We are contacting clients on our waitlist now and plan to accept new referrals soon!
Occupational Therapy for Children
We put the FUN back into FUNCTION right from the comfort of your own home.
Therapy in your home
Home is a powerful word... it is where the child feels most comfortable, can be themselves, experience their struggles and celebrate their achievements! They sleep, eat, and play here. In our experience, their home environment is the best place to work with a child. This is where we see their daily routines, how they perform tasks and respond to daily demands. We will assess their needs and establish child and family-centered goals that will be realistic and achievable, using each family's specific and individual environment, and tools already available to them in their home. Our goal is to provide exceptional Occupational Therapy services in a convenient, comfortable and efficient way, in your child's most natural environment! Home Sweet Home.
What concerns you?
Are you feeling overwhelmed? Is your child a fussy eater or problem feeder? Are they having difficulty learning toileting or self-care skills. Do they get frustrated when learning new tasks such as getting dressed or tying their shoes? They might have challenges with organization or written work at school. Do they struggle with self-regulation and transitions to new environments? What are your concerns? We can support you and your child's other caregivers.
How we can help you?
Many children enter the world with a challenging beginning. As infants, they may have required procedures, surgeries, or just a lengthy hospital stay. After childbirth, and during the first few months of life, parents may notice small things that just don't seem right. Infants who have had a difficult delivery or a complex medical history often have delays meeting developmental motor milestones. Other children may progress well through infancy, but parents may notice daily struggles developing in social, emotional, play or self-care skills as they progress through their formative years. Some children may enter grade school before teachers and parents realize that they are experiencing challenges keeping up to their peers or meeting grade level expectations with written productivity or self-regulation in the classroom. Whatever challenges you are experiencing with your child's activities of daily living, we are here to help.
Our Team of Occupational Therapists
Lareina Wilson, OT Reg. (Ont)
Lareina is co-founder and owner of Hopscotch Kids Occupational Therapy. She graduated from the University of Manitoba in 1997 with a Bachelor of Medical Rehabilitation in Occupational Therapy. Throughout the past 24 years, she has dedicated her practice to paediatrics, working extensively with children from birth to 19 years with a variety of diagnoses, neurodevelopmental delays and learning disabilities. Lareina has several years of experience in a variety of settings including private therapy clinics, Children's Treatment Centers, and Community Service Agencies providing home, daycare and school based Occupational Therapy.
Lareina is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of children, and their families by offering exceptional therapy services, fostering independence and functional skills for play and daily routines. . Children develop a sense of pride and confidence by developing a mastery of skills for play, self-care, school participation and other everyday activities. Areas of concern often addressed include progression of developmental milestones, fine and visual motor skills for classroom productivity and self-care skills, oral motor and feeding skill development, sensory integration and self-regulation, environmental modifications and home safety.
Lareina is committed to continuing education to ensure she remains current with relevant topics related to client needs and developing skills to better meet the evolving demands of clients and their families in the home and school settings. Some of the courses she has attended that are pertinent to treating children with fine motor, self-care, feeding and sensory challenges include Handwriting Without Tears, Assistive Technology, Introduction to Neurodevelopmental Therapy, Geneva Centre for Autism Level 1 Certificate, Listening with the Whole Body, Mental Health, Sensory Processing and Challenging Behaviour, Oral Motor Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders, Paediatric feeding and swallowing: Managing complex issues, as well as When and How To Initiate Tube Weaning.
Lareina maintains a firm belief that family centered therapy is key to helping children achieve their goals. By collaborating with families to develop client specific goals, she aims to deliver fun and engaging activities which are critical to goal progression - if clients are having fun, it will not feel like therapy!
Sheryl Jean, OT Reg. (Ont)
Sheryl is co-founder and owner of Hopscotch Kids Occupational Therapy. She graduated from the University of Western Ontario in 1994 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Occupational Therapy, as well as a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology, with an emphasis on Child Development. Over the last 25 years, Sheryl has worked exclusively in paediatrics, with children from newborn to 19 years of age, with a wide range of diagnoses, disabilities, learning differences and special needs. Sheryl has worked in a variety of settings including private therapy clinics, Children's Treatment Centres, as well as in the community, providing home, daycare and school based Occupational Therapy services.
Sheryl is passionate about making a difference in the lives of children and their caregivers. Her positive, family-centred, holistic approach to assessment and treatment empowers families, and enables children to be the best they can be. Her creative play-based techniques and playful sense of humour, quickly win over the trust of children, allowing them to be fully engaged in therapeutic activities, enabling them to achieve or surpass their functional goals.
Continuing education is a priority for Sheryl who strives to stay current with occupational therapy evidence-based treatment approaches. Recent feeding courses include the SOS Approach to Feeding, the Get Permission Approach to Sensory Mealtime Challenges, A Comprehensive Approach to Feeding Challenges, and Feed Me? – Decision Making approach to Feeding and Swallowing. Sensory processing and self-regulation workshops recently attended by Sheryl include Triggers, Treatment and Tools – A Comprehensive Approach to Self-Regulation, DIR/Floortime® – A Model for Nurturing Communication, Cognition and Connection, and many more. Sheryl has developed and facilitated summer printing and fine motor groups in a clinic setting for the past several years.
Sheryl strives to go above and beyond for the families she supports, instilling hope, enabling her clients to exceed their functional goals. She makes learning new skills fun! Sheryl is passionate about helping children learn, grow and be the best they can be! "Occupational Therapy is where science, creativity and compassion collide."
Andrea Harrower OT Reg. (Ont)
Andrea graduated from Wilfrid Laurier University in 2014 with a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and obtained her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2018 from McMaster University.
Throughout her career working in pediatric community care and school-based rehabilitation, she has supported children from birth to 19 years with a wide range of issues including accessibility and equipment needs, sensory processing needs, emotional regulation and executive functioning challenges, and fine and gross motor delays. She has additional training in managing complex feeding concerns in infants and toddlers, and she loves working with parents/caregivers to support baby’s optimal growth and development.
Andrea is passionate about partnering with children and their families to help them succeed in the daily occupations that matter most to them, in the places where they are most comfortable – whether it be home, daycare or school. She uses a strengths-based approach and neurodiversity-affirming lens to empower families to better understand how to help their unique child thrive. Andrea firmly believes in a no one-size-fits-all approach. With creativity, compassion, connection and good old-fashioned fun, therapy becomes something that kids want to do – all while building skills, confidence and a positive sense of self. Andrea is dedicated to helping children and their families become the best version of themselves and participate fully in all life has to offer.
Andrea is a Registered Occupational Therapist (OT) in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and a member of the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists.
Jamie Gleed, OT Reg. (Ont)
Jamie Gleed completed her undergraduate degree (2007) and Masters of Arts (2009) in Child in Youth Studies from Brock University. She completed a Masters of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2011.
Jamie has been practicing in pediatrics since graduation spending the last 13 years at McMaster Children’s Hospital within Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation before joining Hopscotch Kids.
Jamie has had the privilege of working with children birth to age 18 both through individualized therapy and complex multidisciplinary teams. Jamie has experience supporting children in all environments including consulting to daycares, preschools and schools. Jamie has specialized skills in the area of feeding and swallowing, self regulation and social skills and infants and children with complex, multifaceted needs. Jamie is skilled with working with children with fine and gross motor skills, handwriting concerns, self care and adaptive skills, coordination and executive functioning. Jamie has worked extensively with adaptive devices and accessibility (home and vehicle modifications).
Jamie is passionate about working with children and their families and truly feels being an OT is a dream ‘job’. Jamie believes that the best therapeutic interventions are the ones that make a child and family feel empowered. Jamie’s focus is on creating an environment where a child and their family can thrive. Jamie works hard to create rapport with each child valuing their uniqueness and how therapy can best support them. Creating connection in therapy is the key to fun, learning and growth!
Jamie is committed to continued education and has completed a multitude of courses including – Handwriting Without Tears, The Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding – Basic and Advanced, Solution Focused Coaching and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children with Anxiety, The Get Permission Approach to Mealtime Behaviours, Oral Motor, Feeding/Swallowing and Respiratory Function in Children with
Neuromotor Involvement and Social Thinking (Superflex, Social Emotional Learning, Play, the ILAUGH Model, Dynamic Assessment Measure).
Stephanie Babij, OT Reg. (Ont), M.Sc., B.Kin
Stephanie Babij is a registered Occupational Therapist in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario, and a member of the Ontario Society of Occupational Therapists. Stephanie received her Honours Bachelor in Kinesiology from the University of Toronto in 2018. She then received her Master of Exercise Science in 2020, and Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2022; both from the University of Toronto.
Stephanie has worked as a pediatric occupational therapist within the school setting, providing services to children between the ages of 3-13. She has experience with fine motor skills, gross motor skills, printing, sensory challenges, self-regulation and behaviour, attention and focus as well as typing/keyboarding skills. Stephanie has collaborated with teachers, parents and other school professionals to address any challenges impacting a child's academic performance, as well as developed strategies to enhance a child's participation and success in the school setting. She also has experience recommend and teaching the use of adaptive equipment or assistive technology to support a child's independence.
Stephanie aims to use a holistic approach to improve a child's overall well-being and functional abilities, within the school or home setting. She strives to incorporate the child’s strengths and interests to foster independence in achieving their meaningful goals. Stephanie is passionate about incorporating play and creativity in all her sessions, to help children grow and learn!
In her spare time, Stephanie enjoys camping, hiking, yoga and spending time with family and friends!
Kait St. Pierre, BSc, MSc, MSc(OT), OT Reg. (Ont)
Kait graduated from the University of Guelph in 2012 with a Bachelor of Science in Nutritional and Nutraceutical Science, and completed a Master of Science in Nutrition and Metabolism at the University of Alberta in 2014. She completed a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at McMaster University in 2017.
Since becoming an OT, Kait has solely practiced in pediatrics and has had the privilege of working with children and their families from ages 0-18 years. Kait has spent the past 6 years at McMaster Children’s Hospital working in Developmental Pediatrics and Rehabilitation and in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) Follow-Up Clinic, before joining Hopscotch Kids.
Kait has experience working with children in a variety of settings including childcare centres, schools, and in their home environments. Kait has supported children across all development, including fine and gross motor, coordination, handwriting, self-care, sensory processing, emotional regulation, executive functioning, feeding, as well as home modifications and equipment needs. Kait has developed and facilitated fine motor and handwriting clinics for school-aged children and taught workshops to childcare providers regarding early childhood development.
As a lifelong learner, Kait is committed to continuing education, having completed additional training and courses including: The Sequential Oral Sensory Approach to Feeding (Basic and Advanced), Learning (Handwriting) Without Tears, Motivational Interviewing, Primitive Reflex Integration, CanFASD (Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder) Training & Certification, and certification/administration of the Bayley Scales of Infant and Toddler Development.
Kait believes that because every child is unique, therapy should be creatively tailored to a child’s interests and the ways in which they experience the world. Above all, therapy should be fun, because learning happens through play! Kait values the relationship she builds with each family, and feels connection and curiosity are the key ingredients to help children flourish. Kait sees children and families as one holistic system. She is passionate about combining evidence-based knowledge with parents’/caregivers’ own expertise to empower them and help children grow, learn, and thrive.
Caitlin Lumb, MSc(OT), OT Reg.(Ont)
Caitlin completed her undergraduate degree in Child, Youth and Family studies from the University of Guelph in 2019. She then went on to complete the Rehabilitation Assistant program at Capilano University where she became a certified Occupational Therapy Assistant/ Physiotherapy Assistant. Caitlin recently completed her Master of Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto.
Caitlin has worked as an Occupational Therapy Assistance and Speech-Language Therapy Assistant with children aged 2-18, having the opportunity to work in a variety of settings to support children in their everyday activities. She has collaborated with parents, therapists, and teachers to meet children’s needs and optimize their success. Caitlin now looks forward to supporting children and families as a licensed Occupational Therapist.
Caitlin utilizes a holistic and strength-based approach to learn the pieces needed to fully support families and children. She is passionate about motivating children to participate in their meaningful activities and to be as independent as possible. Caitlin understands the importance of making therapy fun and getting to know each family and child that she works with.
In her spare time, Caitlin enjoys reading books, playing board games, and spending time with her family, friends, and pets!
