Pediatric Department Classes Just for Kids

Marianjoy offers a variety of classes for children with disabilities — from toddlers to teens!  Classes meet for 8 weeks and cost $80.00. 

For more information or to register, call Melissa at 630-909-7155.

THERAPEUTIC GOLF

Click here to learn more about our Golf for Kids with Disabilities Program.

COME PLAY WITH ME – 1-2 year olds

This is a social interaction and play skills group that facilitates interaction with other children to work on interactive play, age-appropriate play skills, and socialization.  Caregivers attend the group to assist with facilitating social interaction, and to gain an understanding of the developmental skills to help the child practice at home.

COME PLAY WITH ME – 3-5 year olds

This is a “pre” preschool group designed to promote play skills, social interaction, communication and fine motor skills.   This group starts with “circle time” where participants sit for introductions, a brief group discussion, and story time and is followed by interactive play activities, gross motor/coordination activities, and fine motor activities. Participants are expected to follow basic directions, and there is an emphasis on sharing and taking turns.   

FUN WITH FOOD FOR PICKY EATERS

This group will focus on enjoying food through touch, smell, preparation, play and of course, taste! Clinicians specializing in feeding, swallowing and sensory integration will guide your child through exploration of food shapes and colors, flavors, textures, and temperatures.

THAT’S A RAP — FOR KIDS

This social language and pragmatics group addresses five specific areas: 

Topicalization: introducing, maintaining and terminating a topic in conversation

Conversational Ability: turn-taking, eye contact, topic shifting

Use of Register: formal or informal, tone of voice

Effective Language: conveying the message that was meant to be communicated

Nonverbal Communication: facial expressions, gestures

That’s a Rap I   .... Ages: 5-7 year olds    

That’s a Rap II  .... Ages: 8-11 year olds

RAP IT UP – FOR TEENS

A pragmatics and social language group for teens, addressing five specific areas:

Topicalization: introducing, maintaining and terminating a topic in conversation

Conversational Ability: turn-taking, eye contact, topic shifting

Use of Register: formal or informal, tone of voice

Effective Language: conveying the message that was meant to be communicated

Nonverbal Communication: facial expressions, gestures

We also explore the wonderful world of making new friends, interacting with other teens with self-respect, and other challenges of surviving adolescence.

SENSATIONAL PLAYMATES – 4-7 year olds  

This is a sensory exploration and social interaction/pragmatics group. In this class, children will use movement and sensory exploration while socializing with other children. Participants will explore and regulate their sensory needs in a way that promotes appropriate social interaction. Participants should already be in a school program and working on sensory regulation. 

SENSATIONAL PLAY GROUP – 5-9 year olds

This is a sensory based play group to help your child work on a variety of sensory processing skills utilizing basic concepts of “The Alert and How Does Your Engine Run” programs. We will review self-regulation skills and help your child regulate their sensory needs in a way that promotes growth and development. Children must be able to use language skills to identify needs and follow directions in a group setting to participate in this class. Caregivers will be given a review of lesson activities.  

YOUNG ADULT FITNESS GROUP– 8 year olds and older

This is a strength, balance, and flexibility exercise class for pre-teens and young adults. The focus of this class is for children who have had therapy and are learning to be more independent with their exercise routines. Because resistive and balance exercises will be utilized, a medical release is required and needs to be updated annually.

READY TO WRITE – 3-6 year olds

This is a writing-readiness class that works on the components of handwriting.  Participants in this class will work on activities to improve hand coordination, hand/arm strength, pencil grip and letter/number recognition.  We will also address pre-writing skills such as copying, tracing, and drawing basic shapes and capital letters.  Participants are expected to be able to sit at a table and follow basic directions. 

HANDWRITING HELPERS – 7-11 year olds

This is a group to help elementary school-aged children improve their handwriting.  Participants will work on the components of handwriting, including hand coordination, hand/arm strength, pencil grip and hand-eye coordination. This class will also address techniques to improve handwriting legibility, increase efficiency when copying from the board, and reduce eye and hand strain.

POOL CLASSES FOR KIDS

Pool classes are conducted by a Marianjoy physical or occupational therapist and are designed for children who have medical conditions requiring aquatic exercise. Children should have previous aquatic therapy experience and be ready to participate in a group setting. Note that some classes require the assistance of the child’s caregiver while others are designed for children who are able to be independent in the water. For children not currently participating in a Marianjoy therapy program, a physical therapy evaluation is required. For all participants, a physician release form is necessary and must be updated annually in order to continue to participate in aquatic groups.  Call Kasia at 630-909-7150 for more information or to register.

After School in the Pool

Aquatic exercise classes tailored for children ages 8 and up who are independent in the water.    

Parent and Child Swim

Aquatic exercise class for children between ages 5 and 8 years accompanied by a parent or caregiver for assistance.

Mom & Child Swim

For children ages 6 months to 4 years or older, with a caregiver or parent.

Young Adult Pool

For teenagers ages 16 and over. Participants must be able to be independent in the pool, either with a float device or on their own. This class focuses on exercise, balance and aerobics for general health and wellness, using the warm water for ease of movement.

Don't Miss Another Class

If you wish to have your name added to our mailing list for professional or community education, please send your name and address (for copies via US mail) or email address to: marketing@marianjoy.org.

Marianjoy reserves the right to cancel any class if the minimum number of attendees is not met.

The Wheaton Franciscan Sisters also offer classes on spiritual development and the healing arts on the Wheaton, Illinois, campus.