Creative Development, LLC

06/05/2026

After 20+ years as an occupational therapist in Connecticut, I'm sharing one of the best-kept secrets in Hartford that every therapist, caregiver, and family should know about.

NEAT Marketplace (New England Assistive Technology Marketplace) in Hartford, CT is where I source adaptive equipment for my clients and my own family. Today I purchased an item retailing for $250—got it for $35.

What makes this a game-changer for CT professionals:
- Adaptive equipment below retail (wheelchairs, walkers, mobility aids, accessibility technology)
- Tech assessments and equipment consultations
- Professional development and training programs for therapists
- Family programming and educational sessions
- 14-day money-back guarantee, zero risk to trial equipment with clients

Equipment costs are one of the biggest barriers to client care in Connecticut. This resource eliminates that barrier.

Whether you're an OT, PT, speech therapist, social worker, or family navigating accessibility needs in Connecticut, this belongs on your resource list.

Address: 33 Coventry St, Hartford, CT 06112

06/01/2026

Forget cooking dinner tomorrow! Come eat at American Flatbread in Canton, CT! A portion of every pizza sale supports the Create Independence Day program. Available for dine-in and takeout!

On Tuesday, June 2 from 5-9 PM, head over to Flatbread Company in Canton, CT and make your dinner do a little extra good.

Every pizza sold and every raffle basket purchased helps fund CREATE Independence, our program dedicated to helping individuals with varying abilities build the real-life skills they need to thrive. 💛

Not able to make it in person? No problem! Takeout counts too. Order your pickup for June 2 right now so you don't forget.

- Date: Tuesday, June 2
- Time: 5:00 - 9:00 PM
- Location: Flatbread Company, Canton, CT
- Dine in or take out! Both support the cause.

Learn more about us here: https://www.createindependencect.org
Order pickup on June 2 here: https://americanflatbread.com/locations/canton-ct//

05/29/2026

Here's the thing: kids today never have to wait for anything. Same day delivery. Skip the ad. Instant gratification. We've eliminated all the friction from childhood, and now we're seeing the consequences.

Nothing kids do today requires problem solving. They don't have to figure out what to do next, deal with uncertainty, or sit with boredom. And that's the exact skill set they need to regulate themselves, solve problems, and do things independently.

This is where I get fired up as an OT. Teaching a kid to catch a balloon isn't just about hand eye coordination. It's about tracking, anticipating, planning, adjusting when you miss. That's executive functioning in action.

Going to the bank with your kid? That's life skills.

Letting them plan a meal and actually make it? That's executive functioning.

Having them pack their own camp bag with a checklist? Problem solving and organization.

We're so focused on fixing delays that we forget to teach kids how to navigate the world. How to fail safely. How to try again. How to figure something out when the answer isn't immediately in front of them.

That's what lights me up about this work. I get to help kids build confidence, independence, and the ability to handle life when it doesn't go perfectly. Because it never does.

Want more strategies for building executive functioning at home? Follow for OT tips that go way beyond traditional therapy.

Ready to work on life skills with your child? Call our clinic to schedule an eval. We specialize in executive functioning, feeding, AAC, and helping kids do hard things. Link in bio or DM for info.
📍 110 Hopmeadow St, Weatogue, CT 06089
📞 (860) 284-9779
✉️ [email protected]

05/27/2026

Catching a ball: ranked by difficulty (by a pediatric OT) ⚾️

I get asked all the time what ball skills to practice with kids, so here's how I break it down from easiest to hardest:

Level 1 (easiest): Rolling and picking up
Roll the ball back and forth. Have your kiddo visually track it as it comes toward them, then roll it back. This builds the foundation for visual tracking, which is the same skill they need in the classroom when looking from the board to their paper.

Level 10 (hardest): Catching in the air
This one requires timing, hand eye coordination, and figuring out where the ball is going to land while it's moving. It's a lot harder than it looks.

Why this matters: Ball skills aren't just about sports. They build visual motor skills, bilateral coordination, and motor planning. These are the same skills kids need to sit in class, copy from the board, and stay focused on their work.

Start where your kid is and build up. Rolling is a great place to begin, and it's still building the foundation for everything else.

Want more developmental skill breakdowns like this? Follow for OT tips that translate to real life (and the classroom).

Need support for your child's development? We are Creative Development, supporting children’s growth through physical therapy, speech and language therapy, feeding therapy, and occupational therapy services in Connecticut.

📍 110 Hopmeadow St, Weatogue, CT 06089
📞 (860) 284-9779
✉️ [email protected]

05/25/2026

The transition tool I recommend parents all the time? Bubbles. 🫧

Here's why they work so well:

1. I blow bubbles, kids know it's time for the next thing. It's a simple cue that actually prevents meltdowns instead of causing them.

