The Therapy Place is offering the ALERT Program for self-regulation in a peer group setting. The program "How Does Your Engine Run" will be used under the guidance and supervision of an occupational therapist to assist children ages 8-12 to develop awareness of arousal levels and offer strategies for self regulation. By participating in the ALERT Program in a group setting, the children will enhance their self-esteem, coping abilities and self knowledge to regulate their arousal states with minimal adult interventions.

Description of group:

Groups will consist of 4-6 children of similar ages and levels of function. (This program is most appropriate for those children who demonstrate average or above average cognitive skills.)The ALERT group will include learning opportunities in both structured and play situations. Emphasis will be on development of regulation strategies, social behavior, and self awareness.

Call 952-885-0418 for group schedules.

Does your child .....

• slouch in their chair?
• have difficulty sitting still?
• have poor attention?
• have decreased strength/low tone?
• poor self-regulation?
• poor bilateral motor control?

...then the Core Group is perfect for your child!

The Core is the deep postural muscles surrounding the trunk that enable us to maintain balance when moving throughout the environment. It helps keep us centered and focused.

The Core Group is a fun, interactive activity set to music, where your child participates in various exercises and games with peers that are intended to strengthen the core. The purpose of this group is to teach you and your child fun activities to do within your home.

Some benefits to expect from improving core strength include:

• improving posture
• improving overall attention
• improving strength
• improving self-regulation, self-confidence, and self-esteem

This group will consist of an occupational therapist with 4-6 children ages 6 and up. The group will be 1 hour in length with a parent instruction portion including description of home activities to practice each week.

Call 952-885-0418 for group schedules.

Many types of skills are required today, not only to survive, but also to experience independence and success in everyday living. The purpose of the Functional Skills Group is to develop basic survival skills, personal and community independence, as well as promote
getting along with others.

The group will include typical situations that your child could encounter in the home or in the community. These lessons will provide your child an opportunity to learn, practice and apply life skills in a controlled situation. We will then give each child the opportunity to practice the skill in real-life situations in the community.

Activities may include:

• Planning/Preparing a meal, including a trip to the grocery store
• Using public transportation
• Planning a trip to the mall to practice money skills
• Planning and participating in a leisure activity (i.e. movie or bowling)
• Daily living skills, including laundry and cleaning.

The group is limited to 4 children and is appropriate for ages 9-14. Parent involvement and home practice is necessary for skill building. Parents will be expected to attend the pre and post meetings that will provide an overview of the group and the opportunity to discuss objectives, goals and progress of their child.

To ensure consistency and successive growth experiences, attendance is critical to the success of the Functional Skills Program.

Call 952-885-0418 for group schedules.

A frustrating but necessary task is more fun and motivating in a group setting, supervised by an occupational therapist. Sensory motor skills are used to emphasize body awareness, motor planning, hand strength, tactile discrimination and ocular control. Groups include four to six children.

Call 952-885-0418 for group schedules.

The Therapy Place offers groups for self regulation in a peer group setting. Curriculum such as the Zones of Regulation® and the How Does Your Engine Run® are used under the guidance and supervision of an occupational therapist. These curriculums are designed to assist children to develop awareness of arousal levels and offer strategies for self regulation. By participating in a group setting, the children will enhance their self esteem, coping abilities and self knowledge to regulate their arousal states with minimal adult interventions. 

Description of Group:

Groups will consist of 4-6 children of similar ages and levels of function. (This program is most appropriate for those children who demonstrate average or above average cognitive skills.) The group will include learning opportunities in both structured and play situations. Emphasis will be on development of regulation strategies, social behavior and self awareness.

Call 952-885-0418 if you have questions about peer play groups.

We emphasize those skills necessary to participate in groups, initiate appropriate social interactions, interpret non-verbal social cues, recognize other’s perspectives and reciprocal social conversation in a playful small group setting supervised by occupation and/or speech therapists.

Call 952-885-0418 if you have questions about peer play groups.

The SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) feeding program is a non-invasive developmental approach to feeding. It focuses on increasing a child's comfort level exploring and learning about the different properties of foods, including texture, smell, taste and consistency. The SOS approach allows a child to interact with food in a playful, non-stressful way.

The SOS approach follows a hierarchy to feeding, beginning with the basic ability to tolerate food in the room, in front of him/her, touching and eventually tasting and eating foods.

Parent education and involvement is an important part of this feeding approach. A therapist works directly with the parents while they are watching each feeding session to learn this approach to feeding. Parents learn to identify physical signs and "body language" to identify when the child is over stimulated and to assist with setting up the home program.

This approach can be utilized in one to one settings, as well as with small groups of 3-4 children. Feeding groups are held one time per week for 10-12 weeks. For more information

Call 952-885-0418 for group schedules.