Occupational Therapist in Palmetto Bay, FL | Fine & Gross Motor Skills Development
Some neighborhoods grow slowly on purpose, and that quiet, unhurried pace shapes everything about how I work with the families here. My practice supports children who are sensory seeking, easily overwhelmed, or still building the motor and emotional skills that daily routines quietly demand, at a rhythm that matches the community around them.
Old Cutler Road winds beneath a dense tree canopy past Coral Reef Park, the Deering Estate sits just at the edge of the village, and families often bike between quiet cul de sacs rather than drive. The pace here favors long afternoons outside over packed schedules, with more green space than pavement in most directions.
Even a genuinely peaceful setting cannot always protect a sensitive child from struggling, and sometimes that quiet makes it easier for real challenges to go unnoticed by others. Parents here want a therapist who understands the value of a slower pace while still taking their concerns seriously.

How it works

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Step 1

Growth should feel as unhurried as an afternoon on Old Cutler Road. We use the yard, the bike path, or the living room already familiar to your family to build skills that genuinely last.
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Step 2

We begin with an honest conversation about your child and your family's pace, never a clinical form. That shapes a plan built around the quiet rhythm your household already keeps.
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Step 3

Small shifts build steadily, a bike ride through the neighborhood without a meltdown, a bedtime routine that finally settles. Parent coaching keeps that progress alive between visits.
Families often reach out once they notice a child struggling quietly, even in a neighborhood built for calm. As an occupational therapist working across Palmetto Bay, 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 bike ride through the neighborhood stop feeling risky and start feeling like real joy. Sessions often happen right in your yard or along a quiet stretch of sidewalk.
Biking down Old Cutler Road or navigating an uneven trail near Coral Reef Park asks more of a child's coordination than a paved suburb might. Fine and gross motor skills development is often the first concern families here bring to me. The relief shows up in small wins, a child biking confidently through the neighborhood or finally managing a jacket zipper before heading outside. We build strength and coordination using the neighborhood's own trails and yards, bike practice, nature walks, backyard obstacle courses.
Even a peaceful, green setting brings its own sensory world, humidity, insects, dense shade, that some children find harder to filter than others. This shows up often among the families I support here. What shifts first is usually the resistance to time outside, a child who once avoided the yard begins asking to explore it. We lean on the natural textures already surrounding your home, bark, grass, dappled light, to help a child's nervous system settle.
A quiet setting can sometimes make it easier for a struggling child to go unnoticed by others outside the home. This work is for the child who cannot yet name what they feel before it becomes a meltdown. Families notice the recovery time shrink first, a meltdown that once lasted through an entire afternoon starts resolving in minutes. We build a feelings vocabulary and coping tools that hold up even on the calmest days.
Many parents here value the neighborhood's slower pace and still quietly wonder if they are missing something with their child. This is for the caregiver who wants honest, practical support. The shift I see most is confidence, trusting their instincts instead of assuming quiet always means everything is fine. We talk through your real week, biking routines, school schedules, sibling dynamics, and build a plan that fits your family's pace.
A neighborhood already this green makes mindfulness with plants feel like a natural extension of the surrounding landscape. What shifts is presence, a child who struggles to sit still finds calm tending a garden bed shaded by the same trees lining the street. Sessions might include a planting ritual in your own yard, a quiet practice that mirrors the neighborhood's own unhurried pace.

I serve children, teens and adults

I work with families throughout Palmetto Bay and into neighboring Pinecrest and Cutler Bay. Sessions often happen in the yard or along a quiet street, wherever your family feels most at ease. 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 believes a slower pace and real progress can exist side by side. I bring therapy into Palmetto Bay's yards and quiet streets. 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.