News & Blog

by Marie Brennan

  Speech & Language Tips for the Car   Believe it or not, you can get Speech & Language practice in during car journeys on your Staycation this summer! Sit in the back with your child if they need eye contact and visual clues (e.g. pointing, gesture). Car games like I Spy or a modified I Spy offer the perfect opportunity for turn taking and oral language development. Let your child take the lead and pitch the game at their level. For younger children, games such as “I see a car, (insert child’s name) what do you see?” “I see a tractor. Mammy, what do you see?” and so on are perfect for building confidence and reinforcing language or visual cues. You can build on this by commenting on colour and/or size, such as “I see a red car, (insert child’s name) what do you see?”   Have fun with […]

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Minister Heather Humphreys Launches Sensational Kids in Clones

by Marie Brennan

    On Friday, 4th June 2021, The Minister for Social Protection, Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys will officially launch Sensational Kids in Clones, which provides subsidised therapy supports to children of all abilities across Monaghan and the surrounding counties. The official opening of Sensational Kids in Clones marks the organisation’s fourth Child Development Centre and cements its presence in every province of Ireland. Since the non-profit organisation was set up in 2007, Sensational Kids has helped almost 9,000 children and saved their families over €2million in therapy fees.   Speaking at the event, Minister Humphreys commented, “It is a great privilege for me to officially open the Sensational Kids Child Development Centre in Clones. Karen and her team do wonderful work and I am delighted that they have chosen Clones for their fourth centre. Social Enterprises are set up to serve the community and improve people’s lives. That […]

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Results of Dental Survey 2021 – 88% of Parents Say Toothbrushing is a Stressful Event

by Marie Brennan

  Sensational Kids, Ireland’s leading non-profit organisation catering for children of all abilities through therapy supports and learning resources has surveyed over 600 parents to learn more about their family’s dental habits. The results speak for themselves with 88% of parents stating that toothbrushing is a cause of stress for their family. The taste and smell of toothpaste was identified by many as an issue as well as the length of time that children spend brushing their teeth.   For children who struggle with the flavour of toothpaste, Oranurse Unflavoured Toothpaste, which retails at €6 and is available from  www.sensationalkids.ie or instore at Sensational Kids Kildare, Clonakilty or Claremorris, has proved helpful. In addition to being unflavoured, it is also non-foaming which is another potential issue for some children. This toothpaste has really helped decrease stressful toothbrushing moments across Ireland and unlike some unflavoured or non-mint toothpastes it still has […]

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Retail Reopening

by Marie Brennan

    Sensational Kids’ Play, Develop & Learn Stores Reopening Details    Sensational Kids is delighted to welcome our customers back in stores to shop from Monday, 17th May & Tuesday, 18th May 2021     Sensational Kids Kildare Opening Hours Monday 09.30 – 17.00 Tuesday – Friday 10.00 – 18.00 Saturday 10.00 – 16.00     Sensational Kids Clonakilty Opening Hours Monday – Friday 10.00 – 17.00     Sensational Kids Claremorris Opening Hours Monday – Friday 10.00 – 17.00     For your safety, please note: Two members of the public are permitted in the retail space at one time. Please wear a face mask and maintain social distance from others. If you need any assistance, please ask a member of staff. 

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by Marie Brennan

Virtual Speech & Language Advice Clinic -Back by Popular Demand-   Have you any concerns about your child’s speech and language development?   Is your child struggling to use any speech sounds? Are you worried about their understanding? Are you concerned that you child is finding it difficult to communicate?     Following our recent sell-out virtual advice clinic and in response to parental requests, Sensational Kids is delighted to announce another online Speech and Language Advice Clinic will take place on Tuesday, 9th March from 2.30pm to 5pm. Talk to one of our Senior Speech and Language Therapists about any communication concerns you may have for your child. To ensure that we have time to spend with each parent/ guardian, these clinics are strictly by appointment only and cost €10 per timeslot. Please call us at Sensational Kids, Clonakilty to book in your 15-minute video slot on 023 88 […]

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Now Offering Online Speech & Language Therapy Nationwide

by Marie Brennan

Would your child benefit from online Speech and Language Therapy? Sensational Kids is here to help.  We are now offering subsidised virtual Speech & Language appointments nationwide with Elaine Baldwin, Senior Speech & Language Therapist. “Online appointments are working extremely well for the families I am seeing.  Goals are being met and the feedback is that many families are finding it more practical and less stressful to do a virtual appointment than to travel in the current climate.”  Elaine Baldwin, Senior Speech & Language Therapist, Sensational Kids. Call Sensational Kids on 023 887 8208 now for further information and to book an appointment with Elaine. All stages and all abilities are welcome. Appointments are charged at a subsidised rate of €75 for a 45 minute therapy session.

