Kanics Inclusive Design Services, LLC.

Kanics Inclusive Design Services, LLC. Inclusive Play in every community! Ingrid M. She was senior play environment specialist at the Center for Creative Play, Pittsburgh, PA.

Kanics, OTR/L is an Occupational Therapist who has worked for 10 years helping communities create and run amazing places where all children can play together. During that time she worked with numerous communities and children’s museums helping them expand their understanding of Universal Design and the importance of Sensory Play in every childs’ development. She continued this work as Therapy Director at Hattie Larlham, Mantua, OH, where she oversaw therapy and recreation programs for children of varying abilities. She now owns her own consulting business (Kanics Inclusive Design Services LLC) focusing on creating great play spaces in communities where everyone can play. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences on the topics play, sensory integration and Universal Design. Conferences include the Association of Children’s Museums, American Occupational Therapy Association, Parents As Teachers, and National Association of the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC).

09/04/2025

This image comes from an MRI study of preschoolers (Hutton et al., JAMA Pediatrics, 2020). It shows how screen use is linked to the wiring of the developing brain.

The top row (blue) highlights where more screen time is tied to weaker white matter organization. White matter is the brain’s wiring system that connects regions so they can work efficiently.

The bottom row (red) shows where heavier screen use is linked to weaker insulation on those connections. Insulation, or myelin, helps brain signals travel quickly, like the protective coating on an electrical wire.

Why does this matter? These highlighted areas include pathways for language, early literacy, and self-regulation. Children with higher screen scores also performed lower on language and literacy tests.

This is not a before and after of one child. It is a group-level finding. The message is clear. In the early years the brain is wiring for life. The more time children spend with people, play, movement, and books, the stronger these foundational circuits become.

Good to know as schools starts…
08/30/2025

Good to know as schools starts…

08/23/2025

Studies show 1 hour outside a day = smarter, more creative kids.

Unfortunately, kids are increasingly only spending time on screens.

Children who spend at least 60 minutes a day playing outside are more creative, better problem solvers, and show stronger cognitive and emotional development.

The findings are the result of a large-scale study conducted in Ontario, Canada.

The research, which involved over 800 children aged 10 to 13 and their parents, found that outdoor, unstructured play significantly boosts learning and brain function by promoting exploration, independence, and resilience.

Kids who had access to peers for play, participated in physical activities, and whose parents felt their neighborhoods were socially cohesive spent more time outside. In contrast, fear, lack of supervision, and heavy screen time kept many indoors.

The decline in outdoor playtime among Western children is stark, with today’s youth less likely to roam their neighborhoods or engage in physical, unstructured activities than previous generations.

Researchers point to modern cultural, environmental, and social barriers, such as safety concerns, screen-based distractions, and highly structured schedules, as major contributors.

The findings underscore a need for community and policy-level changes to make neighborhoods more child-friendly and supportive of outdoor play. Enhancing access to safe play areas and encouraging unsupervised, exploratory play could be key to reversing trends in sedentary lifestyles and bolstering children's overall well-being.

the paper
Loebach J, Sanches M, Jaffe J, Elton-Marshall T. Paving the Way for Outdoor Play: Examining Socio-Environmental Barriers to Community-Based Outdoor Play. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021 Mar 31;18(7):3617.

08/22/2025

Types of grasp patterns! Of course there are different names for these grasp patterns that may be used. And we see kids progress at different rates or in different orders through this process. Here is what you need to know: https://www.theottoolbox.com/grasp-patterns/

08/19/2025
This...
08/19/2025

This...

How play changes…
08/14/2025

How play changes…

08/12/2025
As many of you know, I do a good deal of mentoring with grad and doctoral students who have an interest in inclusive des...
08/06/2025

As many of you know, I do a good deal of mentoring with grad and doctoral students who have an interest in inclusive design. One of the students I had the honor of mentoring the past few months is Danah Kern who was interested in looking at the hotel industry supports for families who have a family member with sensory sensitivities. It is my pleasure to share the website she created as part of her doctoral capstone project. Thanks to all of you who assisted her in this project (special shout out to Rachel Hellenga for all you shared)

Everyone deserves inclusive, accessible environments that honor their sensory needs. It is our mission to uphold this standard across hospitality spaces—creating experiences that are safe, welcoming, and supportive for all.

04/06/2025

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Our Story

Ingrid M. Kanics, OTR/L, FAOTA is an Occupational Therapist who has worked for 15 years helping communities create and run amazing places where all children can play together. She was senior play environment specialist at the Center for Creative Play, Pittsburgh, PA. During that time she worked with numerous communities and children’s museums helping them expand their understanding of Universal Design and the importance of Sensory Play in every childs’ development. She continued this work as Therapy Director at Hattie Larlham, Mantua, OH, where she oversaw therapy and recreation programs for children of varying abilities. She now owns her own consulting business (Kanics Inclusive Design Services, LLC) focusing on creating great play spaces in communities where everyone can play. She has presented at local, state, and national conferences on the topics play, sensory integration and Universal Design. Conferences include the Association of Children’s Museums, American Occupational Therapy Association, Parents As Teachers, and National Association of the Education of the Young Child (NAEYC).