Say hello to our 360 Kids Early Childhood Practitioner, Lauren, and her 8-year-old old client, Jo!
Jo has arthrogryposis, and one of his key goals has been strengthening his hands, improving fine motor coordination, and building resilience during tasks that can feel physically tough or frustrating.
As part of his therapy, Jo and Lauren developed a “Recipe” project, where once a month they choose a new recipe to make together. So far, Jo has made:
- Banana split pancake cake
- Blueberry pie
- Cake pops
- (And more to come!)
For each recipe, Jo adds a handwritten and illustrated recipe page to his personal recipe book. Each page includes:
- The ingredient list
- Estimated cost and comparison of alternatives
- A “difficulty prediction” score out of 10 before engaging in the task
- Final reflection scores – once during, then once completed
- And recently, Jo added his own “Yumminess Rating” category!
How has this activity been supporting Jo to achieve his goals?
- Hand strength (e.g., whisking, squeezing, cutting, mixing, scooping, using kitchen tools)
- Fine motor control (gripping utensils, writing, drawing)
- Sequencing and planning
- Resilience and problem-solving when tasks feel challenging
- Confidence and pride in completing something meaningful
What does Jo have to say about his sessions with Lauren?
“These cooking and baking sessions have been really fun, as well as crafting. I really like them and they help with my hands a lot. As well as my taste buds! I would really like to keep doing it with Lauren more…”
Jo has been so engaged and proud of his progress, and this has become a really valued routine for him.
What a fantastic client story! Great work, Lauren and Jo!
What is 360 Kids – Early Childhood Services?
360 Kids offers early childhood services across Australia to children of all ages and backgrounds.
At 360 Kids, we know early intervention makes a big difference for children with developmental delays and learning difficulties, which is why our Early Childhood Approach provides tailored services such as assessments, reports, therapy planning, equipment sourcing, and individual or group therapy.
We focus on building capacity in children aged 0–9, their families, and support networks, with services that can continue through to adulthood.
Find out more about 360 Kids Early Childhood Services and read our FAQs by visiting the 360 Kids page on our website.
What is an Early Childhood Practitioner?
Early Childhood Practitioners provide timely access to Early Childhood Services at National 360. They are the first point of contact with National 360 and will commence the assessment process with the child and their family. They are professionals who work closely with the child and their family, coordinating and delivering individualised services and interventions.
Learn more and contact 360 Kids!
If you’d like to enquire about our 360 Kids Early Childhood Services, we’d love to chat!
You can call our friendly Client Support team on 1300 340 440, or email them via 360kids@national360.com.au.
If you’d like to make an enquiry, head to our Enquiry page or submit an easy, online referral on our Referral page.
Check out our Instagram post featuring Jo’s recipe book story here