Amy Zier & Associates

During this month at AZ+A Summer Programming, we didn't just have fun-we also developed a wide range of skills.

We whisked, wiggled, squiggled, and giggled. We crafted, cooked, colored, and created connections.

We built social skills, strengthened motor skills, and discovered new skills, leaving us all feeling proud and impressed!

Can't wait for the fun-filled month ahead!

🎬 That's a wrap on week one of AZ+A Summer Programming!

The kids had a blast without knowing they were also strengthening fine motor skills, social skills, and executive functions.

The AZ+A team looks forward to a summer full of therapeutic fun, friendship, and adventure.

See you next week!

👋 Introducing new fieldwork student, Jodianne Loyd

Jodianne was raised in Tulsa, Oklahoma and is an avid theater nerd who loves to serve people! She first learned about occupational therapy in high school and quickly fell in love with the practice. She was inspired how OTs could help anyone by taking any activity and turn it into therapy, combining both science and art.

She very qu**ky became curious about using theater as therapy. To best pursue this curiosity, she attended the University of Oklahoma and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater (Dramaturgy and Acting) as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology.

She currently attends Cox College in Springfield, Missouri completing her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy. At Cox College, she was able to pursue education and research about theater and occupational therapy. She has even given a presentation at the Association of Theater in High Education on how to increase accessibility in Theater and promote OT services.

Aside from her passion of theater, she is interested in sensory integration, feeding, and mental health practices.

When Jodianne is not studying or in a theater, she is playing with her cat Pippa, reading books on her kindle, writing, or exploring the Windy City! She loves spending time with her friends and family. Some of her favorite activities are gardening, walking, baking, listening to music, and learning something new!

Jodianne is beyond thrilled to join AZ+A for the summer, and we're equally thrilled to have her!

Learn more about the changes to AZ+A's summer programming. Our focus on diverse play groups offers children of all ages unique experiences all summer long. Registration is still open at

Join the fun ☀️🤸‍♂️

Diverse Play Groups: AZ+A's New Summer Programming Diverse Play Groups are coming to the AZ+A Playhouse! AZ+A is shifting from traditional summer camp models to introduce a fresh approach.

Learn more and register today: bit.ly/AZASummer2024

Erin, Vasilios, and Lauren have an occupational therapy session in the sun, proving that it's not just the kids who have fun at AZ+A. #2024

🤼‍♀️ 𝐀 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭-𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐥𝐨𝐠 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐭–𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐠𝐞𝐭 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐦𝐦𝐛𝐥𝐞!

Vasilios shares how rough-and-tumble play (roughhousing) can support and strengthen emotional regulation for some children.

We'd love to hear your comments below.

Rough and Tumble Play Supports Emotional Regulation Rough-and-tumble play can feel out-of-control, and overwhelming for parents, especially if their child has emotional regulation challenges.

Get all the deets and register here today: bit.ly/AZASummer2024

🌟 Get Ready for a Summer of Thrills and Skills at AZ+A!

This summer, buckle up for a ride of fun and therapeutic adventures tailored exclusively for your child! Our top priority is combining the thrill of summer with therapeutic excellence.

🌈 With guidance from your therapist, build your own summer adventure tailored to your child's specific needs and age by selecting from a variety of engaging groups and fun intensives. Below are a few of the options you can select from:

🍳 Cooking Camp
📝 The Write Group
🏕️ Littles Play Group (think traditional summer camp!)
🚴 Biking Intensive
💃 Dance & Movement
🤼 Rough and Tumble Play Group..And more!

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐰 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐥𝐝'𝐬 𝐧𝐞𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐭!

Stay tuned for all the exciting details landing in your inbox and on our socials very soon! 🔍📆

𝐀 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐀𝐩𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡

🍎 This course will give professionals a new way to conceptualize the support of children with individual differences that cause them to struggle to participate in family mealtimes and enjoy eating.

Instructor Karen Dilfer approaches this topic through the lens of responsive feeding and discusses the importance of the parent-child relationship as it relates to feeding development.

Register today: https://bit.ly/supportingtheanxiouseater

A fellow clinician recently told us, "𝙄𝙛 𝙥𝙚𝙤𝙥𝙡𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙨𝙚𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙥𝙡𝙖𝙘𝙚,𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙜𝙤 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙞𝙩!"

Do you want to be crazy about the place you work?

𝗣𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝗧𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘀𝘁 𝗡𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗱
AZ+A supports amazing children and families through a developmental lens and offers innovative therapy in a extraordinary space!

Find out what makes AZ+A one of Chicago's leading pediatric occupational clinics. 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗹𝘆 𝗧𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆:amyzier.com/careers/ or email your resume to [email protected] today 📆

Located in Lincoln Park, the AZ+A playhouse fosters a fun, therapeutic environment where children, their families, and our therapists learn, grow, and thrive together.

We're planning snow much fun at !

