PODCAST · health
Reflex Integration Through Play
by Kokeb McDonald, OTR/L
Welcome to the Reflex Integration Through Play (RITP) Podcast, your go-to resource for empowering therapists, educators, and parents with effective strategies to support children’s development. This podcast bridges the gap between science and play, offering actionable tools to create measurable, trackable, and repeatable treatment plans that make a real difference.
Episodes
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ADHD in Girls What We’re Missing + How It Shows Up Interview with Katie William PART 1 | EP 46
In this episode, Kokeb McDonald sits down with occupational therapist and RITP-certified therapist Katie Williams for a candid conversation about ADHD in girls and why it’s often missed until adulthood. Katie shares her own late diagnosis in her early forties and reflects on how it helped her...
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How to Track Your Child's Progress & Communicate With Therapists At-Home Programs | Ep 45
In this episode, we wrap up the 'Creating an At-Home Program' series by focusing on the importance of tracking progress and maintaining effective communication with your therapist. 🧠 Discover simple ways to monitor your child’s growth, record progress, and maintain communication with therapists....
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Tailoring an At-Home Program to Fit Your Child's Unique Needs | Ep 44
In this episode, we explore step six of the 'Create an At Home Program' series, focusing on tailoring your child's home exercise program to their unique needs and preferences. Emphasizing brief, focused activities over prolonged, frustrating sessions, we provide actionable advice on breaking down...
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How to Build Consistency and Routine in Your Child’s At-Home Reflex Integration Program | Ep 43
In this episode, we dive into step five of the 'Create an At-Home Program' series, emphasizing the crucial role of consistency for lasting progress. The episode explores practical strategies like substituting activities, integrating exercises into daily routines, keeping sessions short, and...
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Creating a Safe Environment - Calm Body, Safe Brain, Faster Learning | Ep 42
In this episode, we dive into step four of the 'Create an At Home Program' series, focusing on the significance of creating a safe environment for your child's learning and development. Emphasizing both emotional and physical safety, this session provides practical advice on how to manage your…
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Choosing the Right Play-Based Reflex Integration Exercises | Ep 41
In this episode, Kokeb McDonald discusses step three of the 'Create an At Home Program' series, focusing on the importance of targeting specific exercises related to your child's developmental needs. Emphasizing quality of movement over complexity, Kokeb provides practical advice on matching...
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Why Observation is Needed Before Reflex Integration Therapy | Ep 40
In this episode, we dive into we delve into understanding your child's unique developmental challenges. Before jumping into exercises, it's crucial to observe and understand the child's current skills and milestones. 📘 Learn the importance of collaborating with a service provider and how to...
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How to Identify If A Child Needs Reflex Integration | Ep 39
In this episode, we dive into how to recognize retained primitive reflexes and what they mean for your child’s development. You’ll learn to: 🧠 Discover the foundation of reflex integration and how it supports your child’s physical, emotional, and cognitive development through the RITP for…
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How to Tell if Your Child Has Retained Primitive Reflexes | Ep 38
In this episode, we dive into how to recognize retained primitive reflexes and what they mean for your child’s development. You’ll learn to: 🔍 Identify common signs that a child may have retained reflexes, from poor posture to sensory sensitivities. 🧠 Understand why these reflexes sometimes…
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How Teachers Can Support Reflex Integration in the Classroom | Ep 37
In this episode, we dive into how teachers can support students with reflex integration in the classroom. You’ll learn to: 🔍 Identify signs of retained reflexes, such as difficulty sitting still and poor posture. 🧠 Discover practical strategies to enhance learning and behavior through simple...
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Reflex Integration Home Program for Parents | How to Implement Effective Exercises to Boost Child Development | Ep 36
Learn how to create a simple, effective, and play-based home program that strengthens your child’s motor, sensory, and emotional development. Discover practical tips for parents to turn everyday routines into opportunities for growth, connection, and joy.💡 In this episode, you’ll learn:• Why…
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How Play-Based Reflex Integration Helped My Child Thrive at Home, School & Socially | Ep 35
Watch how play, patience, and RITP is helping a little boy grow into a confident, curious, and strong young man!Today Sarah Wen shares her journey as the mother of 4-year-old Robert, who faced challenges with motor planning, muscle tone, and emotional regulation, with Kokeb. Through Reflex...
