Here’s What the Experts Have to Say about Your Child’s Heavy Backpack

by Erica LoopSeptember 21, 2019

Is your child’s backpack too heavy? The American Occupational Therapy Association recommends students carry no more than 10 percent of their total body weight on their backs.

Your child is a titan of textbooks—and they carry each and every one of them home after school. While your kiddo has to study, a weighty backpack can do physical damage.

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So what can your child to protect themselves? Karen Jacobs, EdD, OTR/L, CPE, FAOTA, clinical professor of occupational therapy at Boston University said in a press release, “Practicing safe carrying techniques such as only carrying necessary items to and from school, or filling an empty water bottle at school rather than carrying a heavier filled one, can make a difference.”

Jacobs also added, “The 10 percent rule is a good one to follow, but the reality is that if it feels too heavy, it probably is.”

The AOTA also suggests that parents make sure the backpack is the right size for the individual child, adjust the backpack’s height so that it’s roughly two inches below the shoulder blades and extends to slightly above the waist, balance the backpack evenly or consider a bag on wheels. Padded shoulder straps and a hip belt can also help to reduce backpack-related physical strain.

Visit the AOTA’s website here for more information.

—Erica Loop

Featured photo: Ambermb via Pixabay

Here’s What Science Has to Say about Left-Handedness & Your Genes

Your Baby’s Babbling May Shape Your Own Speech, Science Says

Knowing When to Let My Son Take the Lead Has Never Been Easy

By Leah Day

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

April 11, 2019

Photo: Bikemum

Writing about Oakley is complicated. I am choosing to share these stories because I believe that sharing the messy parts of our lives is important. We tend not to talk about money or mental health or our big fears—and I think this can lead to confusion, lost opportunities for understanding and isolation. So, I tend to be a blabbermouth.

When Oakley was young, there were times that I felt alone in our experience. We often couldn’t participate in activities with other families. No story hour, no children’s museum, no zoos (he once literally climbed in the cage of a huge elk stag and I couldn’t coax him out) and no dinners at friends’ houses. He would create mayhem wherever we went and it was too exhausting. I remember walking down the parenting aisle in the library looking for books that might help normalize what we were going through, but I was never terribly successful.

This blog isn’t a “tell-all” account of our lives. I am trying to respect Oakley’s privacy and will always run these stories by him. But I am hoping that by exposing our challenges and triumphs, someone reading this might feel like they have kindred spirits and that might make their journey a little easier.

This is Oakley’s story.

“What makes you think there is a problem?” asks the pediatric developmental specialist.

“He just doesn’t stop,” I respond. “Ever.”

Oakley is one and a half years old. He is as cute as they come, with white-blond hair hanging in ringlets down to his shoulders and blue-green orb-like eyes. He is sitting on my lap straddling my legs and facing me, playing with the zipper on my fleece jacket as I speak with the doctor. He zips it up. He zips it down. Again. And again. And again—50 times, 100 times.

“I see,” says the doctor. Oakley laughs and continues. Up and down. Up and down. “We should run some tests.”

Oakley was an exuberant puzzle of a child and he still is. He is my fourth child and I thought that I had a handle on the parenting thing until he came along. He seemed plucked from outer space and put in my arms with a wink from fate, as if Oakley was the punch line in a wonderful joke. That was the look that he had on his face from the day he came to us. “Watch me! I will make you laugh and cry at the same time! It is a special trick.” And then he would devilishly grin.

He was terribly naughty. He had pica—a disorder in which you are driven to eat non-food items and would eat everything he found. Toothpaste, shaving cream, dog food, sand, flowers and even mud. He would lock himself in the bathroom and feast on whatever he could find. We had poison control on speed dial and I remember asking them shakily after what seemed like the thirtieth call if they kept a record of the calls. The answer is yes.

In a way, it was probably fortunate that he had Pika because of another issue. Oakley was severely asthmatic. He was given the nickname Hufflepuff early on because you could hear his steam-engine-like breathing from 50 feet away. We set up his nebulizer next to a tiny rocking chair and he would inhale his vaporized asthma medication through an oxygen mask while rocking maniacally back and forth, like Dennis Hopper in Blue Velvet. He would be grinning and drooling as he huffed away, completely unfazed, but others who heard him were always aghast.

Twice one of his lungs collapsed. In the process of attempting to find out whether his allergies were the cause of his asthma, he was put on a combination of goat milk, fish oil and several supplements that are normally given in gel capsules, but which we would painstakingly slice open and pour into his potion. You have never tasted anything so vile. He loved it.

In an effort to reign in his hyperactivity and impulsivity, we turned to intensive occupational therapy. He was prescribed several sensory diets from various professionals. Treatments included wrapping him in a sheet and swinging him in what looked like a cocoon hammock, wearing a weighted vest, sleeping with a weighted blanket, listening with huge globular headphones to deep-bass, rhythmic beats as he went about his day, having him wear a sombrero and sunglasses to reduce stimulation, smushing him under couch cushions, encouraging him to drink oatmeal like substances through a straw to stimulate certain pressure points in his jaw, massage with and without brushing, jumping on trampolines and hugging him, a lot.

