Our Facility

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What is a Sensory Gym?

At Coopers Kids we are often asked the question, “How is your gym different from a playground or the recreational gymnastic program that my child goes to?” The sensory motor model that has been created at Coopers Kids works on the premise that your child has been identified with sensory integration issues or has difficulty with sensory processing. By identifying the underlying problems within specific sensory systems we are then able to customize a program that helps your child register and combine sensory information to successfully meet every day challenges.

After establishing goals for your child, our gym will provide the enhanced sensory experiences within the context of meaningful play which will help your child develop the skills to solve problems, work cooperatively with others and improve learning and development.

The sensory motor circuit challenges the vestibular system (the system that is responsible for the registration of movement in space in relation to gravity via receptors in the inner ear) and the proprioceptive system (the system that is responsible for registering the sensation of movement such as speed, rate, force, timing, sequencing and joint position) providing knowledge of the body’s position and movements in space. The information that comes from proprioception is important for the development of body awareness (body scheme), praxis (motor planning) and the production of adaptive responses. Adaptive responses are purposeful actions directed towards a goal that is successfully reached. Adaptive responses help organize the brain and provide foundations for more complex motor planning. Dyspraxia is difficulty with motor planning and results from deficits in sensory input and processing.

Sensory Integration treatment is not something that the therapist “does” to the child. It requires that the child be an active participant in a purposeful, goal-directed activity that provides feedback. What is a sensory gym? A sensory integration gym is a large room with a trampoline, ball pit, suspended equipment, bolsters, balls and mats where individualized multisensory experiences enable an endless array of new and extraordinary challenges where your child can learn increasingly more complex tasks.

Our Location

Located on Manhattan’s Upper East Side, our 2000 square foot center contains a state of the art sensory gym along with three separate speech therapy rooms. The gym is equipped with a full size trampoline, a 13 square foot ball pit, rock climbing wall, three stations for suspended vestibular equipment and a separate spacious fine motor area.

Coopers Kids offers pediatric occupational, physical and speech therapy services all under one roof. Our elevated equipped building makes for easy access for strollers. In addition, we have a large comfortable sibling friendly waiting room.