Early On

What is Early On?

Early On is for infants and toddlers under the age of three and their families. Depending on your child’s specific needs, we offer three different types of playgroups. These playgroups meet for one hour, once a week for six weeks.

 

Arousal Level Playgroup

For toddlers 3 and under who may have problems with:

• Getting angry and having difficulty calming down
• Getting excited and having problems slowing down
• Problems falling asleep at night
• Difficulty staying with an activity
• Acting too aggressive
• Occasionally, a child with an arousal level problem may be overly calm and difficult to get involved.

 

The goal of Arousal Level Playgroup:

• To meet other parents and children with high arousal levels and share ideas of how to calm toddlers
• Help the caregiver and child feel better about themselves
• Teach calming activities to caregivers
• Provide suggestions on how provide a place at home where the child can self-calm
• Group activity and individual calming suggestions will be made

 

The playgroup leader:

• Registered occupational therapist
• Trained in sensory integration
• Experienced in working with children with high and low arousal levels

 

 

Fussy Baby Playgroup

For infants who may have a problem with:

• Being touched or held
• Falling and staying asleep
• Tolerating some textures of food
• Eye contact and attention
• Crying a lot
• Being oversensitive to movement, sound or light

 

The goal of Fussy Baby Playgroup:

• To meet other parents and children with fussy babies and share ideas
• Help the caregiver to understand what might make the baby fussy
• Teach caregivers ideas on how to provide a calming environment for babies
• Teach caregivers calming methods
• Group activity and some individualized techniques will be applied

 

The playgroup leader:

• Registered occupational therapist
• Trained in sensory integration
• Experienced in working with children with high and low arousal levels

 

 

Sensory Motor Playgroup

For toddlers 3 and under who may have problems with:

• Playing with toys
• Cooperating with other children
• Engaging with care givers
• Difficulty staying with an activity
• Clumsiness or fine motor skills
• Activities of daily living like feeding and assisting in dressing/undressing self

 

The goal of Sensory Motor Playgroup:

• To meet other parents and children with sensory motor problems and share ideas of how to improve play
• Help the caregiver and child feel better about themselves
• Teach play activities to caregivers to develop engagement and interaction
• Provide suggestions on how to use community resources to increase play
• Group activity and individual sensory motor suggestions will be made

 

The Playgroup leader:

• Registered occupational therapist
• Trained in sensory integration
• Experienced in working with children with high and low arousal levels

 

What is typical development?

        There are developmental stages that each child typically goes through. The following guidelines are offered to assist you in the decision to seek help:

·        At three months, most children smile, make cooing sounds, turn their heads toward light and bright colors, grasp rattles or hair, and lift their heads and chests while on their stomachs.

·        At six months, most children follow moving objects with their eyes, turn towards sounds, roll from their stomachs to their backs, reach for and pick up objects, recognize familiar faces, and babble.

·        At one year, most children pull themselves to a standing position, drink from a cup, crawl, wave bye-bye, and may have a two or three word vocabulary.

·        At two years, most children use two to three word sentences, feed themselves with a spoon, build a tower of four blocks, show affection, and play independently.

·        At three years, most children walk up steps alternating feet, put on shoes, repeat nursery rhymes, and play with other children for a few minutes.

 

For more information on the Early On Program of Michigan, please call

1-800-Early On.

 

 

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Sensory Systems Clinic, P.C.

30801 Jefferson Ave.

St. Clair Shores, MI   48082

Phone:  (586)  293-7553