Occupational Therapist in Miami, FL | Fine & Gross Motor Skills Development
I started Play2Learn because too many families were being handed a binder of exercises and sent home to figure out the rest alone. My practice supports children who are sensory seeking, easily overwhelmed, or still building the fine and gross motor skills that let daily life feel manageable, from buttoning a shirt to running across a playground without hesitation. Sessions happen in the comfort of home, where growth actually sticks.
Families come to me from Coral Way bungalows, high rises near Brickell, and the shaded blocks around Vizcaya Museum and Gardens. Some drive in from Little Havana or Silver Bluff, others live a short walk from the University of Miami or the Roads neighborhood near Coconut Grove. Wherever a family calls home in Miami, the rhythm of the city becomes part of how we build a plan that actually fits their life, including the languages spoken at the dinner table and the grandparents who live three streets over.
Raising a sensitive or neurodivergent child in a city this busy brings its own weight. Miami moves fast, the school year is long and humid, and multigenerational households often carry different ideas about what a child needs. Parents here are looking for someone who understands that culture and connection matter as much as any clinical goal, and who will meet their child with warmth instead of a checklist.
How it works
Step 1
I believe therapy should feel like an extension of childhood, not an interruption of it. Instead of a sterile clinic room, we work with the toys, textures, and routines already in your home, so the fine and gross motor skills we build actually transfer to real life.
Step 2
We begin with a conversation, not a form. I want to understand your child's personality, your family's rhythm, and what has already been tried, so the plan we create reflects your reality rather than a generic template.
Step 3
Once we begin, sessions build on themselves. Small wins at home, like putting on shoes without a battle or bouncing back faster after a meltdown, start to compound, and I stay close through parent coaching so the progress holds even between visits.
This is where most families start, often after noticing that daily routines like dressing, eating, or managing transitions take far more energy than they should. As an occupational therapist working across Miami, I support children who are sensory seeking, easily overwhelmed, or still building the foundational motor and emotional skills every day asks of them.
Parents in Miami tell me the biggest shift is relief, watching mornings stop feeling like a negotiation and afternoons stop ending in tears. Kids begin to trust their own bodies again, and that confidence spills into school and friendships.
In session we might work through movement, sensory play, or fine motor tasks disguised as games, always led by what your child needs that day.
Some children move through the world unsteady on their feet or frustrated by buttons, zippers, and pencils that will not cooperate. Fine and gross motor skills development is often the first thing families in Miami ask about, especially when a child seems to be meeting milestones on their own timeline rather than a textbook one.
The relief here often shows up in small, powerful moments, a child managing their own shoes for the first time or running across a playground without hesitation. Confidence in the body tends to open confidence everywhere else.
Sessions blend gross and fine motor play, often using whatever is already lying around the house, blocks, chalk, or a favorite ball, so practice never feels like a chore.
Certain children flinch at tags, sounds, or crowded rooms, while others crash into furniture just to feel something. Both patterns show up often in the families I see here, especially in a city as loud, bright, and textured as Miami.
What shifts first is usually the meltdowns tied to transitions. The ones that used to erupt out of nowhere start to soften as your child's nervous system learns new ways to settle.
We lean on nature and movement often, water play, textured bins, quiet corners built into a session, so regulation becomes something your child can access on their own over time.
Big feelings do not wait for a convenient moment, and many of the families I support are exhausted from managing meltdowns that seem to come out of nowhere. This work is for the child who shuts down, lashes out, or cannot yet name what they are feeling.
What changes first is often the recovery time. A child who used to need an hour to calm down starts finding their way back in minutes, and parents start trusting their own instincts again.
Sessions might include naming feelings through story or art, practicing breathing that actually holds up outside of session, or simply learning what safety feels like in the body.
Many parents come to me already doing everything right and still feeling like it is not enough. This is for the caregiver who wants to understand their child rather than simply manage their behavior.
The shift I see most is in confidence. Parents start trusting what they already know instead of searching for the next strategy, and home starts to feel less like a series of negotiations.
We talk through real moments from your week, bedtime, transitions, sibling friction, and build tools that fit your family instead of a script pulled from a book.
Some of the families I work with are ready for something beyond traditional therapy, a way to bring calm into daily life that does not feel clinical at all. This is for children and adults alike who are craving a slower, more grounded rhythm.
What tends to shift is presence. A child who struggles to sit still finds a few quiet minutes tending to a plant, and that stillness starts to carry into other parts of the day.
Sessions might include planting rituals, sensory gardening, or simple mindfulness practices rooted in caring for something living and watching it grow.
I serve children, teens and adults
My practice is based in Miami and I work with families throughout the surrounding neighborhoods, from Coral Gables to Kendall to the beach communities just across the causeway. Many sessions happen right in your home, wherever that home sits within Miami Dade County. Below you will find a map of the area I serve, along with the many communities I already know well.
Testimonials
“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 because I believe therapy should feel like part of life, not separate from it. I work with children across Miami who are navigating big emotions, sensory differences, or motor delays, and with the parents who are showing up for them every day. My approach blends evidence based therapy with soulful, sensory practices so healing feels intuitive rather than clinical. 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.
