Calm Starts in the Early Years

The Early Years Collective exists to help parents navigate feeding, development, and behavior with clarity — not pressure.


Why I Started This Work

I’ve sat across from hundreds of families who love their children deeply — and feel completely exhausted by dinner.

I’ve watched parents second-guess every bite, every refusal, every growth chart percentile.

Not because they’re doing something wrong.

But because no one explained what’s developmentally normal — and what isn’t.


The early years are powerful.

And when we understand them, everything feels steadier.

Meet Kristin Hansen, OTR/L

Founder of The Early Years Collective

I’m a pediatric occupational therapist with over 15 years of experience supporting families from birth to 21 years old with focus of practice in early intervention and childhood.

I’ve worked in schools, early intervention, and directly alongside parents navigating feeding challenges, regulation struggles, and developmental concerns.

I’m also a parent — which means I understand the tension that can build at the table and during our daily routines. The quiet second-guessing. The internal pressure to “get it right.”

My Work is Grounded in:

• Developmental science
• Nervous system regulation
• Respect for autonomy
• Practical structure that works at home

Because progress doesn’t happen in a single appointment.

It happens in everyday moments.

What Makes The Early Years Collective Different

This isn’t about tricks.

It’s not about reward charts.

And it’s not about forcing vegetables.

It’s about creating the conditions that allow children to feel safe, regulated, and capable — so progress unfolds naturally.


Because dinner happens every day.

And families deserve an approach

that supports every meal — not just one appointment.

Our Core Philosophy

The Early Years Collective equips parents and caregivers with clear, research-informed strategies to confidently support their child’s development during everyday routines, informed by occupational therapy and guided by how children learn and develop best.

Our Feeding Philosophy

Children learn to eat when they feel safe, supported, and understood — not pressured or fixed. Feeding development unfolds over time within predictable routines, positive relationships, and repeated low-pressure exposure. When caregivers are coached to understand what is developmentally typical and how to respond supportively, mealtimes become calmer and progress becomes possible.


If You’re Ready for Calmer Meals…

Start with understanding what’s normal — and what actually needs support.