2. They're naturally calming. That deep breath in and slow exhale helps kids regulate when they're overstimulated or struggling with a transition.

3. Works for every kid. Can't blow bubbles yet? They can wave the wand back and forth, pop them, or just watch. It's still engaging and fun either way.

4. Super portable. Toss them in your bag for park transitions, car rides, or anytime you need a quick reset between activities.

Want more simple OT strategies like this? Follow for regulation tools that actually work in real life, not just in therapy sessions.

We are Creative Development, supporting children’s growth through physical therapy, speech and language therapy, feeding therapy, and occupational therapy services in Connecticut.

📍 110 Hopmeadow St, Weatogue, CT 06089
📞 (860) 284-9779
✉️ [email protected]

05/21/2026

Memorial Day weekends, picnics, cookouts, family gatherings... they can be a lot for kids. Here's what's in my go bag as a pediatric OT. 🎒

I keep this packed and ready because sensory overload doesn't wait for you to be prepared. Big outdoor events mean unpredictable noise, crowded spaces, schedule changes, and overstimulation.

Here's what helps my kiddos stay regulated:

1. Noise reducing headphones for when it gets too loud
2. Crunchy snacks for oral sensory input (pretzels, crackers, anything with that satisfying crunch)
3. Beef sticks or chewy snacks for calming proprioceptive input
4. Fidgets that feel good (pop its, textured bracelets, squishy toys)
5. Chalk for drawing when they need a quiet activity
6. Sunglasses and a hat to reduce visual overload
7. A blanket to create a quiet corner if they need to decompress
8. Scavenger hunt printouts or I'll make up games on the spot ("Can you find three red things? Where's the firetruck? Did you see that bird?")

This isn't about being over prepared. It's about setting your kid up to actually enjoy the event instead of just surviving it.

What's in your go bag? Drop your must haves in the comments!

05/18/2026

Check this out!

Email from Miracle League of Connecticut Players Clinic and Yard Goats Vs Fischer Cats Game Thank you to NBT Bank for another Miracle League of CT - Family Day A Day with the Yard Goats at Dunkin' Pa

05/15/2026

When you see a game of Toss & Catch, it looks like a fun afternoon in the backyard. But we see a complex series of motor, sensory, and self-regulation skills happening all at once.

Movement games are the "gym" for everyday functioning. When a child jumps, reaches, and navigates space, they aren't just playing, they are building the foundational core strength and body awareness needed for things like handwriting, self-care, and safely participating at school.

Why purposeful movement matters:

1. Motor Planning: Every throw requires the brain to calculate force and distance.

2. Focus & Attention: Sustaining engagement in a game is a workout for the attention span.

3. Confidence: Mastering a physical skill in a "fun" setting translates to confidence in the community and at home.

Summer is right around the corner, make sure to save this post for your next outdoor play session!

05/13/2026

When it looks like behavior, it is usually regulation.

And as the parent you are left trying to reach a child who genuinely cannot meet you right now. Here are four things that actually help:

1. Co-regulate first. Before you respond, take ten seconds for yourself. You cannot lead them through the storm if you are caught in it too.

2. Name what you see instead of asking what is wrong. Answering that question takes more brainpower than they have available in that moment. Try instead "I can see you need some input right now. Do you want the heavy blanket or the crash pad?"

3. Keep your words short. When the sensory system is flooded, language processing is one of the first things to go. Short sentences. Calm tone. Less is more.

4. Create a yes space. Every home needs at least one spot where your child does not have to hear no. A corner with pillows, a jumping spot, a sensory bin. Somewhere their body can do what it needs to do safely.

When it looks like behavior, it is usually regulation.

Start there.

05/11/2026

We're back in the series and this week we're taking it to the bank.

And just like the grocery store, this is one of those errands where it feels so much faster to just handle it yourself. We know. But stay with us.

Because when we hand this moment over to our kids, here is what is actually happening:

1. Expressive Language: Walking up to a teller and clearly stating what you need is a real world communication skill. For a lot of our kids, initiating a conversation with an unfamiliar adult in a formal setting is a big deal. The bank is a calm, low pressure place to practice exactly that.

2. Fine Motor Skills: Writing out a check, signing their name, filling in the amount on that little line. These are the kinds of precise hand movements we work on every single day and here they get to do it for real.

3. Numeracy and Money Skills: Counting out the right amount, double checking their change, making sure the numbers match before they walk away. This is math with actual stakes and kids rise to that.

Next time you have a quick bank errand, bring them along. Let them do the talking. Let them write it out. Let them count it.

A few extra minutes at the teller window is a few more minutes of real life practice.

Independence is built in the small moments. And we love helping you find them everywhere.