He continued to run away constantly. Not little, cute running away, but serious, “Where-the-hell-is-he??” running away. We kept our doors locked from the inside and spring loaded. We locked his bedroom door at night from the outside, but still, the clever rascal would see every opportunity and take it. He wore a medical ID bracelet with his name and address in case he was found by someone else. He wore an alarmed harness that we could activate if he wandered off. But still, despite our best efforts and because a girl has to go to the bathroom or has to pay attention to another child, he would get away.

On his walkabouts—as we came to call them—he would get into many dangerous situations. I found him one day methodically visiting every garage in the neighborhood and pouring cans of gasoline all over lawnmowers and the floors. ( I never told anybody because I was so embarrassed. I simply grabbed him and ran home. I still feel guilty about this.) I caught him chest deep in a pond in South Carolina that was inhabited by alligators, while chaperoning my other son’s field trip. (I was asked to no longer sign up for this responsibility.)

I found him sitting in strangers’ cars and pretending to drive with the doors locked, grinning wildly. We found him locked inside a port-a-potty, unrolling all the toilet paper to make a big white nest, his belly laughter echoing off the inner walls. We begged and pleaded with him to come out while a line of people wanting to use it formed outside, none of them very impressed by our parenting.

He ran away from his nursery school and into a swarm of bees. His teacher reported to me that she was secretly glad it happened, as she thought it might make him think twice before he ran away again. It was the lesser of potentially bad consequences. I found him on the roof, having climbed up and out of our fenced-in yard. It never ended.

He also lied. Told stretchers. He told his nursery school teacher that he had found a dead body in his room (“blood all over”), but that his mother had cleaned up the mess. He blamed every naughty thing on his imaginary friend “Somebody.” Somebody covered the inside of the car in permanent marker. Somebody set the mice free. Somebody emptied all the spices on the floor. He told his friends it was his birthday when it wasn’t and reaped the benefits with delight.

Not only was Oakley a danger to himself, he had rage. That was not fun. He would not let us change his diaper unless we pinned him to the floor with our knees. He wouldn’t let us get him dressed and when we did he would just tear off his clothes, so he spent much of his time naked. He would tantrum in public on a level comparable to the Tasmanian Devil.

There were many days that Twain and I were overwhelmed and would declare that our lifest‌yle was not sustainable. But we were in love with him. So we kept chasing him when he ran away and today he still loves adventure. We kept those headphones with the rhythmic beats on him and today he loves drumming. We bought him a full-size trampoline at three-years-old despite potential risks and today, he still jumps and twists and flips and has an incredible kinesthetic ability. I think the hugging helped, but that is not as measurable.

I am not saying we were award-winning parents. I became a yeller and one could literally watch Twain recede into his own world when it all became too much. Today, we still can’t leave Oakley home alone because he is still overly impulsive and has a tendency towards the naughty. He still tells stretchers. Life with him is like playing a never-ending game of “Two Truths and a Lie.” He still has the need for constant stimulation and loves risky activities. He still has rage, but only towards his parents when we try to set limits. Some things haven’t changed.

His story isn’t over and we are constantly having to troubleshoot how to navigate life with a guy like him, so that all his traits can be strengths, not liabilities. That is part of the impulse behind this bike ride. That and, conveniently, it is something that I have always wanted to do. Lucky me.

Lucky him?

Lucky us.

Leah Day

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Beginning in August 2019, my son Oakley and I will cycle across America over the course of three months. Oakley is a spirited 15-year-old boy who has always struggled to fit into the confines of mainstream culture. I am Leah, his mother—and we are ready for adventure.

Just Opened: A New Theraplay NYC Sensory Gym

by Mimi O'ConnorSeptember 4, 2017

New York City is home to multiple pediatric sensory gyms, facilities where children with a range of developmental delays can receive therapy to help address those issues. One of them, Theraplay NYC has been operating on the Upper East Side for 10 years, and now the business is expanding to another area attracting more and more young families by the minute: Long Island City, Queens. Read on for what the new location is offering clients and area residents alike!

photo: Theraplay NYC

Same space, new name:
Theraplay NYC’s new facility wasn’t built from the ground up; another sensory gym, Sensory City, previously occupied the space 1,200-square-foot facility with 25-foot ceilings.

Owner Kimberly Mitchell is a former dancer who transitioned into physical therapy work and previously worked in the brain injury department at Bellevue Hospital before opening Theraplay NYC’s first location. A dedication to offering a therapy space that isn’t overcrowded combined with the desire to serve families outside of Manhattan lead to the establishment of Theraplay’s Long Island City outpost in July.

