Sunshine Kids Therapy provides nature-based occupational therapy services for children and families in the Big Bend Region to build connection, confidence, and independence.

Florida with star

Does your child struggle with...

Anger

Emotional Outbursts?

Coordination

Incoordination?

Distraction

Inattention/
Distractability?

Handwriting

Poor Handwriting?

Picky Eating

Picky Eating?

Problem Solving

Problem Solving?

Sensory Processing

Sensory Processing?

Teamwork

Teamwork?

Sunshine Kids Therapy can help!

Click on the services tab to see how we can help your family.

Common Diagnoses We See At Sunshine Kids Therapy Include:

  • Leaf bullet Autism
  • Leaf bullet ADHD
  • Leaf bullet Learning Disabilities
  • Leaf bullet Anxiety
  • Leaf bullet Hypotonia/hypertonia
  • Leaf bullet Cerebral Palsy
  • Leaf bullet Sensory Processing Disorder

Please note: your child does not require a diagnosis or a doctor's referral to receive therapy at Sunshine Kids Therapy

Contact Sunshine Kids Therapy TODAY to schedule a FREE consultative call! We'll take the time to learn about your child's needs, answer your questions, and help determine whether our services are the right fit for your family.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Sun

Occupational therapy (OT) is a type of healthcare that helps people of all ages develop, recover, or maintain the skills they need for everyday life. We call these activities "occupations". Occupations are meaningful daily activities, not just paid work.

With children, occupational therapy helps build the foundational skills needed for successful participation in everyday occupations, including play, school activities, self-care, social participation, and family routines.

What is Nature-Based Therapy?

Nature

Nature-based therapy uses the outdoors as a therapeutic tool to improve your child's functioning. Children often thrive in outdoor environments because they offer natural sensory experiences and more opportunities for movement.

While we do not provide therapy exclusively outdoors, we frequently incorporate nature-based activities into our sessions when they support your child's goals.

The Occupational Therapy Process

At Sunshine Kids Therapy, we offer MOBILE occupational therapy services, meaning we come to you! This convenience allows your family more freedom and flexibility; no wasted time driving!

So, we come to you. Yay! But what does this look like?

Step 1: Comprehensive Evaluation

All occupational therapy services at Sunshine Kids Therapy begin with a comprehensive evaluation. During this 60–90 minute appointment, your occupational therapist will listen to your family's concerns and assess your child's skills using standardized assessment and observation. After the evaluation, we will develop individualized goals and provide your family with a written report within 48 hours.

Step 2: Program Placement

After your child's comprehensive evaluation, we'll work together to determine which service option is the best fit for your child's unique needs and your family's goals.

Individual Occupational Therapy
Group Occupational Therapy
Family Occupational Therapy

Click on the services tab for more information on individual occupational therapy, group occupational therapy, and family occupational therapy services.

Step 3: Intervention/Treatment

After evaluation and program placement, intervention/treatment can begin as soon as your family is ready; no waiting time! Treatment is specifically tailored to your child and your family's needs. As we progress, your child will build new skills while your family gains confidence and connection. Together, these changes often lead to an improved quality of life overall.

Individual Occupational Therapy

Individual Occupational Therapy

At Sunshine Kids Therapy, individual occupational therapy sessions are 60-minute, one-on-one sessions with your child and an occupational therapist to work on your child's individual goals. Here we can work on fine motor skills, picky eating, hand-eye coordination, handwriting, sensory processing, attention to task, toileting, dressing, and more!

Individual Occupational Therapy Is Great For:

  • Leaf bullet Children who need individualized therapy sessions curated to their specific goals
  • Leaf bullet Children who need focused, one-on-one attention from an occupational therapist
  • Leaf bullet Children who need help improving self-regulation and emotional control before joining a group
  • Leaf bullet Families who want one-on-one support to work on their child's specific goals

How We Help:

In our one-on-one occupational therapy sessions, we work closely with your child to build the skills they need to feel more confident, independent, connected.

We use evidence-based approaches, including sensory integration, motor learning, movement-based learning, and child-led play. Much of our therapy takes place outdoors, where natural movement, exploration, and sensory experiences help support your child's ability to regulate their emotions, process sensory information, and stay engaged while learning new skills.

