Therapeutic Play & Learn Groups
We’re Back and In Person!
Therapeutic Play and Learn groups are back and they are IN PERSON! Join us May 22nd – June 29th from 10-11:30 am every Saturday at Martin Luther King Jr. Park. Our team members, Jan, Jessica, Sarah, Rhonda and Maddie are excited to bring you 5 weeks of therapy and learning activities!
Therapeutic play groups support families of children ages 0-5 with special needs. Activities include:
- speech therapy
- occupational therapy
- dance/movement therapy
- sensory therapy
- early childhood development basics
Joining our play and learn groups means becoming part of the CTC community! You’ll connect with:
- experienced pediatric therapists
- live and recorded playgroup sessions
- a community of people who are invested in you and your family.
Questions? Please email us or call (616) 559-1054.
Session Ten (Every Saturday from May 22nd – June 29th, 2021)
Check out the Schedule for Session 10
10 – 11 am: Our staff will be leading children through therapeutic, play-based activities. These include dance/movement activities, sensory and motor activities, and speech-language activities.
11 – 11:30 am: Time for parents and caregivers to ask our therapists questions.
Fill out this form to submit your questions ahead of time!
Add the Dates to Your Calendar
Click here to add the Facebook event to your calendar.
All events take place from 10:00 am – 11:30 am:
- May 22nd
- May 29th
- June 5th
- June 12th
- June 29th
Join us!
We will be meeting at:
Martin Luther King Park
900 Fuller Ave SE
Grand Rapids, MI 49506
Make sure to dress to play outdoors and bring a mask!
Don't forget to tell us how we did...
Session Nine (Every Thursday from April 8th – May 6th, 2021)
Check out the Schedule for Session 9
6-7:00pm: Our staff will be live on Zoom, leading caregivers and children through therapeutic, play-based activities. These include dance/movement activities, sensory and motor activities, and speech-language activities.
7-7:30pm: Time for parents and caregivers to ask our therapists questions.
Fill out this form to submit your questions ahead of time!
Add the Dates to Your Calendar
Click here to add the Facebook event to your calendar.
All events take place from 6:00pm – 7:30pm:
- April 8th
- April 15th
- April 22nd
- April 29th
- May 6th
Join us!
1. Log onto our LIVE zoom session by clicking the button below:
2. Play along with us!
Don't forget to tell us how we did...
Miss a session? Check out the recordings below!
This program was made possible because of the generosity of Kent County taxpayers and the voter-approved Ready by Five Early Childhood Millage.
Meet your CTC Play Group Team:
Janice Wilks MA, Director of Programs
Support the Therapeutic Play & Learn Goups
Session Eight (Every Thursday from Ferburary 18th – March 18th, 2021)
Miss a session? Check out the recordings below!
- Week One: Play Group | “Make and Take”
- Week Two: Play Group | “Make and Take”
- Week Three: Play Group | “Make and Take”
- Week Four: Play Group | “Make and Take”
- Week Five:Play Group | “Make and Take”
Don't forget to tell us how we did...
Session Seven (Every Thursday from January 7th – February 4th, 2021)
Miss a session? Check out the recordings below!
- Week One: Play Group | Love Powerpoint
- Week Two: Play Group | Talk Powerpoint
- Week Three: Play Group | Count Presentation | Powerpoint
- Week Four: Play Group | Play Powerpoint
- Week Five: Play Group | Read Powerpoint
Don't forget to tell us how we did...
Session Six (Each day from December 7th – December 11th, 2020)
Miss a session? Check out the recordings below!
- Dec 7: Play Group | Success Basics Presentation │Text Resources
- Dec 8: Play Group | Success Basics Presentation │Text Resources
- Dec 9: Play Group | Success Basics Presentation│Text Resources
- Dec 10: Play Group | Success Basics Presentation│Text Resources
- Dec 11: Play Group | Success Basics Presentations│Text Resources
- Dec 12: Play Group | Success Basics Presentations│Text Resources
Don't forget to tell us how we did...
Fill out a post-experience survey to help us improve our Therapeutic Play & Learn Groups.
Session Five (Every Thursday from October 22nd – November 19, 2020)
Miss a session? Check out the recordings below:
- Week Two: Play Group | Success Basics Presentation
- Week Three: Play Group | Success Basics Presentation
- Week Four: Play Group | Success Basics Presentation
- Week Five: Play Group | Success Basics Presentations
Don't forget to tell us how we did...
Session Four (Thursdays and Fridays, September 18 – October 16, 2020)
- Week One Video: LOVE
- Week Two Video: TALK
- Week Three Video: COUNT
- Week Four Video: PLAY
- Printable Resource Guide
Find your balance with Rhonda!
- Week One Video : Balance & Core- Foundation, Basic beginning, roll, crawl, squat and stand
- Week Two Video: Balance & Core- Starting to one foot balance
- Week Three Video: Balance & Core- Balance and reach incorporating counting
- Week Four Video: Balance & Core- Stand and tap, bend and touch one hand and foot
- Week Five Video: Balance & Core- Stand heel toe, balance on a pillow
Session Three (Fridays and Sundays, August 7 – September 13, 2020)
Welcome to Week One of our third series, where we’ll play with boxes!
Visit our full playlist here.
- Videos for kids:
- Speech Activity: What’s In The Box? with Erin (handout)
- Occupational Therapy: What’s In The Box? with Rhonda (handout)
- Dance/Movement: Dance In The Box with Sarah (handout)
- Introduction & Discussion Videos for parents with Jan (handout):
Let’s have a Ball for Week 4!