Familiar & fresh offerings
Neighborhood families will be happy to learn that Theraplay NYC is continuing to hold the open play sessions previously offered at Sensory City. Held Monday through Friday from 9:30 to 11:30, the open play periods let kids ages five and under make use of Theraplay NYC’s rock-climbing wall, ladders, zipline, monkey bars, giant castle and slide, as well as other sensory toys and games. The cost is $15, payable by cash or check.

photo: Theraplay NYC

Expanded therapy options
Theraplay NYC’s menu of services includes, and expands upon services provided by Sensory City. The gym offers physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy, as well as sessions for developing social skills and handwriting. The majority of the gym’s client’s are three to five years old, although kids as young as one year old, and as old as eight have received services. All therapy is one-on-one, with therapists possessing pediatric experience and incorporating socialization in each session. Theraplay NYC take insurance and also provides services in partnership with the New York City Department of Education.

Group classes
In addition individual therapy, Theraplay NYC offers drop-off, group classes open to anyone. Examples include Fine Motor Success (ages four and up) addressing grasp, hand strength, coordination, cutting skills, and age-appropriate writing skills; Wiggle, Talk & Giggle! A Social Skills and Sensory Group (ages three and up), and Play, Learn, and Get Set for Preschool! for kids two and three years old. (Check Theraplay NYC’s web site for fall schedule, posting in September.)

Theraplay NYC
11-11 44th Rd., Suite 402
Long Island City, Ny
718-433-4434
Online: theraplaynyc.com

What else is happening in Long Island City? Tell us in the comments below!

— Mimi O’Connor

What I Learned from an Expert about How Free Play Helps Kids to Thrive

By Carrie Williams Howe

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

July 23, 2017

Photo: Madlivn’ Design and Photography

Angela Hanscom was practicing occupational therapy with children when she had an “Ah-ha” moment. Almost all of the activities she was prescribing to treat children with sensory, attention, or balance issues were things that children could and should be experiencing on their own. Climbing, hanging, spinning in circles – these used to be the hallmarks of a child’s experience.

“The occupation of a child is play,” she said. Why were they not doing these things on a daily basis?

This discovery led Hanscom to take a close look at the lives of the children around her – at home, at school, on the playground, and on the ball field. She visited schools, sat in on classes, and watched kids in their everyday “habitat.” Kids were squirming, having trouble paying attention, or wanting to climb where they weren’t supposed to climb. And what were adults doing? They were telling these children to sit still, pay attention, get in line, and stop moving.

Well-meaning educators, coaches, and parents were basically telling kids not to do their job.

As an occupational therapist, Hanscom’s expertise is in looking at an experience that a child is having and breaking it down to see how it is benefitting that child developmentally (or not). Children, she says, will naturally seek out the movement they need. That might mean spinning (which actually aids in developing balance) or jumping up and down. Her opinion, which is backed up by strong research in her new book Balanced and Barefoot, is that lack of active free play is actually doing harm to our children.

“How many kids,” she wondered, “would need occupational therapy if they spent more time moving their bodies the way they need to?”

Active free play, as defined by Hanscom, is free play that is not restricted by the rules or objects created by adults. It is child-directed, ideally in nature where kids can come up with their own ideas about how to interact with each other and with the world around them. Thirty years ago, according to Hanscom’s research, the average child had about 4-5 hours of this kind of play during the day; now that number is down to somewhere between 45 minutes and 1.5 hours. She believes this drastic change is connected to increased issues with things like regulating emotions, reading, and sensory integration.

Parents and educators are beginning to take note of Hanscom’s ideas. She has been featured multiple times in The Washington Post and was named a “Hometown Hero” in Glamour Magazine’s 2015 Women of the Year issue.

“When educators and parents hear that they might actually be harming their children by making them sit still or telling them to stop spinning, that’s when they begin to really listen,” says Hanscom.

Hanscom wanted to make sure that once people starting thinking about these ideas, they had an opportunity to learn how to put them in action. That idea is at the heart of her new book. She named the book Balanced and Barefoot because she wanted to convey the strong visual image of a child running around barefoot outside as the quintessential picture of active free play. “There is nothing like seeing the child out there playing to help parents understand the value of the experience” she says.

Transitioning to this kind of child-led approach takes patience and practice, Hanscom says. Children need a lot of time outdoors to begin to explore their surroundings in new and creative ways, and adults need to be patient with children as they learn to play in a less structured environment than what they are used to. Friends are also key. “Every chance I got, I invited kids to come over for the whole day,” says Hanscom about helping her own daughter to develop these skills. With friends, children are more apt to try new things, and to seek reassurance from adults a little less often.

Hanscom also took action on her ideas when she created TimberNook, a developmental nature program in the US and in New Zealand that offers the opportunity for virtually unlimited, child-led sensory experiences in nature. TimberNook uses a unique approach from other more traditional nature programs by focusing on using the environment to foster healthy child development – both intellectual and physical – with minimal adult intervention.

“Is summer camp enough?” I asked Hanscom as I listened to her passionate arguments.

“We are a living example,” she answered, “of what can happen when children are given the opportunity to develop their free play skills. When I show a parent a video of what their child did while they were at camp, or a child goes home and tells their parent how much fun they had and helps the parent to recreate a TimberNook play space at home, that’s how we’re making the difference.”

