Let’s Help Your Child Realize Their Fullest Potential – Together. We treat the whole child and your family with plans designed to meet kids where they are. Learn More Learn More Feeding Therapy Learn More Occupational Therapy Learn More Physical Therapy Learn More Speech-Language Therapy Learn More Therapies Therapies We work with parents, caregivers, and educators to incorporate therapeutic interventions into all aspects of your child’s life. Feeding Therapy Occupational Therapy Physical Therapy Speech-Language Therapy Therapies Articles 2024 Holiday Gift Guide An OT, SLP, and a PT are serving up gift recommendations for your kids this year. See what they have in store for them. The Connection Between Play and Language Development The skills a child gains in symbolic play are directly linked to how they develop certain language skills. I Think My Child is Stuttering. Now what? Stuttering is characterized by a high frequency and/or duration of involuntary stoppages in the flow of speech. Core behaviors of stuttering include… Why Is Your Child Refusing Food? It Could Be EoE. Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is an allergic condition triggered by foods that causes inflammation and narrowing of the esophagus. 3 Simple Outdoor Activities to Support Speech and Language Skills The outdoors provides a unique set of opportunities to describe surroundings, connect verbal output to immediate environment, and more. Communication is a Human Right Communication is a human right. AAC helps people learn to effectively communicate whatever they want, whenever they want, with whomever they want. Shared Book Reading Shared book reading goes beyond simply pulling words off the page. This simple activity requires minimal effort for maximum rewards. Torticollis: What You Need to Know With early detection and treatment, torticollis can typically be resolved with no long-term side effects. GR’s Best Doctors + Health Pro Awards See who made the “Best Doctors & Health Care Pros in Grand Rapids” list. Continued Education: Do We Walk the Walk? Hannah’s job search ended when she found an environment that supported her desire for ongoing learning. Lucky for us, that was here. 5 Tips to Enjoy the Holidays and Avoid a Sensory Overload This season is especially difficult for children who have sensory processing challenges. 2023 Holiday Gift Guide An OT, a PT, and an SLP walked into a toy store. Here’s what they picked out for your kids! Picky Eater vs. Problem Feeder: Who’s at Your Table? If mealtimes feel like a battle, finding a skilled feeding therapist can make such a difference. The Difference: A Reflection on 20 Years of Practice What makes The Center for Childhood Development unique? A reflection on 20 years of practice. Does Your Child Have a Tongue Tie? The medical world has varying opinions about how to evaluate a tongue tie and, if one is present, what should be done to treat it. Or not. Struggling with Transitions? We can help! Picture this….you have just spent a long day at the park and now it’s time to go home, but guess what? What’s the Big Deal About Walking on Your Toes? When should we be concerned about toe walking? Katie DeRoo PT, DPT, C/NDT is here to tell us. When They Already Know the Answer Four reasons your child may be asking the same questions over and over (and over)… Patterns in Letter Formation and the Use of Muscle Memory Wendi Cuson, MS, OTR/L shares insights and tools for children with handwriting challenges. Always Learning, Always Growing We continue to learn so we can better serve our families. My personal favorite has been a mentorship with Sherri Cawn, MA, CCC-SLP. Asher The work Elise and Libby are doing with Asher, is nothing shy of incredible. Game On! Games are the perfect way to work on a variety of goals in a child-directed, playful way. 2022 Holiday Gift Guide Therapist-approved games and toys for your kiddos. Happy holidays! I Can See Clearly Now Imagine this: You’re headed to a work conference and there’s no itinerary. 😬 Feeding the Ducks Take notice of ways to “sneak in” therapy and address skills in daily life. It Takes a Village There is an old saying, “it takes a village to raise a child.” Here at The Center, we fully believe that. In the Driver’s Seat Transport from one location to another enables participation in daily occupations (the things we want and need to do)… Mouth Breathing If a child chronically mouth breaths, the tongue sits low and forward in the mouth. This can cause long-term problems with… Let’s Get Some Shoes! Shopping for shoes? We have helpful guidelines and recommendations for new and experienced walkers. Lindamood-Bell’s Visualizing and Verbalizing V/V is a language-based program that develops and enriches a child’s ability to picture a spoken or written word/sentence. Jacob: Where Is He Now? The Center has really helped me so much and I want to pay it forward to the next kid. Book Review: “Brain-Body Parenting” Supporting brain and body function with tools that can be used in the clinic and at home. Vital Sensory Tools Supporting brain and body function with tools that can be used in the clinic and at home. Is Your Child Stuttering? We are frequently contacted by concerned parents of young children when their child suddenly begins stuttering. Growing Our NDT Toolbox Our OTs and PTs spent two days learning about the assessment and treatment of motor and nervous system function. Jacob Jacob was the happiest baby, but he was a little slow to all the developmental milestones. Lincoln I was so excited after we were done eating I wanted to scream right there in the restaurant “My kid just climbed a mountain!!!! Austin I was told that Austin would most likely be unable to walk or care for himself as he got older. Maddy From birth, she had a congenital cataract leading her to require a contact lens and glasses, and an underdeveloped optic nerve causing decreased vision. Justinspired He often seemed to be playing by himself while the other kids were gathered in a circle intently listening to a story. Annah After the 20 week ultrasound – we never expected our baby to live – she had a pre-natal condition that always gets worse, and is always fatal. The Heartbeat of The Center is Our People Our therapists are devoted to nurturing the strengths and needs of your child and your family. 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