Adapt & Grow, Richmond, VA (2025)

02/14/2024

Evidence shows that one of the best things we can do for our overall health and happiness is to invest in our relationships of all types - from our children, to our partners, to our family, and especially our friends.

Having rich and varied social connections like these not only give us pleasure, they also influence our long-term health in ways every bit as powerful as adequate sleep, a good diet, and not smoking. Dozens of studies have shown that people who have social support from family, friends, and their community are happier, have fewer health problems, and live longer.

Today and everyday, invest in the relationships of your life to build your health and happiness 💗

01/17/2024

New year, new time for our monthly support group! Join us after bedtime on Thursday, January 18th at 8:30 pm EST on Google Meet for our next meeting of Neurodivergent Kids: A Support Group for Parents.

This friendly online community provides a safe space for caregivers of neurodivergent kids to connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. We tackle everything from building friendships and managing emotions to advocating for our children in school and the community.

This month, we’ll be diving into the crucial topic of executive functioning.

Whether you’re new to the neurodiversity world or have been on this journey for a while, we welcome you with open arms. In this supportive space, you can be yourself, find understanding, share experiences, and grow together with other parents who get it.

01/07/2024

Unlock the magic of 2024 with resolutions that truly matter! The best goals set an intention for MORE in your life, focusing on what you can ADD rather than worrying about less of this or that.

One of our favorite initiatives is - it can benefit kids of all ages to spend MORE time in unstructured play outdoors.

What do you plan to do MORE of in 2024?

12/23/2023

The holiday season is a time of mixed emotions for many families. Joy, celebration, and togetherness intertwine with stress, anxiety, and maybe even a touch of grief as reality shifts from our picture-perfect ideals.

As parents of children (some of them neurodivergent), it is important to acknowledge all of the feelings that the holidays can bring. We need to care for our own mental health so we can approach the holiday season with intentionality and understanding.

Wishing all families a holiday season filled with moments of genuine joy, understanding, and connection. May your celebrations be infused with warmth, compassion, and the strength to navigate the complexities that may arise. Embracing the full spectrum of emotions ensures that the love shared during this season shines even brighter.

11/29/2023

Daylight Saving Time is here! It’s the time of year when we see children with less and less time for big movement outdoor play after school. We know that children need these opportunities for movement to build motor skills and maintain their self-regulation. But how do we build these times into our day now that it’s dark by 5:00 PM?

Here are some of our favorite practical solutions to keep your kids active indoors, especially if they have proprioceptive and vestibular needs. Remember, proprioception tells your body where it is in space, and vestibular processing relates to understanding movement sensations from the inner ear. These senses are key to maintaining balance, coordination, spatial awareness, and self-regulation.
Dance Time: Turn up the music and let the dance party begin! Dancing is not only a fun way for kids to stay active, but also an enjoyable family activity. You can dance together or enjoy a dance-off!

Yoga Sessions: Yoga is an excellent way for children to improve their proprioceptive and vestibular input together while staying active. Look for age-appropriate yoga routines that match your child's abilities. Our house loves Cosmic Kids Yoga and Yogapalooza with Bari Koral.

DIY Obstacle Course: Transform your living room into an obstacle course using pillows, chairs, and household items. This creative, problem-solving adventure helps your kids grow their executive functioning while getting their exercise indoors.

Simon Says: This classic game is perfect for getting kids up and moving while also practicing their listening skills and impulse control. It's simple, enjoyable, and provides a quick outlet to move.

Animal Walks: Encourage your kids to mimic the movements of different animals. Bear crawls, crab walks, monkey jumps, frog hops, and cat strides are great examples. You can even create your own animal-inspired movements for added fun.

Movement is a great way to regulate both the minds and bodies of our children. While I’m always for a good bit of child-led outdoor play, I hope this gives you some ideas to make early sunset a little more tolerable!

Best wishes for a season of active indoor adventures and healthy, happy kids!

11/14/2023

This makes my heart to happy because I deeply and truly believe that all children are capable. I'm so grateful that this kiddo saw out time together as a special treat that helped them get stronger, rather than an appointment to be "fixed." I loved getting to seeing them grow and thrive!