Hanscom says that teachers and parents often tell her that they “couldn’t put a finger on” why kids were having some of the challenges they were, but that learning about the value of free play lights a spark that makes people passionate about trying new things.

She describes Barefoot and Balanced as a message packaged into book form. She hopes that parents will share it with teachers and that the movement will spread into multiple settings. “There are a lot of barriers out there to making these kinds of changes,” she says, “but we should do everything in our power to keep educating.”

This article originally appeared in Parent.Co Magazine.

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Carrie Williams Howe

Tinybeans Voices Contributor

Carrie Williams Howe is the Executive Director of an educational non-profit by day, and parent, writer, and aspiring homesteader by night and weekend. She lives in Williston, VT with her husband, two young children, and a rambunctious border collie. Carrie writes about family, food, parenting, and homesteading.

19 Amazing Things to Do with Kids on the Spectrum

by LeTania Kirkland SmithFebruary 15, 2017

One of the things we love most about LA is that it is home to families of all shapes, sizes and varieties—which includes those with special needs and on the autism spectrum. There is also a growing community of support and activities available for families. From working with animals to getting out on the sports field, there are a million (or 19!) outings that are not only inclusive of kids with autism but specifically designed for them.

photo: The Gentle Barn

Working with Animals

The Gentle Barn
Ellie Laks founded The Gentle Barn in 1999 as a way to connect her love for animals and kids. Laks felt deeply connected to animals and believed in their healing qualities from a young age. Having studied psychology and special education she created the Gentle Barn to create a space where animals and children can heal each other. The Gentle Barn is not a petting zoo but an animal sanctuary. The barn rescues abused and traumatized animals, brings them back to health and gives them a space to live the rest of their lives peacefully. The Barn is open to everyone but was also created to provide a space for at-risk and special needs kids. Lak says the Barn is a safe, quiet space where kids can explore and “they are free to be themselves, they are completely accepted for how they show up, and the animals love them unconditionally.” The Gentle Barn is located in Santa Clarita and is open to the public Sundays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Check their website for tickets and schedules.

15825 Sierra Highway
Santa Clarita
661-252-2440
Online: gentlebarn.org

Danny’s Farm
Danny’s Farm is an inclusive petting zoo that is housed at Cal Poly Pomona. The farm was created by former Dodger’s pitcher Jim Gott and his wife as a way to honor their son Danny, who has autism. As they discovered more about their son, they found that he had a love for farm animals, which in turn had a therapeutic effect on him. The farm is operated by the Cal Poly Pomona’s Veterinary Sciences department and its students. While the farm no longer offers a specialty autism program, it does provide a safe space where all children are welcome. The farm is open Saturdays from 10 a.m.-2 p.m., March through mid-November. Danny’s Farm also hosts a mobile petting zoo, which will come to you.

4102 S. University Dr.
Pomona
909-896-7741
Online: dannysfarm.org

photo: Paul Weaver via Flickr

Get out on That Field: Sports and Rec

Little League Challenger Division
American Little League has stepped up to the plate to provide a safe and rewarding place for all kids to play ball. The Challenger League is open to kids 4-18 (or up to 22, if they are still in high school) and teams are created based on ability rather than age. The game is tweaked slightly to allow everyone a chance at bat and on the field and there is no score keeping. The buddy system is used, though players are encouraged to do as much on their own as possible with their buddy always nearby to help. Check their website or call for more information about a Challenger division near you.

570-326-1921 x2254
Online: littleleague.org

AYSO VIP
The American Youth Soccer Organization (AYSO) offer what the call the VIP program for all kids with special needs. In this program, trained coaches and volunteers work with kids and provides a “buddy system” during the games to help kids learn the game and interact with new friends in a safe and supportive environment. Check their website to get more details about league locations.

800-872-2976
Online: ayso.org

photo: Kids Like Me

The Help Group “Kids Like Me” Program
The Help Group has created a series of campuses throughout the L.A. that offers pre-K through high hchool programs for kids on the spectrum. “Kids Like Me” is an extracurricular program open to the public that offers typical after-school activities like sports, art, dance and even specialties like film making. The objective of the program is to combine fun activities with a social skills based curriculum. The staff is trained to observe interactions between students and use their experience as teachable moments for social interaction. The program is open to all students across the autism spectrum, and the faculty works to group kids chronologically and developmentally to ensure they are with the best possible peer group.

Locations in Sherman Oaks and Culver City. Check out their website for the current schedule.
Online: kidslikemela.org

photo: My Gym

Gymnastics Classes

Gymnastics For Life
Coach Shawn Marsh has been living in the world of gymnastics for over 30 years. As a teenager growing up in South LA, an introduction to gymnastics provided a focus to pull him through the challenges of the neighborhood and stoked a lifelong love for gymnastics. He has taught in gyms throughout the city and personally coached a Special Olympics gymnast who went on to earn 4 gold medals. Coach Marsh has developed a curriculum that offers “traditional” and “non-traditional” gymnastics that allows little gymnasts to set their own standards that are appropriate for their age and developmental stage. A big bonus is that Coach Marsh offers group classes and in-home visits throughout LA and the San Fernando Valley. Check the website for locations and details.