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Virtual Speech & Language Clinic

by Marie Brennan

  Have you any concerns about your child’s speech and language development? Is your child struggling to use any speech sounds? Are you worried about their understanding? Are you concerned that you child is finding it difficult to communicate?   Talk to one of our Senior Speech and Language Therapists at a special virtual clinic on Tuesday, 2nd February between 3pm and 5pm. To ensure that we have time to spend with each parent/ guardian, these clinics are strictly by appointment only and cost €10 per timeslot. Please call us at Sensational Kids, Clonakilty to book in your 15-minute slot on 023 88 78208.   This is your chance to raise your concerns with an expert.  

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Essential Therapy Supports During Covid-19

by Karen Leigh

Essential Services As a provider of essential supports to children with additional needs Sensational Kids has put in place the following covid-19 safety protocols that facilitate continuity of services, both in person at our child development centres, as well as telehealth supports via secure online video calls. Continuity of therapy supports are vital for children with additional needs in order to maintain progression and avoid regression, as well as to help maintain routine and self regulation,  thereby avoiding sensory seeking behaviours that can arise as a result. Self regulation allows kids to manage their emotions, behaviour and body movement when they’re faced with a situation that’s tough to handle.   Appointments We have amended our appointment schedules to allow for extra time between each therapy session to allow for cleaning and sanitisation. If your child is unable to avail of in-person sessions with your therapist, just let us know. We can […]

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Working on Our Dream

by Karen Leigh

For the past 12+ years Sensational Kids has operated from a rented 4,500 square feet rented facility in and industrial park on the edges of Kildare Town. We have already changed the lives of 6,800 children, saving their families €1.5 million in therapy fees. With 45,000 children on waiting lists for speech & language and occupational therapy, it’s now time to join us on our journey to make our dreams come true as we build Sensational Kids a Forever Home on a greenfield site just off the M7 motorway at Kildare Town. Together we can change the lives of 28,000 children over the next 10 years by building on the provision of comprehensive, family-centered, therapeutic care for which Sensational Kids is known   FIND OUT MORE  

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Handwriting Without Tears Product Information

by Karen Leigh

We are big fans of Handwriting Without Tears here at Sensational Kids.We host training workshops each year,  our occupational therapists are trained in Handwriting Without Tears and use it regularly during occupational therapy at Sensational Kids and our online shop stocks the full range of Handwriting Without Tears Products.   If you are wondering which products or workbooks are suitable for your child or wondering which resources or workbooks you should use in your classroom, we have put together the list of workbooks and resources by class or age development stage. You can also use this form to order from our shop by post – just post the form and payment to Sensational Kids, Unit F2 Kildare Business Park,Kildare Town, Ireland.   CLICK HERE to view the Handwriting Product Range by class / developmental age   SHOP ONLINE for Handwriting Without Tears

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Founder & CEO of Sensational Kids joins SERI as Founding Member 

by Karen Leigh

“SERI aims high for Irish Social Enterprises” Social Enterprise Republic of Ireland (SERI) Launched to Support the Social Enterprise Sector A group of passionate social enterprise practitioners, key sector stakeholders and supporters, including Sensational Kids Founder & CEO Karen Leigh, have joined together to launch SERI, a representative body for the dynamic, evolving and broad social enterprise sector in Ireland. SERI was born from the energy, knowledge and experience that exist within the sector, and a widely recognised need for a united voice. Formed by some of Ireland’s leading social enterprise practitioners and supporters, its mission is to champion for the sector and its members, both nationally and internationally. SERI will work collaboratively with all those critical to the success of the sector, providing a unified voice for its members, who exist on a wide spectrum, from local community-based enterprises to larger, and in some cases international enterprises. Social enterprises […]

