C., Miller, L. T., Macnab, J. J., Malloy-Miller, T., & Kinsella, E. A. (2001). Cognitive orientation to daily occupational performance (CO-OP): Part III—the protocol in brief. Physical & Occupational Therapy in Pediatrics, 20(2–3), 107–123. https://doi.org/10.1080/J006v20n02_07 Izadi-Najafabadi, S., Rinat, S., & Zwicker, J. G. (2022). Brain functional connectivity in children with developmental coordination disorder following rehabilitation intervention. Pediatric Research, 91(6), 1459–1468. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41390-021-01517-3KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; CO-OP; cognitive strategies; DCD; brain changes💡Want to hear more about Ideas at Work or get on our waitlist?  Send us an email to [email protected] informed, stay curious, and stay playful!✏️  Sign up for our newsletter by clicking here.📧  Email us a question or comment at [email protected]👉  Find us on Instagram @ideas.at.play  

Send us a Text or Voicemail What if you could peek inside a child's brain and actually SEE therapy working? That's exactly what researchers did with CO-OP (Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance)—and the results are amazing! Join Lacy and Michele as they break down the 12-week protocol and the 7 surprisingly simple cognitive strategies (you're probably already using some!) that help kids meet THEIR goals for play/leisure, academics, and daily self-care activities. From verbal cues ...

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Ep. 35 CO-OP for Improving Motor Skills

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This episode was published on October 15, 2025.

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Send us a Text or VoicemailWhat if you could peek inside a child's brain and actually SEE therapy working? That's exactly what researchers did with CO-OP (Cognitive Orientation to Occupational Performance)—and the results are amazing! Join Lacy and...

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