Introducing Growing Together: A 6-Month Parent Coaching Program
Does connecting with your child sometimes feel harder than you expected?
Maybe your child prefers playing alone. Maybe you’ve tried joining their favorite activities, but they walk away or don’t seem interested. Perhaps you’re wondering how to encourage communication, manage difficult transitions, or simply enjoy more meaningful moments together.
If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.
Many parents of children with autism or developmental differences want to connect with their children but aren’t always sure where to begin.
At Growing Through Play LLC, I believe that relationships are the foundation for learning, communication, and development. That’s why I’ve created Growing Together: A 6-Month Parent Coaching Program, designed to help families build stronger connections with their children through relationship-based, play-based occupational therapy.
I provide home-based pediatric occupational therapy and caregiver coaching in Wallingford, North Haven, Guilford, Cheshire, Branford, and surrounding Connecticut communities.
What If Therapy Focused on Teaching You How to Connect With Your Child?
When families begin therapy, they often have specific goals.
They may want their child to communicate more, participate in family routines, manage transitions, or engage in back-and-forth play.
These are important goals. But what if we started by looking at the relationship?
Before expecting a child to follow directions, participate in structured activities, or communicate in new ways, we can begin by understanding what helps that child feel comfortable, connected, and motivated to interact.
Connection before correction.
This philosophy is at the heart of Growing Through Play.
Using a relationship-based approach informed by DIR/Floortime®, I help parents learn how to:
- Recognize their child’s unique communication cues, including gestures, movements, sounds, and facial expressions.
- Follow their child’s interests to encourage shared attention and engagement.
- Build back-and-forth interactions through everyday play.
- Support emotional regulation and sensory needs through connection.
- Encourage communication without unnecessary pressure.
- Turn daily routines into opportunities for learning and meaningful interaction.
The goal isn’t to change who your child is. It’s to better understand how your child experiences the world and discover ways to grow together.
Introducing Growing Together: A 6-Month Parent Coaching Program
One of the biggest things I’ve learned as a pediatric occupational therapist is that meaningful progress doesn’t happen only during therapy sessions.
It happens during the little moments throughout the day.
It’s the extra moment your child looks toward you during a favorite game. The smile you share during a silly routine. The first time your child invites you into their play.
Those moments matter.
That’s why I developed Growing Together, a structured six-month program that combines pediatric occupational therapy, caregiver coaching, and a personalized parent curriculum.
Rather than relying on a therapist to lead every interaction, parents learn practical strategies they can use throughout their child’s everyday life.
How the Six-Month Program Works
Month 1–2: Understanding Your Child and Building Connection
We begin by learning about your child’s individual strengths, interests, sensory needs, communication, and emotional regulation.
Together, we explore what helps your child feel connected and how to enter their world through play.
Month 3–4: Growing Communication, Engagement, and Play
As you become more comfortable recognizing your child’s cues and following their lead, we build on those interactions.
We focus on encouraging shared attention, back-and-forth communication, playful problem-solving, and more meaningful engagement during everyday routines.
Month 5–6: Building Confidence and Independence
During the final part of the program, the focus shifts toward helping you confidently use these strategies without relying on ongoing weekly therapy.
As appropriate for your child’s needs and progress, sessions may gradually decrease while you continue practicing and building on what you’ve learned.
Every child develops differently, so this timeline is flexible. Some families may need additional support, while others may feel ready to transition sooner.
My goal is not for your family to need therapy forever. My goal is to help you feel confident supporting your child long after our sessions end.
More Than Therapy: A Step-by-Step Caregiver Curriculum
One of the things that makes Growing Together different is the caregiver curriculum I’ve developed to support families throughout their journey.
Parents aren’t expected to remember everything we discuss during a therapy session.
Instead, the curriculum provides practical guidance that connects what we’re learning during therapy to what you can try at home.
Each topic follows five simple steps:
LEARN — Understand an important developmental concept or relationship-based strategy.
WATCH — See examples of what the strategy might look like during play and everyday routines.
TRY — Practice the strategy with your child in a way that fits your family’s life.