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COVID-19 Update: Re-Opening Plan

by Karen Leigh

Like you, we have been watching the progress of COVID-19 and the government’s response very closely. The processes and procedures we need to adopt are reasonably significant to plan and implement before opening. Over the past number of weeks our team have been working closely with a Health & Safety Consultant as well as our Clinical Governance Team to ensure that both our employees and families can safely avail of our vital frontline therapeutic supports in person again. We plan to gradually reopen our services from Wednesday 17th June 2020 whilst moving to a blended model of care which will incorporate both telehealth and in-person services. At least 2 employees from each of our four child development centres have been trained as “Covid-19 Officers” by our Health & Safety Consultants, to ensure compliance and implementation of our Covid-19 policies in the workplace. A return to in-person supports may look and […]

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Sensational Kids Clinical Governance Committee

by Karen Leigh

Our voluntary Clinical Governance Committee is an advisory Subcommittee reporting to the Board of Directors but may consider issues on behalf of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) or clinical and operational staff. The purpose of the Subcommittee is to provide advice to the Board, Chief Executive Officer and or clinical and operational staff on issues relating to clinical risk management, clinical effectiveness, child and family centred services, continuous improvement of service and scope of practice for Sensational Kids. This group is chaired by board member Dr Katie Cremin, an award winning Assistant Professor in Occupational Therapy at Trinity College Dublin, together with members Sinead Callinan, Clinical Consultant and Helen Gannon, Senior Speech & Language Therapist. Clinical Governance is a tool to support clinical staff in Sensational Kids to deliver quality services and ensure children and families receive quality services. Sensation Kids aims to differentiate the service from other private providers […]

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Online Therapy Supports Re-Open at Sensational Kids, Monaghan

by Karen Leigh

Generous Donation for Online Therapy Supports for Children in Need in Monaghan Area   There’s good news for parents of children with additional needs in the Cavan/Monaghan and surrounding areas. Sensational Kids Child Development Centre in Monaghan, which was forced to close its online occupational therapy supports for children with additional needs during the pandemic due to a lack of funding, has today re-opened its online occupational therapy supports for children and families in need, with thanks to a very generous donation by a donor advised fund from The Community Foundation of Ireland. Sensational Kids’ online tele-health services that are available for children from Sensational Kids in Monaghan include Occupational Therapy and Speech & Language Therapy for children and adolescents of all ages and all abilities, as well as parent advice and parent coaching for parents who have children with additional needs. As a Social Enterprise, our affordable and accessible […]

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Telehealth at Sensational Kids

by Karen Leigh

On March 18th, at the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis in Ireland, we temporarily ceased clinic-based services. It was impossible for our therapists to continue offering therapy services in person while complying with social distancing guidelines. This called for innovation, adaptation, and flexibility. We knew that our families would continue to need our services, particularly with the current crisis; school closures, change in daily routines and increased anxiety levels. Sensational Kids is proud to have set up a telehealth service to ensure continuity of service and to support families. This blog post aims to provide information on telehealth and to highlight the benefits of telehealth from the perspective of a therapist. What is telehealth? “Telehealth is the use of digital information and communication technologies, such as computers and mobile devices, to access health care services remotely. These may be technologies you use from home”. Telehealth is growing rapidly and has […]

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Covid-19 Crisis Forces Closure of Sensational Kids Monaghan

by Karen Leigh

Charity Forced to Close Monaghan Child Development Centre for Children with Additional Needs   This week, Sensational Kids, an award-winning social enterprise and charitable organisation was forced to temporarily close the doors of its child development centre in Clones, County Monaghan, leaving many vulnerable children without essential services and three staff unemployed. “It is with deep regret and a very heavy heart that we were forced to temporarily close our child development centre in Clones this week” says Sensational Kids CEO & Founder Karen Leigh.  “Like many other non-profit organisations, we have been severely impacted operationally and financially by the unprecedented impact of the Covid-19 crisis. Whilst we are currently unable to provide face to face therapy supports for children and families at our child development centres, Sensational Kids has been very innovative and responded quickly to the crisis. Our amazing team immediately recognised that many families and children still […]

