Hopebridge Events
Play with Purpose
Free Play Labs & Screening
Play is more than just fun—it is how children learn, grow, and connect with the world around them.
Sign Up for a FREE Play Lab and Developmental Screening
Join us for Play Labs, an engaging, hands-on experience designed to support your child’s development through everyday play. Watch your child explore, create, and build important skills while our therapists provide simple insights you can use at home.
When & Where:
Friday, August 21 from 10:30am to 11:30am
The Sensory Shoppe: 99 E Carmel Dr, Carmel, IN 46032
What to Expect
- 30 minute play-based experience
- 30 minute optional developmental screening* for deeper insights
- Interactive stations focused on key developmental skills
- Guidance and observations from certified Occupational and Speech Therapists
- A take-home Development Snapshot for your child
Who Should Attend
Families with children around age 4-7 who want to support development through fun, meaningful play.
This is a not a drop-off event; parents are asked to remain on site with their child.
*It is important to know that a developmental screening is not a diagnosis and does not provide medical recommendations. Instead, it serves as an early check-in to help determine whether further evaluation may be beneficial. Early identification of developmental concerns can help connect families with the right support and services as soon as possible.
Claim Your Slot
Meet the Team
Tara Parker, M.S., CCC-SLP
Pediatric speech-language pathologist currently evaluating and treating children on the autism spectrum and children with co-diagnoses.
Alissa Hayes, OT
Serving as Hopebridge’s Vice President of Outpatient Therapies, Alissa has been in the field for over 17 years.
Haley Hatfield, OT
Serving as Hopebridge’s Clinical Trainer & Professional Development Advisor, Haley has been in the field for over 17 years.
Track Your Child’s Milestones at Home
Get Hopebridge’s free Developmental Milestone Checklist up to age 5! As a caregiver, it’s not always clear which behaviors are typical, and which may need closer attention. On top of that, remembering which milestones happen when can be overwhelming.
Why Play Matters
Play with Purpose: Why Play Is the Foundation of Your Child’s Development
Even simple, everyday play experiences can have a big impact. Activities like scooping and pouring, pretend play, building with blocks, or drawing with crayons all support different areas of development. These moments help strengthen the same skills children need for school, friendships, and independence.
What to Look for in Your Child’s Play
Play can look simple on the surface, but it gives us powerful insight into how a child is learning and growing. By observing how your child plays, you can better understand their strengths, emerging skills, and areas where they may need more support.
Sensory Play 101: Benefits, Ideas, and Safety Tips
Sensory play is so much more than a fun, (sometimes) messy activity. It is one of the most important ways children learn about their bodies, their environment, and how the world works. In sensory play, there is no single right way to explore. The value is not in what a child creates, but in the process of touching, moving, experimenting, and discovering. The learning happens within the play itself.
How Play Supports School Readiness (Without Worksheets)
School readiness is not just about knowing colors, shapes, or the alphabet. It is about having the communication, motor, social, and self-regulation skills to participate, learn, and feel confident in a classroom environment. Everyday play experiences help build that foundation long before a child ever walks into a classroom.