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Pediatric Therapy

Early intervention through pediatric therapy can make a big difference in your child's development. Using play-based techniques, pediatric therapists help children build skills that support independence, social interaction, and overall well-being.

What is pediatric therapy?

Pediatric therapy helps children improve or regain cognitive, physical and motor skills. This therapy can boost your child’s confidence and sense of self-worth. Physical, occupational and speech therapists work together to provide compassionate care that is both age-appropriate and play-based. The goal is to help children heal and develop in ways that improve their ability to take part in daily activities.

Who can benefit from pediatric therapy?

Pediatric therapy can benefit children with a variety of conditions. Some of the medical issues that may be treated include:

  • Amputations
  • Autism
  • Birth defects
  • Broken bones
  • Burns
  • Cancer
  • Chronic illnesses
  • Developmental delays
  • Hand injuries
  • Head or spinal cord injuries
  • Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
  • Learning disabilities
  • Mental health or behavioral problems
  • Post-surgical conditions
  • Sensory processing disorders
  • Spina bifida

In general, therapy focuses on improving:

  • Daily activities like eating, feeding, bathing and toileting
  • Physical abilities like standing, sitting and moving
  • Learning and cognitive processes
  • Behavioral and social skills

How does pediatric therapy work?

The goal of pediatric therapy is to help children play, learn and grow in developmentally appropriate ways. Pediatric therapists address physical, psychological, social and environmental factors that may affect a child’s ability to function.

A multidisciplinary team of therapists works together to ensure your child receives the best care. After a thorough evaluation, therapists create an individualized treatment plan that focuses on your child’s specific needs. This may include:

  • Physical therapy: Builds strength, range of motion and mobility to help children move safely and independently.
  • Occupational therapy: Focuses on fine motor skills, sensory integration, self-help skills and play.
  • Speech therapy: Addresses speech and language issues, as well as feeding and swallowing problems.
  • Applied behavior analysis (ABA): Supports children with autism by improving communication, social skills, self-control, cognition and learning.
  • Feeding dysfunction therapy: Helps children with feeding and swallowing issues, such as refusal to eat or drink, choking, gagging or failure to gain weight.

What to expect from pediatric therapy

When your child begins pediatric therapy, the process starts with a comprehensive evaluation. This helps the therapy team understand your child's unique needs, strengths and challenges. Based on this assessment, therapists create an individualized care plan that focuses on the specific areas that need attention.

Throughout the course of therapy, your child will work with specialists such as physical, occupational and speech therapists. Therapy sessions are typically designed to be engaging and fun, often using play-based methods to encourage learning and development. Children will practice skills that help them improve their physical abilities, social interactions, and cognitive development.

Pediatric therapy sessions may take place in different settings, such as at home, daycare, school or a therapy clinic, depending on what works best for your child and family. The location is chosen based on what will support your child’s comfort and needs. In some cases, therapy may be provided in more than one setting to address different aspects of your child’s development.

In addition to the sessions, therapists work closely with parents and caregivers, providing guidance, educational resources and strategies to continue progress outside of therapy. This could include simple activities to reinforce skills at home or adjustments to the environment that help improve your child’s daily functioning.

Pediatric therapy is a collaborative process, and as your child progresses, the care plan may be adjusted to reflect their ongoing growth and goals. Through consistent therapy, children can make meaningful improvements in their physical, emotional and social well-being.

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