Katarina Soares and Kamila Omarova on Rebuilding School Readiness Before Kindergarten

Katarina Soares and Kamila Omarova talked with Jim about why they founded Rooted Kids, an occupational-therapy-based school readiness studio in Irvington, after watching general education classrooms struggle with basic regulation and fine motor skills year after year. The two occupational therapists explained their RISE method, why 90 percent of a child’s physical brain develops by age five, and why readiness starts years before a diagnosis or an IEP. Soares and Omarova are working to bring the same program to more Westchester communities, regardless of a family’s income.

Listen to the full conversation.

“You need to intervene and you need to make sure that there’s a strong foundation before your child can even go to school, before a problem even occurs.” — Katarina Soares and Kamila Omarova

Full episode wherever you get your podcasts. I’m Jim, and I live here.