Visit our full playlist here.
- Videos for kids:
- Speech Activity: Ready, Set, Go! and Preposition Play with Erin (handout)
- Occupational Therapy: Rollin’ with Rhonda
- Dance/Movement: Hot Potato with Sarah (handout)
- Introduction & Discussion Videos for parents with Jan:
It’s Week Two, and we’re excited to round up the family!
Visit our full playlist here.
- Videos for kids:
- Speech Activity: All Kinds Of Families with Erin (handout)
- Occupational Therapy: Family Fun with Rhonda (handout)
- Dance/Movement: Family Dance Party! with Sarah (handout)
- Introduction & Discussion Videos for parents with Jan:
Stacking for Week 5!
Visit our full playlist here.
- Videos for kids:
- Speech Activity: Ready, Set, Go! and Preposition Play with Erin (handout)
- Occupational Therapy: Rollin’ with Rhonda
- Dance/Movement: Hot Potato with Sarah (handout)
- Introduction & Discussion Videos for parents with Jan:
For Week Three, we’re beating the heat with water!
Visit our full playlist here.
- Videos for kids:
- Speech Activity: Hey, Water! with Erin (handout)
- Occupational Therapy: Water Play with Rhonda (handout)
- Dance/Movement: Dancing In The Rain with Sarah (handout)
- Introduction & Discussion Videos for parents with Jan:
Session Two (Wednesdays, June 24 – July 29, 2020)
Welcome to Week One of our second series! This week’s theme is the egg! The full playlist is here and the combined handout is here.
- Introduction: Discussing The Kits (Video) and Resources(PDF)
- Speech Activity: Hide And Seek (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Shake An Egg Part 1 (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Dance/Movement: Shake An Egg Part 2 (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Discussion: Incorporating Love (Video) with Jan.
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.
Welcome to Week Four of our second series! This week, we’re going to discuss colors! The full playlist is here and the combined handout is here.
- Introduction: Incorporating Play (Video for parents)
- Speech Activity: ABC Shapes (Video for kids) and Handout (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Clothespins: Structures And Strengthening (Video for parents) and Handout (PDF)
- Dance/Movement: Freeze Dance With A Twist (Video for kids) and Handout (PDF)
- Playing With Shapes (Video)
- Community Resources (PDF).
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.
Welcome to Week Two of our second series! This week, we’re going to discuss emotion! The full playlist is here and the combined handout is here.
- Introduction: Incorporating Talk (Video)
- Speech Activity: Talking About Emotions (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Emotions And Your Body (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Dance/Movement: How Does This Song Make You Feel? (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Discussion: Discussing Emotion (Video) and Resources (PDF).
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.
Welcome to Week Five of our second series! It’s time for Elmo! The full playlist is here and the combined handout is here.
- Introductions to “Read” (Videos for parents):
- Speech Activity: Elmo’s Daddy (Video for kids)
- Occupational Therapy: Elmo and Rhonda (Video for kids and parents)
- Dance/Movement: Sesame Street Swing (Video for kids)
- Bookmaking with Jan (Video)
Welcome to Week Three of our second series! This week, we’re going to discuss colors! The full playlist is here and the combined handout is here.
- Introduction: Incorporating Count (Video)
- Speech Activity: Matching Colors (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Colors And Fine Motor Skills (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Dance/Movement: Dancing With The Scarves (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Colors In The Kitchen (Video)
- Community Resources (PDF).
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.
Session One (Posted on Wednesdays, May 6 – June 3, 2020)
- Introduction: About the LOVE Success Basic (Video) and Resources (PDF)
- Speech Activity: “Toot & Puddle: You Are My Sunshine” (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Dance/Movement: Activity (Video) and Songs (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Playdough Project (Video) and Recipe (PDF)
- Discussion and Conclusion: (Video)
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.
- Introduction: About the PLAY Sucess Basic (Video) and Resources (PDF)
- Speech Therapy: “Good Dog, Carl” (Video) and Activities (PDF)
- Dance Movement: Activity (Video) and Songs (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Playing Outdoors (Video) and Fine Motor Skills (PDF)
- Discussion and Conclusion: Video
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.
- Introduction: About the TALK Success Basic (Video) and Resources (PDF)
- Speech Activity: “Pancakes For Breakfast” (Video) and Handout (PDF)
- Dance Movement: Activity (Video) and Songs (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Let’s Roll! (Video) and Instructions (PDF)
- Discussion and Conclusion: (Video)
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.
- Introduction: Reading to Babies (Video), Reading to Toddlers (Video) and Reading to Preschoolers (Video) and READ Success Basics Resources (PDF)
- Dance Movement: Activity (Video) and Songs (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Reading Skills (Video) and Building Visual Perceptual Skills (PDF)
- Speech Therapy: “Toot & Puddle’s ABC” (Video) and Activities (PDF)
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.
- Introduction: About the COUNT Success Basic (Video) and Resources (PDF)
- Speech Activity: “Noisy Nora” (Video) and Activities (PDF)
- Dance/Movement: Activity (Video) and Songs (PDF)
- Occupational Therapy: Sidewalk Fun (Video) and Gross Motor Skills (PDF)
- Discussion and Conclusion: (Video)
- When you’re finished, please ACCESS THE SURVEY HERE.