Occupational therapy builds skills for the job of living. For children, this means helping them improve fine and gross motor skills, visual perceptual skills, overall core strength and postural control, attention span, social skills, following directions, handwriting, self-care, feeding and sensory processing. Occupational therapists work with children using meaningful and purposeful activities to help them grow, develop, and gain independence.

Sensory processing (sometimes called "sensory integration" or SI) is the way the nervous system processes and interprets sensory information. We are all constantly integrating sensory information, whether it is the sounds and smells of the school cafeteria or the feeling of the shirt on our back. Sensory Processing Disorder(SPD, formerly known as "sensory integration dysfunction") occurs when the nervous system misinterprets various sensory stimuli. As a result of this misinterpretation, individuals with SPD can have difficulties with everyday activities. Behavior problems, social challenges, anxiety, difficulty in school, poor motor skills, etc. are all characteristics of children with SPD.

Lois Hickman, MS, OTR is the founder of the farm. She has over thirty years of experience as an occupational therapist. Lois and her daughter, Jennifer live there and take care of the animals and the gardens together. Put their names together and you get Jen-Lo.

When children come to JenLo Farm for therapy, a great deal of their session is spent outside. Goals are achieved by participating in real life activities. For example, core strength, bilateral motor coordination, balance and sensory defensiveness can be addressed by raking hay, putting it in a wheelbarrow and pushing it to the compost pile. By completing a variety of farm chores, kids gain independence, learn sequencing, following directions, and responsibility for other living creatures.

ADHD coaching is relatively new. The greatest impact parents can have on their children with ADHD is to help them understand what is truly getting in the way of meeting their goals, and providing them with the knowledge, tools and strategies to succeed - in school, at home, socially... IN LIFE! Parent “training” has been identified as the most important variable in helping children with ADHD thrive. Chacko, Anil, Allan, Carla C, Uderman, Jodi, Cornwell, Melinda, Anderson, Lindsay and Chimiklis, Alyssa (2015) Training Parents of Youth with ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity We offer a parent class that will help you better understand your child and their needs to create more peace and connection within the home, decreasing arguments and making home life much more pleasant. What will you learn in this class: Calm and Connected ? Session 1-Understand the social/emotional impact on ADHD/Executive Functioning Challenges Session 2- Remaining Calm and Connected Session 3- Improving Communication Session 4- Encouraging Collaboration Session 5- Achieving Clarity and Consistency Session 6- Establishing Effective Consequences Session 7- Making Better Choices All materials created by Cindy Goldrich, Ed.M., ADHD-CCSP, PTS Coaching, LLC Need help and support with your child? Individual coaching sessions can help families be better prepared and equipped to parent children with ADHD. Together we will work to learn concrete parenting strategies that will help facilitate a more peaceful and connected home.

Children with a variety of needs and diagnoses benefit from OT. Some examples include: Sensory Processing Disorder, Autism, twice exceptional, giftedness, prematurity, and ADHD.