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Virtual Care at Sensational Kids

by Karen Leigh

A Brand New Way to Receive Sensational Kids Services Our innovative Virtual Care services leverage video conference technology to allow you to connect remotely with one of our healthcare professionals, regardless of where you’re located. Access to therapy supports for a child or adolescent can make all the difference in the world, which is why Sensational Kids is innovating to improve access to services and to look after our vulnerable children and adolescents, when clinic based services are unavailable. You can now connect with us remotely for Virtual Care. From Monday 23rd March, all of our occupational therapy, speech & language therapy and play therapy sessions will be moving to online video calls using a secure virtual healthcare video conferencing system. You can also request for a therapist to call you over the phone. Our Virtual Care services are easy to use, private, and most of all convenient. Removes accessibility […]

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Important Notice About Therapy Appointments

by Karen Leigh

Going Online  Due to the Corona Virus guidelines to maintain social distancing, we are  adapting and moving our regular therapy appointments online. We understand that regular therapy is important to be effective and that some children need us now more than ever. It is so important for our children to maintain relationships and support at this time.  Parent consultations, speech & language therapy, play therapy and occupational therapy appointments will continue as normal online . What you will need for online therapyFor your online therapy to work will need  – Internet access. – a tablet/laptop or desktop with a camera. Assessments and some other services have to be postponed. Please contact our local therapy centres for confirmation about your booked appointments. KILDARE: Phone 045 520900 Email info@sensationalkids.ie MAYO: Phone 094 9357005 Email Claremorris@sensationalkids.ie MONAGHAN: Phone 047 52671 Email Clones@sensationalkids.ie WEST CORK: Phone 023 887 8208 Email Clonakilty@sensationalkids.ie   Psychotherapy Support We […]

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Important Notice

by Karen Leigh

All face to face appointments are now cancelled due to the Corona Virus. We are however, trying to find innovative ways to support our community through this difficult time as we are aware that some children need us now more than ever. We are in the process of setting up online therapy appointments with online booking so please bear with us whilst we set this up. In the meantime, we can offer appointments or advice over the phone or by skype instead. Please do not hesitate to give us a call if you need therapy support or therapy advice. For all queries contact us at: KILDARE:Phone 045 520900Email info@sensationalkids.ie MAYO:Phone 094 9357005Email Claremorris@sensationalkids.ie MONAGHAN:Phone 047 52671Email Clones@sensationalkids.ie WEST CORK:Phone 023 887 8208Email Clonakilty@sensationalkids.ie We look forward to playing with you all again soon.

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Notice from Sensational Kids to all visitors during Covid

by Karen Leigh

Therapy Supports Sensational Kids is a special place providing a place of safety, security, health and growth to children and families who us visit each week and for our amazing staff who work so hard every day. During the current Covid-19 situation, we want to share our plan and added precautions we have taken. We ask our community to follow these guidelines, as well as the guidelines issued by the HSE. We are mindful that Sensational Kids is often a vital lifeline for many vulnerable children who need regular therapy input to maintain their regulation and meet their sensory needs, as well as providing specialist therapeutic supports to children and adolescents who may be self-harming, suicidal, are dealing with trauma or who suffer from anxiety. Our plan attempts to walk the fine line between carrying on, and being prudent. Therapy appointments and Assessment appointments at Sensational Kids will be facilitated […]

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Sensational Kids is coming to Monaghan

by Karen Leigh

Eavan Rooney, Director of Thrive Occupational Therapy announces that Sensational Kids will become the new owners from March 1st. Thrive Occupational Therapy is a highly specialised therapy practice which has been providing specialist Occupational Therapy services to children and adolescents of Monaghan and many other counties since 2014.  Located in the centre of Clones, Co Monaghan, this fantastic custom-built clinic offers access to individual assessment or therapeutic intervention as well as education and training services from a highly specialised paediatric occupational therapy team.  The current owner Eavan Rooney has very generously donated the clinic to Sensational Kids, a non-profit charitable organisation, who will take ownership from 1st March 2020. “It is with mixed emotions that I announce that I have made the decision to step away from Thrive; both as Clinical Director and Manager, and as Specialist Paediatric Occupational Therapist. It is with a heavy heart that I leave these […]

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