Occupational Therapist in Key Biscayne, FL | Fine & Gross Motor Skills Development
Islands hold their own kind of stillness, water on every side, one road in and out, a pace that slows the moment you cross the causeway. My practice supports children who are sensory seeking, easily overwhelmed, or still building the motor and emotional skills that daily routines quietly demand, in a setting that already feels a world apart from the mainland rush.
Crandon Park's beaches stretch along one edge of the island, Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park anchors the other, and the Rickenbacker Causeway carries every school run, grocery trip, and doctor's visit back toward the mainland. Kids here grow up biking to the village center and knowing their neighbors by name, in a community small enough to feel like everyone's front yard connects.
Island living means every errand takes a little longer, every appointment requires crossing that one causeway, and a small, tight knit population means privacy can feel harder to protect. Parents here want a therapist willing to come to the island itself, sparing families yet another crossing back and forth.

How it works

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Step 1

Growth should feel as unhurried as island life itself. We use the beach, the yard, or the living room already familiar to your child to build skills that genuinely last.
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Step 2

We begin with a real conversation about your child and your island rhythm, never a clinical form. That shapes a plan built around your family's actual pace.
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Step 3

Momentum builds steadily, a bike ride to the village center without a meltdown, a beach afternoon that ends in laughter. Parent coaching keeps that progress alive between visits.
Families often reach out once they notice a child struggling with routines that should feel easy in such a small, close community. As an occupational therapist working across Key Biscayne, I support children who are sensory seeking, easily overwhelmed, or still building the fine and gross motor skills their day requires. Parents describe the shift as relief, watching a walk to the village or a beach afternoon stop feeling unpredictable. Sessions often happen right on the island, at home or along the beach, without requiring a crossing back to the mainland.
Biking to the village, navigating soft sand, or paddling near Crandon Park asks a lot of a child's balance and strength. Fine and gross motor skills development is often the first thing families here bring up. The relief shows up in small victories, a child biking confidently to the village center or running the length of the beach without stumbling. We build strength and coordination using the island itself, sand, bike paths, shallow water play.
Salt air, shifting tides, and sun soaked afternoons bring a distinct sensory world that some children find calming and others find overwhelming. This shows up often among the island families I support. What shifts first is usually the resistance to the beach itself, a child who once avoided the sand begins asking to go back. We lean on the island's natural textures, sand, water, sea breeze, to help a child's nervous system find new ways to settle.
Even in a small, quiet community, a child's big feelings do not simply disappear. This work is for the child who cannot yet name what they feel before frustration takes over. Families notice the recovery time shrink first, a meltdown that once lasted through a beach outing starts resolving in minutes. We build a feelings vocabulary and coping tools that hold up on a sandy afternoon or a quiet evening at home.
Many parents here value privacy in a community small enough that everyone tends to know everyone. This is for the caregiver who wants something genuinely their own. The shift I see most is confidence, trusting their instincts without worrying about island gossip. We talk through your real week, island logistics, causeway commutes, sibling dynamics, and build a plan that fits your family quietly.
An island already wrapped in salt air and slow tides makes mindfulness with plants feel like a natural extension of daily life. What shifts is presence, a child who cannot sit still after a busy beach day settles easily while tending something small and green at home. Sessions might include a container planting ritual on your patio, a quiet practice that mirrors the island's own steady rhythm.

I serve children, teens and adults

I work with families across the island of Key Biscayne, coming directly to your home so no extra causeway crossing is required. Sessions often happen along the beach or in your living room. Below is a map of the area I serve.

Testimonials

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“The Cafetera planting workshop was such a meaningful experience. It felt intimate, grounding, and deeply connected to culture and intention. Creating something with my hands while slowing down and being present made the experience feel special and memorable.”

Christina S. | Cafetera Planting Workshop

“I’ve created three vision planters, and I’ll continue coming back. Even though I know the process, it’s the experience of the class that keeps drawing me in. The energy and intention of each workshop meet me exactly where I am.”

Cassandra M. | Vision Planter (Repeat Client)

“Having a manifesting planting bar at my 50th birthday celebration was one of the most special parts of the day. It gave my guests a moment to pause, reflect, and create something meaningful together. The energy it brought into the celebration was beautiful and unforgettable.”

Maria S. | 50th Birthday Manifesting Planting Bar

“Our team-building planting experience was refreshing and genuinely impactful. It created space for connection, collaboration, and creativity in a way that felt natural and meaningful. The experience brought our team together and left a lasting impression.”

Jenny T. | Corporate Team-Building Workshop

Erika Valdés – A pediatric occupational therapist

I'm a pediatric occupational therapist, former elementary school teacher, and plant ritual facilitator who loves the particular stillness an island brings to a child's growth. I come directly to Key Biscayne, sparing families the extra crossing. I help people bloom where they are planted.

Frequently asked questions

  • Do you accept insurance?

    Play2Learn  currently operates as an out-of-network provider. Superbills can be provided upon request for possible reimbursement from your insurance plan. Payment is due at the time of service.

  • What if I need to cancel or reschedule?

    Cancellations + Rescheduling:

    Appointments must be canceled or rescheduled at least 24 hours in advance to avoid being charged the full session fee. Exceptions may be made for illness or emergencies communicated promptly.

  • How often should my child have sessions?

    Every child is different, but most families see the best results with 1–3 sessions per week for at least 10 weeks.

  • Payment plans

    Flexible payment plans are available for therapy packages. Please inquire during your consultation.

  • Confidentiality + privacy

    All client information is kept confidential in accordance with HIPAA regulations. Your privacy is always protected.