The Center for Childhood Development

04/06/2026

We're so grateful for our indoor and outdoor therapy spaces — and when the sun makes a rare appearance, we take full advantage! 🌞

Last week we headed to the trail and playground to practice our skills.

For kids who experience gravitational insecurity, playground equipment can feel genuinely scary — not just hesitant, but overwhelming. This little friend of ours wouldn't go near the equipment last fall. Now look at her! 🙌

With playful encouragement and the right support, kids learn to trust their bodies, explore movement, and conquer new heights — one step at a time.

04/02/2026

The Center is celebrating neurodiversity this month. Every day, actually. But especially the month of April. 🧠🎉

03/31/2026

Non-judgement and empathy are building blocks for creating safety rooted in connection.

When adults and caregivers notice shifts, it's important to signal we're paying attention and we want to know more about what those feelings, experiences, or thoughts mean for them.

Through paying attention to our own systems of regulation and the underlying messages we carry, we can show up differently. By approaching our own experiences in this very same way of compassion and validation, it becomes more familiar.

Your compassion practice for self creates a roadmap for those around you.

03/27/2026

Join us this summer at our Holland location! ☀️
We're turning your kid's passions into social strengths.

The Special Interest Exchange is a structured 5-week social skills group for neurodivergent youth — where each child's own interests become the bridge to real peer connection, collaboration, and growth.

📌 Session 1 — Upper Elementary/Middle School
Tuesdays, June 9–July 14 | 4–5pm

📌 Session 2 — Middle School/High School
Tuesdays, July 21–August 18 | 4–5pm

💰 $55 per child, per week

Spaces are limited — register today: https://buff.ly/2cSIx6r

03/26/2026

🚨 Attention OTs — Don’t miss this hands-on learning opportunity!

We're happy to host # 329-S Pediatric NDT Intensive Handling Intervention by Gail Ritchie, OTR, C/NDT at our Jenison location!

June 13–14, 2026 | 8AM–5PM
5 Hours/1.5 CEUs

Register here 👉 https://buff.ly/apyeIwL

03/23/2026

We couldn't agree more!

It is officially SPRING! No matter the weather, we're ready to spring into the beauty of ability, inclusion, and community.💪🌷

03/20/2026

These future engineers designed and built an entire city out of therapy equipment—complete with a McDonald’s, farm, repair shop, dance club, gym, and gas station.

While they think they're just playing… they're actually working on:

✨ Ideation
🧠 Motor planning
🤝 Social problem solving
📐 Spatial organization

This is what play-based therapy looks like. Big ideas. Big skills. Big fun.

Come say hello at Center City — we'd love to see you! 👋

03/18/2026

We're hiring! 🌟

We're looking for a full-time Occupational Therapist to join our team at our Holland and Jenison locations.

If you're passionate about pediatric OT and making a real difference in children's lives, we'd love to hear from you. 👇

thecenterforcd.com/employment-opps

03/16/2026

Your experience matters, and so does your voice. 💛

If your family has had a positive experience at The Center, we'd love to hear from you. Sharing your feedback helps other families find the care their kids deserve.

⭐ Leave us a Google or Facebook review using the links below — it only takes a minute!

FACEBOOK
Write a Facebook recommendation by clicking on the "Reviews" tab.

GOOGLE
Say a few words or give a simple ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rating.

📍 Jenison: https://g.page/r/CSPkgcfqzqUREAg/review
📍 Holland: https://g.page/r/Ce9V1CMlelWuEAg/review
📍 Kalamazoo: https://g.page/r/CTVcUNEa-uoEEAg/review

Thank you for trusting us with your family. ❤️

03/12/2026

“Play is often talked about as if it were a relief from serious learning… but for children, play is serious learning.” — Fred Rogers

We couldn’t agree more, Mr. Rogers! 💛

03/10/2026

𝗖𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗽𝗿𝗲-𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹.

One of our favorite ways to spark it?
Tracing on glow light boards.

When the lights dim and the board glows, writing and drawing suddenly feel magical instead of “work.” ✨

Why it works:
• Builds fine motor control through slow, intentional tracing
• Strengthens visual tracking and line awareness
• Encourages proper grasp and graded pressure
• Supports hand–eye coordination

When we shift from compliance to curiosity, engagement skyrockets 🚀 — and skills build naturally.

03/06/2026

🚨 Reminder to Register!

The Center is hosting Theraplay & MIM Training at our Jenison location, and spots are filling quickly!

Perfect for:
Psychologists, Psychiatrists, Social Workers, Clinical Counselors, Marriage & Family Therapists, School Counselors, Play Therapists, and Special Education Teachers.

📅 Training Dates
• Level One Theraplay & MIM: May 4–7
• Group Theraplay: May 8

Theraplay helps strengthen caregiver–child relationships through playful, connection-based interventions.

👉 Register: https://buff.ly/JHXQdpI