Occupational Therapist in Miami Beach, FL | Fine & Gross Motor Skills Development
Play2Learn works with children who need the world to slow down a little, kids who are sensory seeking, easily overstimulated, or still catching up on the motor and emotional milestones that daily life quietly asks of them. I bring that support straight into your home instead of asking you to carry a binder of exercises out the door.
Families here live everywhere from the Art Deco blocks near Ocean Drive to the quieter streets of Flamingo Park, from high rises along Collins Avenue to the family pockets of North Beach and Normandy Isle. Some send their kids to Fienberg Fisher or Miami Beach Senior High, others are just a short drive over the causeway bridges that connect the island to the rest of Miami Dade.
Raising a child on a barrier island brings its own particular exhaustion. Tourist season crowds sidewalks and beaches your child might already find overwhelming, apartment living means less room to burn off energy, and many parents are juggling long commutes off the island on top of everything else. What families here want is someone who understands that texture of island life and still shows up ready to meet their child exactly where they are.

How it works

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Step 1

Therapy should feel like an extension of childhood, not an interruption of it. Instead of a clinic room, we work with the toys, textures, and routines already inside your home or building, so the skills we build actually hold up in real life.
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Step 2

We begin with a conversation, not a form. I want to understand your child's personality, your household's rhythm, and what you have already tried, so the plan reflects your reality instead of a generic checklist.
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Step 3

Small wins start to compound once we begin, a swimsuit zipped independently, a boardwalk walk without a meltdown. I stay close through parent coaching so progress holds even on the days I am not there.
Most families reach out after noticing that dressing, mealtimes, or beach outings that should feel fun instead end in tears. As an occupational therapist working across Miami Beach, I support children who are sensory seeking, easily overwhelmed, or still building the fine and gross motor skills their days ask of them. Parents tell me the first shift is relief, watching a walk down Ocean Drive or a trip to the sand stop feeling like a gamble. Kids start trusting their bodies in new environments instead of shutting down. Sessions might use the beach itself as a sensory tool, or lean on quieter play at home when the island feels like too much that day.
Balancing on uneven sand, climbing a seawall, or managing tiny buttons on a swimsuit all ask more of a child's fine and gross motor skills development than most people realize. Many of the families I see on the island are working through exactly this kind of gap. The relief shows up in small victories, a child finally zipping a rash guard alone or running the length of the boardwalk without stumbling. That physical confidence tends to carry everywhere else. We build strength and coordination through play that already exists in island life, sand, water, boardwalk games, so practice never feels like a chore.
An island packed with tourists, music, and heat brings a lot of sensory input at once, and some children simply cannot filter it all. I see this often in Miami Beach, where quiet and overstimulation sit two blocks apart. What shifts first is usually the meltdown that used to hit halfway through a family outing. Kids start finding their own way to settle instead of needing to be rescued from the moment. We use water, texture, and movement drawn straight from island life to help a child's nervous system learn new ways to cope.
Vacation crowds, a long tourist season, and small apartment living can turn ordinary frustration into daily blowups. This work is for the child who cannot yet name what they are feeling before it becomes a meltdown. Families notice the recovery time shrink first, a child who used to need an hour to calm down starts finding steadier ground in minutes. We name feelings through story, art, and breathing that holds up even in a crowded elevator or a packed beach day.
Many parents on the island are already doing everything right and still feel like they are missing something. This is for the caregiver who wants real tools, not another article. The shift I see most is confidence, parents trusting their own read on their child instead of chasing the next strategy. We talk through your actual week, bedtime in a small apartment, sibling friction, tourist season chaos, and build a plan that fits your specific life.
Some families on the island are ready for something slower than a typical therapy session, a ritual that brings quiet into a place that rarely offers it. What shifts is presence. A child who cannot sit still on a crowded beach day finds stillness in tending something small and green. Sessions might include container gardening on a balcony or a simple planting ritual that becomes an anchor in an otherwise loud week.

I serve children, teens and adults

I work with families across Miami Beach, from South Beach to North Beach, and the neighboring causeway communities that connect back to the mainland. Many sessions happen right in your home or building, wherever the island rhythm has taken root for your family. 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 built Play2Learn to bring therapy into the rhythm of a family's actual life rather than a clinic schedule. Island living has its own pace, and I meet children and parents on the beach, in the building lobby, or on the living room floor, wherever growth wants to happen that day. 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.