The Center for Childhood Development

05/08/2026

✨ This is why we do what we do.

"The staff at the Center have been nothing short of amazing. Our therapist, Amy, is one of the most compassionate and kind therapists my daughter has ever worked with. She has a natural knack with kids that makes them feel comfortable to be themselves, even when they're working hard at therapy. It feels more like having fun than hard work. It isn't common to find a therapist who is knowledgeable in working with kids who have speech apraxia — and Amy excels in that area. We have played with a few other therapists during our sessions and they were also just as engaging and kind. We are so grateful to have such wonderful support at the Center!"

And those smiles in the photo? They tell the whole story. 💛

A special thank you to Greta for traveling from our Kalamazoo office to share her expertise with Amy and the families at our Jenison location. Collaboration like this is what makes our team — and the care we provide — so special.

05/06/2026

⏰ Reminder! Have you filled out our Summer Groups survey yet?

We're still collecting responses to help us build the best groups for your child this summer! It only takes a few minutes and makes a BIG difference in how we plan our themed summer programming. 🌞

👉 Fill it out here: https://buff.ly/cNVr4TT

We'll use your input to shape our offerings and will reach out with details as plans are finalized. Don't miss your chance to have a say!

05/03/2026

Potty training a neurodivergent child isn't just about timing — it's about understanding the many skills involved and meeting your child where they are.

Jaclyn Oldenburg, OTR/L, shares practical, compassionate guidance for families navigating this milestone, including how sensory sensitivities, interoceptive awareness, and motor planning all play a role.

If your family is struggling, or you work with families who are, this is worth a read.

🔗 https://buff.ly/cqvbYh0

04/30/2026

🚨 REMINDER — OTs & PTs, don't miss this!

Spots are still available for Course #329-S: Pediatric NDT Intensive Handling Intervention, hosted at our Jenison location!

🗓️ June 13–14, 2026 | 8AM–5PM
📍 Jenison
✅ 5 Hours / 1.5 CEUs

Led by Gail Ritchie, OTR, C/NDT — and we're thrilled to have Brenda Lindsay, PT, C/NDT joining us! Brenda is a Texas-based pediatric physical therapist specializing in neuro-developmental treatment (NDT) and brings incredible expertise to this hands-on course.

Whether you're an OT or PT, this is a rare opportunity to level up your NDT handling skills alongside some amazing clinicians. 🙌

👉 Register here: https://buff.ly/apyeIwL

#329 Pediatric NDT Intensive Handling Intervention... Course Developed by Gail Ritchie As clinicians treating individuals with central nervous system dysfunction, such as cerebral palsy, congenital hypotonia and other multi-system impairments, we can make advances in our clinical decision making ski...

04/27/2026

We are so lucky to have Amy — and every single member of our team — who shows up each session with this kind of heart.

This review from one of her families says it better than we ever could:

"The staff at the Center have been nothing short of amazing. Our therapist, Amy, is one of the most compassionate and kind therapists my daughter has ever worked with. She has a natural knack with kids that makes them feel comfortable to be themselves, even when they're working hard at therapy. It feels more like having fun than hard work. It isn't common to find a therapist who is knowledgeable in working with kids who have speech apraxia and Amy excels in that area. We have played with a few other therapists during our sessions and they were also just as engaging and kind. We are so grateful to have such wonderful support at the Center!"

— C’s Mom, via email

04/22/2026

"Autism is truly an interdisciplinary need." — Amy Wetherby, Ph.D.

That perspective shapes everything about how we work with children and families at The Center. Supporting a child with autism isn't just one person's job — it takes a team. That's why we offer OT, PT, and speech therapy under one roof, and partner with Anchored Family at our Jenison location for psychology and social work support.

This Autism Awareness Month, we're sharing a resource we love: Autism Navigator, a web-based learning program from the FSU Autism Institute built for parents, caregivers, and professionals alike.

🔗 autismnavigator.learnercommunity.com

Autism Navigator® is a web-based instructional program developed by the Florida State University Autism Institute to increase the capacity of primary care, early intervention, and other service providers, as well as families, to better serve young children with or at risk for autism spectrum disor...

04/19/2026

We're so excited to start planning for summer! ☀️

To help us build the best groups for your child, please take a few minutes to fill out this survey. We'll use your responses to shape our offerings and reach out with details as plans are finalized.

https://forms.gle/zntKiupCzsQsnUza8

04/17/2026

If you haven't watched Love on the Spectrum yet — add it to your list.

What we love most is hearing directly from the adults on the show. Their perspectives, their self-awareness, their humor, their honesty. It's a beautiful reminder that autism looks different for everyone — and that every person deserves to be seen, understood, and celebrated for exactly who they are. 💙

Season 4 out now: https://buff.ly/4KLvouy

This insightful and warm hearted docuseries follows autistic people as they navigate the world of dating and relationships.SUBSCRIBE: http://bit.ly/29qBUt7Ab...

04/15/2026

We had such a fun session yesterday at The Center! ☀️

With the beautiful weather, we took our learning outside and made “magic potions” 🧪✨

This playful activity was a great way to target important language skills, including:

🧠 Organizing and sequencing steps
🧺 Identifying and gathering materials
➡️ Following directions
👀 Joint attention
🎭 Pretend play

It’s always amazing to see how much growth can happen through simple, engaging experiences like this 💛

Learning through play = the best kind of learning!

04/13/2026

Pretend play is more than imagination — it's executive functioning in action.

Our friend made a list and checked it twice to recreate Christmas in the Castle Room. ✅🎄

✔ Build and decorate a tree
✔ Wrap presents
✔ Cook a full Christmas meal in the play kitchen
✔ Bake cookies and pour milk for Santa
✔ Leave a key out so he could get in 🔑

What looks like "just playing" is actually:

🧠 Sequencing multi-step activities
🔨 Planning, building, and problem-solving
💬 Expanding language and flexible thinking
🔄 Practicing cognitive shifting as the storyline evolves

Play is powerful. And when we expand it intentionally, the skill-building goes even deeper.

04/10/2026

Every brain has its own kind of brilliant. 🌈

This is what we celebrate at The Center, not just in April, but every single day. The kids we work with are honest, focused, dedicated, funny, and wired to see the world in ways the rest of us can only learn from.

Happy Autism Acceptance Month. 💛