Great Kids Place

Great Kids Place Pediatric occupational therapy specializing in sensory processing disorders, dyspraxia, & ADHD Parents are encouraged to participate in every session.

Great Kids Place offers sensory and relationship-based occupational therapy services to address challenges in sensory processing, motor skills, learning, engagement, social interaction, attention and emotional regulation. We work with children and their families using our own unique play based model to address sensory motor and social emotional development simultaneously. At Great Kids Place, parents and therapists play side by side our great kids. Therapists meet with parents to set functional real life outcomes for goals and work with the family in each session. We also offer parent meetings to review progress, strategies and goals. This approach significantly improves carryover and enhances relationships.

A Night in Honor of Michele Parkins: Performing for Positivity Benefit Concert Co-Supporting Denville S.P.A.R.K & Great ...
12/06/2025

A Night in Honor of Michele Parkins: Performing for Positivity Benefit Concert Co-Supporting Denville S.P.A.R.K & Great Kids Place

Join us for a night of holiday cheer ☃️🎉 featuring 43 incredible performers from 21 towns across 📍New Jersey! The evening will include a special performance by the Morris Knolls High School Chorale and a visit from Santa himself! 🎅🎁

Performing for Positivity is a New Jersey–based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2024 by lifelong Denville resident Macey Hyatt.

Thank you, Macey, for honoring Michele, and for your generous support of Great Kids Place! We are so grateful! ❤️

https://my.cheddarup.com/c/performing-for-positivity-benefit-concert-supporting-denville

This giving season (and always), we’re holding Michele close. 💛Her vision, her curiosity, her playful spirit, and her fi...
12/02/2025

This giving season (and always), we’re holding Michele close. 💛

Her vision, her curiosity, her playful spirit, and her fierce belief in children shaped everything we do at .

Michele also believed something profound:
🌟 To change the lives of children everywhere, we must invest in the next generation of OTs. 🌟

She dedicated her life not only to children and families but to teaching, mentoring, and inspiring clinicians across the world. Her SEEM model and relationship-based approach continue to guide therapists in clinics, schools, and communities globally.

Today, we’re asking our community to join us in carrying her light forward by supporting the Michele Parkins Sensory & Relational Health Research Scholarship, created in partnership with AOTF.

Your Giving Tuesday gift will:
🌟 Support emerging OTs
🌟 Advance research in sensory-emotional and play-based practice - a unique area Michele was deeply passionate about
🌟 Expand access to skilled, attuned, relationship-based care
🌟 Help ensure Michele’s vision continues to shape children’s lives for decades

This scholarship will be awarded at the American Occupational Therapy Association () national conference each year.

If Michele touched your family—or if you believe deeply in the power of relationships, sensory-emotional development, and play—this is a beautiful way to honor her legacy.

Make your Giving Tuesday gift here:
🌟 https://greatkidsplace.com/honor-michele/
or
🌟 www.aotf.org/Support
→ Select “Michele Parkins Research Scholarship.”

And if giving isn’t possible right now—that’s okay.
💛 A share, a comment, or helping spread the word makes an enormous impact, too.

Thank you for helping us grow what Michele began. 💛

In this week’s special podcast episode, AnnMarie honors the memory of Michele—our founder, mentor, and the heart behind ...
11/27/2025

In this week’s special podcast episode, AnnMarie honors the memory of Michele—our founder, mentor, and the heart behind our Sensory Emotional Lens. Michele taught us to slow down, hold space, and truly see each child for who they are.

This month (and always) we reflect not only on the families we serve, but also on the unique Sensory Emotional Personalities (SEPs) that shape how our children sense, feel, move through, and experience the world.

This episode is all about gratitude:
💛 Gratitude for the “yets” in each child’s journey
💛 Gratitude for the roles we get to play as supporters, protectors, and encouragers
💛 Gratitude for the strengths within each of the five SEPs—and for the challenges that help us grow

And we share one of Michele’s most treasured reminders:

We don’t have to—we get to.
We get to support our children.
We get to slow down.
We get to notice the glimmers.
We get to watch them become them.

By shifting our lens, we deepen our relationships, honor each child’s unique sensory emotional way of being, and step forward with gratitude.

🎧 Tune in to explore all five SEPs and the beauty within each one.

🎧🔔▶Please listen, subscribe, and share!

Is there a topic that you’d like to learn more about? Send us a message! 💌

🔗 https://greatkidsplace.com/podcast/

💭 Taking votes: what animal is this?Our great kids’ imaginations are next-level, and we love how play sparks connection,...
11/25/2025

💭 Taking votes: what animal is this?