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A Collaboration between RITP and SJSU – Bringing Specialized Training for OT Students | Ep 34
With Guest: Dr. Courtney Boitano, San José State University Reflex Integration Through Play™ is moving from clinics to classrooms—and now to the university level! In this episode, Kokeb and Dr. Courtney Boitano share how RITP is shaping future occupational therapists with hands-on, play-based...
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Reflex Integration Through Play™: Real Results Shared by a Parent | Ep 33
What if just six months of playful therapy could transform your child’s focus, strength, and even their spine? In this inspiring parent interview, you’ll hear how Reflex Integration Through Play™ (RITP) has changed one family’s life. In this heartfelt episode, Kokeb speaks with Jeanine Allen, a...
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Functional OT and Reflex Integration Skills | Ep 32
Are you struggling to connect reflex integration with real-life therapy goals? In this episode, Kokeb unpacks how to connect reflex integration work with meaningful functional goals in occupational therapy. While many therapists can identify retained reflex patterns, translating that knowledge…
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From Overwhelm to Organized: Streamlining Your Pediatric OT Treatment Planning | Ep31
Ever feel like you spend more time planning than treating? In this episode, Kokeb McDonald tackles the overwhelm many pediatric OTs face when it comes to treatment planning. Instead of drowning in endless prep work and scattered resources, discover how to create clear, focused, and effective...
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The Overlooked Link Between Vision Problems & ADHD Symptoms | Ep 30
What if that child’s “attention problem” isn’t ADHD or behavior at all—but a hidden vision challenge that’s been overlooked? In this episode of the Reflex Integration Through Play™ podcast, pediatric OT Kokeb McDonald uncovers the surprising link between visual skills, primitive reflexes, and...
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How Retained Primitive Reflexes Influence Vision and Learning | Ep 29
It wasn’t until Kokeb took her own children to a vision therapist that everything clicked. What she discovered changed how she viewed reflex integration—and how it could transform outcomes for other kids, too. In this episode of the Reflex Integration Through Play™️ podcast, host Kokeb McDonald...
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Why Vision Is More Than 20/20 – The Missing Piece in Learning & Behavior | Ep 28
In this eye-opening episode of the Reflex Integration Through Play™ podcast, host Kokeb McDonald dives into one of the most misunderstood and under-assessed areas in child development—functional vision. You’ll learn why passing a 20/20 vision test doesn’t necessarily mean a child can see well...
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3 Essential Areas to Consider in Pediatric Screening | Ep27
Kokeb McDonald builds on a recent Q&A session from inside the RITP Certification Program to offer a deeper, more holistic approach to pediatric screening. Beyond simply identifying retained reflexes, Kokeb highlights three essential areas that every therapist should be considering during...
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When You're Triggered – Mindfulness Strategies for Teachers, Therapists, and Parents | Ep 26
In this powerful episode, Kokeb McDonald is joined once again by Fran Rubio-Katz to tackle a universal challenge: how to handle ourselves when we feel emotionally triggered—whether as therapists, educators, or parents. Drawing from the Conscious Discipline brain state model and their real-life...
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No Therapist Nearby? How One Parent Used RITP for At-Home Reflex Integration | Ep25
In this heartfelt and informative episode, Kokeb shares a special archived interview with homeschool mom Holly Anderson, whose daughter struggled with unintegrated primitive reflexes affecting her eye tracking and reading. Holly opens up about their family’s discovery process, the challenges they...
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Quit Taking It Personally – Part 2 with Fran Rubio-Katz | Ep 24
In this follow-up to their impactful conversation, Kokeb and Fran Rubio-Katz (aka Coach Franny) dive deeper into the transformative idea of “Quit Taking It Personally” (QTIP), a tool rooted in Conscious Discipline. Fran shares personal stories and professional strategies to help therapists,...
