Making Tiny
Hands Mighty
Personalized, play-based occupational therapy in the comfort of your child's own home — where they feel safest and learn best.
your space
surrounding towns
Therapist
Therapy That Meets Your Child Where They Are
Fine Motor Skills
Building hand strength, coordination, and dexterity through play — helping with writing, cutting, and daily tasks.
Sensory Processing
Supporting children who are sensitive to — or seek more — sensory input, so they feel comfortable in their world.
Self-Care & ADLs
Teaching independence in dressing, feeding, grooming, and other daily living activities at home.
Potty Training NEW
Individualized support for children with developmental delays or sensory challenges.
Executive Functioning
Helping children plan, focus, remember instructions, and manage daily routines like getting dressed, packing a backpack, or doing homework.
Feeding Therapy
Addressing the physical, sensory, and behavioral challenges that prevent a child from eating safely and comfortably — treating mealtime as a whole-body experience.
The Comfort of Home Makes All the Difference
Familiar Environment
Children engage more openly when they're in a space they know and trust.
No Travel Stress
Skip the clinic commute. Therapy comes right to your front door.
Real-Life Practice
Skills transfer immediately to where children actually live and play.
Family Involvement
Parents participate naturally and reinforce progress every single day.
Trusted by CT Families
Her time spent with him was intentional and meaningful. Melissa also taught us strategies and provided tools to support him. Highly, highly recommend.
After about 6 months of working with Melissa, my daughter is thriving and eating food for nutrition. She had her feeding tube removed! I 1000% recommend Melissa. She is magic.
Only a few weeks with Melissa and our son is trying new foods and exploring textures almost daily now! I am so excited to see what the next few weeks look like.
Ready to Get Started?
Schedule a free consultation and learn how in-home OT can help your child thrive.
Get in Touch TodayOur Services
Comprehensive in-home pediatric OT tailored to your child's unique needs and goals.
Fine Motor Skills
Fine motor development is essential for handwriting, using scissors, buttoning shirts, and holding a spoon. Through targeted, play-based activities, we build strength, coordination, and precision in little hands.
- Handwriting readiness and pencil grip
- Scissor skills and cutting
- Hand strength and endurance
- Bilateral coordination
- Pinch and grasp development
Sensory Processing
Some children are overwhelmed by everyday sensory experiences while others constantly seek more input. We help children develop a regulated sensory system so they can learn, play, and connect with others.
- Sensory integration strategies
- Tactile, auditory, and visual sensitivity
- Proprioceptive and vestibular processing
- Self-regulation techniques
- Home sensory diet planning
Self-Care & Daily Living
Independence in daily activities builds confidence and reduces stress for the whole family. We work on self-care routines right in the environment where it matters most.
- Dressing and fasteners (buttons, zippers, laces)
- Feeding and mealtime skills
- Grooming and hygiene routines
- Morning and bedtime independence
- School-readiness skills
Potty Training NEW
Potty training can be especially challenging for children with developmental delays, sensory sensitivities, or autism. We take a compassionate, sensory-informed approach that respects your child's unique needs.
- Individualized potty training plans
- Sensory-sensitive strategies and adaptations
- Parent coaching and guidance
- Sequencing and routine development
- Collaboration with other providers and teachers
Choose the Package That’s Right for Your Family
Executive Functioning
Occupational Therapy for executive functioning helps children develop the mental control center needed to plan, focus, remember instructions, and balance multiple tasks successfully. When a child struggles with these skills, everyday routines like getting dressed, packing a backpack, or doing homework can become overwhelming.
Pediatric OTs don’t just focus on the brain — they look at the “whole child” to bridge the gap between cognitive struggles and daily performance.
- Planning and organization skills
- Task initiation and follow-through
- Working memory strategies
- Time management and transitions
- Homework and school routine support
- Emotional regulation tied to executive demands
Feeding Therapy
OT feeding therapy addresses the physical, sensory, and behavioral challenges that prevent a child from eating safely, efficiently, and comfortably. While speech therapists also provide feeding therapy (often focusing heavily on the mechanism of swallowing), OTs look at the entire body, the environment, and the sensory experience of eating.
We treat mealtime not just as a mechanical action, but as a complex daily routine crucial for a child’s growth and family connection.
- Picky eating and food refusal
- Sensory sensitivities around taste, texture, and smell
- Oral motor skill development
- Mealtime behavior and positioning
- Transitioning from tube feeds to oral eating
- Family coaching and mealtime environment strategies
Simple Steps to Get Started
Free Consultation
Chat about your child's needs and whether in-home OT is a good fit.
Initial Evaluation
We come to your home and conduct a thorough evaluation to identify goals.
Personalized Plan
A customized therapy plan is created with goals meaningful to your family.
Regular Sessions
We come to you on a schedule that works — turning everyday moments into growth.
Not Sure Where to Start?
Reach out for a free 15-minute consultation. We'll help figure out the right next step.
Contact Us TodayAbout Tiny Hands Therapy
A licensed occupational therapist dedicated to helping children thrive in the comfort of their own home.
Hi, I'm the therapist behind Tiny Hands Therapy!
I'm a licensed and nationally certified Occupational Therapist (OTR/L) with a passion for helping children reach their fullest potential. I founded Tiny Hands Therapy because I believe deeply that the best therapy happens in the place children feel most comfortable — home.
After years of working in clinical and school-based settings, I saw firsthand how much more children flourish when therapy is woven into their real environment, with their real toys, their real routines, and the people who love them most.
