Resources

Explore a wealth of resources at CST Academy, including informative articles, engaging activities, and insightful publications. Whether you're seeking guidance on childhood development, fun activities to support learning, or the latest research in the field, our curated collection has you covered. Dive into our Resources page to discover valuable insights and tools for supporting your child's growth and development.

Articles

Explore a wealth of insights, expertise, and guidance within our curated collection of articles, providing invaluable resources and knowledge to support the holistic development of children at CST Academy.

View All Articles

CST Academy’s Expertise in Neurodiversity Highlighted by CBS Interview: A Milestone for Advocacy

At CST Academy, we take immense pride in our commitment to supporting neurodiverse children and their families. Our team of skilled clinicians is dedicated to providing individualized care that empowers...

CST Academy Wilmette: Therapeutic Preschool for North Shore

CST Academy, founded by renowned speech-language pathologist Karen George, extends its renowned therapeutic preschool-styled program to Wilmette. Serving children ages 2-6, CST Academy provides multi-therapy support, including speech, occupational, physical...

Pretend Play In Therapeutic Preschool Programs

In therapeutic preschool programs like the ones offered at CST Academy, pretend play isn’t just about imagination – it’s a powerful tool for learning and development. Pretend play, also known...

Building a Supportive Team for Your Child: CST Academy’s Approach

Raising a child with autism or developmental delays requires a supportive team. Learn how CST Academy’s multidisciplinary approach empowers families. Raising a child can be challenging, especially when navigating a...

Activities

Explore our collection of engaging, therapist-approved free downloadable activities designed to support and enhance pediatric therapy sessions, perfect for parents and educators seeking innovative ways to promote children's developmental skills.

View All Activities

Trace Build and Find!

CST Academy's "Trace, Build, and Find!" activity is a multi-sensory approach to learning shapes that combines tracing, building with manipulatives, and identifying shapes in real-world objects. This engaging activity helps children master 2D shapes while developing fine motor skills, visual discrimination, and spatial reasoning.

Playdough Shape Mats

Playdough Shape Mats provide a fun and engaging way for children to learn about shapes while developing fine motor skills and visual discrimination. By tracing, building, and discussing the shapes on the mats, children create a multi-sensory learning experience that reinforces their understanding of geometry and spatial relationships.

Popsicle Stick Shapes

Popsicle Stick Shape Mats provide a hands-on learning experience where children can build and identify 2D shapes using popsicle sticks. With two sets of mats, children can practice matching sticks to outlines or independently constructing shapes, promoting fine motor skills, visual discrimination, and spatial reasoning.

Publications

Discover our range of free downloadable publications tailored for pediatric therapy, offering valuable insights, strategies, and resources for therapists, parents, and educators to foster the growth and development of children in a supportive manner.

View All Publications

The Ultimate Guide to Understanding the IEP Process

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a personalized roadmap for students with special needs, outlining their educational goals and the tailored services they will receive to achieve them. Understanding the IEP process, from referral to annual review, empowers parents to advocate effectively for their child's educational success.

The Ultimate Guide to Mastering the Art of Social Stories

Social stories are personalized narratives designed to help children with special needs understand social situations, expectations, and appropriate behaviors. By breaking down complex concepts into simple language and visuals, social stories empower children to navigate social interactions with confidence and reduce anxiety.

Welcome to CST Academy! An Illustrated Guide for Parents

CST Academy's therapeutic preschool and kindergarten programs empower children with special needs through a nurturing environment, individualized learning plans, and evidence-based therapies. We partner with parents to create a supportive community where every child thrives and reaches their full potential.

"After almost 2 years our son’s time at CST Academy has come to an end. The preschool program has done wonders for him. Ms Jaclyn is such a warm, kind and patient teacher. She and my son’s OT (Ms. Nikki) and ST (Ms. Erika) worked together to ensure he was meeting all of his goals. The level of collaboration between all therapies shows how dedicated they are to helping your child reach their full potential. They have all made such an impact on him, it’s amazing to see the changes since he started there. He has blossomed into a strong, confident boy who is more than prepared to start his new school in a few weeks. We will always fondly remember our time at CST Academy. Can’t recommend them enough!"

"I worked with CST Academy over a period of about 10 months. They are absolutely incredible! I also referred a friend to their program and the progress his child made just blew him away! Usually, I don’t write reviews unless I feel strongly compelled one way or the other, and in this case I do! You cannot go wrong here. I would not trust my children to anyone else. Call them and see for yourself. I have seen other programs and there is just no comparison."

5-Star Google Reviews