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.

02/02/2026

Will we have six more weeks of winter? Nope (we hope), and do we approve of these sub-zero temperatures? Also, nope!

Since Katie didn’t see her shadow (and was pelted with snowballs instead)— we are soooo hopeful that Spring will come soon!

What’s your prediction? Do you think Punxsutawney Phil will predict an early spring tomorrow? 🦫

01/24/2026

Made with love and help from our amazing GKP families! 🩷 Thank you! It was so much fun celebrating our birthday with you this week! 🎉

When Great Kids Place opened its doors in January 2016, it began with a dream—to create a therapy practice where childre...
01/23/2026

When Great Kids Place opened its doors in January 2016, it began with a dream—to create a therapy practice where children with sensory processing differences and their families felt truly seen, supported, and understood. Ten years later, that dream has grown into something far bigger than any of us could have imagined.

Over the past decade, we’ve had the privilege of witnessing life-changing moments every single day: children overcoming challenges, discovering their strengths, and growing in confidence; families finding clarity, connection, and hope; and nervous systems learning how to move, regulate, and feel safe in the world. We’ve watched hallways fill with laughter, play become powerful work, and relationships form that have shaped who we are as a community.

This legacy belongs to all of us. This milestone is not just a birthday—it’s a celebration of Michele’s vision and of the incredible community that grew around it, including each and every one of you.

To the families who trusted us with their children, to the therapists who brought their hearts, expertise, and creativity to this work, and to the friends and colleagues who believed in the vision—thank you. Your trust, partnership, and support are the foundation of Great Kids Place.

As we celebrate this milestone, we do so with deep gratitude for the past and immense excitement for the future. This is more than an anniversary—it’s a reflection of a shared commitment to helping kids shine, and families feeling supported every step of the way.

And for those asking how to give GKP a “birthday gift” 🎁… we invite you to contribute to something meaningful, lasting, and SO Michele: https://greatkidsplace.com/honor-michele/

Thank you for being part of our story — and the next 10 years to come. 💛

Here’s to more play, more joy, and more connection.

With gratitude and pride,
Kim and the Great Kids Place Team

🎙️ New Episode: Neuroscience Foundations Series Begins!We’re breaking down the science of how the brain develops—sensory...
01/20/2026

🎙️ New Episode: Neuroscience Foundations Series Begins!

We’re breaking down the science of how the brain develops—sensory processing, emotional regulation, motor planning, neuroplasticity, and more.

Tune in and discover:
• Why kids don’t just “know better”
• How sensory integration shapes learning, behavior, and resilience
• The power of safe relationships and play in rewiring the brain
• Why development—and progress—aren’t linear

Rooted in the Sensory-motor Emotional EngageMent Frame of Reference, the work of Michele Parkins, and the work of Dr. A. Jean Ayres, this conversation offers a compassionate, brain-based lens for anyone raising, working with, or supporting children.

🎧🔔Please listen, subscribe, and share!

🔗 https://greatkidsplace.com/podcast/

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

❄️ Winter sports often feel different for sensory kids—and parents notice it right away. Children who struggle with ove...
01/17/2026

❄️ Winter sports often feel different for sensory kids—and parents notice it right away. Children who struggle with overheating, overwhelm, or emotional shutdown during other seasons may suddenly seem calmer, more regulated, and able to engage longer in cold-weather activities.

🏂 Tune in to episode 67, Winter sports through a Sensory Emotional Lens, as we explore why winter can be so regulating, how different winter sports impact the nervous system, and how parents can use a Sensory Emotional Lens to support connection, confidence, and joy—without pressure or pushing.

🖊Also check out our blog post for more tips!
https://greatkidsplace.com/winter-sports-through-a-sensory-emotional-lens/

🎧🔔▶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/

01/16/2026

Hooray for Fri-Yay! 🎉🌟

01/01/2026

3…2…1… BLASTOFF! 🚀

A new year reminds us why we do what we do—supporting children through play, connection, and the courage to try. 🌟

At GKP, play is the foundation. Relationships are the fuel. And every small step, crash, rebuild, and breakthrough helps children build confidence, resilience, and launch into new possibilities. When kids feel safe to explore and be themselves, amazing things happen.

Here’s to a year of continued growth, meaningful relationships, and watching our step into all they’re capable of.

💫 Happy New Year! 💫

12/31/2025

The countdown to the new year is ON, GKP style!

There’s nothing like an obstacle course and some whole-body movement to get you prepped for the new year!

2025 ➡️ out ✌🏼

Have you heard of GreatElfs Place? We bet Elvis is loving all the sensory-emotional benefits of zip-lining! 😉🌟 So fun! ...
12/24/2025

Have you heard of GreatElfs Place?

We bet Elvis is loving all the sensory-emotional benefits of zip-lining! 😉🌟 So fun!


12/23/2025

How did you play today? ❤️

Play is everywhere!It’s not always about fancy toys or elaborate setups. Sometimes, the best adventures are born from th...
12/22/2025

Play is everywhere!

It’s not always about fancy toys or elaborate setups. Sometimes, the best adventures are born from the simplest things. A blanket becomes an ocean. A laundry basket turns into a race car. A cardboard box? An epic hideout.

Creativity knows no bounds when you start seeing the world as a playground. Whether it's inside or outside, the possibilities are endless.

Take a moment to let your imagination roam. Play is waiting - wherever you are. ❤

Today is Take Time to Play Day 💛Today, we honor Michele Parkins by doing what she believed in most — slowing down, conne...
12/22/2025

Today is Take Time to Play Day 💛

Today, we honor Michele Parkins by doing what she believed in most — slowing down, connecting, and playing together.

How are you playing today?

While we always encourage a No Phone Play Zone, don’t forget to snap a quick picture of how you’re taking time to play! Email us or tag us and use — we’d love to see and share the joy.

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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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.