Therapeutic Group Programs
Our group programs offer an opportunity to receive an intensive therapy experience in a small group setting. These programs are therapist led and are designed to help our clients become more successful in meeting the demands and expectations of everyday life. This is done through playful engagement in success-oriented activities in a setting that offers natural opportunities for engagement. Our Programs are open to both children who are current Big Blue Canopy clients as well as those who are not. We will set up a brief free screening to determine if this program is a good match for your child.
Play Pals (Sensorimotor)
Developing pre-linguistic communication, social, and play skills for 3-5-year-old children  
(Preschoolers/Kindergarteners)
Led by ...
Play Pals (Sensorimotor)
Developing pre-linguistic communication, social, and play skills for 3-5-year-old children  
(Preschoolers/Kindergarteners)
Led by an occupational and speech therapist, this small group will focus on building emotional connections and communication with their peers through multi-sensory and sensorimotor activities, functional and/or pretend play with toys. This group will encourage developing skill such prelinguistic communication, playing with or near friends, waiting for your tun, sharing, and initiating, or reciprocating a social interaction with others. This group is limited to 3-5 participants.
Goals include:
- Sharing space with others
- Parallel play and associative play  
- Initiating and reciprocating basic social interactions (waving, saying hello, etc.) 
- Practicing waiting for a turn 
- Taking turns  
- Exploratory, functional, or pretend play with toys 
- Simple obstacle courses  Registration Information
Call 513-880-6800/ email info@bigbluecanopy for schedule and registration information
Circle of Friends
Developing communication, social, and play skills for 3–5-year old’s (Preschool & Kindergarten)
Led by and occupational and speech t...
Circle of Friends
Developing communication, social, and play skills for 3–5-year old’s (Preschool & Kindergarten)
Led by and occupational and speech therapist this small group is designed to help your child improve their communication, social, and play skills for increased success and independence in preschool and kindergarten. Just like the structure they receive in classroom settings, this group may include circle time, basic games, crafts, and practicing turn-taking in the sensorimotor gym in a fun and social interactive manner! This group will be limited to 4-6 participants.
Goals include:
- Following a group plan/visual schedule (e.g., circle time, story, gym, etc.) 
- Improving communication skills including making requests and following directions 
- Asking and responding to questions
- Learning how to join and engage in a group activity by sharing, taking turns, working together, etc. 
- Practice asking for and waiting for a turn during a group activity
- Mindfulness of emotions and strategies to manage frustration during social interactions and play 
- Activities designed to improve fine and visual motor skills
- Obstacle courses Registration Information
Call 513-880-6800/ email info@bigbluecanopy for schedule and registration information
Connecting Through Play (Sensorimotor)
Enhancing pre-linguistic communication, social, play, and self-regulation skills for 6-9-year-old children
Led by an occupational and sp...
Connecting Through Play (Sensorimotor)
Enhancing pre-linguistic communication, social, play, and self-regulation skills for 6-9-year-old children
Led by an occupational and speech therapist, this small group will focus on building emotional connections and
communication with their peers through multi-sensory and sensorimotor activities, functional and/or pretend play with
toys. This group will encourage developing skill such prelinguistic communication, playing with or near friends, waiting
for your tun, sharing, and initiating, or reciprocating a social interaction with others. This group is limited to 3-5
participants.
Goals include:
- Sharing space with others
- Parallel play and associative play
- Initiating and reciprocating basic social interactions
- Practicing waiting for a turn
- Taking turns
- Exploratory, functional, or pretend play with toys Registration Information
Call 513-880-6800/ email info@bigbluecanopy for schedule and registration information
The Incredible Social Squad
Expanding social interactions and skills, building self, social, and emotional awareness, building connections and lasting friendships, and collabo...
MoreThe Incredible Social Squad
Expanding social interactions and skills, building self, social, and emotional awareness, building connections and lasting friendships, and collaborative problem solving for children ages 6-10 yrs. (Elementary School age)
Choose either Wednesdays or Fridays
Led by an occupational and speech therapist, this group provides your child with natural opportunities to strengthen their social-emotional skills, improve self-awareness, comfort, and build overall confidence in social situations. These skills will be addressed in a supportive and nurturing environment that help advance their skills in to collaboratively resolve conflicts with peers. There are teaching moments embedded into this group and moments that will happen naturally based on the students' interactions. Our therapist will provide their therapeutic support and guidance to your child as needed to navigate challenging social or emotional situations that may arise. This group may utilize and integrate concepts from the Zones of Regulation© curriculum and Michelle Garcia Winner’s Social Thinking curriculum ®. This group will be led by an Occupational and Speech Therapist and will be limited to 4-6 participants.