By learning through activities they enjoy, children are more motivated to practice new skills, overcome challenges, and carry over their progress into their daily lives.

Group Occupational Therapy

Group Occupational Therapy

At Sunshine Kids Therapy, group occupational therapy sessions are 60-minute sessions with your child, an occupational therapist, a group assistant, and similar-age peers to help your child create friendships, build social skills, resolve conflict, improve critical thinking, and more!

Group Occupational Therapy Is Great For:

  • Leaf bullet Children who struggle with teamwork, sportsmanship, and making friends
  • Leaf bullet Children who struggle to manage conflict, particularly with other children
  • Leaf bullet Children who struggle to play with other children, especially sharing and turn taking
  • Leaf bullet Children who struggle with impulse control and attention to task

How We Help:

Our group occupational therapy sessions give children the opportunity to practice social skills with peers in a supportive, therapist-led environment. Instead of only TALKING about skills, children learn skills by DOING.

We use evidence-based approaches, including cognitive behavioral strategies, sensory integration, motor learning, and play/movement-based activities. Most of our group sessions take place outdoors, where children naturally encounter opportunities to develop confidence, resilience, healthy risk-taking, teamwork, self-regulation, and cognitive flexibility while exploring and playing together.

You will see your child grow their confidence, independence, and social skills in group therapy!

Family Occupational Therapy

Family Occupational Therapy

At Sunshine Kids Therapy, family occupational therapy services are specific programs designed for children that are struggling with home routines, emotional regulation, and behavioral challenges. Have you ever found yourself frustrated and thinking "I don't know what to do with my child, they just don't listen!"? Family services at Sunshine Kids Therapy can help!

Family Occupational Therapy Is Great For:

  • Leaf bullet Children who have tantrums, meltdowns, and behaviors that parents/caregivers struggle to manage
  • Leaf bullet Children who seem addicted to screens
  • Leaf bullet Children who struggle to complete daily routines such as eating dinner, taking a bath, and bedtime
  • Leaf bullet Parents/caregivers who have thought "we need help, but I don't know where to start"

How We Help:

Many parents know something isn't working but aren't sure where to turn. Maybe you've been told your child's behavior is "just a phase," your child "doesn't qualify" for traditional therapy, or you've been told your child needs a diagnosis before getting help.

Family occupational therapy looks beyond your child's behaviors to understand how your family functions as a whole. We help identify the everyday patterns that contribute to challenges at home and work alongside you to create practical solutions. We utilize evidence-based strategies based on parent-child connection including creating routines, setting clear boundaries and behavioral expectations, and sensory integration.

These strategies help your child develop positive behaviors, leading to less family stress, greater cooperation, and smoother daily routines.

Our therapy is guided by research and evidence-based practices. If you'd like to learn more, follow the link below to explore some of the research that informs our work.

Evidence Based Resources

Question Mark

Which Service is Best for my Child?

Program placement is determined after we complete a comprehensive evaluation. Schedule a free consultative call with Sunshine Kids Therapy today to learn how we can help your child and your family!

Question Mark

Contact Information

Email: sunshinepedstherapy@gmail.com

Phone: (772) 494-3652

Hours: Monday - Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Send Us a Message

Daniella Itzhak

Daniella Itzhak, MS ECE, MSOT, OTR/L

Daniella is the owner and occupational therapist at Sunshine Kids Therapy. She earned her bachelor's and master's degree in early childhood education at Florida State University before earning her master's degree in occupational therapy from Florida A&M University. She is trained in Beckman's Oral Motor Assessment & Intervention for children with oral motor and feeding challenges. She has worked extensively with children with autism spectrum disorder and ADHD to develop functional skills. She is dedicated to finding what works best to help your child live their happiest life!

Comprehensive Evaluation

At Sunshine Kids Therapy, a comprehensive evaluation is the first step in your child and family's occupational therapy journey. A one-time fee of $150.00 for a comprehensive evaluation appointment covers an in-depth family interview, standardized assessment with your child, collaborative goal setting, and a written report for your records. This one-time fee will be charged immediately after your comprehensive evaluation is complete.

