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Find news about The Aidan Project, news for our Aidan Project community, and resources to help navigate your developmental family journey.
Meet Chloe Strohm
Chloe earned her master’s in Occupational Therapy from the University of Missouri in 2018. After earning her degree, she moved to the Kansas City area. She joined the Playabilities team in 2019 and has served as an occupational therapist, a Senior Therapist, and a Clinical Manager for the PV clinic. She is now serving as the Clinic Director.
For individuals new to the concept, what exactly is play-based therapy—and why is play such a powerful tool for helping children learn and develop?
Using the child’s preferred play activities as the mode for intervention. Adults' Modes of therapy are strength, language, fine motor, attention, and using toys. Powerful because children learn best when they don’t know they are learning. It’s how they naturally explore the world. Open to learning, engaged, motivated. Through play kids are practicing many different skills at once – communication.
What drew you personally to this field, and what keeps you passionate about it today?
OT in high school, jr year exploring helping professionals, thought mental health. Best friend's mom was an OT, Youngest sister had sensory challenges, shadowed her, and loved it. I am passionate about partnering with families through the parent journey. We really want to empower people with knowledge. They know more about their kiddos and I bring in my expertise, so they feel confident and equipped to support.
When families first hear “play therapy,” some assume it’s just playtime. What’s actually happening therapeutically during those sessions?
There’s play – undirected, in clinic purposeful, intentional targeting goals, early toddler girls, huge meltdowns, limited communication, didn’t know what was best for her body and couldn’t regulate, can functionally protest, very motivated by disney movies – tangled frozen, using toys and music help her work on attend to a joint engagement, requesting more, using verbal. She left early so many times.
What kinds of developmental challenges or needs respond particularly well to play-based therapy?
Works well across all types of skills. Autism and ADHD – very engaging intervention. Really beneficial all kids and all ages – older kids – working on writing, with writing a comic book.
Can you share a story (without identifying details) about a child whose progress through play therapy really stayed with you? What changed for that child or family?
Most of the families we serve are navigating developmental delays, physical, speech, behavioral, physical, autism, sensory sensitivities. How does play-based therapy help children build communication, connection, or regulation skills? How do they play off of each other. They are all intertwined and connected. Is an entire college course. Real life context – not talking through a scenario. Or hypothetical. Happening in the moment. Use that as the foundation for therapy. What is exciting for them – Elsa doll going down the slide. We are in this with you – builds connection and trust, feel safe to exchange social skills, explore sensory experiences, castle, put it in water, bring in packing peanuts for snow – when it doesn’t feel safe what do we do. So that it does feel safe. Parents sometimes feel pressure to “teach” their child constantly. What would you want families to understand about the value of simply playing together? Why play is enough – there is external pressure for kids to be academically at an elevated level. But other skills (social engagement, body awareness, executive functioning) are just as important as academic skills. When you play with your kiddos – engaged in the play, not just supervising, they learn from you modeling. Block building, how do you respond when the block falls. You model emotional regulations. Teaching is still really important but it can happen in a very playful way, bath time or dinner time or reading story, you can just build it into regular life events.
What are a few simple play strategies parents can try at home to support their child’s development?
Dedicated play time, where child leads and parent follows – Limiting toys with buttons and noises, encourages curiosity and wonder Parents ask less questions, immerse yourself in the play, questions lend to academic challenges, benefit of immersive play builds joint engagement takes pressure off of kiddo. You learn a lot about your child when you let them lead – what is on their mind, what they already know, what are the themes.
What are some common misconceptions about therapy for young children that you wish more people understood?
A lot of people think therapy is focused on “fixing a child” . It is a tool to help parents learn to interact and support their child. The child led the lens to therapy. There is nothing wrong with any child. A child may be misunderstood, not broken. We are helping families better understand their child. Have the tool to help the world understand them. How can we empower families and kiddos. People assume that therapy is something that happens during the session. The most valuable therapy whenever we support families/caregiving to build strategies into their everyday routines. People expect therapy to be quick, linear progress, growth and progress looks very different for every child. We celebrate every win big or small. Sometimes families have a very big goal and we have to set progress markers to celebrate smaller wins along the way.
What do you hope families and professionals take away from your upcoming Speaker Series session with The Aidan Project?
Better understanding of play based therapy, seeking out services for their kiddos what is play based therapy vs compliance-based therapy, empowered to utilize simple strategies at home. Shifts strategies from fixing the child to understanding the child.
3. What do you want donors to understand about The Aidan Project’s impact?
Early intervention changes life trajectories — but only if families can access it. Our work removes financial and logistical barriers during critical developmental windows. A TAP scholarship doesn’t just fund therapy hours; it reduces stress in homes, increases consistency of care, and strengthens long-term outcomes. Philanthropy makes that possible. When donors invest in TAP, they are accelerating access during the moments that matter most.
4. How do you view The Aidan Project’s relationship with service providers?
We see providers as essential partners in this ecosystem. Therapists and specialists are delivering extraordinary care every day. TAP exists to help families find and connect with these providers — to get better support sooner. When navigation improves, everyone benefits. Families feel more confident. Providers see children earlier. The entire system functions more effectively.
5. What keeps you motivated?
I’m motivated by helping families feel confident and equipped to advocate for their children. Access to early intervention therapy should not depend on insider knowledge or financial privilege. When we simplify systems, remove barriers, and connect families to the right support at the right time, we expand opportunity. Knowing that our work helps more children access care during critical developmental windows is what drives me every day.
Meet Our Executive Director
In her first full year as Executive Director, Kellye Crockett is leading The Aidan Project into a season of growth — strengthening scholarships, improving navigation, and expanding family education across our region. We asked her to share more about what drives her work and what’s ahead.
1. Why did you say “yes” to leading The Aidan Project?
It was both deeply personal and deeply professional. As the parent of three neurodivergent children, including one on the Autism Spectrum, I understand firsthand how overwhelming it can feel to navigate developmental delays and complex systems of care. At the same time, my career has centered on launching new initiatives, building innovative programs, and strengthening organizations so they serve people better. The Aidan Project offered a rare opportunity to bring both lived experience and entrepreneurial leadership together — improving real access for real families. That intersection is exactly where I’m meant to be.
2. What excites you most about 2026?
Momentum. In 2026, we are doubling down on improving navigation — making it clearer, faster, and more accessible for families to find the right services. We’re strengthening our scholarship program, expanding the Family Roadmap, and streamlining how families move from first concern to first appointment. I’m also especially excited about our growing speaker series. Bringing experts, providers, and families together for practical, empowering conversations has been energizing — and we’re just getting started.