Our great kids’ imaginations are next-level, and we love how play sparks connection, regulation, and growth. Drop your guess below! 🗳️⬇️

The holidays can bring connection — and also overwhelm, unpredictability, and big feelings for sensory emotional kids (a...
11/24/2025

The holidays can bring connection — and also overwhelm, unpredictability, and big feelings for sensory emotional kids (and their grown-ups).

🎧 Tune in to episode 64. Preparing to Gather Through a Sensory Emotional Lens for simple, compassionate tools to help your family enjoy gatherings with more regulation and connection.

We cover:
▪️ A daily practice that builds safety and emotional alignment
▪️ Modeling apologies, accountability, and using the family “reset button”
▪️ Protecting routines and supports like sleep and safe foods
▪️ Practical tips for each Sensory Emotional Personality (SEP)

Holidays don’t have to feel chaotic. Preparing together creates space for connection, resilience, and meaningful moments. ❤

🎧🔔▶Please listen, subscribe, and share!

Is there a topic that you’d like to learn more about? Send us a message! 💌

🔗 https://greatkidsplace.com/podcast/




Great Kids become… Great Adults! Janis and AnnMarie made their way down to Atlantic City today to present at the New Jer...
11/16/2025

Great Kids become… Great Adults!

Janis and AnnMarie made their way down to Atlantic City today to present at the New Jersey Occupational Therapy conference on Stockton University’s Campus.

In addition to their roles as co-directors of SEEM at Great Kids Place, they are also Assistant Professors at Fairleigh Dickinson University, where they have the opportunity to share their knowledge on Sensory Emotional Personalities with the next generation of occupational therapists!

Today they presented to students, OT clinical instructors and fieldwork educators on how understanding our own SEPs as well as graduate students SEPs can strengthen relationships and engagement with clients and supervisors while fostering success during fieldwork and doctoral capstone placements as students practice in the field for the first time.

If you’re an adult interested in your own SEP - check out our program! ♥️

Transitions aren’t just hard for kids — they challenge us as adults too! This week, we’re diving into how our own sensor...
11/13/2025

Transitions aren’t just hard for kids — they challenge us as adults too! This week, we’re diving into how our own sensory and emotional profiles shape the way we move through morning routines, unexpected changes, and daily demands.

When we start our day dysregulated, our stress can ripple outward — leading to co-escalation instead of co-regulation. But when we learn to tune into our sensory needs, we can model calm, confidence, and connection for our kids. 💛

🎙Tune in to episode 63: Regulating Ourselves through Transitions and discover:
✨ How five different adult Sensory-Emotional Play (SEP) profiles experience transitions
✨ Simple, sensory-based strategies to ease your mornings
✨ How self-awareness and predictability can transform chaos into connection

Because when adults are regulated, kids feel it — and that’s where real growth begins. 🌱

🎧 🔔 Please listen, subscribe, and share!

Now available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeartRadio, and Amazon Music

Is there a topic that you’d like to learn more about? Send us a message! 💌

▶️ https://greatkidsplace.com/podcast/

Happy Halloween! 🎃 This week one of our great kids created a pumpkin patch filled with spooky jack-o-lanterns. He tapped...
10/31/2025

Happy Halloween! 🎃

This week one of our great kids created a pumpkin patch filled with spooky jack-o-lanterns. He tapped into his intentional & passionate side to draw up a unique design before working together to cut it out and piece it all together.

Once the Halloween-scene was set, he took on a director role to teach & guide his mom and therapists through a one-of-a-kind scarecrow song and dance.

While having fun & getting into the Halloween spirit, this great kid demonstrated creativity and confidence — all while strengthening his ability to ideate, plan, & sequence actions, incorporate others ideas, and maintain a regulated state!

Keeping with traditions! The mischievous gouls strike again! 🧻🤭🫣 We don’t mind though - in fact, we love finding the of...
10/31/2025

Keeping with traditions! The mischievous gouls strike again! 🧻🤭🫣

We don’t mind though - in fact, we love finding the office TP’d! 👻

Did you know throwing toilet paper around can provide surprising sensory-motor and sensory-emotional benefits, especially for kids?

⬇️

Motor Planning: Throwing toilet paper rolls requires coordinated arm movements, shoulder stability, and full-body coordination as kids are jumping, reaching, or running as part of the activity.

Coordination, Grading and Use of Force: Aiming toilet paper rolls toward branches or high spots engages eye-hand coordination and body positioning, as they track where they want the roll to go and adjust their throw accordingly.

