Occasional crying isn’t uncommon for toddlers. For Ezra, however, the crying was nearly constant. His mother, Emily, noticed he was generally unhappy and even showed signs of sensory processing challenges. The only activity that seemed to calm him was taking walks outside. Emily also observed developmental differences between Ezra and his older brother.

Simple tasks like putting on a hat or wearing glasses felt insurmountable. Ezra couldn’t tolerate frustration, and sensory difficulties impacted his ability to play and communicate with others. “Stimming” (repetitive movements to self-sooth) disrupted essential activities like eating and sleeping.

At just three years old, Ezra was too young for a specific diagnosis, but that didn’t stop his family from seeking help from 321go Kids. They knew that with the right support, Ezra could find joy in the world around him.

Occupational Therapist Patrick Robbins evaluated Ezra, and Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant Lexie started exploring ways to help Ezra find his joy. Lexie observed Ezra’s movements and behaviors to determine his sensory needs and provided play-based therapy to meet those needs. Ezra’s family was actively involved in the process and asked insightful questions.

“When we started working on tolerating his glasses and hats, we used visual toys to show him the joy of being able to see through glasses,” Lexie noted.

Emily appreciated Lexie’s understanding of Ezra’s challenges, saying, “It felt like she had a really good understanding of what he was dealing with and what he was going through, so it was extremely helpful for me as a parent when she could give me a ‘why’ for some of his behaviors.”

Since therapy, Ezra has improved in several ways, including consistently wearing his glasses, willingly rotating between multiple pairs, and wearing hats and mittens. His grip has improved, and he can now do important tasks without bribes. He retains information, participates in class activities, and can identify letters and their sounds.

“Now he does a great job expressing what he needs, and he loves playing with all sorts of toys and with other children. It is great to see him play and be joyful as he goes throughout the day – he is such a smart kid with a great laugh,” Lexie expressed.

If you know a child who struggles with excessive crying and sensory processing, help them discover hope and unleash potential through occupational therapy. Caregivers can get started by completing our contact form at 321goKids.com.