ABOUT US
Brain Builders Play Institute is a DBA of Just for Kidz Therapy, LLC, a pediatric occupational practice in Parkland. Through the play institute we are able to expand our reach in the community by offering fun playgroups that promote development to all young children, not just those with an identified developmental delay and/or disorder.
Our groups consist of carefully curated sensory & motor activities that target foundational developmental skills, such as: sensory perception & modulation, body scheme, postural security, reflex maturity, bilateral coordination, habituation, motor planning, eye-hand coordination, auditory processing, spatial perception, and shared attention.
**Please note that our playgroups are not therapeutic intervention or medical services. They are for entertainment & enrichment purposes only. If you are looking for skilled therapeutic intervention, please go to our therapy site www.justforkidztherapy.com.
OUR WHY
A strong sensory and motor foundation is essential for all future development. Because these skills develop through play and play is on the decline in recent years, we are seeing more and more older children with developmental gaps that are affecting their behavioral control, social emotional skills, and capacity for academic learning. Oftentimes, by the time these gaps are identified it is already past the point of one of the most critical periods of development (birth-5 years). We created our playgroups as a proactive solution to this issue. Whether your child just likes being active and enjoys sensory play or you have noticed that your child would benefit from working on these things in a fun, low pressure environment, we've got you!
OUR MISSION
Our mission is to promote healthy brain development and a strong foundation for future behavior and learning for all kids, during early childhood, via fun, brain building, guided playgroups facilitated by a master's or doctoral-level professional (teacher or therapist) with extensive knowledge & understanding of early childhood development.
OUR TEAM
Lead Group Facilitator- Dr. Jenny Villalobos, PPOTD, OTR/L. Jenny is the founder of Just for Kidz Therapy & Brain Builders Play Institute. She is a pediatric occupational therapist of 19 years, a neurodivergent adult (ADHD), and a mother of 3 humans & 2 dogs. Jenny lives in Parkland with her family and is an alumni of MSD.
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Assistant Group Facilitator: Mrs. Randie Ervin. Randie is an assistant group facilitator and the office manager of Just for Kidz Therapy. She is also Jenny's sister-in-law. Randie is a mother of two, a dog mom, and a proud grandma. She lives in Coral Springs with her family.
PLAYGROUP DETAILS
Our playgroups are limited to 7 children. **Please note that any session may be cancelled if the 4 child minimum is not met
Each playgroup will have two group facilitators. One of them being a master's or doctoral-level professional (therapist or teacher) with extensive knowledge and understanding of early childhood development. The other being a background-checked, assistant group facilitator.
The play groups are held one time per week, for a 9-week session. The cost for the session is $360. All playgroups are held at your child's school, during the school day, for your convenience.
UPCOMING SESSIONS
Sensory Motor Lab (starting Jan 2025)
Children will explore activities that promote develop of foundational, sensory & motor skills, such as sensory perception & modulation, body scheme, postural security, reflex maturity, bilateral coordination, habituation, motor planning, eye-hand coordination, auditory processing, spatial perception, and shared attention.
The Sensory Motor Lab in January 2025 will be held at Parkland Children's Academy and is only available to students enrolled at the school. **Please note that the playgroups will be held at the school's second location which is in the same shopping plaza as the main school.
Sensory Food Explorers (coming April 2025)
Children will interact with food in a fun, non-stressful way. The aim is to increase food repertoire via playful interactions with foods that offer different sensory properties including color, shape, texture, smell, and taste.
NO REFUND POLICY
Enrollment fees for our playgroups are non-refundable. When you pay the enrollment fee ($360) that reserves a space in the group for your child. Because group size is limited, when we hold a space for your child that means we are denying entry to another child. For this reason, we are unable to offer refunds.
Please note that we reserve the right to cancel or postpone individual playgroups or the full 9-week session at our sole discretion.
If our group facilitator has to cancel a playgroup they will provide as much notice as possible and they will make-up the group on another day/time in collaboration with the school and based on the availability of the space.
If we decide to cancel or postpone the entire 9-week session, before it begins, you will be offered a full refund or a full credit to use for a future session. If we are forced to cancel the remainder of a 9-week session, after it has begun, you will be offered a prorated refund for the groups that have not yet occured. No refunds will be provided, for any reason, for playgroups that have already happened even if your child was not in attendance.
RESEARCH THAT INFORMED OUR PLAYGROUPS
Play Matters
Play is so important to optimal child development that it has been recognized by the United Nations High Commission for Human Rights as a right of every child. Play allows children to use their creativity while developing their imagination, dexterity, and physical, cognitive, and emotional strength. Play is also important to healthy brain development.
Decrease in Play
Evidence suggests that play is on the decline. Some researchers have stated that children, on average, have lost 12 hours of play per week. The decline in play is happening in both homes and schools. Reduction in play has been attributed to many factors, including increased concern for safety (therefore fewer children playing outside in neighborhoods), more time spent doing structured activities such as organized sports, more time on screens, budget cuts and policy changes impacting recess and physical education time in schools, and more of an emphasis on academic skills beginning younger and younger which compresses time spent in play.
Positive Experiences Build Brain Architecture
Simply put, positive experiences strengthen brain circuits and threatening or negative experiences weaken them. While genes provide a basic blueprint, positive, responsive, playful experiences help shape the brain’s architecture and create a strong foundation for all future behavior and learning.
https://youtu.be/VNNsN9IJkws?si=JZc46M2qXvG-uLxA
Critical Period of Development
Early childhood is considered a critical period of development, meaning that during this time the brain is especially malleable and adaptive. Positive, responsive experiences will have a profound impact on how brain networks are organized. That is not to say that no change can occur later in childhood, however; experiences during this period of time will have the most significant impact on development.
https://developingchild.harvard.edu/resource-guides/guide-timing-and-critical-periods/
Pyramid of Learning
Hierarchical progression is the idea that areas of development build upon each other as a child grows. In other words, development happens from the bottom up. The Pyramid of Learning is a visual representation of this. When a child has a gap (or missing skills) from one of the foundational levels, it will cause difficulty with development of later, higher level skills.
https://developlearngrow.com/the-pyramid-of-learning/
COMMON FAQ's
My child is neurodivergent; can he/she still join your playgroups?
Absolutely!! Our goal is to make our playgroups as inclusive as possible. That being said, the child needs to be able to participate in a group setting with other children. If you anticipate any issues with this, due to behavioral or motor concerns, please reach out before registering and we will try our best to develop a plan to accommodate them.
Do you take insurance?
No, we do not take insurance for our playgroups because they are not therapeutic (or educational) intervention. Although they are facilitated by a professional, they are for entertainment & enrichment purposes only and not considered medical services. If you are interested in actual therapy services, please see our pediatric OT practice, Just for Kidz Therapy for more information (www.justforkidztherapy.com).