Goals include:
- Improving social communication and language skills
- Increasing understanding of body language and non-verbal communication 
- Increasing independence with initiating, carrying, and ending a social conversation with others
- Increasing confidence and ability to advocate their thoughts, ideas, and feelings
- Increasing awareness of what sensory and coping strategies are useful for them to manage their emotions
- Improving executive functioning skills (e.g., sequencing, following multi-step instructions, planning, etc.) for increased independence with emotional regulation skills and impulse control Registration Information
Call 513-880-6800/ email info@bigbluecanopy for schedule and registration information
The Social Club
Development of social-cognitive skills for pre-Teens and Teens ( Ages 10+)
Navigating social expectations and situations during free pla...
The Social Club
Development of social-cognitive skills for pre-Teens and Teens ( Ages 10+)
Navigating social expectations and situations during free play with peers might be one of the most challenging tasks for
kids. They frequently feel overwhelmed and lack the abilities to enter play, negotiate effectively with peers,
articulate their preferences, and accept other people's play ideas, whether it be at school during center time, play
dates, or recess. This group will be loosely structured with our occupational and speech therapist encouraging the
participants to work collaboratively to develop their group activities and plan for each session. This will allow for
naturally occurring opportunities for the children to work on advocating for their wants, needs, and ideas while
understanding the importance of flexibility within social situations and may also provide naturally occurring
opportunities for your child to practice their conflict resolution skills with the guidance of our skilled therapists as
needed.
This group may utilize concepts from Zones of Regulation©, Superflex©, Social Thinking, and Kelly Mahler’s Interoception
curriculum to improve your child’s self-awareness, social, play, and communication skills for increased independence
with navigating social situations in daily life.
This group will be limited to 4-6 participants.
Goals include:
- Expanding your child’s social-emotional vocabulary and social awareness for increased independence with self-advocacy
- Improving perspective-taking skills and understanding how one’s own behavior impacts others and how other’s behaviors impact them
- Increasing awareness of one’s energy levels, emotional responses, and awareness of what sensory and coping strategies are beneficial in helping them achieve a more regulated state
- Increasing independence and confidence with communication skills including initiating conversations, maintaining a topic, reading, and interpreting verbal and non-verbal communication cues, and closing conversations
- Strengthening executive functioning skills through active participation and teamwork in group activities Registration Information
Call 513-880-6800/ email info@bigbluecanopy for schedule and registration information
Handwriting Groups
Kindergarten Handwriting Group
Printing Skills Group: (Elementary ages)
This group offers fun, hands o...
Handwriting Groups
Kindergarten Handwriting Group
Printing Skills Group: (Elementary ages)
This group offers fun, hands on activities using a multisensory approach to build handwriting skills. Based on their age and appropriate developmental level, we address a child’s legibility, spacing, motor formation of letters/words, grasp and overall confidence with handwriting skills. This is accomplished in a small group setting that promotes social skills and peer to peer learning. Groups are based on the nationally recognized Learning Without Tears® Curriculum developed by Jan Z. Olsen, OTR. Group is led by an Occupational Therapist and will be limited to 4-6 participants to provide individualized attention.
- Improve memory formation of letters, words, sentences, and numbers, as appropriate to age level
- Improve spacing, line orientation to increase legibility with handwriting skills
- Improve grasp prehension patterns
- Improve strengthening of hand and core muscle groups in a sensory motor approach as it relates to handwriting skills
- Improve self-awareness, confidence, and speed with handwriting skills
Call 513-880-6800/ email info@bigbluecanopy for schedule and registration information
Brain And Body Fitness
Interactive brain and body integration approach for elementary and middle school age kids
Your child will benefit from our specialized...
Brain And Body Fitness
Interactive brain and body integration approach for elementary and middle school age kids
Your child will benefit from our specialized fitness equipment, which provides a safe routine and physical outlet as well as boosting self-esteem and confidence by building your child’s physical fitness. The group addresses not only brain and body integration through therapeutic structured tasks and activities but allows for addressing key concepts of higher-level motor planning skills, self-regulation skills, physical strength, and stamina to prepare for participation in community-based sports and recreational activities. Participants will be grouped by age and ability in order to receive individualized attention.
Goals include:
- Improve higher level motor control in terms of gross motor fluidness, sequencing, and timing
- Allow for opportunities to improve body awareness and brain body integration
- Improve self-regulation skills
- Improves focus and function of daily living skills
- Improve child’s self-confidence and self esteem
- Support social engagement
- Have fun while getting fit
Call 513-880-6800/ email info@bigbluecanopy for schedule and registration information