Space for more snowkids is limited. ☃️ Register today: bit.ly/AZAWinterCamp2023

Add to your shopping list 📝
Register before it's too late 🏂 bit.ly/AZAWinterCamp2023

Did you know that AZ+A offers Neurodivergent Affirming Occupational Therapy for adults of all ages? 🙌

Learn more → amyzier.com/therapy-for-adults/

Snow way! ❄️ It's already time register for 🏂 Secure your spot before it's too late ⏰ Register today: bit.ly/AZAWinterCamp2023

🙌 Big shoutout to our amazing teaching and support staff! 🌟 Your incredible ability to navigate the intricacies of human nature, identify triggers, and respond with such effectiveness is commendable. We appreciate your dedication and hard work and want you to know that we see and recognize your invaluable contributions. 🙏

Dear Teacher: Heartfelt Advice for Teachers from Students Kids with a formal diagnosis, such as autism, Asperger's, ADHD, learning disabilities, Sensory Processing Disorder, and Central Auditory Processing Disorder ...

Are you all Boo'd out 👻? Fall 🍂 into November with extra support!
Register today: chicagofeedinggroup.org/events/parent-support-group-fall-2023/

When children perceive their environment as safe, the vagal motor pathway slows the heart rate, allowing emotional regulation and connection to occur.

For more information, visit amyzier.com

📸 𝘗𝘩𝘰𝘵𝘰 𝘤𝘳𝘦𝘥: 𝘒𝘢𝘺𝘭𝘢 𝘗𝘦𝘤𝘬, 𝘡𝘪𝘦𝘳 𝘐𝘯𝘴𝘵𝘪𝘵𝘶𝘵𝘦, 𝘖𝘮𝘢𝘩𝘢

📣 Tomorrow! Neurorelational Development Course from our friends at the ICDL!

Tomorrow: Neurorelational Development Course Course Description: This presentation will provide clinicians with knowledge and practice guidelines about Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health, the unfolding nature of the infant brain, and the ways in which relationships form the human brain – creating actual physical and chemical changes th...

We can’t recommend the work of Dr. Mona Delahooke, Ph.D. and Dr Stephen Porges highly enough. Hope you can join this important conversation with these incredible thought leaders in child development and parenting!

Come join me on May 24th for a meaningful conversation with one of the world's most beloved neuroscientists, Dr Stephen Porges. His work on the neuroscience of safety and love changed the way I practice and parent. Also feel free to post questions for us here, as I will select some of the questions beforehand. It's free and you can sign up here below.
https://mailchi.mp/4440fa98e94e/a-conversation-with-dr-stephen-porges-and-dr-mona-delahooke

Join the Parenting Insights Live Series starting tomorrow, May 2nd! We will meet live for 5 weeks at 13:30CST/ 20:30CET to discuss some hot and highly requested topics from parents & caregivers.

🗓️ MAY 2 / Sleeping Issues: A family affair
🗓️MAY 9 / Sibling Rivalry: An Opportunity
🗓️ MAY 16 / Fearful Child: Worried Parent
🗓️ MAY 23 / Explosive and Disrespectful
🗓️ MAY 30 / ADHD: Retrain the Brain

This live series is sponsored by Joy Center & taught by Dr. Amy Zier.

To grab your seat, register by submitting your information in the form- linked in bio!! Or copy + paste the url below:

🔗 https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6442a909bc13d3eabf71b4a2

Zoom links, reminders & other details will be provided to you upon registration 🙌 see you there 🗓️

Join AZ+A's new Summer Sports Group to build:
• Healthy bodies
• Strong motor skills
• Mindful minds
• Problem-solving
• Confidence & MORE

Hop online to learn the game plan: bit.ly/AZASummerSportsGroup
Register today: bit.ly/AZASportsGroupReg

𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗛𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗗𝗿. 𝗔𝗺𝘆 𝗭𝗶𝗲𝗿
Starting, May 2, 2023

𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝟭:𝟯𝟬 𝗽𝗺 𝗖𝗦𝗧 Zoom link will be shared upon sign up!

𝗦𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘂𝗽 𝘁𝗼𝗱𝗮𝘆 by filling out the form (link in bio or below).
𝘈𝘭𝘴𝘰, 𝘴𝘪𝘨𝘯 𝘶𝘱 𝘪𝘧 𝘺𝘰𝘶 𝘸𝘪𝘴𝘩 𝘵𝘰 𝘴𝘦𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘳𝘦𝘤𝘰𝘳𝘥𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘭𝘢𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘳𝘢𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘭𝘪𝘷𝘦:
https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6442a909bc13d3eabf71b4a2

May 2: Sleeping Issues: A Family Affair
May 9: Sibling Rivalry: An opportunity
May 16: Fearful Child: Worried Parent
May 23: Explosive and Disrespectful: Contain and Reframe
May 30: ADHD: Retrain the Brain

✍️ Summer is the Write time to strengthen handwriting skills, while having fun with peers. ☀️

Learn more: bit.ly/SummerWriteGroup23
Groups forming now: bit.ly/SummerWriteGroupReg

This summer build healthy bodies, strong motor skills, mindful minds, teamsmanship, confidence & MORE at AZ+A's new Summer Sports Group!

🏀 Bounce online to learn the game plan: bit.ly/AZASummerSportsGroup
🥅 Score BIG by signing up today: bit.ly/AZASportsGroupReg