Do you have young children with additional needs? We know that many special needs families find it difficult to find support services and fun activities to assist their children, so we were very excited to learn about Coastal Active Ability.
Based right here on the Central Coast, Coastal Active Ability is a family-owned business that’s dedicated to supporting people with special needs – and they have a whole host of services specific to kids. As well as offering Speech and Behaviour Correction Therapy for children with special needs, they also run a range of exciting kids’ clubs, programs, and services out of their specialised Kids Centre in Tuggerah.
Programs and activities range from LEGO Time, Kids in the Kitchen, Pokémon Club, and social group activities (i.e. Gymnastics and other Sports Activities) to art and drawing classes, sensory movies and theatres, social events, and school holiday programs – all of which are designed to support your child in developing social and everyday life skills.
Read on to find out all about the fun ways in which this wonderful local business can support your family!
Kids Social Connection Club
Kids Social Connection Club is Coastal Active Ability’s group program for 7 – 15-year-olds. During the after-school program, kids and teens can head to the “The Kids Hub” at the Tuggerah-based centre to take part in a suite of activities that are designed to support children in achieving their goals and igniting their interests!
They’ll embark on anything from music therapy, recreational gymnastics, and cooking classes to gaming sessions. Pokémon or Minecraft-themed activities and building their own LEGO robot!
The Kids Social Connection Club program is supported by a team of Social Workers, Occupational and Behavioral specialists, and Qualified Teachers who’ll work with your children on developing important social skills, fine and gross motor skills, problem-solving, confidence building, communication skills, and more. They’ll also work with your child’s plan from their Speech Pathologist, Behavioural Specialist, or Psychologist.
To find out more about the Kids Social Connection Club program or to see what sessions are on offer throughout this term, visit the Coastal Active Ability website.
When: The Kids Social Connection Club program operates Monday to Thursday from 3pm – 6pm throughout the school term. Coastal Active Ability provides transport to pick children up from school and can also drop them home.
Where: Coastal Active Ability, Unit 5 / 6 Morton Cl, Tuggerah.
Age Group: Children 7 – 15 years.
Contact: Call 4358 8308 or email [email protected] to book.
Early Childhood Intervention
Early intervention is the best way to support the development and well-being of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), developmental delay, or other additional needs. Not only can it help children develop the skills they need to take part in everyday activities, but it can also help to reduce the level of support kids may need as they get older.
Coastal Active Ability’s Early Childhood Intervention 8-week Little Learners program is designed to support children aged 0 – 5 years who have additional needs or disabilities in achieving their goals and recognising their abilities. Throughout the program, they’ll be supported by a team of experienced Social Workers and Early Childhood Educators who’ll assist them in activities ranging from sensory play and arts and crafts to music therapy and activities designed to develop gross motor skills.
Upon request, the qualified staff at Coastal Active Ability’s Kids’ Centre can also assist your child’s therapist by continuing a program that helps prepare your child for school.
Here’s a snapshot of what to expect with the Little Learners program:
+ Learning through Play: Active play-based learning to strengthen your child’s motivation to explore their world, imagination, creativity, language, relationships, and autonomy.
+ Music and Movement: Focusing on a growing appreciation for music and movement. A whole-body experience that increases your child’s social capacity, inclusion in group settings, and body control. Sessions will work on building a sense of rhythm and activities supporting vestibular sense and proprioception development.
+ Sensory Play: Sensory activities allow children to build stronger connections and process and respond to sensory information while exploring their social skills, language development, complex task completion, memory recall, problem-solving, and calming/self-regulation strategies.
+ Food is Fun: Improving relationships with food in a fun way! These sessions provide a language-rich environment to explore oral motor skills, healthy nutrition, social skills, mathematical concepts, and hand/eye coordination.
+ Little Learners: Supporting your child for a successful transition to school. Staff will work collaboratively with parents/carers to meet individual goals and needs including language and literacy development, social and emotional skills, self-help, independence, and autonomy.
Preparing Your Child for School
The Early Childhood Intervention program is an excellent way to prepare children with additional needs in their transition to Kindergarten. And it may also alleviate some of the nerves experienced by children (and their parents/carers) at this time too!
Kids will take part in a heap of fun activities while Coastal Active Ability’s team of specialists supports them in following a care plan from their therapist. The dedicated team will teach kids how to tie shoelaces, hold a pencil or paintbrush correctly, write their name, count, and read. They’ll even help prepare them for wearing a school uniform, as well as help them to master opening lunch boxes and packaging.
To find out more about the program and its activities, including school readiness, art and craft, gross motor skills, sensory play, and music therapy, visit the Coastal Active Ability website.
Need help with transport? They can help with that too!
Coastal Active Ability has a fleet of vehicles with a factory-equipped wheelchair access system, audiovisual entertainment, and multiple zone air conditioning and sunshades for ultimate passenger comfort! Not only that, they’re “whisper” quiet, so perfect for kids with sensory concerns.
When: The Early Childhood Intervention program operates Monday to Friday from 10am to 1pm. Coastal Active Ability provides transport with pick up from home and can also drop off after 1pm.
Where: Coastal Active Ability, Unit 5 / 6 Morton Cl, Tuggerah.
Age Group: Children 0 – 5 years.
Contact: Call 4358 8308 or email [email protected] to book.
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Written By: MANDY EKMAN
Content Producer & Social Media Manager
Mandy started her media career at a digital media agency in London, before relocating to Sydney in 2008. Mandy has developed a range of experience across bought, owned, and earned digital media channels and after moving to the Central Coast with her husband and three kids in 2017, is really excited to be part of the Playing in Puddles team.
