Sunny Days Sunshine Center

01/24/2026

When snow is in the forecast in Oklahoma, The Lawton Sunshine Center Little Rays start preparing the only way we know how with ‘Pin the Nose on Olaf’, painting snow globes, and freeze dance!

01/22/2026

Winter blues got your kids bouncing off the walls? ❄️🏠
From hands-on sensory bins to creative indoor play ideas, our latest blog is packed with fun, engaging activities to keep little ones learning and entertained all winter long.

👉 Read our blog below and turn cold days into playful moments!

Keep your child entertained and developing their motor skills this winter with fun indoor sensory activities from a pediatric occupational therapist.

01/20/2026

Communication boards and AAC apps are amazing tools for supporting expressive language, vocabulary growth, and functional communication. 🌟 They let children make choices, express needs, and expand their utterances—even before they can speak full sentences!
How to Use It:
✅ Offer visual choices during play or daily routines.
✅ Model short phrases using the board or app: “I want ___” or “More ___.”
✅ Encourage turn-taking—prompt your child to communicate before you respond.
✅ Gradually increase complexity by adding verbs, adjectives, or sentence starters.
Tip for Success:
Keep the tool accessible and motivating! 🎯 Use favorite toys, snacks, or activities to encourage intentional communication. Consistent modeling and repetition help build independence and confidence.
✨ Small steps + consistent practice = BIG communication wins!

01/20/2026

Communication boards and AAC apps are amazing tools for supporting expressive language, vocabulary growth, and functional communication. 🌟 They let children make choices, express needs, and expand their utterances—even before they can speak full sentences!
How to Use It:
✅ Offer visual choices during play or daily routines.
✅ Model short phrases using the board or app: “I want ___” or “More ___.”
✅ Encourage turn-taking—prompt your child to communicate before you respond.
✅ Gradually increase complexity by adding verbs, adjectives, or sentence starters.
Tip for Success:
Keep the tool accessible and motivating! 🎯 Use favorite toys, snacks, or activities to encourage intentional communication. Consistent modeling and repetition help build independence and confidence.
✨ Small steps + consistent practice = BIG communication wins!

01/16/2026

✨ Frequently Asked Question Friday: PT, OT, Speech & ABA — What’s the Difference? ✨
We get this question all the time, so here’s a simple breakdown for parents 👇
💪 Physical Therapy (PT): Helps children build strength, balance, and coordination for big movements like walking, running, and climbing.
🖐️ Occupational Therapy (OT): Focuses on everyday skills like dressing, feeding, handwriting, and managing sensory needs so kids can be more independent.
🗣️ Speech Therapy: Supports communication skills including speech sounds, language development, social communication, and even feeding skills.
📊 ABA Therapy: Helps children learn new skills and reduce challenging behaviors using positive reinforcement and structured learning.
🌟 Each therapy plays a unique role, and many children benefit from more than one! Together, these services support growth, confidence, and independence—both in therapy and at home.
Have questions about which therapy might be right for your child? We’re here to help! 💛

01/13/2026

✨ Parent Tip Tuesday: Let Them Try First ✨
It can be tempting to jump in and help—especially when things get messy or take a little longer. But when children are given the chance to try first, they’re building problem-solving skills, confidence, and independence 💛
Struggle isn’t failure—it’s learning.
Progress doesn’t have to be perfect.
Small moments like getting dressed, opening a snack, or cleaning up toys can make a BIG impact over time 💪

01/13/2026

💙

Mattel Inc. is introducing an autistic Barbie on Monday as the newest member of its line intended to celebrate diversity, joining a collection that already includes Barbies with Down syndrome, a blind Barbie, a Barbie and a Ken with vitiligo, and other models the toymaker added to make its fashion dolls more inclusive.

Read more: https://abcnews.visitlink.me/LihD5F

01/07/2026

🎉 Happy New Year! Wishing our families a healthy and joyful year ahead. Please see our newsletter for our Edison Center updates.

12/31/2025

Always learning, always growing 💛

Our West Windsor Sunshine Center BCBAs and Center Director spent time deepening their skills in ABA goal selection and sequencing with autism expert Anne S. Holmes, M.S., CCC, BCBA. Her unique perspective as both a BCBA and Speech-Language Pathologist brings such depth, intention, and clarity to the work we do every day.

We’re incredibly grateful for these meaningful learning opportunities—and we look forward to continuing this journey of growth, collaboration, and excellence for the families we serve.

12/29/2025

The results are in from our West Windsor Sunshine Center staff gingerbread house creation holiday event! Thanks to everyone for participating, this was a hit!

12/25/2025

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! With love from our West Windsor Sunshine Center 💙 🎉

12/23/2025

🎄🎅 Smiles were extra bright at Brick Little Rays thanks to a surprise visit from Santa! A day full of holiday cheer, happy hearts, and unforgettable memories. ✨🎁