December 6, 2007

The first pediatric therapy center in the Gorge will have a grand opening this Friday, Dec. 7.

Co-owners Annette Broddie, OTR/L and Julie Murphy, COTA/L, occupational therapists, have 32 years of combined experience to help kids improve their life skills.

“Occupational therapy is a health profession that helps people participate in meaningful daily roles and activities. For children, this is school, play, self-care and social interactions. For example, we help children improve visual and motor skills necessary for handwriting and shoe tying,” said Broddie.

Kidsense’s specialty is helping kids work through sensory issues with touch, sound and movement. A child who has sensitivity to touch may show signs of stress with food textures, getting dressed, hugs, haircuts, fingernail cutting and tactile media such as arts and crafts.

When a child is sensitive to sound, the parent may find their child hiding or covering his or her ears to vacuum and blender noise or perhaps not responding to directions. Broddie and Murphy are specially trained on therapeutic listening programs to help children process sounds better and this often improves language as well.

A parent may notice that their child is unusually clumsy, awkward, or loses balance easily. These are symptoms of movement and coordination issues. Some children are fearful to move in a given space, where as others are fearless. According to Murphy, “Our goal is to help each child get out of the ‘fright, flight, or fight’ mode so they can function successfully in a variety of environments.”

At Kidsense you will find creative and adaptive solutions, such as suspended climbing equipment, tunnels, swings, unique tactile experiences, parent-infant massage and specialized yoga.

The public is invited to a preview of Kidsense Dec. 7 from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. at 315 Oak St., Hood River, second floor. Kidsense is licensed to assist children from birth to 21 and offers individual, group and parent support.