Recipes for Fun

It is a happy talent to know how to play. -Ralph Waldo Emerson

It is officially Spring! And that means we are one more season closer to Summer! At In Stepps, we become overjoyed with the prospect of sunny days and warmer weather. You know why? It means it is time for fun outside! Balloons, bubbles, balls, squirt bottles, swimming, sprinklers, watering cans, hoses, mud, dirt, and more! Being outside with kids opens up a whole new world full of learning opportunities. So you can understand our excitement when the seasons change, when Target starts carrying our favorite outdoor toys again, and when we start moving our 1:1 sessions into the front yard, back yard, park, pool, and any other place we can just be out in the sun.  In honor of the Spring Equinox, we wanted to share some fun, messy recipes with you in hopes of sparking some play inspiration! From playdough, to puffy paint, to bubbles, to goop! Get your hands messy and the kids involved and create some sensory magic in your home! 

Playdough

2 cups flour

1 cup salt

2 cups water

2 tablespoons oil

2 tablespoons cream of tartar

A few drops liquid food coloring (optional)

In a medium pot, mix flour, salt and oil, and slowly add the water (and food coloring, if used). Cook over medium heat, stirring until dough becomes firm. Cool. Knead. Store in airtight container.

Puffy Paint

1 cup flour
1 cup salt
1 cup water
Food coloring

Mix equal amounts of flour, salt, and water. Add food coloring for color. Pour mixture into squeeze bottles and paint. Mixture will harden in a puffy shape. 

Bubbles

2/3 cup Joy dish soap
1 gallon water
2 to 3 tablespoons of glycerin (available at drugstores)

Mix ingredients in large plastic bowl or tub. Store in covered container.
Note: Various recipes call for different brands of dish soap (Joy, Dawn, etc). If you use another brand, you may need to adjust the other quantities to get the right consistency.

Goop 
(Warning: this one is messy and FUN)

1 cup cornstarch
2 cups baking soda
1 1/4 cups water

Mix dry ingredients and add water a little at a time. (This is important, as you may not need all of the water.) Mixture should be scoopable with hands - not too runny. When a lump is squeezed; it melts, then becomes more solid again.

Sidewalk Chalk

1/3 c. quick setting Plaster of Paris 
3 t. water 
1 T. paint 
Glitter (optional) 

Mix all ingredients. Scoop into empty toilet paper tube and let set for 20 minutes. Peel off cardboard. Let dry for one day.

Edible Playdough

2 cups smooth peanut butter 
2 cups rolled oats 
2 cups dried milk 
2/3 cups honey 

Mix all ingredients until thoroughly combined. Storage: When not using, MUST be stored in an airtight container 

Have fun and let us know which recipes are a hit with your kiddos! 

Don't forget to check us out on our Facebook page!

She's a Star!

Introducing our newest In Stepps Star.... 

Leigh-Ann!

Leigh-Ann, we are so thankful to have you as a part of the In Stepps team! Your hard work and commitment have not gone unnoticed! 

Take a look at what some of Leigh Ann's supervisors had to say about her.... 

Leigh Ann is such an asset to In Stepps. She is always willing and eager to cover sessions whenever necessary. She is such an incredibly strong therapist and brings so much to the teams she's on and the kids she works with. It's a pleasure working with and knowing Leigh Ann!—Nicole H

Leigh Ann is such a great asset to each and every team she is on.  Specifically, the one team that I share with her.  Leigh Ann has won over the hearts of the entire family and goes above and beyond. She makes it a point to include the entire family during all sessions, especially the other children in the home.  Leigh Ann has taught the children how to prompt and play with our client.  The mother only speaks Spanish, however, Leigh Ann has done a tremendous job working with this mom through the language barrier.  Much of the success in this home is attributed to Leigh Ann's hard work and dedication.  Leigh Ann truly is a shinning star!- Laura

Leigh Ann is awesome! As busy as she is with school, she is always willing to cover/pick up sessions when needed (even on weekends). She is bubbly, fun, dedicated, and has an amazing skill set that makes her so important to every team she is on and to every family she works with! Thanks for being so amazing, Leigh Ann!- Lindsey

Leigh Ann is dedicated, hard working, and professional... in the office... and with her clients she's silly, creative, fearless, consistent, playful, and unrelenting.  Her understanding of ABA and ability to implement strategies in the natural environment are excellent; however, the thing I find most impressive about Leigh Ann is her focus on family involvement.  She is the only therapist I've known that has brought in a video of a whole family playing and working together.  She set up her camera and worked with her client to interact with parents and sibling while they all participated in washing the family car.  To have a record of this moment in a family's life, especially a family that has been touched by autism and successful interactions that include the whole family are rare, is truly a treasure.  I am so thankful to have the opportunity to work with Leigh Ann and to watch her helping kids and their families to reconnect in a real and meaningful way.- David

Way to go, Leigh-Ann! 

Join Our Team!

Are you or someone you know looking to be a part of a great company that offers excellent support and training, work with kids, and FUN? Keep on reading.... 

As a young organization that is growing quickly we are looking for highly motivated and skilled professionals. We work in close collaboration as a team and seek experienced and passionate individuals at all levels of expertise. We offer flexible hours, quality training and supervision, and competitive hourly rates. We are currently hiring for the following positions:

Behavior Therapist
A behavior therapist works directly with the child in the natural setting. Therapists must be flexible, resourceful, creative and have fun playing with kids. Experience working with children with developmental disabilities is preferred, but not required. If you are enthusiastic, have high energy, can multitask, and if you like feeling supported in the field through on the job coaching , you are an excellent candidate for this position!

Supervisor/Parent Consultant
A Supervisor/Parent Consultant provides ongoing support to therapists in the field with their families. In addition, this person provides ongoing training and feedback to all members of the child’s team, including parents, grandparents, and other stakeholders. This position requires high level knowledge of Applied Behavior Analysis and Pivotal Response Treatment and a BCBA is highly preferred. This position can be salaried.

If you are interested in any of these positions, please email us your resume at info@instepps.com 

or call us at (949) 474 1493. We look forward to hearing from you !




18008 Skypark Circle, Suite 110 Irvine, CA 92614  Phone: (949) 474 1493 Fax: (949) 726 8324