Meet the Moms Behind Tiny Transformations (chapter II featuring Ashley Scully)
When did you move to Montclair, NJ and what do you like best about the area?
After 8 years of living in New York City, my husband, Brian, and I chose to move our family to Montclair in 2019. Montclair and the surrounding towns provide easy commutes to the city and are incredibly family friendly. We love how walkable Montclair is as a town, and often can be seen strolling with our kids into town or through nearby parks. The excellent schools, farmer’s markets, and restaurants are more reasons we love where we live!
How many kids do you have and how old are they?
We have two children, a three-year-old son, Connor, and a daughter, Rory, who is about to turn one.
What do you do in your free time?
I enjoy going for a run in nearby parks or taking a spin class on the Peloton. I usually unwind at night watching a show on the couch with my husband or reading some good fiction. Having grown up in Florida, I crave a beach vacation at least once a year!
Why did you choose to become a pediatric Occupational Therapist?
Growing up, I always knew I wanted to work with children, but I didn’t know in what capacity. In undergrad, I met a fellow student whose sister was an OT. Hearing her describe what her sister did for a living checked all of my boxes, and I was instantly hooked. Occupational therapy allows me to work with children to support their development in a way that keeps me active and on my feet.
What excites you most about joining the Tiny Transformations NYC team?
The ability to provide in-home pediatric occupational and physical therapy services through Tiny Transformations allows for optimal outcomes when treating infants and young children. Observing a child’s daily routine and home lifestyle enables our therapists to set realistic and achievable goals while providing real-time feedback to clients and their families. In-home therapy services also provide peace of mind to families during the COVID pandemic by maintaining consistency in treatment while also limiting exposure. I am excited to bring Tiny Transformation’s treatment model to Northern NJ and provide this important service to our community.
Furthermore, by joining the Tiny Transformations team, I am able to align myself with physical therapists and occupational therapists who are professional, hard working, passionate, and kind. I can only learn and grow as a professional from this group of women!
Tell us your main interest areas as an OT.
My background includes treatment of a wide variety of pediatric age groups, diagnoses, and developmental delays; however, my heart lies with infants and early childhood development. Fueled by personal diagnoses in my own family, the treatment areas of torticollis and plagiocephaly (flattened head) are of particular interest to me.
From a development perspective, what is the biggest piece of advice that you would give a new mom?
Prioritize independent, open floor play! The most important item on a new mom’s baby registry, from a development perspective, is a floor mat. You really don’t need the rest of it! Tummy time and open floor play in other positions (on back and in side lying) are some of the best ways you can support your baby’s early development. Everything else builds from there!
From a mom perspective, what is the biggest piece of advice that you would give a new mom?
Accept help and prioritize sleep! Sleep deprivation is real with a newborn, but small naps here and there really can help, even if you only have 10 minutes. Better yet, have your partner take over one of the nighttime feeds so that you can get a (slightly) longer sleep stretch. And keep in mind, mama, you will get a full night’s sleep again! I promise!