818-636-3397
Online: gymnasticsforlife.com

Broadway Gymnastics School
Broadway Gymnastics School has been in the business of training little gymnasts since 1979. With a huge facility near Playa Vista, Broadway Gymnastics offers traditional classes and a special needs program that has been recognized by the Autism Speaks organization. Classes are open to babes 18 months and up. 1-on-1 coaching is available as well as group classes. There are after-school classes as well as a variety of camps, because we can all use a little help when school is out.

5433 Beethoven St.
West LA
310-302-0035
Online: broadwaygym.com

Los Angeles School of Gymnastics
Tucked into Culver City, The Los Angeles School of Gymnastics has been training gymnasts of all ages since 1975. Now they are also working to bring the benefits of gymnastics and physicality to kids (and adults) with special needs. The qualities of gymnastics are used as a means for rehabilitation and can be considered part of your little tumbler’s occupational therapy. Plus, the LASG is linked with nearly every major funding organization, so you may be able to receive financial assistance for gymnastics classes.

8450 Higuera St.
Culver City
310-204-1980
Online: lagymnastics.com

My Gym
If you’re a parent in LA, chances are you’ve heard of My Gym, which has locations throughout the city (and the whole country). My Gym offers classes for kids from 6 weeks old and up. Classes include gymnastics, karate and dance. While every My Gym does not offer classes specific to kids on the spectrum, their locations are open to kids no matter their developmental challenges. Those on the spectrum are welcome to join classes and feel their way through it as well as bringing a shadow, if needed. Check their website, find your local gym and ask what classes might be best for your little mover.

Multiple locations across Los Angeles, check the website for details.
Online: mygym.com

photo: LeTania Kirkland Smith

Space to Play

We Rock the Spectrum
The top philosophy at We Rock the Spectrum is, “Finally a place where you never have to say ‘I’m sorry.'” WRTS is an indoor gym and play space that is fully inclusive for all children. The gym was founded by Dina Kimmel, whose son Gabriel is on the spectrum. After years of therapy and apologetically explaining that her son was autistic when out in public, she decided to open a space to welcome families living with autism and educate those who are not. WRTS is unique in that it is open to all kids whether or not they are on the spectrum. WRTS has locations across the country (and now in Malaysia) and all are equipped with 10 pieces of sensory equipment designed to help kids with sensory processing disorders. But don’t think for a minute that the gym won’t appeal to kids of all abilities and ages. Who doesn’t want to spend time on a zip line or rock on a hammock swing? And parents are encouraged to interact right along with their kids; so go have a good jumping session and everyone will be better for it.

There are multiple locations in Los Angeles; check their website for the location nearest you.
Online: wrtsfranchise.com

photo: LeTania Kirkland Smith

Dream Big Children’s Center
If you’re in the market for an indoor play space, Dream Big Children’s Center in Monrovia fits the bill. This is an inclusive space that welcomes all kids but the center’s creator, Cristina Cordeiro, created the space with autistic kids in mind. Cordeiro has worked with autistic kids for over 15 years and has been the director of a behavioral therapy organization for the last five years. This experience combined with her new found life as a mama pushed her to create a space where all children—no matter their needs—can play together.

The space was meticulously designed with the needs of autistic kids in mind, with multiple themed rooms that designed to soften sound; the overall design of the center is neutral to help kids avoid sensory overload from bright colors and bright lighting. Dream Big’s staff have autism training and the center offers Applied Behavior Analysis therapy both in-home and at the center. A huge plus is that families with multiple kids can bring the whole family for some play time while meeting their child’s special needs. It’s a win-win.

612 S. Myrtle Ave.
Monrovia
626-775-7888
Online: dreambigchildren.com

photo: LeTania Kirkland Smith

Travel Town Museum
As one of the pillars of the Griffith Park experience, Travel Town is a must for any Angeleno, but it also happens to be a superb place for many kids on the spectrum. While nothing is a one-size-fits all scenario, the outdoor space combined with train tables and the experience of climbing into a real engine makes for a positive take-away. This LA classic comes highly recommended from families with kids on the spectrum.

5200 Zoo Dr.
323-662-5874
Online: traveltown.org

photo: The Water Whisperer

Into the Pool: Swimming Lessons

The Water Whisperer
Learning to swim and feel comfortable in the water is both a matter of safety and a boost in confidence for all young people. Emily Cohen, The Water Whisperer, employs a unique technique for teaching kids to swim and provides one on one classes for those with special needs. As an artist, Cohen takes a creative approach and uses toys, songs, games and lots of encouragement to get kids in the water. Cohen also believes in the power of routine—especially for kids with special needs—and adheres to the class routine to provide swimmers with a sense of security. The Water Whisper holds classes in Sherman Oaks and Woodland Hills. When contacting them be sure to provide all info about your little swimmer’s needs.