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Is It the Water or the Fish? Reframing Behavior Through a Nervous System Lens | ep 23
In this enlightening conversation, Kokeb is joined by Fran Rubio-Katz—also known as Coach Franny—for a deep dive into the emotional and physiological layers of supporting children through behavioral challenges. Fran, a seasoned educator and coach, shares her powerful "Is it the water or the…
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Book #6 The Palmar Grasp, Hands Pulling, and Babkin Reflexes | 22
In this episode, Kokeb explains three closely linked reflexes that play a pivotal role in early development: the Palmar Grasp, Hands Pulling, and Babkin Reflexes. These hand-based reflexes aren’t just about grip strength—they are deeply connected to core development, coordination, feeding…
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Book 5: The Spinal Galant – Focus, Fidgeting & Bedwetting Connections| Ep 21
In this episode of our reflex integration series, we explore the Spinal Galant Reflex, a vital early movement pattern that plays a surprising role in posture, attention, tactile sensitivity, and even bedwetting. Often overlooked, this reflex is triggered by gentle touch along the lower back and…
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Book 4: The TLR - Core Strength, Upright Posture, and Balance | Ep 20
In this episode of the reflex integration series, we focus on the Tonic Labyrinthine Reflex (TLR)—a foundational reflex that sets the stage for balance, spatial awareness, muscle tone, and posture. The TLR influences how a child experiences gravity and movement, and when retained, it can…
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Book 3: The STNR – Bridging Posture, Crawling & Learning | Ep 19
In this episode of our reflex integration series, we turn our attention to the Symmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (STNR)—a crucial building block for early development that plays a major role in posture, crawling, visual tracking, and classroom learning. Often called the “Learning Reflex,” the STNR...
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Book 2: The ATNR – Unlocking Movement, Reading, and Coordination | Ep 18
In this episode, we take a deep dive into the Asymmetrical Tonic Neck Reflex (ATNR) — one of the foundational primitive reflexes that plays a crucial role in early childhood development. Our discussion centers on how this reflex, if retained beyond infancy, can significantly influence a child’s...
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Book 1 The Moro Reflex – Understanding Fight or Flight in Kids
In this episode of the Reflex Integration Through Play podcast, we launch our in-depth review of the RITP book series by beginning with one of the most foundational early reflexes: the Moro Reflex. The episode offers a comprehensive exploration of this primitive startle reflex, including its...
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Understanding SMART Goals in Pediatric OT | Ep 16
🎙️ In this episode of the Reflex Integration through Play Podcast, host Kokeb delves into the importance of setting SMART goals in pediatric occupational therapy. She breaks down the SMART framework—Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound—and explains how each component…
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Establishing Functional Outcomes and Goals Setting | Ep 15
In this episode of the Reflex Integration through Play podcast, host Kokeb McDonald explores the importance of setting clear, functional goals in pediatric therapy. Focusing on treatment planning, Kokeb emphasizes the need for goals that directly impact a child's daily life, whether at home, in...
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Essential Steps for Successful Evaluations: Defining Clear Intake and Screening | Ep 14
Join host Kokeb McDonald as we delve into the crucial initial steps of treatment planning for pediatric occupational therapy within the Reflex Integration through Play (RITP) Framework. This episode highlights the significance of thorough intake, screening, and evaluation processes, emphasizing…
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Real Kids, Real Progress: Reflex Integration Case Studies with Occupational Therapist, Babita Patnaik | Ep 13
The Power of Reflex Integration: Success Stories with Babita Patnaik | RITP Podcast Join RITP founder Kokeb McDonald and pediatric OT Babita Patnaik as they dive into real-world case studies and the powerful results Babita is seeing using the RITP method. From bedwetting and meltdowns to improved...
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Implementing Social-Emotional and Behavioral Strategies in the Classroom | Ep 12
In this episode, we’re sharing a special behind-the-scenes training and Q&A session from inside the RITP at School certification program. Join Kokeb, founder of Reflex Integration Through Play, and Fran, an experienced educator and social-emotional behavioral specialist, as they dive into what’s...
