Welcome to The Kindness Academy at Stretch Pediatric Therapy!

The Kindness Academy is a unique therapeutic program for children ages 2.5 - 5 years old designed by pediatric clinical specialists. Our program is individualized to meet the social, emotional, physical, and developmental needs of children with and without a formal medical diagnosis. Play is at the core of The Kindness Academy, and we believe that children should enjoy coming to program to “work”, play, and have fun!

At The Kindness Academy, we believe that the foundation of all learning begins with a well-organized and integrated neurological and sensory system that allows children to process information and learn about their world. We prioritize establishing relationships and facilitating social interactions in a safe, supported, and nurturing environment which supports the child’s social emotional learning, growth, and development. We meet each child where they are and not where others expect them to be.

We believe that collaborating with families in caring for their children is the greatest contributing factor to realizing a child’s potential. This program serves children who benefit from low staff to child ratios and extra support throughout their day. This may include children with social emotional challenges, medical conditions, developmental delays, autism spectrum disorder, genetic syndromes, and neurologic impairments.

The Kindness Academy at Stretch Pediatric Therapy focuses on the WHOLE CHILD by facilitating:

- social emotional learning

- development of self-regulation and coping strategies

- sensory integration

- executive functioning skills

- gross and fine motor skills

- receptive and expressive communication

- self- help skills (feeding, toileting, dressing)

- independent play skills

- building self-confidence, resiliency, improving distress tolerance

- Therapeutic “special activities”

- Preschool yoga

- sensory based art exploration

- music and movement

Our Team

Speech and Language Pathologists

Physical Therapists

Occupational Therapists

Sensory Integration Specialist

Feeding Specialist

Program Specialist

Program Assistants

How it works…

The Kindness Academy offers programming throughout the week with the option of a morning program, an afternoon program, or a full day program. Therapeutic activities are embedded into the child’s day and the therapeutic environment is modified based on the individual needs of the child. The Kindness Academy uses a total communication model where children have many ways to communicate with staff and their peers including spoken words, gestures / signs, visual and picture cues, and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC).

At the Kindness Academy children are set up for success. Welcoming each child to our program is individualized with mindful attention to detail. Planning for a child’s enrollment into our program allows children and staff to build strong foundational relationships.

We have a low child to staff ratio. Group therapy is facilitated by licensed clinicians, and therapists are available during the day program to assist children and staff.

Groups offered at The Kindness Academy

Social Skills Group

Social skills groups at The Kindness Academy focus on building relationships, facilitating social interactions with peers, and improving social emotional regulation. Playing with a friend involves foundational skills such as turn taking, sharing attention, developing tolerance for distress, having flexible thinking, and using coping skills. Our team assesses each child’s strengths and creates individualized programming to support their growth and development.

Sensory Group

We believe that all children need to feel “happy, safe, and calm” to successfully interact with their world. Our sensory group focuses on organizing and integrating a child’s neurological and sensory systems to regulate their bodies. The sensory groups utilize a variety of therapeutic equipment such as swings, trampolines, and sensory tables to individualize programming for each child.

Gross Motor Group

Gross motor group focuses on large motor movements such as walking, climbing, and jumping. We work on balance, coordination, postural control, motor planning and motor control. Gross motor activities in group involve functional strengthening as well as working on a “team” to build obstacle courses, turn taking, waiting, learning self-control and safety awareness.

Fine Motor Group

Fine motor group focuses on building visual and ocular motor skills, hand eye coordination, pre-handwriting skills, core strength, and postural control. Fine motor activities involve organizing materials and supplies, sequencing steps to an activity as well as practicing preschool readiness skills such as coloring, cutting, and manipulating tools.

Communication Group

Communicating involves so much more than “talking”. Our communication group focuses on giving children the tools to interact with their world and develop a sense of self. The Kindness Academy uses a total communication model using signs / gestures, spoken words, augmentative and alternative communication devices, technology, and pictures / PECS. The foundation of this group is helping children to communicate their feelings and supporting their social emotional learning.

Feeding Group

Exploring new foods is at the core of our feeding group. Our child led approach to feeding creates a safe environment for children to experience a variety of foods and textures. We use games and sensory exploration to build a positive relationship between food and fun!

Sensory Art

Creating art is a multi-sensory experience that can spark imagination and facilitate learning. Our sensory art activities allow children to explore different mediums in a nurturing environment. Some children love to get messy while others prefer to use tools such as paint brushes to stay neat and clean. This program supports children developing their inner artist and experimenting with textures.

Preschool Yoga

Children will stretch and strengthen their bodies through yoga postures and motor activities and build social skills through interactive yoga games. Preschool yoga improves a child’s focus and attention by incorporating self-regulation strategies, and breathing techniques into developmentally appropriate yoga games. Each class will end with calming aromatherapy “dream spray” and relaxation time.

Music and Movement Group

Our music and movement group allows children to integrate many parts of their neurological systems and promotes growth across all developmental domains. Children will have the opportunity to express themselves creatively through singing and exploring instruments. Children will learn to work with rhythms and different sounds. Special attention will be given to children with auditory sensitivity.

Transitions

Transitioning from activity to activity is an essential part of a child’s day. This can often be very difficult for children to finish one activity and move on to something different, especially when they are having fun! Transitions throughout the day at The Kindness Academy are facilitated with a mindful attention to detail and individualized for each child’s specific needs. Strategies such as a visual schedule, timers, and preparing children for transitions are incorporated to help set children up for success.

Sample Schedule

Morning Program

9:00 – 9:15 - Transition

9:15- 9:30 – Sensory / Social Skills Group

9:30 – 9:45 – Morning Meeting / Social Skills

9:45 – 10:15 – Group Therapy (gross motor, fine motor, communication)

10:15 – 10:45 - Therapeutic Special (art / yoga / music)

10:45 -11:15 – Feeding Group / Snack

11:15 – 11:30 - Transition

Afternoon Program

12:00 - 12:15 – Transition / Sensory

12:15 - 12:45 – Feeding Group

12:45 - 1:00 – Sensory / Social Skills Group

1:00 - 1:30 – Group Therapy (gross motor, fine motor, communication)

1:30 – 1:45 – Therapeutic Special (art / yoga / music)

1:45 - 2:15 - Afternoon Meeting / Social Skills

2:15 – 2:30 - Transition

Full Day Program