Balance and Core Strength: Kids may need to reach or stretch while standing on tiptoe or balancing, which can engage core muscles and improve balance.

Visual and Tactile Input: The feel and movement of the toilet paper, whether tossing it or watching it unroll, provides visual and tactile sensory input. This can be exciting and even calming for some kids as they watch the flowing paper.

Spatial Awareness: Navigating around trees, bushes, and obstacles helps develop spatial awareness as kids become more aware of the environment around them and their body in relation to it.

Proprioception and Body Awareness: The act of throwing, catching, or even attempting to climb a bit for higher reaches engages muscles and joints, helping kids develop a sense of body position and movement.

And beyond the sensory-motor fun, these moments of shared laughter and teamwork help build connection, cooperation, and social confidence — key ingredients for emotional well-being and positive relationships. 💛

While traditionally a night for “mischief,” these playful activities can also foster creativity as well as emotional and social development! 👻

10/30/2025

👻 Our Haunted House adventure is in full swing at GKP! This week, one of our Sensory Under-Responsive (SUR), “Unaware yet Deep Thinkers,” took on three spooky missions designed to awaken their senses and spark engagement! 🕵️‍♀️💀

From treasure hunts to defeating evil mummy minions (crafted from tissues and tape for a little fine motor boost), each activity provided powerful bursts of sensation and emotion to help activate bodies and minds.

Through the lens of the Sensory-motor Emotional EngageMent (SEEM) Frame of Reference, these experiences invite our kids to move, feel, and connect—supporting regulation and attention while encouraging curiosity and joy. The Power of Play transforms every mission into a meaningful opportunity for growth, helping our Deep Thinkers come alive with confidence, creativity, and connection! 🌟

Tricky or a Treat?Halloween may be an exciting time for many kids, others may find trick-or-treating more tricky than fu...
10/29/2025

Tricky or a Treat?

Halloween may be an exciting time for many kids, others may find trick-or-treating more tricky than fun. Spooky scenes, lights, sounds, crowds, changes in plans, walking far distances, and costumes in unfamiliar fabrics and textures can make Halloween uncomfortable and cause anxiety for our sensory kids.

Check out our blog post for some tips on how we can support our children so they can feel calm, comfortable, confident (and hopefully excited!) as they prepare for Halloween!

https://greatkidsplace.com/preparing-our-sensory-kids-for-halloween/

🎃 Things are getting spooky fun around GKP! Our Scattered yet Intentional and Passionate friend used “Good Guy vs. Villa...
10/29/2025

🎃 Things are getting spooky fun around GKP! Our Scattered yet Intentional and Passionate friend used “Good Guy vs. Villain Defeat” play to conquer the evil Gargoyle and its mischievous minions! 💪👹

This kind of story-based, power play experience is not only exciting—it’s deeply purposeful. Through imaginative, emotionally charged adventures, children are invited to activate their whole bodies while following a story with a clear beginning, middle, and end.

Within the Sensory-motor Emotional EngageMent (SEEM) Frame of Reference, this type of play supports the child’s ability to stay connected and regulated while moving through a range of emotions—excitement, anticipation, victory! It helps strengthen praxis and motor planning, while also building confidence, organization, and a sense of mastery.

At GKP, we love harnessing the Power of Play to turn therapy into meaningful, joy-filled learning. Every monster defeated or hero moment celebrated helps our kids feel strong in both body and mind! 🌟

Address

21 Pine Street #205
Rockaway, NJ
07866

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 7:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 7:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 7:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 7:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 7:30pm
Saturday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+19735868396

Website

https://greatkidsplace.com/podcast/

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Category

Sensory Kids are Great Kids!

Great Kids Place offers sensory and relationship-based occupational therapy services to address challenges in sensory processing, motor skills, learning, engagement, social interaction, attention and emotional regulation.

Play is the occupation of children. As kids grow, it is through play that they develop their motor and motor processing and integration skills through exploration and discovery. At Great Kids Place, in our state of the art sensory gym, we use play to optimize engagement and participation in occupational therapy sessions to work on the development of sensory, fine motor, gross motor, core strength, motor coordination, motor planning, visual and handwriting skills.

At Great Kids Place, parents and therapists play side by side our great kids. Parents are encouraged to participate in every session. Therapists meet with parents to set functional real life outcomes for goals and work with the family in each session. We also offer parent meetings to review progress, strategies and goals. This approach significantly improves carryover and enhances relationships.