Sensory Innovation Therapies

Sensory Innovation Therapies Providing pediatric occupational therapy, physical therapy, and special education tutoring in St. Lucie, Martin, & Palm Beach Counties.

My name is Leah Dunleavy, M.A., BCBA, OTR/L, OTD and I am an occupational therapist specialized in working with children, adolescents, and young adults with sensory processing difficulties. In addition to being an occupational therapist, I am also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and use my knowledge in behavior analysis to better understand how the surrounding events, environments, and p

erformance impact participation and independence in everyday activities. My goal is to address the challenges that are impacting participation and independence through using a child and family’s strengths. By incorporating the family into treatment, caregivers learn how to best set up their child’s lives for everyday success. Sessions occur in the home or school environments to address challenges in the naturalistic environments.

Welcome to SIT, Naomi! 👋Naomi brings years of experience in rehab, outpatient, and pediatric settings, and holds a Maste...
07/23/2025

Welcome to SIT, Naomi! 👋

Naomi brings years of experience in rehab, outpatient, and pediatric settings, and holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Columbia University. Her passion for working with children began in a pediatric clinic, and she’s trained in DIR Floortime, pediatric feeding, reflex integration, and infant massage. 🧠💪
Inspired by her aunt with special needs, Naomi became an OT to help others live more independent and meaningful lives. 💙

When she’s not in the therapy world, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen, swimming in the ocean, or spending time with her pups. 🐾🌊

We’re thrilled to have her join our SIT family! 💫

Let’s talk about how much screen time is just right for kids at each age! 📺📱 While screens are part of everyday life, wh...
07/21/2025

Let’s talk about how much screen time is just right for kids at each age! 📺📱

While screens are part of everyday life, what really matters is the type of content and how long your child is using them. These are expert guidelines (from the American Academy of Pediatrics & Canadian Pediatric Society) about how much screen time is appropriate for children at different ages:

👶 0–18 months
No screen time (except video calls)
👶 18–24 months
Limited, high-quality content with an adult
🧒 2–5 years
Max 1 hour/day, co-viewed
👧 6+ years
Set limits to protect sleep, activity & learning

Tips for Healthy Screen Use:
✅ Engage together to enhance learning and critical thinking
✅ No screens 1 hour before bed
✅ Screen-free meals & bedrooms
✅ Model healthy habits; parents lead by example in screen use and balance
✅ Encourage play, social interaction & movement

By setting healthy limits and choosing quality content, you're helping your child grow, learn, and build healthy habits both on and off the screen. 💛

🧠 Why Sitting Still Is Hard for Some Kids?Have you ever told your child to “sit still” only to see them fidget, wiggle, ...
07/14/2025

🧠 Why Sitting Still Is Hard for Some Kids?

Have you ever told your child to “sit still” only to see them fidget, wiggle, or fall out of their chair a few seconds later? 😅 It’s not always defiance, it’s often a sensory or motor need.

Here’s why sitting still can be so hard for some children:

🌀 Sensory Seeking – Some kids crave movement or touch to feel "just right," so they fidget, bounce, or move to stay regulated.

🪑 Postural Challenges – Sitting upright takes strength and coordination. Kids with low core tone or poor endurance may constantly shift to stay upright.

⏰ Sustained Attention Is Still Developing – Young brains are still learning how to focus. Long periods of stillness can be physically and mentally exhausting.

🧠 Body Awareness (Proprioception) – Some kids struggle to feel where their body is in space, so they move more to “check in” with their body.

✅ What Helps:
🧺 Heavy Work Before Seated Tasks – Animal walks, wall push-ups, or carrying a weighted backpack help calm and organize the body.
🪑 Wobble Cushions or Move ‘n Sit Discs – These provide just enough movement to help kids stay alert while seated.
🖐️ Fidget Tools – A stress ball, stretchy band on chair legs, or putty in hand can give tactile input without being disruptive.
📏 Proper Seating – Feet flat on the floor, hips and knees at 90° — this improves posture and attention.
⏳ Movement Breaks – Even 1–2 minutes of movement every 15–20 minutes can reset attention and help with regulation.

🎆 Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸✨If you’re looking for a simple way to keep little ones engaged today, try making this sensory pa...
07/04/2025

🎆 Happy 4th of July! 🇺🇸✨

If you’re looking for a simple way to keep little ones engaged today, try making this sensory patriotic slime! 🇺🇸

This festive sensory play is not just fun, it’s also amazing for building your child’s fine motor skills, visual perceptual skills and sensory processing!

💡 Pro Tip: Hide small beads or stars inside the slime to turn it into a fine motor treasure hunt!

Let us know if you try it at home! We'd love to see your kids in action! 📸👇

Looking for a fun meal prep activity for your little one this summer? Try making this sensory-friendly Fruit & Yogurt Pa...
06/30/2025

Looking for a fun meal prep activity for your little one this summer? Try making this sensory-friendly Fruit & Yogurt Parfait!

This tasty snack not only cools down those sunny days but also helps kids practice important skills like:

✅ Planning & sequencing their steps
✅ Strengthening fine motor control with scooping and layering
✅ Exploring different textures safely with sensory-friendly ingredients
✅ Boosting attention, problem-solving, and independence

They’re not just learning important skills, they get to enjoy a tasty snack afterward too!

☀️ Fine Motor Fun for Summer Break! ✂️🧊🎨Looking for simple, screen-free ways to keep little hands busy this June? Try th...
06/23/2025

☀️ Fine Motor Fun for Summer Break! ✂️🧊🎨
Looking for simple, screen-free ways to keep little hands busy this June? Try these 5 summer-themed fine motor activities your kids will love:

🧊 Ice Cube Rescue
✂️ Beach-Themed Scissor Craft
🧩 Popsicle Stick Puzzles
☀️ Clothespin Sun Rays
🕶 DIY Paper Sunglasses Craft

Each one helps improve fine motor skills like hand strength, coordination, and control, skills they’ll definitely need for the upcoming school year!

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads! 👨‍👧‍👦💙Dads inspire, guide, and share special moments that help their kids gr...
06/15/2025

Happy Father’s Day to all the amazing dads! 👨‍👧‍👦💙

Dads inspire, guide, and share special moments that help their kids grow and learn every day. Whether playing, exploring, or just being present, dads make a big difference.

Here are some simple, playful activities dads can enjoy with their kids, helping build important skills while making memories:

Father-Child Play Activity Ideas!

1. Obstacle Course Fun
Boost gross motor skills and coordination with crawling, jumping, and weaving games.

2. Building Block Towers
Stack blocks to improve fine motor skills and problem-solving: Who can build the tallest tower?

3. Pretend Play Adventures
Use trains, cars, or figures to spark imagination and language. Add fun sounds like “chuga chuga choo choo!”

4. Catch and Throw Games
Simple ball games help hand-eye coordination and motor planning.

5. Sensory Bin Exploration
Explore textures and find hidden toys to support tactile processing and fine motor skills!

Address

Palm City, FL

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 6pm
Tuesday 8am - 6pm
Wednesday 8am - 6pm
Thursday 8am - 6pm
Friday 8am - 6pm

Telephone

+17724103499

Website

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