The early years are everything. Between ages 2 and 5, children develop the sensory, motor, language, and behavioral foundations that every future skill — academic, social, and life — is built upon. When a child struggles in one of these areas, early, intensive support makes a measurable difference.
ExcelLearning Foundations is our clinical program for children ages 2 through 5. It brings together occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, and Applied Behavior Analysis in a play-based, naturalistic model designed for how young children actually learn — through movement, exploration, and interaction, not worksheets and drills.
What we address in Foundations:
- Sensory processing difficulties (sensitivity to touch, sound, movement, textures)
- Fine motor delays (grasping, manipulation, hand strength for play and self-care)
- Feeding challenges (food aversions, texture tolerance, mealtime routines)
- Language delays and early communication (words, phrases, AAC)
- Behavioral challenges and early ABA support
- Parent coaching and home program integration
How it works. Every Foundations family starts with a comprehensive evaluation. From there, your child’s OT, speech therapist, and/or BCBA build a shared program plan with goals that reinforce each other across disciplines. We see children a minimum of twice per week in intensive 8-week cycles, followed by a structured home program period that lets your child consolidate and generalize what they’ve learned — before returning for the next cycle.
Parent coaching is embedded into every session. You’ll leave each visit knowing exactly what to practice, how to support your child at home, and what progress looks like next.
Why integrated matters at this age. A child with a language delay often has sensory processing challenges. A child with feeding difficulties may need both OT and speech support. When our providers share goals and communicate weekly, your child benefits from therapy that works in concert — not in silos.
ExcelLearning Foundations is available in Champaign and Bloomington, Illinois. Flexible scheduling and out-of-pocket bundle pricing ($79/session) are available for families without insurance coverage.
Ready to get started? Contact us to schedule your child’s evaluation.
If you’ve been wondering whether your toddler or preschooler might benefit from therapy, you’re not alone — and you’re asking exactly the right question at exactly the right time.
Research on early childhood development is unambiguous: the earlier a child receives targeted support for developmental challenges, the better the outcomes. The window between ages 2 and 5 is when the brain is most plastic, most receptive to learning, and most responsive to intervention. This isn’t a reason to panic — it’s a reason to act, and to feel good about doing so.
At ExcelLearning, we created our Foundations program specifically for children ages 2 through 5 because we believe early therapy should look and feel like childhood: playful, curious, connected, and full of movement.
What does “early intervention” actually mean?
Early intervention is a broad term for therapy and support services provided to children under 5 who are showing delays or differences in development. It can include occupational therapy (OT), speech-language therapy, ABA therapy, physical therapy, and feeding therapy — sometimes one, sometimes several working together.
The goal isn’t to “fix” your child. It’s to give them the tools they need to participate fully in the world — to play, communicate, eat, move, and connect with the people they love.
Signs a child ages 2–5 may benefit from OT:
- Difficulty tolerating certain textures, sounds, or sensations
- Avoiding or seeking intense physical input (crashing, spinning, touching everything)
- Trouble with fine motor tasks (holding crayons, using utensils, buttoning)
- Difficulty with transitions or changes in routine
- Feeding challenges — limited diet, gagging, refusing whole food groups
Signs a child ages 2–5 may benefit from speech therapy:
- Fewer words or word combinations than peers
- Difficulty being understood by people outside the family
- Challenges following directions or understanding language
- Little interest in communicating with others
- Reliance on gestures rather than words
Signs a child ages 2–5 may benefit from ABA:
- Behavioral challenges that feel difficult to manage at home
- Difficulty learning new skills or generalizing skills across settings
- Significant anxiety or rigidity around routines
- Challenges with social interaction and joint attention
Why integrated therapy makes a difference
Here’s something many families don’t realize: these challenges rarely come one at a time. A child who is struggling with language often has underlying sensory processing differences. A child with feeding challenges may need both OT and speech support — the mechanics of eating involve both the sensory system and the motor/communication systems.
At ExcelLearning Foundations, our OT, speech therapist, and BCBA share goals and meet weekly to coordinate your child’s care. When your OT is working on tolerance of food textures and your speech therapist is working on mealtime communication at the same time, the progress your child makes is compounded — not divided.
What to expect in a Foundations session
Sessions are play-based and naturalistic, designed to embed therapy goals into the activities children already love. Your child might be building with blocks while their fine motor and spatial reasoning goals are being addressed. They might be engaged in sensory play while their therapist builds tolerance for textures. They might be navigating a social scenario in a way that looks like fun — because it is.
Caregivers are actively involved. We don’t believe in handing your child to a therapist for 50 minutes and waiting in the lobby. You’ll be coached, updated, and equipped with home strategies at every visit.
Our intensive cycle model
ExcelLearning uses an intensive block model: a minimum of two sessions per week for eight consecutive weeks, followed by a structured three-week home program period. This approach — intensive therapy followed by a consolidation period — is supported by research in motor learning and language acquisition. The home program phase isn’t a break. It’s when your child practices, generalizes, and solidifies what they’ve been learning.
Ready to take the next step?
If any of what you’ve read resonates, we’d love to talk. Our team serves children ages 2–15 in Champaign and Bloomington, Illinois, with flexible scheduling and out-of-pocket bundle pricing available.
Call us or fill out our intake form — your child’s evaluation is the first step.
Our Occupational Therapy Department Lead: Dr. GarrettOur Director of Clinical Excellence: Brittany Mueller, SLPA-BCBA