Online: thewaterwhisperer.com

One With the Water
One With the Water was created by Coach Kenneth Rippetoe. After working in Bolivia, Venezuela and Spain with “sponsor a child” programs to help kids in need receive education, Rippetoe founded One With the Water. Semi-private and private special needs classes are offered in community pools throughout the LA Area. One With the Water is a non-profit and is dedicated to providing scholarships to special needs kids and families who could use financial assistance. The organization also works closely with other therapy organizations to create a lasting community for its participants. Check out their website for more details.

323-364-7946
Online: onewiththewater.org

photo: The Miracle Project

Putting the Hands to Work: Performance and Creation

The Miracle Project
We all know the healing and therapeutic properties of the arts, but The Miracle Project has taken this idea as a mission. This organization has created an inclusive space where individuals with and without autism collaborate to develop and perform original musicals. The Miracle Project uses a methodology that combines theater, film, music, movement and other expressive arts and allows kids with autism to collaborate with others to develop as peers and artists.

Program director and teacher, Ryan Berman says this community helps “bring out the best” in those with autism and allows them to find their voice in a unique way. The Miracle Project offers classes in musical theater, improv, movement and music. You can also check out the documentary Autism: The Musical, which tells the story of The Miracle Project.

9301 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 507
Beverly Hills
310-829-7034
Online: themiracleproject.org

photo: Purple Twig

Purple Twig
Purple Twig in Eagle Rock is a great place for art exploration for young artists of all abilities. The space offers specialized workshops and art classes as well as an open studio on Saturdays where kids can dig into a large variety of sensory (and recycled!) materials that can be a big plus for some kids on the spectrum. While Purple Twig does not specialize in art classes for kid with autism, it is a welcoming space. Check it out and see if it works for your family.

2038 Colorado Blvd.
Eagle Rock
323-254-8944
Online: purpletwig.com

Rolling Robots
Another spot that comes highly recommended by parents is the building workshop sensation Rolling Robots. RR has multiple locations and offers after school robot building workshops. Though RR does not offer specific special needs classes, it is an inclusive space. From the most basic to more complicated robotics this is a great spot where kids on the spectrum can focus, work with their hands and be a part of a community. RR also offers birthday parties and camps.

Rolling Robots las locations in Glendale, West LA and Palos Verdes. Check the website for details.
Online: rollingrobots.com

photo: Ride On

Giddy-Up: Horseback Riding

Ride On
Ride On Therapeutic Horsemanship teaches adaptive horseback riding to kids and adults with cognitive and physical disabilities from the age of 6 & up. The organization also uses the art of horseback riding to provide physical, occupational and speech therapy by using the movement of the horse to improve medical conditions as well as equine assisted psychotherapy. (Yes, that’s a mouthful, but it works!) Horseback riding is a unique form of therapy for kids on the spectrum because it is calming and stimulating, which provides a way for kids to physical regulate their bodies. Beyond that, connecting with the horses and other kids in the group allows those who may struggle socially to make connections they may not be able to otherwise. Scholarships are available for those in need.

Locations in Chatsworth and Newbury Park; check the website for details.
Online: rideon.org

photo: The Children’s Ranch Foundation

Children’s Ranch Foundation
The Children’s Ranch in Griffith Park is yet another bit of genius created by a mama inspired to help her child and others like her. Jackie Sloan began horseback riding with her own daughter as a therapeutic approach to living on the spectrum. Sloan was struck by the transformative effect riding and caring for animals had on her family and left her job as a practicing attorney to create the Children’s Ranch Foundation.

Working with animals, says Sloan, has a way of drawing children with special needs into a group setting and making social connections. The Ranch offers, therapeutic horseback riding, Ranch Play and Ranch Hands where kids are introduced to the animals and learn to care for them, as well as sibling and parent workshops. The Children’s Ranch is a deep commitment for families and takes a bit of paperwork to get going, but if your family is looking for a deeper therapeutic process, it’s more than worth the effort.

4007 Verdant St.
Atwater Village
213-447-6456
Online: thechildrensranch.org

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—LeTania Kirkland Smith

8 Stellar Sensory Gyms for Kids in NYC

by Rachel SokolOctober 26, 2015

Sensory play is often either literally or figuratively what the doctor ordered, and we’re fortunate to live in a city and state that offers resources and support for kids who need help with developmental delays, be they physical, cognitive or linguistic. Not to brag, but NYC is home to many top-notch facilities in the five boroughs and beyond, ’cause that’s just how we roll. Here’s our roundup of sensory gyms where your child and family will find the expertise, equipment — and fun — to be thrilled and thrive. (P.S. Many of these gym play spaces host birthday parties, too.)

Sensory Gym Basics
If you feel your child is not reaching expected milestones or think he or she shows delayed development, the first thing you should do is talk to your pediatrician about your concerns. Your doctor may refer you to supportive programs such as the Early Intervention Program (EIP). EIP services for children under three years of age are generally free and available to those who are suspected of having a variety of developmental delays. Therapy services for children in need of assistance can be held at a sensory gym, at home, or both.