11/11/2023

🌈✨ At Adapt & Grow, we believe all brains are beautiful! 🧠💖

"Neurodiversity" is a word used to explain the unique ways people's brains work. We're all NEURODIVERSE, but when someone's brain seems to work differently from the average or "neurotypical" person, they're considered NEURODIVERGENT. 🌟

Neurodivergent diagnoses include Autism, ADHD, dyslexia, other learning disabilities, mental health conditions, and brain injuries/strokes, among others too. The Neurodiversity Movement, launched in the late 90s by Judy Singer, an Australian sociologist on the autism spectrum, sees these differences as valuable variations, not deficits! 🌈

At Adapt & Grow, we proudly center our services around neurodiversity-affirming care. 🌼 Instead of trying to "fix" any child, we embrace their neurodivergent strengths, spotlighting what they're good at and innovating new solutions to daily challenges. 🚀

💡 Reminder, Neurodivergent Kids! Our new support group for parents meets every third Thursday monthly to build community and support around caregivers. Join us at our next meeting on 11/16 at 7:30 pm via Google Meet (DM or message for link and details). 🤝💙

11/02/2023

Daylight savings time ending is tough for all of us, but can be especially challenging for kids. Use these tips to support your family through the transition of clocks falling forward an hour this weekend!

1. Prep Talk: 🗣️🧒💬
- Have a chat with your child about what's going to happen and help them to understand why.

2. Gradual Shift: ⏰🛌
- Start adjusting your child's schedule a few days before the time change. Gradually shift their bedtime, wake-up time, meals, and snacks by 15-30 minutes each day.

3. Routine is key: 🔄🕒
- Keep the routines the same even if the time on the clock is different. This will cue your child's body to know when it's time to do certain things like eat or sleep.

4. Use the light: ☀️🌙
- Expose your child to bright light in the morning and dim light in the evening. This will help to regulate their circadian rhythm.

5. Move it: 🏃‍♂️🤸‍♀️
- Provide your child with plenty of opportunities for physical activity during the day. Not only will this help them be more tired when it’s time for bed, but movement also supports their mental health!

6. Use what you know: 🧠📚
- Use the strategies, systems, and tools you know support executive functions like paying attention and self-regulation.

Remember, though the clocks may change in a night, our internal rhythms don't change so quickly. Find patience and grace for yourself and kids as you might deal with sleep disruptions, mood swings, and other behavioral changes. It's normal for things to feel a bit off for a few days. But if it still feels like a rollercoaster a few weeks later, don't hesitate to reach out to us or your friendly neighborhood pediatrician.

10/30/2023

Halloween is a fun and exciting time for many children, but it can also be overwhelming for kids with sensory processing differences.

🎃5 Tips for a Sensory-Friendly Halloween🎃

📕Read a social story: A social story is a short book or story that helps children learn about and understand social situations. It will also help make something unfamiliar like trick-or-treating feel more familiar. You can find social stories about Halloween online or create your own.

👯‍♀️Practice wearing costumes: If your child is sensitive to certain fabrics or textures, let them choose a costume that is comfortable for them. You can also make adjustments to a costume, such as cutting out a tag or removing a mask. If your child is resistant to wearing a costume, that's okay! Get creative with the clothes they are already comfortable in.

🔧Bring your tools and strategies. It never hurts to have a backup plan in case your child gets overwhelmed. Bring along the tools and strategies that support your child’s regulation. Visual schedule ✅ Favorite stuffie ✅ Fidget✅

💬 Prepare yourself: If your child is struggling to cope with the sensory input of Halloween, it's helpful to have a quick and easy way to explain to others what is happening. Most people are understanding and will be happy to give your child the space they need.

🎬 Make your own traditions: If traditional trick-or-treating is too overwhelming for your child, you can create your own Halloween traditions. For example, you could watch a Halloween movie at home, or you could go trick-or-treating at your home or in a quiet neighborhood.

10/13/2023

We're beyond excited to start our new monthly facilitated caregiver support group next Thursday, October 19 at 7:30pm !!!

We know that being a caregiver to any child can be challenging, but it can be especially isolating and overwhelming to be the caregiver of a neurodivergent child. While we hope you'll learn new skills and strategies to support your child and yourself in this group, we really hope that it creates a safe and supportive space for you to connect with other caregivers, learn from each other, and share your experiences.

Led by pediatric OT and Adapt & Grow co-founder, Caitlyn, this group is free for any parent or caregiver of a child who's currently receiving services from Adapt & Grow, has received services from Adapt & Grow in the past or is on the waitlist to receive services from Adapt & Grow. Not an Adapt & Grow client but want to join? You can for a cost of $10 per session.

