When Keston was two years old, the world felt chaotic and overwhelming. While his peers were making progress in managing emotions, Keston often resorted to aggressive and impulsive behavior that wasn’t typical for children his age.

Leaving the house felt like an impossible task for Keston’s mom, Sera. Keston would get overstimulated in busy environments, leading him to climb out of shopping carts, run off, and throw objects. Recognizing her son’s struggles, Sera sought help online and discovered 321go Kids.

When Keston first started therapy, he displayed limited verbal communication and reacted negatively to challenges or corrections. He couldn’t play and participate in group activities at daycare because he would often hit or bite other children.

Patrick Robbins, Lead Occupational Therapist at 321go Kids, served as Keston’s therapist for almost two years. Patrick leveraged Keston’s love for play to engage him in therapy sessions. Initially, they focused on sensory play, incorporating activities like obstacle courses and the sensory swing.

Keston and Patrick would also play a game with a key phrase for communication and articulation. This game brought laughter to Keston and created fun memories for Patrick and Sera.

As Keston progressed, they shifted towards cooperative play, emphasizing sharing toys and making choices. This approach encouraged Keston to reflect on his actions and create an enjoyable environment.

“Once he was making the choice to want to continue cooperative play, we could work on the other things he needed to learn,” Patrick observed. “And that’s when things started blooming. It was really fun watching him come into his own.”

Keston made remarkable strides in therapy. He learned to manage his anger and overstimulation, improved his speech, and became more cooperative during play. Sera’s dedication to therapy at home led to an improvement in Keston’s social interaction skills in public settings and daycare. Now four years old, Keston no longer needs occupational therapy.

“I would recommend that parents considering therapy at least have an evaluation done. I’m very appreciative of all of the staff and therapists,” said Sera.

Do you know a child who struggles with overstimulating environments? Help them discover hope and unleash potential by completing the contact form at 321gokids.com.