Sensory gyms center around specialized play equipment such as suspended swings, rolling scooters, rock climbing walls, hiding places and trampolines, that serve a wide variety of treatment activities. Trained and licensed pediatric therapists work with your child at the sensory gym — either individually or in a group, depending on your child’s needs — through play. In therapy gyms, the gym equipment is used to improve and enhance a child’s fundamental skills. (With a little bit of creativity, therapists can use the same interactive activity to address many other skill areas.)

photo: courtesy Jumping Jax

Jumping Jax
Jumping Jax is an Upper West Side multidisciplinary sensory-based gym that provides speech, physical, and occupational therapy. Therapy is provided on a one-to-one basis with an emphasis on supporting the family as well as the child through the therapy process. The Jumping Jax sensory gym provides vestibular, proprioceptive, and tactile experiences utilizing swings and obstacle courses as a way to address developmental needs in a challenging yet fun environment. The duration of each treatment session is determined by your child’s individual needs; sessions can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. Your child may attend therapy more than once a week, again, depending on his or her specific needs. Additionally, Jumping Jax also has a Westchester facility and many therapists work at both locations.

Good to know: They list helpful, sensory toys for kids of all ages on their site, and one of the many programs they offer include The Listening Program; a non-invasive, music-based auditory stimulation program that helps develop the auditory skills necessary to improve listening, learning and communication.

Jumping Jax
174 W. 76th Street, Suite 1H
Upper West Side
212-877-0667
Online: jumpingjaxnyc.com

photo: courtesy Small Steps Big Leaps

Small Steps Big Leaps
This South Park Slope-based gym recently added Social Skills Groups and Individual sessions to their offerings, which are led by SidekicksNYC. Each therapist has specialized certifications/training within their field and seeks to give each child the ‘just right challenge’ in a caring, creative, engaging, and professional manner. The facility never has more than 3 sessions going on at one time in their approximately 1,000 square feet. “Our mission, when designing this space, and opening our doors in September 2011, was to create a calm and joyful space where each therapist will have plenty of room to think, create, and engage with their student, with minimal distractions; and families noticed this right away,” says co-founder Rosanna Lee, PT, C/NDT, who started the facility with Marta Canaan, MS, OTR/L. “Many families come in and comment on how calm our space is. They have described it as being clean, warm, welcoming, well-equipped.” Plus, the therapists work within a multi-disciplinary team, “so that we can consult with each other on clients that we share, so that we can provide a holistic approach to our treatment sessions,” adds Lee. Occupational, Physical Therapy and Speech-Language Therapy evaluations and treatment for infants through school-aged kids are offered and available at Small Steps Big Leaps.

Good to know: Co-founder Rosanna Lee is one of only a handful of NDT certified PT’s in Brooklyn; she completed the 8-week certification program in the Neuro-developmental Treatment (NDT) Approach for Children, which focuses on the assessment of children’s posture and movement patterns and facilitation of more efficient and fluid movement patterns.

Small Steps Big Leaps
159 20th St. Suite 3A
South Slope
Online: ssblnyc.com

photo: Chris_Parfitt via Flickr

Watch Me Grow
A pediatric therapy center based on the Upper West Side and in the East Village, Watch Me Grow‘s owner and director Shirael Pollack explains that Watch Me Grow is designed to be an extension of your family’s home. “Helping children grow in a fun, energetic and caring environment is at the core of all our offerings,” she says. At Watch Me Grow, children receive individualized attention from the center’s physical therapists, occupational therapists and speech therapists. Care plans are created in partnership with parents following comprehensive evaluations to help identify a child’s unique needs. Services are provided through Early Intervention (EI), The New York City Department of Education including Preschool (CPSE) and School Age (CSE), and offered privately and through some insurance companies.

Good to know: Watch Me Grow offers center-based, school-based and in-home therapy as well as group programs including social groups and camps. Social Groups are held throughout the year in both city locations, and are designed to support children’s individual differences while encouraging building relationships with their peers.

Watch Me Grow
162 West 72nd St.
525 East 12th Street CF
Upper West Side/Lower East Side
212-721-0208 (UWS location)
212-721-5220 (LES location)
Online: watchmegrownyc.com

photo: R. Sokol/courtesy PlayWorks

PlayWorks
PlayWorks NYC, located in Rego Park, Queens, offers a safe space for children with special needs to build confidence, learn new skills and grow. The gym is set up to be an inviting space for children to explore and try new activities. The equipment and space provide movement opportunities and sensory experiences that are individualized and tailored for each child to meet—and address—their needs and goals. “I think what sets us apart is the personal level of care that our therapists take as they support each child to reach his or her goals,” says Marie Fulgham, OTR/L, who co-founded the facility with Angel Chin, MSPT. “We’re a growing company and have been able to maintain a level of personal connection throughout our growth. We appreciate that our parents and families have chosen to trust us with their children and want them to feel welcome into the space.” Adds Fulgham: “Our versatile space constantly shifts and changes throughout each session based on each child’s individual needs. We have personally built-out the space with this concept, so children can constantly evolve and grow.”

