OUR PHILOSOPHY
Empowering Children Through Therapy
At Learn and Play OT, we believe in promoting the wellbeing of every child we work with. Our approach focuses on creating a supportive and engaging environment to help children reach their full potential and achieve meaningful progress in their development. We are a community-based Pediatric Occupational Therapy practice. This means we treat children in their natural environments-homes, schools, and local parks. We want to go where your child is playing, living, and facing challenges.
MEET OUR TEAM
Susie Erde M.S., OTR/L
Founder & Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Susie created Learn & Play OT after eight years of passionate work as an occupational therapist specializing in pediatrics. She initially graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Pratt Institute. Her path to occupational therapy began after her first child was born with cerebral palsy, where she spent years observing and participating in transformative therapeutic sessions. As a special needs parent herself, she truly understands the daily realities, worries, and triumphs that families experience. Inspired by this experience, she went on to earn her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from Mercy College in 2017.
Susie loves being a pediatric OT because it allows her to seamlessly combine her creative skills with her deep understanding of science. She believes in a functional, play-based approach to enhance her patients' and their families' quality of life, helping children become more confident in their daily occupations. Susie has practiced in a wide variety of pediatric settings with children aged 0 to 18, including public and private schools, early intervention, sensory integration clinics, and outpatient/inpatient pediatric hospital settings.
Committed to providing the highest quality care, Susie has received advanced post-graduate training and certifications in: DIR Floortime, Sensory Integration, Handwriting Without Tears, and The SOS Approach to Feeding. She believes in cultivating joyful, meaningful engagement with children throughout their therapy journey and enjoys collaborating with families, teachers, and specialists to support a child’s independence and success.
When Susie is not busy working, she enjoys spending time with her family. She can most likely be found outdoors, enjoying the beach, boating, hiking, shark tooth hunting, and spending time outdoors with their three dogs: Indy, Millie, and Teddy. Susie maintains active accreditation with the NBCOT and is a proud member of SCOTA and AOTA.
Margaret Bloder M.S., OTR/L
Managing Clinical Lead & Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Margaret discovered the field of occupational therapy when her grandmother had a stroke and received OT services to increase independence with her activities of daily living. She has always known that she wanted to work with children as she enjoyed working at summer camps and nannying.
Margaret is passionate about using child-centered, evidence-based treatment and empowering families and caregivers to help their child reach their goals. She excels at providing a calm, safe space for children to be themselves while progressing towards goals in a fun way! Margaret's infectious personality is loved by all those she encounters. Margaret has practiced in a variety of settings including home, daycare, school, and clinic environments.
Margaret earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology with a minor in Recreational Therapy at Clemson University. She completed her Master of Science in Occupational Therapy in 2020 from the Medical College of Georgia.
Margaret is a native to Charleston and she loves exploring new and upcoming spots in the area. When Margaret is not working she enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, and spending weekends at the local lakes. Margaret maintains active accreditation with the NBCOT and is a member of the SCOTA.
Kelsey Wallace OTD, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Kelsey has always had a heart for working with children, whether babysitting, volunteering in her community, or caring for little ones in her church nursery. When she shadowed a pediatric occupational therapist for the first time, she immediately knew it was where she was meant to be and discovered her passion for supporting children in meaningful ways.
Kelsey believes therapy should be fun, engaging, and empowering. She utilizes a child-led, evidence-based approach, striving to create a safe and supportive space where children feel confident while working toward their goals. During her clinical rotations, she gained experience in a variety of pediatric settings including schools, day programs, and clinics where she supported children of all abilities in reaching their fullest potential.
She earned her Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Clemson University in December 2021 and went on to complete her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina, graduating with the Class of 2025.
Kelsey is from Hilton Head, South Carolina and loves spending her free time on the water, whether boating, reading at the beach, or soaking up the sun with family and friends. Kelsey maintains active accreditation with the NBCOT and is a member of the AOTA.
Tyler Kam OTD, OTR/L
Pediatric Occupational Therapist
Tyler discovered her passion for pediatric occupational therapy at a young age while coaching swimming for children with special needs. Through this experience, she developed a deep appreciation for helping children build confidence, independence, and meaningful life skills. From that point on, she knew she wanted a career dedicated to supporting children and their families.
Tyler believes every child learns and grows best when they feel supported, empowered, and engaged in activities that are meaningful to them. She utilizes a play-based, evidence-based approach to therapy and strives to create a positive environment where children can develop the skills needed to succeed in their daily occupations. During her clinical education, Tyler gained experience working with children across a variety of settings and diagnoses, helping them achieve their goals through individualized and family-centered care.
Tyler earned her Bachelor of Science in Public Health from the College of Charleston in 2021 before completing her Doctorate in Occupational Therapy at the Medical University of South Carolina graduating with the class of 2026.
Originally from Fort Mill, South Carolina, Tyler has called Charleston home since 2017. When she is not working, she enjoys going to the beach, staying active, and spending time with friends and family. Tyler maintains active accreditation with the NBCOT and is a member of AOTA.