Step Outside OT
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Reimagined
At Step Outside OT, we strive to shift the focus from fixing behaviors to understanding the child beneath them. We believe regulation comes before skill, relationship comes before demand, and authentic participation matters more than performance.
We walk alongside families in the spaces where life actually happens—homes, backyards, trails, kitchens, and communities—so skills are not just practiced, but lived. Our work is rooted in the belief that children thrive when they feel competent, trusted, and supported to engage in the world in ways that feel right to them.
At our core, Step Outside OT exists to help children feel more at home in their bodies, more confident in who they are, and more connected to the people and environments around them.
What Makes Step Outside OT Unique
1. Therapy Beyond Four Walls
We intentionally step outside traditional clinic models. By providing in-home and nature-based services, we meet children where regulation, comfort, and real-life learning naturally occur. This allows skills to generalize more meaningfully in a variety of settings.
2. Nervous System–Centered, Not Behavior-Driven
We believe children do well when they can. Every interaction is informed by an understanding of sensory processing, regulation, and emotional safety. Rather than asking, “How do we stop this behavior?” we ask, “What is this child communicating, and what support do they need?”
3. Play as a Primary Language
Play is not a reward or a break from therapy—it is the therapy. We use child-led, joyful, and creative play as the foundation for building regulation, motor skills, social connection, and life skills.
4. Neurodiversity-Affirming at Our Core
We honor different ways of thinking, moving, communicating, and engaging with the world. Our goal is not to make children appear more typical, but to support them in accessing their environments, advocating for their needs, and building skills without sacrificing their unique personality.
5. Families as Partners, Not Observers
Caregivers and siblings are central to the process. We prioritize collaboration, coaching, and real-life strategies that fit each family’s values and routines. Therapy should feel empowering—not overwhelming.
6. Rooted in Nature and Movement
Nature offers rich sensory input, natural regulation, and endless opportunities for growth. Whether climbing, digging, walking, or resting, we intentionally use the outdoors to support nervous system regulation, resilience, and confidence.
7. A Long-Term Vision for Belonging
Step Outside OT is part of a bigger dream: creating inclusive spaces—groups, programs, and eventually schools—where childhood is honored, families are supported holistically and children and teens are given the support and taught skills needed to grow into capable, connected and emotionally resilient adults.
Services
Learn more about each of our services
In-home Occupational Therapy in Santa Clarita, brings support directly into the comfort and security of your child’s everyday environment. By working within the routines, spaces, and relationships that matter most, we help children build meaningful skills in real-life, familiar settings. Sessions are tailored to each family’s needs and strengths, providing practical, hands-on strategies that carry over naturally throughout the week.
Nature-based Occupational therapy services in Santa Clarita bring occupational therapy into the great outdoors, where movement, play, and connection happen naturally. By partnering with the rhythms of nature, we support your child’s therapy goals in meaningful, sensory-rich ways. Sessions take place in the beautiful parks and open spaces throughout Castaic and Santa Clarita Valley inviting children to explore, regulate, and grow at their own pace.
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Our seasonal, inclusive nature enrichment groups in Santa Clarita bring small, mixed-age groups of children outdoors to explore, play, and connect. Each session offers gentle support for building social skills, confidence, creativity, and a sense of belonging—all through meaningful experiences in nature. Groups generally run for 90 minutes for 6 weeks intervals and are held at various parks and nature spaces within Castaic and Santa Clarita Valley.