RSVP here! https://forms.gle/7ieRu4nDeZrnQdRp7

Can't make it next week? Don't worry, we'll meet every third Thursday monthly and hope to have you'll join us soon!

10/13/2023

Recognizing the power of community, Adapt & Grow is proud to announce our new parent support group, Neurodivergent Kids!

Every 3rd Thursday monthly, we'll come together to collectively learn and share ideas to help you better understand your neurodivergent kid(s).

This group is for you if your a parent or caregiver of a neurodivergent kid, including kids with Autism, ADHD, learning disabilities, sensory processing differences, or kids who just think, learn, or play differently but have no diagnosis at all.

To attend the support group, you must be currently receiving services from Adapt & Grow or have received services in the past.

Adapt & Grow families, check your email for more information and a link to RSVP to our first meeting on October 19th!

Questions? Email Caitlyn@adapt-grow.com

08/21/2023

We would love to have you join our team!

A&G is looking for a pediatric occupational therapist in RVA who wants to work in the natural environment as an independent contractor. We are looking for someone who is comfortable using a neurodiversity-affirming, parent-coaching approach and who wants to make a positive impact on our community for the betterment of children of all abilities.

If you think this might be you, please send us a DM!! We would love to grab coffee and get to know you better.

08/16/2023

🌟Encouraging Child-Led Play!

Foster social interactions by encouraging child-led play during playdates. Let your child take the lead and guide the activities, allowing them to express themselves authentically and develop confidence in their social interactions. This empowers them to make choices, negotiate, and practice important social skills with their peers
Remember, the goal of these playdates is to create a positive and supportive environment where your child can develop their social skills, build meaningful connections, and have fun!

08/09/2023

We're here with another tip for making the most of those summer playdates!

Nurture Empathy and Perspective-Taking: 💕Encourage your little ones to embrace empathy and perspective-taking when playing with friends. 🤝 Help them understand others' feelings and experiences by discussing emotions, actively listening, and brainstorming solutions together. By fostering empathy, your child can build understanding of how others think and navigate social situations with greater flexibility. ☀️🌻

08/01/2023

We're so excited to announce that Becky has become ADHD certified! This means that she's now even better equipped to help our clients with ADHD reach their full potential! Yay!!

To earn this certification, Becky has completed extensive training in research and advancements in diagnosis, medication, and non-medication treatments of ADHD. Just ask her about the latest research and watch her nerd out. And, she's up-to-date on the latest evidence-based interventions that have been shown to be effective in managing ADHD. All of this continuing education helps her create individualized treatment plans that address the specific needs of each client.

We are so excited with how all of our therapists work to further themselves and the field of OT to better serve our clients and the Richmond community!

07/28/2023

Summer time is here! And with it comes a plethora of opportunities for children to build their social skills and comfort through playdates and engaging activities. Over the next few posts we'll share some specific tips to support your child's social growth during this sunny season!

First up we want to highlight the how to foster a culture of inclusion and acceptance during playdates. Encourage your child to be kind, empathetic, and respectful towards their playmates, embracing each child's unique strengths, challenges, quirks, and preferences. Model inclusive behavior and teach your child about the value of all kinds of diversity and the importance of embracing differences.

07/22/2023

It's the weekend! Time for some🤸 FREE PLAY FUN!

Unleash the power of unstructured playtime! Start with some open-ended toys and tools, like buckets, chalk, blankets, or nothing at all - then let your kids take the lead! Free play is the perfect opportunity for kiddos to flex their creative muscles, explore their interests, and enhance problem-solving skills. You set the space and boundaries then give them the freedom to explore their interests and let their imaginations run wild!

07/18/2023

🎢 Include flexibility in your summer routine!

Stretching is great, but what we really want to emphasize here is being open and flexible to to all the ways the magic of summer can challenge your routine.

Summer is all about embracing the joy and opportunities of the season. While we love our schedules, don't forget to sprinkle in some spontaneity! Be open to last-minute adventures, ice cream truck chases, or impromptu water balloon fights. It's all about finding that perfect balance between structure and summer magic! You know we love the 80/20 Rule.

Adapt & Grow

02/14/2024

01/17/2024

01/07/2024

12/23/2023

11/29/2023

11/14/2023

11/11/2023

11/02/2023

10/30/2023

10/13/2023

10/13/2023

08/21/2023

08/16/2023

08/09/2023

08/01/2023

07/28/2023

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07/18/2023

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