The Independent Play Company offers an inclusive, and therapeutic play space to promote age appropriate development of speech, cognitive, socioemotional, and physical skills, for ALL kiddos, ages birth to five years old. It also serves to provide a community space for families to connect, play and learn.

We invite all children to come play! Your child does not need to have a medical diagnosis, or be currently receiving therapy services (OT, PT, Speech, etc). to play at the Independent Play Company.

We are an open play space that uses therapy based (specifically Occupational Therapy) activities and principles to guide productive play. We use evidence-based and holistic approaches to promote learning through play for children of all needs/learning styles. We are the only play center in the area owned and organized by a child development specialist, and provide access to otherwise limited therapeutic resources (OT, PT, ST based activities/groups, community wellness and support).

Open Play: Come play in our therapeutic play space, with open access to our OTs for questions, concerns and guidance, if needed! $30 for 1.5 Hours. Guided Play: An individual 20 minute session with an OT. Personalized consultation and IFSP/IEP review if the child is already receiving services. Home exercise/activity plan, and referrals provided if needed! Essentially, a modified OT session within open play! $45, includes remaining time for open play. Community Based Therapy Session: Bring your EI/CPSE therapist into our space for your child's regular therapy session. Generalize skills practiced at home in a community setting. $38, an hour of open play included. Our co-founder, Jackie, is certified in Level C Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI), and is able to offer individual sessions, as well as therapy intensives. Please contact us for pricing!

As we currently do not offer traditional therapy services, we do not accept insurance for our play sessions. We do offer discount packages, and various payment methods to best accommodate our customers. We also do not accept insurance for Dynamic Movement Intervention services, but will gladly provide you with a superbill for your insurance company, so that you may receive reimbursement depending on your insurance plan.

Per their official website, Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) is a therapeutic technique used in physical and occupational therapy to treat children with motor delay by improving automatic postural responses and promoting progress towards developmental milestones. The goal of DMI is to provoke a specified active motor response from the child in response to defined dynamic exercises prescribed by the therapist. This comprehensive intervention incorporates current research on neurorehabilitation, technologies, and methodologies. DMI stimulates neuroplasticity to facilitate new neuronal connections and development of motor milestones. Regardless of level of cognition and extent of neurological deficit or damage, affected children benefit from DMI motor intervention as it pertains to stimulating neuroplasticity in the developing brain. Children diagnosed with any type of motor delay including conditions such as; Down Syndrome, Cerebral palsy, global developmental delay, hypotonia, chromosomal abnormalities/genetic disorders, spinal cord lesions or acquired brain injury may benefit from this form of therapy. Children at risk, such as those who are born prematurely can also benefit from this therapy due to the strong neuroplastic changes that this treatment stimulates within the developing brain.

Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) is designed to help children develop the skills they need to perform everyday activities, or "occupations," that are important for their growth and development. These activities can include things like playing, learning, self-care (such as dressing and eating), and socializing. Pediatric OTs work with children who may have physical, developmental, sensory, or emotional challenges that affect their ability to engage in these activities. Overall, the goal of pediatric occupational therapy is to help children function at their highest potential, supporting their ability to thrive in school, at home, and in social situations.

Aside from fine/gross motor, and visual motor skills, OT can also address: Self-care and Independence: OTs teach children how to perform daily activities on their own, like feeding themselves, brushing their teeth, or getting dressed. This promotes independence and boosts confidence. Play and Social Skills: Play is a critical part of a child's development, and pediatric OTs use play-based interventions to help children build social skills, engage in imaginative play, and interact with peers. This can also include helping children develop communication skills. Adaptations and Equipment: If a child has a disability or specific challenge, an OT might suggest adaptive equipment, modifications, or strategies to help the child participate more easily in daily activities. This could include special tools for writing, modified chairs for comfort, or different ways to organize schoolwork.

Fine motor skills: If your child struggles with tasks that require hand-eye coordination, such as drawing, cutting with scissors, holding a pencil, or buttoning a shirt. Gross motor skills: Difficulty with activities like running, jumping, hopping, or balancing. They may have trouble learning to ride a bike or participating in physical games. Difficulty with self-care tasks: If your child struggles with daily activities such as brushing teeth, getting dressed, eating, or using utensils independently, they may need support with developing these skills.

Overreacting to sensory stimuli: Your child may become easily overwhelmed or distressed by certain sensory experiences, such as loud noises, bright lights, specific textures, or certain smells. Under-reacting to sensory stimuli: Conversely, a child who doesn't seem to notice certain sensory experiences, like being too rough while playing or not feeling temperature changes, may also need help processing sensory input more effectively. Seeking excessive sensory input: If your child constantly seeks out sensory experiences, such as spinning, jumping, or constantly touching objects, it may suggest a need for sensory integration support.

Challenges in peer interactions: If your child struggles with making and maintaining friendships, having difficulty understanding social cues (like taking turns, reading facial expressions), or seems overly shy or withdrawn in social situations. Poor self-regulation: If your child has trouble controlling emotions or behavior, becomes easily frustrated, or has frequent meltdowns, OT can help with developing emotional and behavioral regulation. Difficulty adapting: If your child has a hard time with changes in routine, transitioning from one activity to another, or struggles with new situations (like starting school or going to a new place), they may need support in building coping skills for flexibility. Excessive frustration: If your child often becomes frustrated or upset by simple tasks or can't focus on tasks for extended periods, they may benefit from OT. Avoiding activities: A child who avoids certain activities like drawing, eating, or engaging in physical play because they find them overwhelming may need help.

Challenges in school: Struggling with writing, reading, or organization at school could be related to difficulty with motor skills, sensory processing, or executive functioning (planning, organizing, and completing tasks). Difficulty following directions or staying focused: If your child has trouble with attention, following multi-step instructions, or completing tasks without constant redirection, it may suggest a need for support with these skills.

If your child shows difficulties with any of the above mentioned areas of development, we can help! Contact us for a Guided Play Session - an individual, 20 minute session with one of our OTs. A personalized consultation and screening will give us more insight into your child's needs, and we can provide you with recommendations regarding formal therapy sessions!

Sensory integration refers to the process by which the brain receives, organizes, and responds to information from the senses (sight, sound, touch, taste, smell, balance, and body movement). It’s how our brain interprets sensory input and helps us make sense of the world around us. However, some children may struggle with sensory integration, leading to sensory processing difficulties. This can mean that they either over-respond (become overwhelmed or overstimulated by certain sensory experiences) or under-respond (have difficulty noticing sensory input, like not feeling pain or not reacting to loud noises).

In pediatric occupational therapy, sensory integration therapy is used to help children process sensory information more effectively. The goal is to help them develop better responses to sensory input, improve their ability to engage in daily activities, and reduce any sensory-related difficulties they experience. Therapists use structured activities and exercises that provide different types of sensory experiences, allowing children to practice managing sensory input in a controlled environment. For example, activities might include swinging, jumping on a trampoline, playing with textured objects, or listening to different types of music. These experiences help the brain learn to process and respond to sensory information more efficiently, which can improve the child’s overall functioning and comfort.