Helping Children Connect, Play, Flourish Proactively One Milestone at a Time
We're Fighting for Families
God designed families and raising kids to be enjoyable. But today, something’s shifted. Kids are experiencing delays, sensory struggles, behavior challenges, and anxiety at alarming rates. And as parents and therapists, we’ve realized something heartbreaking: we were unknowingly playing a role in this.
But here’s the good news. We can change this for the next generation.
Ali and I started Skidamarink Kids because we were tired of only treating delays after they happened. Our biggest passion? Helping families reduce challenges from the start so you spend less time dealing with power struggles and more time supporting brain development while having fun together.
This is what we believe God intended for families.
How We're Different: A Brain-Based, Holistic Approach
We focus on building strong neurological foundations by combining what helped previous generations thrive (movement, imaginative play) with brain-based strategies and emotional regulation.
We teach you the “why” behind struggles. Understanding why tantrums or feeding challenges happen changes how you respond. When you build real skills like independence and emotional regulation, you get fewer power struggles and more joy. We blend brain science with trauma-informed care and conscious discipline.
We don’t claim to have all the answers or to have done everything perfectly. But we’ve walked difficult paths and discovered approaches that truly work. Whether you’re navigating unexpected challenges or simply wanting to give your child the best foundation, we’re here to walk alongside you.
Parenting is hard and time is tight. But understanding your child’s brain and what they truly need? That investment pays off.
Meet Kendra: When Professional Expertise Wasn't Enough
I’m a Pediatric Occupational Therapist with over 21 years of experience. For most of my career, I felt confident helping families support their children’s development. But when my own daughters were born, that confidence crumbled.
My oldest talked early but struggled with other skills. Her meltdowns could last over an hour, and she had several a day. These weren’t typical tantrums. She would get stuck in fight or flight response, leaving our whole family discouraged and exhausted.
I tried everything I knew as a therapist. Behavior charts. Time-outs. Different diets. Some things helped, but she continued to struggle. Simple routines became battles. My dream of being a good mom felt impossible.
Here I was, helping other families manage behavior and delays, yet I couldn’t fix what was happening in my own home. I doubted whether I had any business guiding other parents.
The Turning Point
I took my daughter to a Functional Neurologist (Dr. David Rosenthal, DC), who changed our lives. I started learning from experts who looked beyond behavior to address root causes. Instead of asking “How do I stop this?” I learned to ask “Why is this happening? What does her brain need?”
This shift changed everything.
I began focusing on neurological development: primitive reflexes, brain balance, and sensory integration. I learned about movement-based activities and proactive strategies that build regulation instead of just managing behaviors.
What looked like defiance was often dysregulation. What seemed like behavior problems were unmet neurological needs from brain imbalance. God didn’t waste our struggle. He used it to transform my faith, how I parent and practice therapy.
My Calling
Looking back at my daughters’ early years, I know these brain-based strategies could have made such a difference if I’d used them sooner. One of the biggest blessings came when I learned to regulate myself and started supporting my children better. This changed everything for my family. I watched my daughter start to thrive.
That’s why I created Skidamarink Kids. This website is filled with the tools I desperately wish I’d had when my girls were little. My hope is to partner with you from the very start, helping you support your child proactively and walking alongside you with both professional expertise and the humility of a mom who didn’t do it all right.
Education and Eperience
I earned my Master’s in Occupational Therapy from Texas Woman’s University in 2001 and have specialized training in Myofascial Release. Most of my career has been in pediatric clinics and home health, sitting on the floor with families and helping their children develop skills they thought might not be possible. I also served as Therapy Program Supervisor for a home health agency, overseeing and mentoring therapists.
My experience spans hundreds of children with developmental delays, sensory processing challenges, feeding difficulties, autism spectrum disorder, cerebral palsy, and medically fragile conditions. Working with these families, I’ve seen remarkable transformations when we address neurological foundations instead of just managing symptoms.
But here’s what I’ve learned matters most: parents are the ones who have the biggest impact on their child’s growth. I love teaching parents simple, practical ways they can support their child’s progress every single day. Whether you’re just starting out or navigating challenges, I’m here to empower you with tools that work.
Kendra Worley, OT
Pediatric Occupational Therapist (20+ years)
Founder, Skidamarink Kids
Creator, Tantrum Tamer App
Alison Ellison, M.S., CCC-SLP
Speech-Language Pathologist (14+ years)
Skidamarink Kids Co-Founder
Meet Ali: Championing Every Child's Potential
I’m a Speech-Language Pathologist with over 14 years of experience helping children find their voice. I’ve worked in home health, private practice, hospitals, and schools. No matter the setting, one thing stays consistent: parents love working with me because I genuinely care about equipping them with skills they can use at home.
I specialize in feeding difficulties, autism, articulation, language delays, and fluency. I’m certified in Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation (NMES) and Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), and I’m conversational in Spanish so I can effectively connect with Hispanic families.
Why I Joined Skidamarink Kids
Like Kendra, I’ve watched families struggle with challenges that could have been prevented or minimized with earlier support. I’ve seen parents desperate for answers, feeling lost and alone.
I joined Skidamarink Kids because I believe every family (not just those who can access therapy) deserves practical, compassionate guidance. Parents shouldn’t have to wait until their child has a delay to get help. They should have support from day one.
My infectious enthusiasm (my family might call it extra!) comes from my dedication to every child’s potential. I love making therapy concepts accessible and turning interactions into opportunities for hope and growth.
Who We Serve
New Parents
Want to give your baby the best developmental start? We show you how everyday moments build skills when approached intentionally.
Concerned Parents
Worried about delays or challenging behaviors? We help you understand what’s happening, act early, and know what steps to take.
Families with Special Needs
We provide practical home strategies that complement professional therapies for children with sensory processing challenges, autism, ADHD, speech delays, or other developmental differences.
Educators & Therapists
Looking for brain-based resources to strengthen your practice and share with families? Our materials bridge clinical recommendations and everyday implementation.
Meet Kristin: Advocating for Children Through Every Season
I’m an Occupational Therapist and Ph.D. candidate in Child Development and Early Education. But before all those letters after my name, I’m a mom to five children (ages 13 to 25) who joined our family through infant adoption, international adoption, and foster care.
When we adopted our two-year-old from Russia 18 years ago, it launched my journey into Trauma-Informed Care. I discovered these principles benefit every child, not just those with trauma histories.
I’ve worked as a developmental specialist in early intervention, taught and directed early childhood programs, trained preschool teachers, and now teach undergraduate child development courses. My research focuses on young children’s social-emotional development, especially self-regulation and conflict resolution.
I’m excited to support Skidamarink Kids’ mission because I’ve seen firsthand how connection-based, developmentally-informed strategies help children and families flourish.
Kristin Mathis, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist
Ph.D. Candidate, Child Development & Early Education
Skidamarink Kids Contributor
The Heart Behind Our Name
“Skidamarink” comes from a playful song Kendra sang with her patients. It never failed to bring smiles! Singing face-to-face while using gestures creates powerful developmental benefits.
You don’t need a perfect voice. What matters is the intentional, face-to-face connection that transforms ordinary moments into development-boosting experiences.
That’s our philosophy: Supporting child development through connection, play, and purposeful interaction. Exactly how families are designed to thrive together.
Ready to Get Started?
Explore Our Blog for practical guidance on all areas of development
Download Tantrum Tamer for immediate support with daily routines
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Contact Us with any questions. We’re here to help.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11
Transforming childhoods through connection—one milestone at a time.
