EXERSHINEkids® POWER Bootcamp
Strong Bodies. Regulated Minds. Confident Kids.
created with experience & passion
& based in evidenceÂ
Why Movement Matters
Today’s kids are moving less than ever before.
With increased screen time, reduced outdoor play, and higher academic demands, many children are not getting the movement their bodies need to develop foundational skills.
As a result, we are seeing more children who struggle with:
- regulation and attention
- coordination and endurance
- confidence in their bodies
- participation with peers
Movement is not just physical.
It is directly connected to how children:
- feel
- focus
- engage
- and participate
When we change the body, we change the system.
The EXERSHINEkids® Difference
EXERSHINEkids® is built on a simple but powerful idea:
Regulation starts in the body.
Through structured, high-intensity movement, we help children:
- organize their nervous system
- build strength and body awareness
- increase readiness for learning and engagement
- experience success in a supportive environment
Each session is intentionally designed using the EXERSHINEkids framework, integrating:
- sensory processing
- motor learning
- self-determination and confidence
- social participation
This allows children to experience meaningful progress, not just in the session, but beyond it.
What a Bootcamp Session Looks Like
Sessions are fast-paced, engaging, and structured to meet children where they are.
Children participate in:
- high-intensity exercise circuits
- obstacle courses
- strength and endurance challenges
- partner and group-based activities
All activities are:
- developmentally appropriate
- carefully structured and graded
- designed to support both individual success and group participation
Kids are moving, working hard, and having fun
while building real skills that carry over into daily life.
Built for All Settings
EXERSHINEkids® POWER Bootcamp can be implemented in:
- outpatient clinicsÂ
- schools
- community programs
- small group settings
Because the framework is structured and adaptable, it meets children where they are and supports progress in the environments that matter most.
The Outcome
At the end of the day, this is what matters:
Kids who feel stronger
Kids who feel more in control
Kids who are more confident
Kids who are more connected
Kids who are better able to participate in their world
Where it all began…
Hi, I’m Dr Amy Wheadon, OT, OTD, OTR, CPT, YESÂ
A licensed and registered pediatric occupational therapist, certified personal trainer, youth exercise specialist, mom of 3, distance runner & strength & conditioning enthusiast.
I founded ExerSHINE Kids by combining my love of exercise with my passion for pediatric OT.Â
I embraced high intensity exercise when I was in graduate school, working towards my masters in occupational therapy. My daily workouts improved my overall endurance, cardiovascular health, and muscle strength, but that is not what sparked my motivation to commit to regular exercise. Running and weightlifting also enhanced my focus, organization and participation in daily occupations.
Exercise became a daily tool that I successfully used for my own regulation, emotional health and connection with others. Working out in a group also provided me with a sense of community and belonging, which contributed to my well-being and self-confidence.
I also recognized that kiddos who participated in my individual sessions, and other group programs using exercise as a primary change agent demonstrated similar outcomes.Â
In addition, these children benefited from:
- structure
- guided exercises
- meaningful themes with multi-sensory supports
- graded activities
- an individualized “just right challenge”
These components have all of which have been carefully and deliberately incorporated into the ExerSHINE Kids POWER Bootcamp protocol.
Engaging and meaningful activities target improved performance components (i.e. core strength, shoulder stability, motor planning, endurance, sensory processing, proprioception, vestibular input) and also facilitate improved regulation for enhanced social participation and increased engagement in leisure and play occupations.
