Marga Grey is a pediatric occupational therapist specializing in sensory integration. After working for over 40 years in both the public and private sectors, she founded CoordiKids Childhood Development Programs. Her company has revolutionized the way pediatric occupational therapy is provided.
“After living in two countries where there are some really remote areas (South Africa and now Australia), I became absolutely passionate about giving ALL children the very best chance for success, whether or not they have regular access to a pediatric occupational therapist,” says Grey.
“That’s why we developed a method of offering virtual access to developmental exercises. We have compiled, prepared and video-recorded activities and exercises for parents and children to do at home in a fun way. I had no idea how big of an impact this would have on families, who are these days typically very busy or have a hard time fitting in therapeutic exercises.”
Here’s how it works. CoordiKids offers four components that each target a specific need. Each component includes its own unique set of exercises and movement therapies that progress with the natural phases of motor skill development, sensory integration and neuroplasticity. The exercises are presented in a follow-along video format by occupational therapists and actors who engage with children to keep the program short and fun.
For example, with the program called CoordiChild, parents receive a new set of exercises every other week for a year, along with worksheets and the ability to consult with a CoordiKids provider on an as-needed basis throughout the program. This unique childhood development program has been refined over many years of clinical experiences with children who suffer from developmental delays and learning problems.
Beyond Traditional Therapy: Developmental Concepts at Work in the Classroom
However, not all of the company’s programs are intended solely for children with sensory or motor skill challenges. For example, Grey’s team put together two programs designed for use in schools as movement breaks for the whole class. CoordiKindy is for classes of 3-to-6-year-olds to encourage optimal development in the foundational skills necessary for academic learning.
CoordiClass is designed for teachers to provide a 5-minute break that promotes optimal concentration for the class. These classroom programs were based on Grey’s concepts for developing standardized classroom movement programs used in a franchise of daycare centers in South Africa focused on encouraging optimal development in young children.
The classroom programs have a growing fanbase especially among teachers and school administrators. Rather than isolating students who require things like sensory breaks, fidget toys, or movement breaks, incorporating targeted movement breaks for the whole class allows children on a broad spectrum of learning disabilities, motor skills issues, or social challenges to participate in the general curriculum.
But it’s not just the children whose bodies and brains crave sensory and proprioceptive movement who benefit from CoordiClass programs. In a case study of one primary school, teachers reported that after a 5-minute CoordiClass movement break they observed a 90% – 100% reduction in:
- the number of children fidgeting,
- children in need of repeated instructions,
- children in need of re-direction to sit still and to stop talking, and
- in children re-directed to stay on task.
Free Access to CoordiClass During COVID-19 Closures
Grey and her team hope to share the benefits of their developmental programs in schools and homes everywhere. In fact, they recently announced that CoordiKids would be granting free access to families during COVID-19 closings. The intent is for children to continue to have access to movement activities that promote optimal development while regular PE classes, after-school activities, and even occupational therapy offices are closed. (To sign up for this access, simply go to www.coordikids.com/schoolathome)
“I never wanted to be anything other than an OT, and it’s amazing how my career has evolved from opening my first private practice to now. I started my business when I had my first child, so it has grown with my children. And now they are all well into their 30s, with children of their own, and it’s almost like my business has children of its own, too. We’re now a global company with multidisciplinary providers in cities around the world, offering a variety of programs for children with a variety of needs.” – Marga Grey, MSc OT
To sign up for free access to the CoordiClass or CoodiKindy program during COVID-19 closures, visit www.coordikids.com/schoolathome/