Individual Occupational Therapy

We understand that therapy appointments can be difficult to plan your life around. Our goal is to maximize the effectiveness of occupational therapy in short, organized programs to meet your child and your family's needs. Your child can begin individual occupational therapy at any time after their comprehensive evaluation. A progress check will be completed at the end of your child's program.

For example: if your child begins therapy in January for the winter program, a progress check will be completed in mid March. If continued therapy is recommended, your child can continue to the spring program. If your child has met all their goals, they will be discharged from therapy at this check point.

Individual occupational therapy appointments meet for 60-minutes, once a week. Each session costs $125.00 and will be charged immediately after your child's appointment ends. Private pay and the Step-Up for Students Unique Abilities Scholarship are accepted.

Snowflake Winter Programs: January through mid-March
Flowers Spring Programs: mid-March through May
Sun Summer Programs: June through July
Fall leaves Fall Programs: August through mid-October
Gingerbread Holiday Programs: November through December

Group Occupational Therapy

Sunshine Kids Therapy enrolls for group occupational therapy 3 times per year. Group occupational therapy appointments typically meet after school and run on a semester basis. Group occupational therapy appointments meet for 60-minutes, once a week. Monthly tuition is charged on the 1st of each month. Private pay and the Step-Up for Students Unique Abilities Scholarship are accepted.

Group occupational therapy tuition varies based on how many children are in the group. Group placement depends on your child's skills and will be determined collaboratively after your child's comprehensive evaluation.

  • Leaf bullet Dynamic Duos (2 children): tuition = $240.00 per month per child ($60.00 per session)
  • Leaf bullet Quad Squads (4-children): tuition = $120.00 per month per child ($30.00 per session)
  • Leaf bullet Six-Packs (6 children): $80.00 per month per child ($20.00 per session)
Flowers Spring Programs: January-May
Sun Summer Programs: June through July
Fall leaves Fall Programs: August-December

Family Occupational Therapy

We offer two family occupational therapy packages. This allows you to choose the level of support and pace of intervention that best meets your family's needs. After comprehensive evaluation, our family occupational therapy process includes 3 steps: a 2-hour observation of your family's routines, a meeting to discuss our findings, and personalized intervention to help your family improve daily functioning.

The main difference between our packages is how quickly intervention begins. Once intervention starts, all families complete weekly sessions, just like our individual occupational therapy program. Intervention appointments meet for 60-minutes, once a week. Each session costs $125.00 and will be charged immediately after your child's appointment ends. Private pay and the Step-Up for Students Unique Abilities Scholarship are accepted.

Package 1: Slow and Steady

This package is ideal for families who prefer to spread out their sessions and payments.

Week 1: Comprehensive evaluation (60-90 minutes) — $150.00

Week 2: Observation (2 hours) — $125.00

Week 3: Family meeting (45 minutes) — $100.00

Week 4: Your family's weekly intervention sessions begin. Sessions are 60 minutes long and cost $125 each.

Package 2: Jump Right In

This package is ideal for families who want to begin intervention as soon as possible.

Week 1: Comprehensive evaluation, observation, and family meeting (3 days). For example:

  • Leaf bullet Monday: Comprehensive evaluation (60-90 minutes) — $150.00
  • Leaf bullet Wednesday: Observation (2 hours) — $125.00
  • Leaf bullet Friday: Family debrief (45 minutes) — $100.00

Week 1 Total Cost: $375.00

Week 2: Your family's weekly intervention sessions begin. Sessions are 60 minutes long and cost $125 each.

Please Note

  • Leaf bullet We do not accept insurance at this time. This allows your child to begin services immediately without waiting for a diagnosis or physician referral. It also allows us to provide occupational therapy based on your child's and family's unique needs—not limited to only the skills insurance identifies as medically reimbursable.
  • Leaf bullet Superbills are provided upon request. A superbill is a detailed receipt that you can submit to your insurance company to see if they will reimburse you for part of the cost of your child's therapy. Sunshine Kids Therapy cannot guarantee reimbursement, as coverage varies by insurance plan, but we are happy to provide the necessary documentation for your convenience.
  • Leaf bullet We proudly accept the Step Up for Students Unique Abilities Scholarship!
Step Up For Students — Scholarships Accepted Here!