Positive Steps Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Positive Steps Pediatric Occupational Therapy Positive Steps, Pediatric Occupational Therapy Center is family friendly and ready to work with you! to achieve your child’s highest potential.

Positive Steps is a Private Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) center located in Livingston, New Jersey. We provide children’s therapy in a fun, family-friendly, professional environment. Serving children from ages 12 months to 18 years, Positive Steps therapists are certified in Sensory Integration, Yoga, Listening Programs and Handwriting without Tears. Founded by Dana Blumberg, Positive Steps believes that a child’s OT program is a collaborative effort initiated by the therapist and carried out beyond the OT sessions, throughout the child’s daily life. Each therapist works closely and in conjunction with those closest to the kids (e.g., parents, teachers, caregivers, schools, etc.)

We’ve talked about the proprioceptive system before, but have you heard about our other hidden sense? The vestibular sys...
02/10/2026

We’ve talked about the proprioceptive system before, but have you heard about our other hidden sense? The vestibular system! Our vestibular system helps us understand our relationship to gravity and balance and is linked to our auditory and visual systems. But what exactly is it?

Any activity giving you a sense of movement or weightless sensation such as…
-Swinging
-Rocking
-Head Inversions
-Spinning
Just to name a few!

Why is it important? Your vestibular system helps you realize where your body is in space and can help calm your body down. But if the system is dysregulated, it can lead to a child who feels dizzy, gets motion sickness, avoids swings and rides, has difficulty processing auditory and visual input, gravitational insecurity, and much more. Here are some activities to try at home to help regulate this system!

Do you feel your child may have some challenges with their vestibular system? Give us a call for more info!

02/06/2026

We’ve heard of co-regulation as a way for parents and therapist to help children calm their bodies and their emotions down. But sometimes we also need those same kids to remind us about the imagination, the joy, the play, and the excitement in life without all of the heavy burdens of adulthood. This is your reminder to take some time and play with your kids a little extra this weekend.

02/03/2026

Looking for a fun and mess free activity for Valentine’s Day? Here’s a home idea for you! It is also easy to modify for your biggest kiddo and your smallest kiddo, and a great fine motor task. All you need is…
-Wooden hearts ❤️
-Paint 🎨
-Zip loc bag 🤏🏼

Give it a try and let us know your thoughts!

01/29/2026

There is a fine line between a child learning and a child struggling, and it can be one of the hardest things for parents and therapist to navigate. As parents and therapist, sometimes we are too quick to jump in and “help” kids before truly giving them time to learn and their brain to process and problem solve on their own. This can inadvertently lead to learned helplessness.

So next time your child is trying something new, try encouraging with your words first or waiting quietly for at least 5 to 10 seconds before offering any assistance. Offer as little assistance as you can and increasing as needed depending on your child’s frustration tolerance and how difficult the task is. It’s OK to teach your children that not everything will happen fast and easy and this is all part of life skills that are important for them to learn as they grow!

Winter months in the north east can be TOUGH to get through, and both children and adults can have trouble regulating th...
01/22/2026

Winter months in the north east can be TOUGH to get through, and both children and adults can have trouble regulating their bodies and emotions! We are here to help. Most children are not capable of regulating their own feelings and emotions without a little help from an adult, so here are some ideas to get you started!

Need more specific information or ideas? Give us a call!

01/20/2026

Although we celebrated a few weeks after the holidays, we had the most incredible evening at in Boonton, NJ.

“We have the most hardworking, dedicated, compassionate, and amazing staff at Positive Steps OT and I am forever grateful for everything that they do!” -Dana Blumberg, Director

01/13/2026

Transitioning back home from school can be a difficult time for kids. They spent the whole day focusing on their work, following directions, completing tabletop tasks, and keeping their bodies (and voices) quiet! All kids would benefit from movement after their school day to make their bodies feel better, but the winter months may limit your afterschool play time. So give these quick two activities a try!

Giving their bodies vestibular and proprioceptive input can help them feel calm, grounded, and ready for homework, sports, dinnertime, etc. A quick few minutes of movement can change the whole course of your afternoon. Give it a try and let us know what you think!

01/08/2026

This one is for all of our fellow therapists. Consider this your reminder to take that drink of water💧

01/06/2026

Primitive reflexes are the foundation of almost all movement and development in the body. When these reflexes do not integrate naturally, they can have lasting effects for your child. One of the main reflexes that we work with at our practice is Asymmetric Tonic Neck Reflex.

ATNR is a newborn reflex, also known as the “fencing reflex” where a child’s head being turned to one side results in the arm/leg on that side to also extend and the opposite side to flex. This reflex should naturally integrate by approximately 6 months old.

But what if it doesn’t? Here are some symptoms of a retained ATNR:

-Poor balance and coordination ⚖️
-Difficulty with handwriting 📝
-Challenges with visual tracking 👀
-Unable to cross midline of the body 🙅🏻
-Challenges with reading, writing, spelling ✍🏼
-Problems with focus and attention (can mimic ADHD)
-Poor posture and slouching in chair🪑
-Sensory processing issues, especially gravitational insecurity 🛝

Above is an exercise to target this reflex and engaging your child’s brain and body through bear crawls, motor planning, crossing midline, and much more! Do you think your child may shown signs of retained ATNR? Give us a call for more info!

Winter break can be a long and dysregulated week at home! Especially for those stuck in the house with winter weather. H...
01/01/2026

Winter break can be a long and dysregulated week at home! Especially for those stuck in the house with winter weather. Here are some quick and easy Proprioceptive ideas to incorporate into your day to help calm and regulate your child. Do you have more to add to our list? Let us know!

Address

66 W Mount Pleasant Avenue Ste 203
Livingston, NJ
07039

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 7pm
Tuesday 9am - 7pm
Wednesday 9am - 7pm
Thursday 9am - 7pm
Friday 9am - 5pm
Saturday 9am - 1pm

Telephone

(973) 994-4464

Website

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