I specialize in fine motor development, sensory processing, self-care independence, and potty training support for children with developmental differences. Every child receives individualized, compassionate care grounded in evidence-based practice.
Credentials
OTR/L — Occupational Therapist, Registered & Licensed
Certification
NBCOT Certified OT Practitioner
License
Licensed in the State of Connecticut
Specialization
Pediatric OT · Sensory Processing · Fine Motor
What I Believe In
Home Is Best
Children learn most effectively in familiar environments. Bringing therapy home removes barriers and makes every session more meaningful.
Play Is Work
Play is how children develop. Every session is engaging, joyful, and purposeful — because when kids are having fun, they're learning.
Families Are Partners
You know your child best. I work alongside families to set meaningful goals and ensure progress continues between sessions.
Evidence-Based Care
Every intervention is grounded in current research and best practices in pediatric occupational therapy.
Compassion First
Every child deserves patience, warmth, and unconditional positive regard. I meet every child exactly where they are.
Whole-Child Focus
I look at the full picture — sensory, motor, emotional, and environmental — to support every aspect of development.
Let's Work Together
Reach out and let's talk about how I can support your child and your family.
Get in TouchWhat Families Are Saying
Real words from real families who have experienced the difference in-home OT can make.
Average Rating
Would Recommend
Serving Families Statewide
Very highly recommend Melissa. She supported the whole family as we navigated some challenging behaviors from our child. She developed a very strong rapport with him and he looked forward to seeing her. Her time spent with him was intentional and meaningful. Melissa also taught us strategies and provided tools to support him. Highly, highly recommend and thought her services were worth it with what she gave us.
I cannot recommend Melissa enough! She has been such a huge help as we learned ways to communicate with our two year old, and help find activities that regulated his emotions, and allowed him to focus and be able to follow directions, and remain safe. My son loved the sessions with Melissa, and would even request specific toys, and we were thankful for the charts, personalized stories she created, and interactive activities that matched his needs. The sessions were creative and personalized. She was an incredible support to us as first time parents to a high energy toddler. We already miss working with her — but are SO thankful for all she taught us.
When my 7 year old daughter started working with Melissa she was relying on tube feeds for nutrition and had a very limited diet due to sensory issues. We had been doing feeding therapy for months with no improvement. Melissa was able to connect with Madison and understood the root cause of her issues. Always a play environment with no pressure. After about 6 months of working with Melissa, my daughter is thriving and eating food for nutrition. She had her feeding tube removed! I 1000% recommend Melissa. She is magic.
We tried feeding therapy before and didn’t see much results. Only a few weeks with Melissa and our son is trying new foods and exploring textures almost daily now! I am so excited to see what the next few weeks look like.
Ready to Write Your Own Story?
Reach out today for a free consultation and see what in-home OT can do for your child.
Get in TouchThe Tiny Hands Blog
Practical tips, insights, and resources to help your child thrive at home and beyond.
The Role of Environment in Supporting Children with Disabilities
If your child struggles to stay on task at home, the environment may be the culprit. Here are 6 strategies to try right now.
2. Choose a Quiet Space — Move away from high-traffic areas. A cozy corner with pillows can help.
3. Offer a Snack — Sensory input from chewing can be alerting and boost focus.
4. Use a Visual Timer — Helps children understand how long they need to stay engaged.
5. Adjust Lighting — Brighter or softer lighting can make a surprising difference.
6. Take a Sensory Break — Try 5 minutes of jumping, skipping, or dancing to reset.
Picky Eater or Problem Feeder? Here’s How to Tell the Difference
Almost every toddler goes through a picky phase — but for some children the challenge runs much deeper. An OT explains the signs that it’s time to seek help.
Why Getting Dressed Is So Hard for Some Kids — And What OT Can Do About It
For children with executive functioning challenges, a simple morning routine can feel completely overwhelming. Here’s what’s really going on and how to help.
Potty Training a Child with Sensory Sensitivities: What Actually Works
Standard potty training advice doesn’t always work for children with sensory differences. Melissa shares the sensory-informed approach she uses with families.
Why Water is One of the Best Sensory Tools for Kids with SPD
Water provides natural deep pressure, resistance, and proprioceptive feedback — making it an incredibly powerful therapeutic medium for children with sensory processing differences.
Is Your Child Ready for Kindergarten? An OT’s Honest Checklist
Beyond letters and numbers, kindergarten readiness includes fine motor control, self-care independence, and sensory regulation. Here’s what Melissa looks for.
🔔 Follow Melissa on Facebook & Instagram for her latest tips, strategies, and updates — she posts regularly for CT families.
Questions About Your Child?
Every child is different. Reach out and let's talk about whether in-home OT might be a good fit.
Book a Free ConsultationLet's Connect
Have questions or ready to get started? Fill out the form and I'll get back to you within one business day.
I'd Love to Hear From You
Whether you have a question, want to learn more about a service, or are ready to schedule a free 15-minute consultation — I'm here to help.
Phone
203-520-3812Service Area
Virtual Sessions: Connecticut & Texas
In-Home Sessions: Shelton, CT and surrounding area
Travel within 30 minutes of Shelton included. Additional travel fee applies for locations beyond 30 minutes.
Response Time
Within 1 business day
🌟 New: Potty Training Support
Ask about our new potty training service for children with developmental differences.
Send a Message
Free 15-minute consultations available — just mention it in your message!