Sensory Pathways 4 Kids

I wouldn’t go so far as to say it’s the «worst place ever.» I wanted to give three stars but It’s not A-​Ok, I was disillusioned. Insurance doesn’t cover it, or at least ours didn’t, and as M.H. states, they discourage parents from watching. I can understand that they don’t want distractions but I wanted to see just what it was that my children were experiencing so that I could replicate some of it at home. My kids LOVED it there, but it was essentially one-​on-​one play time, physical, yes, but play time. Over and over when I’d ask for more in depth analysis they had a hard time articulating things to me. Everyone spoke English and were well educated, from what I could see – that wasn’t the issue. I think the issue was, as M.H. indicates, that «sensory processing issues» are fluid, hard to pin, and not well researched. I think they’re grasping around at things and eventually finding what «works» for each client. But after two months of $ 100 a pop per session, I decided to use the money and put them in sports. Yes, my kids still fidget and go crazy if they don’t get enough activity, but the stress of pulling them out of school and trying to do «exercises» at home (wheel barrows, crab walks, that kind of thing were the «therapy») was not worth it.
On another note, I have an acquaintance who swears by the place, she loved it for her kids.

Worst place ever. The therapists barely speak English and they have the kids do various exercises, all while throwing around terms like «proprioceptive input» and suggesting the use of weighted vests and such to trick you into thinking they’re actually doing something. The sensory stuff isn’t even in the DSM. It’s all baloney, if you read the scientific research. They discourage parents from watching but I went in every time and realized that all they do is the same exercises every time. Then I read an article that said executive function is enhanced by exercise period. Not by proprioceptive input specifically or any of the other odd terms. The last straw was when one therapist tried to hug and apply strong pressure to my son and he was crying and trying to get away – and she wouldn’t let him!!!
So I put my kid in a gymnastics class and he is doing SO much better than he ever did there and learning an actual skill/​sport! Don’t go to that place!