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The Impact of Reflex Integration on Child Development with Moira Dempsey
In this episode of the Reflex Integration Through Play podcast, we are honored to have Moira Dempsey, founder of Rhythmic Movement Training International (RMTI), as our guest. Moira shares her extensive experience in education, movement therapy, and neurodevelopment, discussing the profound…
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Mistakes to Avoid When Setting Up a School-Based Sensory & Reflex Integration Program | Ep 10
Let’s be honest—sensory tools and movement breaks are great, but they’re not a magic fix. If you’re only treating surface-level symptoms, you’re missing the bigger picture! In this episode, we’re diving into eight common mistakes that can make or break a school-based sensory and reflex…
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A SIMPLE Approch to a School Based Reflex Integration Program | Ep 9
Struggling to fit reflex integration into your school or home routine? The SIMPLE approach makes it effortless. ✅ 🔹 S – Structure & Schedule: Integrate movements seamlessly into daily activities. 🔹 I – Independence: Foster self-initiation so kids take the lead. 🔹 M – Measurable: Track progress...
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Five Key Traits for Growing Your Therapy Skills | Ep 8
In this episode, I share my experiences from coaching and training therapists within the RITP certification program. I discuss why solely taking online courses isn't enough to build strong clinical skills, especially when working with children. Although online courses provide essential…
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From Helping Her Son to Helping Others: A Mother’s Journey into Reflex Integration | Ep 7
In today's episode, I welcome Gaynor Ralls, a dedicated parent and Rhythmic Movement Training practitioner and instructor, to discuss her journey into primitive reflex integration and supporting children's development.Gaynor shares her personal experience with her son who faced developmental...
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The Connection Between Hand Strength, Precision, and Speech Articulation | Ep 6
This week we discuss the fascinating connection between hand movements and speech articulation. Emerging research shows that utilizing hand exercises can significantly enhance speech production. I recently co-treated with a speech therapist and observed promising results when integrating hand...
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What are primitive reflexes? | Ep 5
Today, we’re introducing the world of primitive reflexes. These innate reflex patterns, present from in utero and sometimes after birth, are crucial for an infant's survival and operate at the brainstem level. Examples include the Moro Reflex and Palmar Grasp Reflex, which are essential for...
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Why This Book Is Taking So Long to Publish: Behind the Scenes | Ep 4
Today, I'm thrilled to announce the upcoming release of the sixth book in my series on Integrating Primitive Reflexes Through Play and Exercise, specifically focusing on hand reflexes like the Palmar Grasp, Hands Pulling, and Babkin reflexes. I'll share why this book took longer to publish than...
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My Child Has Retained Reflexes - What Next? | Ep 3
Discovering that your child has retained primitive reflexes can initially bring a mix of relief and concern. In this episode, I provide essential insights into understanding these reflexes and their impact on a child's development, including foundational knowledge of primitive reflexes…
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Simplifying Reflex Integration Exercises for Busy Parents | Ep 2
Welcome back! This week I discuss how pediatric therapists can empower busy parents to implement reflex integration exercises at home. Emphasizing the importance of these exercises for child development, we discuss offers strategies such as providing clear, straightforward, 'done for you'…
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Introduction to Our New Podcast | Ep 1
Hello there! Welcome to our Reflex Integration Through Play Podcast, with me, Kokeb McDonald, OTR/L, founder of RITP. In this episode, I introduce our podcast and share my journey and experiences in pediatric occupational therapy. From my initial discovery of reflex integration work to the...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Welcome to the Reflex Integration Through Play (RITP) Podcast, your go-to resource for empowering therapists, educators, and parents with effective strategies to support children’s development. This podcast bridges the gap between science and play, offering actionable tools to create measurable, trackable, and repeatable treatment plans that make a real difference.
HOSTED BY
Kokeb McDonald, OTR/L
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Reflex Integration Through Play have?
Reflex Integration Through Play currently has 46 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Reflex Integration Through Play about?
Welcome to the Reflex Integration Through Play (RITP) Podcast, your go-to resource for empowering therapists, educators, and parents with effective strategies to support children’s development. This podcast bridges the gap between science and play, offering actionable tools to create measurable,...
How often does Reflex Integration Through Play release new episodes?
Reflex Integration Through Play has 46 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Reflex Integration Through Play?
You can listen to Reflex Integration Through Play on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Reflex Integration Through Play?
Reflex Integration Through Play is created and hosted by Kokeb McDonald, OTR/L.
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