Hearts and Hands Therapy Services, Inc. of New England

Hearts and Hands Therapy Services, Inc. of New England Hearts and Hands Therapy Services is a pediatric therapy clinic offering speech, occupational physical, and ABA therapy

Speech Spotlight: Why pretend play builds language Did you ever wonder - Why play? What's the big deal? 🛝Well, research ...
11/17/2025

Speech Spotlight: Why pretend play builds language

Did you ever wonder - Why play? What's the big deal? 🛝

Well, research demonstrates that children learn skills faster through play but the question remains - what are they learning through play?

When a child plays, when you play with your child, or when your child plays with others, they are building connection and meaning. ✨

They are using and practicing new words/vocabulary, they are learning to express their feelings and ideas, and they are engaging in meaningful ways.

They are learning how to problem solve, they are story telling, and they are practicing social skills.

In play, your child is using descriptive language, fostering their creativity, and sparking their imagination.

So the real question is, what are they not learning in play?�

🍂✨ Try This Simple Fall Family Activity!Looking for a fun fall activity that keeps kiddos moving and engaged — even with...
11/13/2025

🍂✨ Try This Simple Fall Family Activity!

Looking for a fun fall activity that keeps kiddos moving and engaged — even with a short attention span?

Try a Fall Leaf Scavenger Hunt! 🍁

✅ Keep it short (5–10 minutes!)
�✅ Add movement breaks
�✅ Offer simple choices�

How to Play:

�1️⃣ Head outside or use paper leaves indoors.�
2️⃣ Give one clear instruction at a time (“Find a red leaf!”).�
3️⃣ Celebrate every success — big or small! 🎉�

Why We Love It:

�🌟 Supports attention and follow-through�
🌟 Builds color + shape recognition�
🌟 Adds gentle sensory input from walking, bending, and touching textures�
🌟 Promotes connection, laughter, and shared joy�

You can also add extra fun by sorting your leaves by size or color once you’re done!

Short, simple, playful — perfect for this season. 🍁💛

11/11/2025

🌟 Updates from our In-Home & Hybrid Program!

Our In-Home/Hybrid Program gives children the opportunity to participate in both at-home and in-clinic sessions throughout the week.

This model allows us to work hands-on with children and their families, promoting the generalization of skills across different environments.

👉🏼 Through this approach, we focus on building functional communication, adaptive daily living, and foundational behavior skills.

👉🏼 We incorporate parents, caregivers, siblings, and family members to ensure everyone is supporting the child consistently—creating more natural opportunities for independence and success in all areas.

Our sessions are silly, engaging, and motivating!

We use fun, hands-on activities to increase spontaneous requests for wants and needs while keeping reinforcement fresh and effective.�

Naturalistic and play-based treatment works—and we love seeing the progress our children make every day!

Our speech therapists at Hearts and Hands LOVE wordless picture books. 📖They are an awesome way to support communication...
11/10/2025

Our speech therapists at Hearts and Hands LOVE wordless picture books. 📖

They are an awesome way to support communication, connection, and creativity for children of all abilities.

With only pictures, these books allow adults to personalize the “story” to each child’s preferences and needs.

We love doing this by making sound effects, using silly voices, and adding movement in when saying action words. 🙃

Wordless picture books also empower kids to explore stories in their own way—by pointing, making sound effects, acting things out, or simply sharing a moment with a caregiver.

Here are a couple of our favorites ⤵️��

A Day at the Playground http://bit.ly/3X0MQpe

The Dog in Shoes http://bit.ly/3WUkyNd

Family Gratitude Wall 💖A fun way to recognize what your child has accomplished.Drop a comment or send a note about what ...
11/06/2025

Family Gratitude Wall 💖

A fun way to recognize what your child has accomplished.

Drop a comment or send a note about what you’re thankful for in your child’s therapy journey. ☺️

Why you might see a metronome in occupational therapy 🎵That steady click, click, click isn’t just for music!Occupational...
11/04/2025

Why you might see a metronome in occupational therapy 🎵

That steady click, click, click isn’t just for music!

Occupational therapists sometimes use a metronome to help kids strengthen important thinking and self-regulation skills.

Moving, writing, or playing to a beat can help children:

🧠 Focus, attention, staying on task, and communication between both sides of the brain.
⏱ Build timing and rhythm for smoother movements.
🙌 Practice impulse control (wait, stop, and go!)
💪 Improve coordination and sequencing.

We love to add a visual component as well for children that are able.

For example, we may have the child read left to right across a page, naming the image they see on the beat of the metronome (for example, this picture the child would say “red dog”, “blue cat,” “yellow bird” while reading across the paper on each beat). We want to find that just right challenge!

It turns therapy into a fun rhythm game—helping kids connect their brains, bodies, and timing in powerful ways! 💡

This month, let’s help our kids spot the good stuff! 💛�Grab a jar, some paper, and each day write (or draw!) one thing y...
11/03/2025

This month, let’s help our kids spot the good stuff! 💛�

Grab a jar, some paper, and each day write (or draw!) one thing you’re thankful for — big or small. 🍂

�At the end of the month, read them together and celebrate all the little wins, laughs, and moments that made you smile. 🌈�

It’s a simple way to build gratitude, reflection, and connection — one note at a time.

💕 Here is a link to one we love with printables that we love! ��

https://thesavvysparrow.com/gratitude-jar/

10/31/2025

What a fun activity created by one of our amazing OTs! These cuties are working on reflex integration, bilateral integration, executive function skills, and following directions!!






















Build a fun obstacle course at home! Obstacle courses aren’t just fun—they’re a fantastic way to help kids build strengt...
10/30/2025

Build a fun obstacle course at home!

Obstacle courses aren’t just fun—they’re a fantastic way to help kids build strength, coordination, balance, and problem-solving skills.

And the best part? 😀

You can create one right in your living room (a great rainy-day activity to combat the zoomies) or backyard with things you already have at home!

Here are some easy ideas from a pediatric physical therapist:

🛋️ Pillows or couch cushions – for safe “mountains” to climb over
🪑 Chairs & blankets – to crawl under tunnels
⎸ Tape lines on the floor – to walk, hop, or bear crawl along; painters tape works best!
🧺 Laundry basket + balls – for a toss challenge at the finish line
🧸 Stuffed animals – to jump over or rescue along the way

Tip: Make it extra fun by timing the course, adding music, or having your child design their own challenges.

Not only does this spark creativity, but it also works on balance, coordination, and motor planning—all while keeping kids moving and smiling! 🙌🏽

10/29/2025

We love this fun way to use pumpkins! Try setting up a Pumpkin Ring Toss!

Balance, hand eye coordination, fine motor and gross motor development!

For language- asking for a turn, color and shape ID and following directions! (Also adding sound effects for language expansion)!






















10/29/2025

Such a fun week we’re having in the clinic! Frankenstein Yoga in the glow room for body awareness regulation and following directions!






















10/28/2025

Sensory fun + language building Halloween style! 🎃














Address

135 Gold Star Boulevard Suite 103
Worcester, MA
01606

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Hearts and Hands Therapy Services, Inc. of New England posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to Hearts and Hands Therapy Services, Inc. of New England:

Shortcuts

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category