Good to know: Specialized treatments available include yoga, Sensory Integration therapy, TheraTogs, Brain Gym and more.

PlayWorks NYC
65-10 99th St.
Rego Park, Queens
718-606-1818
Online: playworksnyc.com

photo: Theraplay

Theraplay
Newly renovated, Theraplay is the only multidisciplinary sensory gym on the Upper East Side. The facility offers pediatric therapy services including Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, Speech Language Pathology, Children’s Play Therapy and more. Therapists at the two-floored facility work closely with parents to ensure that the benefits of therapy continue outside of the gym. One of the many helpful classes offered includes Social Skills — led by a licensed Clinical Social Worker—in which kids can learn and practice play skills, such as positive ways to interact with peers while decreasing behaviors that interfere with appropriate social skills. Handwriting classes led by an occupational therapist that utilize the award-winning, fun, multi-sensory, Handwriting Without Tears program, are also offered to youngsters.

Good to know: Another option for families at Theraplay is a nutritionist; aside from addressing sensory issues, adults and their children can also work with a registered dietician, who can devise an individualized plan that addresses and explores a family’s past experiences with food as well as current habits and difficulties.

Theraplay
251 East 77th St.
Upper East Side
212-288-1450
Online: theraplaynyc.com

photo: SPOTS

SPOTS
SPOTS (Special Programs in Occupational Therapy Services) has three locations: downtown Manhattan, Brooklyn Heights and Nyack, New York. One of the first sensory gyms in Manhattan, SPOTS specializes in helping families understand how sensory processing challenges affect a child’s emotions, behaviors and ability to adapt to the demands of childhood. By tapping into a child’s natural affinity for imaginative play, SPOTS therapists help keep kids engaged and focused on therapy. “For instance, an obstacle course with ‘monsters under the bridge’ can facilitate controlled crawling along a swing,” explains SPOTS co-founder/partner Prudence Heisler, OTR/R. “Or, spontaneous storytelling can help inspire a child to practice otherwise arduous handwriting skills.” According to Heisler, unique to SPOTS is “our therapists’ use of social interactions and carefully orchestrated group play to provide expert therapy and form successful bonds between children.” Each therapist holds a Master’s Degree or higher in their field, and makes it their mission, explains Heisler, to continually advance their knowledge beyond their professional degree requirements.

Good to know: In addition to occupational therapy services, SPOTS also provides physical therapy services, consults at many schools throughout New York City, coordinates services with community hospitals and pediatric practices and even helps to strengthen programs in other parts of the world such as the Dominican Republic and India.

SPOTS
611 Broadway; Suite 908
26 Court St.; Suite 513
Greenwich Village/Brooklyn Heights
212-473-0009
Online: spotsot.com

photo: Arpan K. via Yelp

The Ability Center
The Ability Center is a sensory gym located in the Marine Park section of south Brooklyn that provides occupational, physical and speech therapy services. The owners—a husband and wife physical and occupational therapist team—wanted to establish a state-of-the-art, kid-friendly, spotless facility where individual attention is provided to families. The sensory space includes tunnels, swings, ball pits, ziplines and more. Last year the Center moved to a larger facility across the street from the previous location, which is better tailored in size and layout to meet clients’ needs. “In addition to providing therapy services, The Ability Center was able to open, right next door, a sensory play gym that is open to the public. It is bright and spacious, full of swings, a glider, rock climbing and monkey bars, as well as a jump deck leading to a ball pit,”says co-owner Isaac Jacobowitz. The move was inspired by therapy-seeking families asking where they could take their children for additional practice and sensory opportunities. The play gym is best suited to the under-seven set, and provides both children and their parents access to real therapy equipment in the context of social engagement and play. Throughout the week the space also hosts adult-led social groups, such as Mommy and Me classes.

Good to know: The Ability Center hosts birthday parties, too.

The Ability Center
3514 Avenue S
Marine Park, Brooklyn
718-336-3832
Online: theabilitycenter.com

photo: Smile Center

SMILE Center
Founded by two professional occupational therapists, the 9,000-square-foot midtown east SMILE Center employs a strong, bottom-up treatment model based on three treatment approaches: Sensory Integration (SI), Neuro-Developmental Treatment (NDT), and Relationship-based work that collectively address all aspects of a child’s development. Co-founder Markus Jarrow explains that therapists focus on addressing a child’s root issues, not just top-down skill teaching. SMILE Center is home to an Early Intervention program and therapists with extensive infant/baby treatment experience.

Good to know: The facility houses multiple large gyms, smaller gyms, and individual speech treatment spaces. Rooms are never overcrowded, and there’s very little employee turnover.

SMILE Center
171 Madison Ave.
Midtown East
212-400-0383
Online: smileny.com

Have you had a great experience at an NYC-area sensory gym? Share it in the comments below!

— Rachel Sokol

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