REFLECT — Think about what you noticed, how your child responded, and what you might try differently.
GROW — Build on your experiences and gradually develop confidence using these strategies independently.
Topics include connecting through play, recognizing nonverbal communication, sensory processing, co-regulation, shared attention, early communication, and supporting challenging everyday routines.
The curriculum gives parents a roadmap while still allowing therapy to follow their child’s individual developmental needs.
Why Home-Based Pediatric Occupational Therapy?
Children often communicate and interact differently depending on their environment.
For some children with autism, unfamiliar therapy settings can be overwhelming. New spaces, sounds, people, and expectations may make it harder to engage.
Home-based occupational therapy gives us the opportunity to support your child in a familiar environment, using the toys, activities, and routines they already know.
We can practice strategies during real moments, such as:
- Joining your child during their favorite play activity.
- Building connection during snack time or meals.
- Supporting communication during dressing or bedtime routines.
- Navigating transitions between activities.
- Finding playful ways to encourage interaction and problem-solving.
Instead of learning a strategy in a clinic and hoping it transfers home, we practice together where your family spends its time.
Is Relationship-Based Autism Therapy Right for Your Child?
Growing Together may be a good fit if:
- Your child has autism, developmental delays, or sensory and communication differences.
- Your child prefers independent play or has difficulty engaging in shared activities.
- You want to better understand your child’s nonverbal communication.
- Your child has difficulty with transitions, emotional regulation, or everyday routines.
- You’re looking for a child-led, play-based approach rather than primarily adult-directed therapy.
- You want to actively participate in therapy and learn strategies to use between sessions.
DIR/Floortime® is a developmental, relationship-based approach that considers each child’s individual differences and emphasizes emotionally meaningful interactions.
At Growing Through Play, I incorporate DIR/Floortime® principles into occupational therapy and caregiver coaching to support connection, communication, regulation, and participation in daily life.
How Much Does the Growing Together Program Cost?
I believe families deserve to understand what they’re investing in.
The Growing Together 6-Month Parent Coaching Program is designed around an investment of approximately $3,600, or $600 per month, based on weekly sessions across the six-month period.
The program includes individualized occupational therapy, caregiver coaching, and guidance through the Growing Through Play curriculum.
An initial developmental evaluation is required and priced separately based on complexity.
Growing Through Play is a private-pay practice. Out-of-network superbills are available for families who wish to explore possible insurance reimbursement.
Most importantly, the investment isn’t just in therapy sessions. It’s in developing skills, understanding, and confidence that can continue to benefit your family beyond the six months.
Serving Families in Wallingford, North Haven, Guilford, and Surrounding Connecticut Towns
Growing Through Play LLC is based in Wallingford, Connecticut, and offers in-home pediatric occupational therapy and caregiver coaching throughout surrounding communities.
I serve families in Wallingford, North Haven, Cheshire, Guilford, Branford, Madison, and other nearby areas within approximately 45 minutes of Wallingford.
Families searching for relationship-based autism therapy, DIR/Floortime®-informed occupational therapy, or play-based parent coaching in the greater New Haven area are welcome to reach out.
Families in West Hartford and surrounding Hartford County communities are also welcome to contact me to discuss location and available options. In-home visits depend on travel distance and scheduling availability.
Ready to Build a Stronger Connection With Your Child?
You don’t have to have all the answers.
You don’t have to know exactly how to help your child communicate, play, or engage.
And you don’t have to figure everything out on your own.
Sometimes, the first step is simply learning to see the world through your child’s eyes.
At Growing Through Play, I’m here to help you recognize those small opportunities for connection and turn them into meaningful everyday experiences.
Because the goal isn’t just progress during therapy. It’s helping you and your child grow together.
If you’re interested in learning more about the Growing Together 6-Month Parent Coaching Program, I’d love to hear about your child and what you’re hoping to work toward.
Schedule a free consultation or reach out to learn more.
Growing Through Play LLC
Home-Based Pediatric Occupational Therapy & Caregiver Coaching
Wallingford, CT and surrounding communities
Email: Growingthroughplayllc@gmail.com