Little girl playing in the kinder room

little girl with sensory toy

Little girl playing in the kinder room

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ROOM TO SHINE!

interactive rooms with
a difference

Supporting Emotional Regulation Through Play

Play Based Early Childhood Intervention For Your
Neuro Divergent Child

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We help children with developmental, behavioural and emotional regulation challenges.

Our play based early intervention programs help with transition to school, social skills, fine and gross motor development, and foster a positive sense of identity through a strengths based approach

Our rooms take them on a journey of identifying and regulating emotions while they play.

Our aim is for the children to navigate their way through the circuit, and leave the rooms smiley, happy and more regulated! This unique experience is designed to increase your child’s awareness and learn strategies to assist self/emotional regulation, in a fun and play-based manner.

About Smiley Happy People

play based therapy

boy playing with toys

play based therapy

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Come and have fun with us!

ROOM TO SHINE!

About Us

Smiley Happy People takes a child and family centred play-based approach. We are respectful that every child that walks through our doors is unique and awesome!

Smiley Happy People provides early intervention play based programs to children who have developmental, behavioural and emotional regulation challenges. Our number one aim is to help them regulate their own emotions while they have fun and play in our specially set up rooms in the centre. It definitely doesn't feel like 'therapy'!

The Alert program has had a big influence on how we set up our programs. According to the Alert Program self-regulation is 'the ability to attain, maintain and change arousal appropriately for a task or situation.'

We believe this is the foundation for your child to

reach their full potential!

Smiley Happy People has a circuit of rooms for varied arousal states, where the children learn strategies to transition from active play to a sense of calm. This increases their awareness of emotional regulation.

The centre in Wantirna, Victoria, is a one of a kind.

We love kids, and we want to see them shine.

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Marli Bissett
'Magical Marli'

Marli has a passion and love for children and animals. Children gravitate to her calm and caring nature. Marli has obtained her certificate III and IV in Allied Health Assistance and completed various professional development courses relevant to helping support neurodivergent children. Marli will be assisting in the programs at Smiley Happy People as well as supporting children in kindergartens and schools and is available for support work.

Contact Marli for supports for your child via email - mbsmileyhappypeople@gmail.com or phone - 0479 150 731

Meet the Team

Suzie Bissett

'Super Suze'

Suzie is the founder of Smiley Happy People. She began her career working in early childhood development as an educator and soon realised early intervention is key to helping all children thrive from pre school to primary school and beyond. Suzie created Smiley Happy People to offer one of a kind play based early intervention programs. Suzie also has Animal Assisted Interventions and Therapy Dog Certification.

Suzie has studied and qualified in:
• Bachelor of Early Childhood Studies (Melbourne University)
• Graduate Certificate in Autism Studies (Griffith University)

• Diploma of Pathological Demand Avoidance (Centre of Excellence)

Other courses undertaken:
• Alert Program®
• ABA training – level 1
• Introduction to DIR and DIRFloortime®
• Foundation Concepts of Child Play Therapy
and Engaging Children with Autism in Play (Deakin University)
• Lead The Way – Assisted Intervention and Therapy Dog Certification

• Traffic Jam In My Brain

• First Aid
• COVID-19 Infection Control Training

• Hartley Knows How Handwriting Course

Prof. Tony Attwood & Dr Michelle Garnett
- Girls & Women with ASD
- Intervention with Children & Adolescents with ASD Masterclass
- Diagnostic Assessment of Children and Adolescents with ASD Materclass

Several short courses/seminars specific to:
• Anxiety
• Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)
• Pathological Defiance Disorder (PDA)
• Autism (ASD)
• Challenging behaviours
• Self Regulation

Our Programs

Programs we offer

Holiday Sessions

Looking for something more than the school based holiday programs? We offer programs during holidays that combine fun AND support

Terms Based Programs

Term Based Sessional Programs for children. Please enquire so we can match you with the best program

One to One Support

Suzie works 1:1 with children depending on their needs and goals. Please enquire now to discuss your child's needs

Animal Assisted
Intervention

Contact Suzie to discuss how gentle Shawnee and Milly can help your child shine

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We also have a team of fantastic support workers so please let us know if you want more information

Our Rooms

The children travel through our amazing rooms towards emotional regulation!

Smiley Happy People’s premises has been purposefully designed to enable your child ‘room to shine’! Your child is given the opportunity to navigate their way through a variety of rooms, while co-regulating and increasing their emotional regulation awareness.

Evidence-based strategies and practices (those that have been researched and proven to provide positive outcomes for your child), such as The Alert Program ® are implemented throughout our program.

Smiley Active People

This space is where we get our ‘wiggles and jiggles’ out! Swinging, spinning, bouncing, climbing, rolling, pushing and pulling. active room: Heavy work, linear movement, joint impact/compression, proprioception, vestibular

0-preschool age

walk here

Primary school age

walk here

Smiley Creative People

This space is designed for early childhood aged children. Here your child will engage in play-based learning, to foster and promote all areas of their development

Smiley Connected People

This space is designed for school age children to connect with peers while also connecting to themselves and their community through collaborative project based activities such as Me Tree Program (by Hannah Gamble OT)

This is our final room of the circuit. It is a peaceful space, teaching and practicing techniques and strategies to calm their bodies. We have different themes each term to keep the children engaged, so they leave this room calm and regulated

Smiley Calm People

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What Our Happy Clients Say

Testimonials

Suzie from SHP is the most gifted person with preschoolers that I have ever met. I was so impressed with her that I asked her to come and work alongside me, having never met her before! Suzie effortlessly weaves therapeutic interventions in every interaction she has with the child. She does this in a way that inspires fun, taking risks and learning through play. Her preschool teaching background and her expansive additional training in special needs, provide the perfect combination for ealry intervention in the preschool years. I could not recommend Suzie highly enough and any child that goes through her programs will be set up for a future of thriving

Hannah Gamble from Thrive OT For Kids

Rebecca, mum

"Our family are forever grateful to Suzie and Marli who are both talented and insightful kid whisperers. They have worked wonders with all 3 of our ASD/ADHD kids and have been instrumental in improving their emotional wellbeing and skills. I would highly recommend this incredibly fun place to anyone who needs additional developmental support for their children."

Sarah, mum

"Suzie’s commitment, understanding and connection with our children has offered them a trusting relationship in which to develop. Because of this strong relationship and her support, they have been able to increase attendance at school, develop confidence in attempting academic work and participate in school activities."

Catherine, mum

"Suzie’s bubbly, friendly and positive vibe means she can instantly win over even the most reluctant and anxious child. She plans fun and engaging activities, that are not only educational and build upon therapy goals, but are unique and tailored to the special interests of each individual child. Both my toddler (now aged 5) and teen adore Suzie and have great rapport with her, as she can build relationships easily with children of all ages (and their caregivers too!)."

WHY CHOOSE US?

Our programs aim to promote your child’s self-identity and wellbeing, fostering their strengths, while scaffolding and providing support for any challenges that your child may face

Our centre is a one of a kind experience that takes your child from active play to calm and happy - giving them room to SHINE!

Providing Services to NDIS - Plan Managed & Self Managed Participants

Smiley Happy People specialise in supporting children with: