Building skills for play, learning, and everyday life
Play-based pediatric occupational therapy that helps your child grow in confidence and independence, from fine motor and sensory processing to feeding and self-care.
What is occupational therapy, exactly?
If you're wondering what occupational therapy is, or whether your child might benefit, you're not alone. Many parents assume it has something to do with jobs, which makes sense given the name. In our field, though, "occupations" are the meaningful activities that fill a child's day: playing, learning, eating, getting dressed, and connecting with others.
Pediatric occupational therapy supports the physical, cognitive, sensory, and social-emotional sides of development, so your child can take part in the things they need and want to do. Sessions are play-based and tailored to your child's interests, which keeps therapy engaging while building real skills for home, school, and beyond.
What brings families to us
Tap anything that sounds familiar. Every child grows at their own pace, and these are some of the everyday moments that lead parents to reach out.
Fine motor skills
Maybe holding a crayon, using scissors, buttoning, or handwriting feels harder for your child than it seems to for peers.
Sensory processing
Some kids feel sounds, textures, clothing tags, or busy places more intensely. Others seek out constant movement or pressure.
Feeding and mealtimes
If mealtimes feel like a daily struggle, or your child eats a very short list of foods, feeding therapy can help make them easier.
Big feelings
Frequent meltdowns, tough transitions, or trouble calming down can be connected to how a child's body and senses are regulating.
Coordination and movement
You might notice your child tripping often, avoiding the playground, or finding it tricky to catch a ball or ride a bike.
Self-care and play
Getting dressed, brushing teeth, or joining in play with other kids may take extra support, and building those skills can boost confidence.
This list isn't exhaustive. If something feels off, trust that instinct and reach out.
Is occupational therapy right for your child?
Check anything that sounds familiar. There's no wrong answer. This is just a starting point for the conversation.
Check a few boxes above to see where to go from here.
Still deciding? A few things worth knowing
- ✓An evaluation isn't a commitment. It's simply a way to gather information.
- ✓Every evaluation includes a parent follow-up to walk through results and next steps together
- ✓If therapy isn't the right fit, we'll tell you that too
- ✓Reaching out, even just to ask questions, is never a wasted step
What to expect
Your child's first visit is a comprehensive evaluation, built around your concerns and your child's unique needs. From there, we create a plan together.
- What we reviewYour concerns, together first
- TestingIndividualized to your child
- Areas assessedMotor, sensory, play & regulation
- After the evaluationParent follow-up to review results
- Your child's planIndividualized goals & activities
- Session length45 or 60 minutes
- In sessionsPlay-based & child-led
- Family involvementCaregivers & siblings welcome
Insurance we accept
Private pay is also available if your plan isn't listed.
Private pay rates
- New patient evaluation$250
- 45-minute session$105
- 60-minute session$120
We accept HSA/FSA cards and can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement. Questions about your benefits? We're happy to help you sort them out.
What sets Your Village apart
One team, every specialty
Speech, occupational therapy, behavior support, and more work together under one roof, so your family isn't coordinating across separate offices.
Play Village
A dedicated, non-clinical play space where kids build skills and confidence outside of a typical therapy setting.
Insurance-friendly
In-network with major carriers including UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, UMR, BlueCross BlueShield, and Cigna, with private pay also available.
Plans built around your child
Every evaluation and treatment plan is shaped around your child's specific needs and your family's goals.
You're not just a client here
Your Village STL was built on community and real relationships. Families and providers work together, with your child at the center of it all. Whatever your child or family needs, you don't have to navigate it alone.
Get Started
Three simple steps to get started
Reach out
Fill out the form below and tell us a bit about your child.
Schedule and benefits check
We'll find a time for your evaluation and confirm insurance or private pay details.
Begin treatment
Start regular sessions built around your child's evaluation results.
Meet our providers
Marla George
Marla has been a pediatric occupational therapist since 2013 and earned her master's degree in Occupational Therapy from the University of Missouri-Columbia. She has worked with children in school, home, and outpatient settings in both India and Missouri, and specializes in feeding therapy, sensory processing and regulation, motor and visual-motor development, primitive reflex integration, executive functioning, and caregiver coaching.
As a mom of two children with multiple disabilities, Marla is passionate about therapy that meets the needs of the whole family. Her play-based sessions are built around each child's interests, and she welcomes caregivers and siblings to join in. Outside of work, she loves traveling internationally, attending NubAbility camp, and spending time with her golden retriever.
Caroline Kilgore
Caroline has called St. Louis home since she was 3 and earned both her bachelor's degree in Occupational Science and master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Saint Louis University. Since graduating in 2023, she has worked in school settings and hippotherapy (horse-assisted therapy), and she is a certified Early Start Denver Model (ESDM) therapist with a focus on supporting autistic children.
Her sessions are child-led with play at the core, weaving therapeutic goals into activities each child finds motivating. She brings a strong background in school readiness, fine motor development, sensory processing, and AAC devices, and she values supporting each family as a whole. Caroline and her husband, Evan, recently welcomed their first baby, Eloise.
Risa Shyres
Risa brings over 25 years of experience as a pediatric occupational therapist across in-home therapy, classrooms and daycare, hospitals and clinics, aquatic therapy, and Missouri First Steps. She earned her master's degree in Occupational Therapy from Washington University School of Medicine and her bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Miami, and she is certified in Handwriting Without Tears, Autism, and ADHD.
Her expertise includes sensory processing and integration, fine and visual motor skills, emotional regulation, dyslexia and executive functioning, feeding, and self-care. Risa believes strongly in collaboration, working closely with families to help children become successful, confident learners. Outside of work, she volunteers at her daughters' school and has been a Girl Scout Troop Leader for 15 years.
Frequently asked questions
Not for kids! In occupational therapy, "occupations" are the meaningful activities that fill a child's day, like playing, learning, eating, getting dressed, and connecting with others. Pediatric OT helps children build the skills to take part in those everyday activities with more confidence and independence.
We're in-network with UnitedHealthcare, Anthem, UMR, BlueCross BlueShield, and Cigna. If your plan isn't listed, we can provide a superbill for out-of-network reimbursement, and we're happy to help you understand your benefits.
Private pay rates are $250 for a new patient evaluation, $105 for a 45-minute session, and $120 for a 60-minute session. We also accept HSA and FSA cards.
Every evaluation includes individualized testing based on your child's needs and your concerns. We look at areas like fine and gross motor skills, visual motor skills, coordination, play skills, primitive reflexes, sensory processing, and self-regulation.
We meet with you for a parent follow-up to review the results and talk through recommendations. If therapy is a good fit, we create an individualized plan with goals and activities tailored to your child.
Sessions are 45 or 60 minutes, depending on your child's needs and goals.
Yes, and we love when they do. Caregivers and siblings are welcome to participate when possible, and we share ideas you can carry into everyday life at home.
Reach out. We're happy to answer your questions and talk it through before you commit to anything.
Ready to get started?
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