Joyful Kids Therapy
Joyful Kids Therapy was created to serve the Eastside community with quality, creative, and caring occupational therapy services for children ages 2-15. Our motto is “Play is FUNdamental to progress!” Play can be challenging and hard, but it is always internally rewarding. Play is done in the context of the child’s physical and social environment, so parent/caregiver participation is crucial!
Sarah graduated from the University of Washington’s occupational therapy master’s program in 2009. Since then she has worked with children of various ages in schools and clinics. She stays up to date with current ideas and techniques and has specialty training in sensory processing, social skills, neuro-developmental techniques, gait training, kinesiotaping, social skills, hippotherapy, handwriting, and upper extremity function. She loves creating unique therapy sessions to help you and your child turn challenges into successes. She enjoys creating creative and engaging sessions that meet children where they are.
Areas Addressed
Compared to children of a similar age, does your child:
Activities of Daily Living
….have difficulty with dressing, toileting, and self-feeding compared to peers?
Social Skills
…have difficulty turn-taking, expressing and reading non-verbal communication, sharing, and playing with peers?
Gross Motor Coordination
…appear clumsy, have difficulty riding a bike, can’t get a swing going, or tend to hold back on the playground?
Fine Motor Coordination
…have difficulty manipulating small toys, counting by fingers, opening doors or latches?
Self-Regulation
…have limited shared attention, frequent and prolonged outbursts, or seem to often be in a state of flight, fright, or freeze?
Sensory Processing
… seek jumping, crashing, spinning movements so much that it is interfering with participation in activities? …avoid certain activities that are noisy or crowded because of sensory aversions? … avoid wearing certain clothes because of tactile sensitivity?
Visual Spatial Skills
…have difficulty with puzzles, building structures, fitting letters and pictures into provided spaces?
Balance
…have difficulty balancing on playground equipment, skipping, hopping, and jumping, getting into the car, or standing while getting dressed?
Handwriting
…have difficult writing legibly despite adequate practice?
If so, your child will benefit from occupational therapy! There are likely underlying skill deficits that should be addressed and compensatory techniques that could be utilized.
Join Us!
We are looking to expand soon! We will offer mentoring, continuing education, great clients, and a non-corporate working environment.
Sarah Niwa
Founder & CEO