Pediatric Group Therapy Activities: Warm-Ups, Ice Breakers, and Session Starters for OTP, SLP, and PT
As clinicians, we understand the importance of preparation. In individual therapy, we naturally build in regulation, muscle prep, sensory input, or connection before expecting a child to engage in more complex tasks. We don’t jump straight into fine motor work without first preparing the body. We don’t expect focus without first establishing safety and rapport. […]
Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) for School-Based Therapists
When therapists understand how to work within multi-tiered systems of support, their impact in schools expands dramatically. Beyond traditional pull-out sessions, school-based therapists can play a critical role in inclusive classrooms, schoolwide support systems, and early intervention. By integrating therapy services across Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 supports, therapists collaborate effectively with educators, […]
Belonging Through Connection: Neurodiversity-Affirming Social Groups in Schools
Social groups are often recommended as a key support for neurodivergent students in inclusive and integrated school settings. Yet many therapists and educators find themselves questioning whether traditional social skills groups truly meet the needs of the children they serve. What does a “social group” actually mean for a child with ADHD or autism? How […]
2025 Play Promoter Prize winner – Angela Mann with Hope Grove
Each year, following the Play Conference, we celebrate one attendee who embodies the heart of what we stand for: bringing play back to children’s lives in meaningful, accessible, and imaginative ways. The Play Promoter Prize recognizes a therapist-led initiative that champions play, inclusion, and creativity in the real world – and this year’s winner, occupational […]
How Play-Based Therapy Transforms Practice With Autistic Children
There’s a growing shift toward play-based therapy for autistic kids – and it’s rooted in both science and experience. Research, lived experience, and practitioner insight all point to the same truth: children learn, connect, and thrive when therapy honors their neurology, not when it asks them to suppress it. Compliance-based methods often prioritise “following directions,” […]
Leveraging Media for GLP Learners
When we think about screen time for children, our minds often jump to limits, overstimulation, and “too much YouTube.” But as Speech-Language Pathologist Victoria (Tor) Matkowski shared with us during our Play Conference interview, for Gestalt Language Processors (GLPs), the media they love can actually be a powerful communication tool – when used with understanding […]
Strategies to Maximize Engagement in Play-Based Therapy
Drawing on insights from Katie Zelinski, this article shares practical, bottom-up strategies to create therapy environments that invite safety, curiosity, and sustained engagement, from sensory setup to child-led structure.
7 Reasons Autistic Children Withdraw from Play in Therapy
When a child turns away, walks off, or “checks out” during play, it’s not defiance – it’s communication. In this article we explore seven common reasons autistic children disengage in therapy, what those subtle cues might be telling us, and how to respond with empathy instead of pressure.
Following the Child’s Lead – A Strength-Based Approach in DIRFloortime®
DIRFloortime® is a strength-based, relationship-driven framework that honors each child’s individuality. Rather than focusing on “fixing” behaviors, therapists use emotional attunement and play to build trust, safety, and motivation – creating the conditions for growth. In our Play Conference interview with OT Kerri Ciskowski, we explored how DIRFloortime helps therapists and families move away from […]
DIRFloortime® in Action: Supporting Growth Through the Developmental Capacities
If you work in a play-based practice, you’ve probably heard of DIRFloortime®, but you may still be wondering what it really looks like in action. In this interview from The Play Conference, pediatric occupational therapist Kerri Ciskowski shares how the DIRFloortime model helps clinicians and families understand each child’s unique developmental journey – especially for […]