Emily Puszkar, OT Reg.(Ont)
Emily is a registered Occupational Therapist in good standing with the College of Occupational Therapists of Ontario and holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from the University of Toronto.
Through a combination of work, volunteering, and school placements, she has gained hands-on experience working with children and youth with developmental differences across various settings, including schools, day programs, online platforms, and within the community.
In these diverse settings, Emily has worked with children to develop and improve a variety of skills, including handwriting, sensory and emotional regulation, as well as social, self-care, and independent living skills. She has collaborated with teachers and parents to create tailored strategies and help children achieve their goals. Emily has also supported autistic teenagers in developing the skills they need to help them prepare for future employment opportunities. With a passion for supporting children and families, Emily is dedicated to creating personalized interventions that encourage growth and success.
In her spare time, Emily enjoys rock climbing, snowboarding, playing board games, camping, and experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen.
Occupational Therapy Assistants
Occupational therapy support personnel, or assistants, are individuals who have the job-related competencies to support occupational therapists in delivering occupational therapy services. The work of an occupational therapist assistant is supervised by an occupational therapist. Occupational therapist assistants are not a regulated profession and, as such, the educational requirements are more generalized and there is no entrance exam like the NOTCE. Occupational therapist assistant programs, many of which are accredited, exist at colleges across Canada.
Kimberly Callander
Kim graduated from Western University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts in Kinesiology and Rehabilitation Sciences. She is currently completing her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy at the University of Toronto, looking forward to becoming a licensed OT in December 2025.
Kim has over 8 years of experience working with children in a variety of settings, including Gymnastics Coaching, Emergency Supply Teaching, Student Kinesiologist, and numerous other volunteer opportunities.
As an Occupational Therapy student, Kim strives to work with a patient and family-centered lens, as well as implement a strength-based approach to rehabilitation.
Hopscotch Kids Therapy is excited to have Kimberly join our team as Occupational Therapy Support Personnel. She will visit clients and their families, implementing Occupational Therapy programming under the supervision of a licensed Occupational Therapist.
Contact Us
*Regrettably all of our occupational therapists are currently fully booked, and we are unable to accept new clients at this time. Please check back in with us periodically for an update on our availability.*
Please direct any service inquiries to:
FAQ's
Does OHIP cover the cost of therapy sessions?
Private therapy services provided by Hopscotch Kids are not covered through OHIP. Payment will therefore be provided through extended health benefit plans, private pay, Ontario Autism Program funding, motor vehicle accident claims, or charitable funding sources.
Will my benefits/insurance cover the cost of therapy?
All insurance plans are different. If you have private extended health benefits, often your child is covered under your plan the same way it is covered for you. However, we recommend that you contact your insurance company directly prior to attending your appointment as insurance plans may vary.
Can my insurance plan be billed directly?
All services must be paid for after each session with Hopscotch Kids. We accept electronic money transfer or payment by credit card through our secure Medical Records system (Jane). Once payment is received, you will be emailed a receipt that you can submit to your insurance company or other funding agency (ie. OAP) for reimbursement.
Do I need a Doctor’s referral?
You do not require a Doctor’s referral to attend our services. However, some insurance companies will require a doctor’s referral in order to cover the cost of the service.
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
If you have concerns about your child’s development we suggest you seek out an assessment from one of our therapists. They will perform a standardized initial assessment that will help you to determine whether there is a need for therapy. Assessment results will be discussed, and a treatment plan that best meets the needs of the child and family will be implemented.
What if I have to cancel a session?
If a session needs to be rescheduled, please give us as much notice as possible. We ask that you provide us with at least 24 hours notice. Appointments cancelled with less than 24 hours notice will be billed a nominal fee of $25.00. That fee will then be added to our "Hopscotch Angel Fund' which will be used to help children in need who couldn't otherwise afford private therapy.
Do you provide other services and therapies?
Hopscotch Kids provides direct assessment and treatment with occupational therapists (OT's) as well as 1:1 treatment sessions with OT assistants / OT support personnel. We hope to expand to include other disciplines as we grow. However, we are well connected in the paediatric therapy community, so we may be able to assist you in your search for other allied health professionals such as physiotherapy (PT), speech-language pathology (SLP), or Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services to complement your child's OT intervention.
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