Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions

  • A: Early Motion Matters is a nonprofit dedicated to helping young children develop strong bodies, healthy habits, and confidence through free movement-and-development programs. We partner with licensed Physical & Occupational Therapists, parents, schools, and community organizations to support children’s growth, monitor developmental milestones, and intervene early when needed.

  • A: We serve families with young children (infants through preschool age), caregivers, and communities. Our programs are designed to support any child regardless of ability, economic situation, or background. We also work with schools and community groups through our outreach initiatives.

  • A: Yes. All of our core classes, workshops, and educational resources are offered free of charge to families. Donations from supporters help us keep them that way.

  • A: No. Participation is always free. We do not require insurance, and there is never a fee to enroll in our programs. Any optional donation is completely up to you, with no penalty or disadvantage if you decline.

Programs & Participation

  • A: Our main programs are:

    • Little Steps, Big Futures– Play-based movement classes led by licensed therapists.

    • Milestone Moments – Education for parents/guardians with courses, guides, video demos, and support.

    • Step Ahead Initiative – Outreach and awareness in schools and community institutions to promote developmental milestone knowledge.

  • A: You can sign up through our Events & Sign-Up page. There, you’ll find upcoming classes, schedules, and a registration form. We aim to offer classes in multiple community locations and times. Please note that you’ll need to create a free membership account to view and access classes and materials.

  • A: Our programs generally serve children from around 2 months old up to about 6 years old. Some resources apply across that full span; certain classes are age-grouped to ensure content matches developmental stages.

  • A: We welcome all children. Our therapists adapt classes and materials so that every child, regardless of ability, can participate safely. If your child has special requirements, let us know during registration so we can best support them.

  • A: Yes. Through Milestone Moments, we guide parents to track developmental milestones, observe early warning signs, and consult healthcare professionals when necessary. We are not a replacement for medical care, but we help families recognize and act early.

Donations

  • A: Yes — Early Motion Matters is a new charity and has recently applied for nonprofit 501(c)(3) status and the approval is currently pending. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. Once approved, our status will be retroactive to our inception date and you, along with all donors, will receive confirmation that past donation(s) are tax deductible.

  • A: You can donate via our Donate page. We offer both one-time and recurring donation options. Payments are processed securely.

  • A: We accept major credit/debit cards. We are considering adding other methods (bank transfers, etc.) as we grow.

  • A: Donations support the cost of licensed therapists, materials and equipment for classes, development and distribution of educational resources, outreach in schools, and the general operations required to keep all programs free and high quality. Where possible, we report on how donations were used in our Impact or Annual Report pages.

  • A: Yes. You can make a donation in memory or in honor of someone during the donation process. We’ll provide an acknowledgment you can share with others if you’d like.

Policies, Governance & Trust

  • A: We are actively preparing these. Once available, IRS determination letters, tax filings (e.g. Form 990), and financial summaries will be posted on our Transparency page.

  • A: We have a Board of Directors that provides strategic guidance and oversight. We follow policies such as Conflict of Interest, Whistleblower, and others to ensure ethical operations. These policies are available on the Transparency page.

  • A: Since our programs are free, there is no fee to refund. If you sign up for a class or event and need to cancel, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible so we can open your spot for someone else.

  • A: We respect your privacy. Any personal information you provide (for participation or donation) is used solely for our programs, communication, and legal/financial obligations. We do not share your personal data for marketing purposes outside of this mission. Our Privacy Policy explains this in more detail.

Technical, Logistics, & Other Support

  • A: We host classes at various community sites; locations are listed on our Events page with an interactive map where possible. If you don’t see one in your area, contact us — we’re always looking to expand.

  • A: Comfortable clothing for your child, water, maybe a snack if applicable, and extra diapers/change of clothes for younger children. A therapist or staff member may send a detailed list once you're registered.

  • A: Classes may vary, typically around 45 minutes to 1 hour for group sessions. For virtual or resource use, time depends on your schedule.

  • A: We try to offer multiple times and sites to be flexible. Let us know what works for you — if there’s enough interest, we’ll aim to create more offerings.

  • A: Yes. Parents/guardians are welcome (and encouraged) to be present for many of our sessions, especially for infant/toddler classes. For safety or scheduling reasons in some settings, we may provide guidance.

Supporting & Getting Involved

  • A: We’re grateful for volunteers! Depending on your skills and interests, you could help with setup, assisting during classes, helping with outreach or translation, or behind-the-scene tasks. Contact us via the Volunteer page to learn more.

  • A: Yes. We welcome partnerships. Our Step Ahead Initiative is specifically designed for outreach. Reach out through our Partner page to explore collaboration models.

  • A: Currently, we do not have a formal internship program, but we are exploring this. If interested, please contact us to discuss potential opportunities for involvement.

Miscellaneous

  • A: We aim to keep our schedule, policies, and resource materials up to date. Major updates (e.g. new program offerings, policy changes) will be announced via newsletter and posted on relevant pages.

  • A: Just contact us! We want to hear what you need. You can reach us through the Contact Us page, or send feedback via the Transparency page.