The start of a new school year can be a mix of excitement and anxiety for children. As a pediatric mental health therapist, I understand the importance of strong parent-child bonds in supporting children's emotional well-being during this transitional period.

Creating a supportive home environment is crucial for children's mental health. Here are some strategies to foster a strong connection with your child:

Back to School: Fostering a Connection With Your Child

As the new school year begins, the weight of your child’s backpack can become a significant concern. Improperly packed or worn backpacks can lead to discomfort, pain, and even postural issues. At Marshall Pediatric Therapy, we understand the importance of proper backpack use for your child’s well-being.

By following these simple guidelines, you can help ensure your child’s backpack is not causing unnecessary strain on their body. If you have concerns about your child’s posture, backpack-related pain, or overall physical development, please don’t hesitate to contact Marshall Pediatric Therapy. Our team of experienced therapists can provide an evaluation and develop a personalized plan to address your child’s specific needs.

Back to School Tips: Backpacks!

Physical therapists don't just help adults recover from injuries. Pediatric physical therapists are specially trained to help children of all ages overcome challenges and reach their full potential. Whether your child has a developmental delay, a sports injury, or a chronic condition, a PT can create a fun and effective program to get them moving.

Unlike a typical doctor's visit, pediatric PT sessions are all about play! Therapists use games, activities, and exercises tailored to your child's needs and interests. This might involve: 

 Using fun exercises and activities like animal walks, obstacle courses, and games, PTs help children improve their balance, agility, and muscle control. This can be essential for everything from playing on the playground to keeping up with friends. 

 Physical therapy can be a game-changer for children who are experiencing delays in reaching milestones like rolling over, crawling, or walking. Your PT will assess your child to identify the areas holding them back, and create a fun program to help them develop the skills they need to progress. 

 Did your little athlete take a tumble? PTs can help kids heal from sports injuries and surgeries. A PT will help your child restore strength and flexibility so they can safely get back to their favorite activities. 

 Children with conditions like cerebral palsy or muscular dystrophy can benefit from physical therapy to help manage their symptoms and improve their overall function and well-being. A PT will assess your child to identify areas of strength and areas that need improvement. They will then develop a program to help your child maximize their strength, range of motion, coordination, and endurance. They'll educate you and your child on things you can work on at home. They can also help get your child any needed equipment like wheelchairs, braces, or walkers.

Physical therapy isn't just about physical health. While physical therapists play an important role in promoting physical activity and health in kids, PTs can also help children with: 

 As kids gain strength, coordination, and independence, their confidence soars. This can have a positive impact on all areas of their lives. 

PTs can teach children techniques to manage pain and discomfort, improving their overall quality of life. 

 Gross motor skills help children participate in play and games with peers, which helps children develop social skills and build friendships.

If you think your child might benefit from physical therapy, talk to your pediatrician or give your PT a call. They can assess your child's needs and create a personalized plan to help them reach their goals!

1) The Scope of Pediatric Physical Therapy Practice in Health Promotion and Fitness for Youth With Disabilities. Pediatric Physical Therapy 27(1):p 2-15, Spring 2015. | DOI: 10.1097/PEP.0000000000000098 a. https://journals.lww.com/pedpt/Fulltext/2015/27010/The_Scope_of_Pediatric_Physical 

2) Aquatic Physical Therapy for Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial, Physical & Occupational Therapy In Pediatrics, 30:2, 111-124, a. DOI: 10.3109/01942630903543575 

3) Physical Therapy Management of Congenital Muscular Torticollis: An Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guideline. Pediatric Physical Therapy 25(4):p 348-394, Winter 2013. | DOI: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e3182a778d2 a. https://journals.lww.com/pedpt/Fulltext/2013/25040/Physical_Therapy_Management_ of_congenital_muscular.2.aspx 

4) Pain Assessment and Management in Children With Neurologic Impairment: A Survey of Pediatric Physical Therapists. Pediatric Physical Therapy 22(3):p 330-335, Fall 2010. | DOI: 10.1097/PEP.0b013e3181ea8d7d a. https://journals.lww.com/pedpt/FullText/2010/22030/Pain_Assessment_and_Manage ment_in_Children_With.18.aspx 

 1) 5 Ways to increase physical activity in infants and toddlers a. https://www.choosept.com/health-tips/5-ways-increase-physical-activity-infantstoddlers 

2) Activities to Promote Development in Children a. https://www.choosept.com/childrens-activities

3) Whole Body Exercises for Kids of all Abilities a. https://www.choosept.com/video/whole-body-exercises-kids-all-abilities

Getting Kids Moving: Pediatric Physical Therapy

Most people are familiar with the typical sequence of language learning. Babies start out babbling, then start using single words around the age of 1 year, then start using word combinations such as “go car” or “my ball,” and then advance into early sentences. We refer to this as 

Some children learn language in a different way: 

. The word “gestalt” refers to a whole or a chunk of information. This means a whole phrase, sentence, dialogue, or even songs and clips from movies and TV shows. Some children pick up on the intonation pattern first and use the whole phrase (“gestalt”) to convey meaning, without understanding the meaning of the individual words.

You may have heard the words “scripts” or “delayed echolalia.” 

Children who are gestalt language processors will communicate by echoing phrases they have heard before.

 It’s important to know that these phrases are not literal, but often do have meaning! We have to do detective work to figure out exactly what the child is trying to communicate, especially in the early stages of language development. If your child is quoting phrases and sentences from favorite TV shows, movies, books, or previous conversations that seem out of context, they may be using echolalia to communicate.

Generally, children who acquire language through gestalt language processing go through these stages: echolalia, mitigated echolalia (mixing and matching parts of gestalts), isolated words and beginning word combinations (understanding that individual words have meaning), and grammar. This is a completely valid way of learning a language. Some children go through these stages on their own, while others need a little help along the way.

If you have any concerns about your child’s communication development, 

 to determine the next steps. Helping families build skills for life is our priority! We would love to support you in your child’s communication journey. 

Beyond Individual Words: Gestalt Language Processing

Babies reach a point where conquering tummy time isn't enough. Their sights, and tiny, grasping hands, are set on a new horizon: independent sitting! But the journey from rolling champion to sitting superstar requires more than just sheer enthusiasm. As a pediatric physical therapist, I see the excitement and frustration that unfolds on this path. 

This blog post is your personalized blueprint for building a confident, wobbly-free sitter. We'll deconstruct the key building blocks of independent sitting, each brick essential for reaching that coveted upright milestone.

Before being able to sit independently, each child must develop the following:

 is the ability to hold your head up against gravity when held in an upright position. 

 is the ability to lift your head up when in tummy time, gazing horizontally. 

The child can maintain sitting with the caregiver's hands for support. 

Hands may be placed at chest level during the early stages. As trunk control improves, hands may be positioned at the hips.

The child can maintain sitting while using a dynamic support surface for support. An example includes a 

The child can maintain sitting independently using hands for support. 

As your little one finally masters independent sitting, take a moment to soak in the pure joy of their accomplishment. It's a testament to all those playful tummy time sessions, wobbly attempts, and giggles of encouragement. But remember, the journey doesn't end there. New adventures await, with crawling, cruising, and eventually walking just around the corner.

If you have any concerns about your baby's progress, seeking guidance from a pediatric physical therapist can provide invaluable support. We want to be there for you and your little one to build skills for life. We're here to celebrate your baby's every milestone and ensure they have the tools and confidence to conquer every new challenge.

From Our Experts

Back to School: Fostering a Connection With Your Child

Back to School Tips: Backpacks!

Getting Kids Moving: Pediatric Physical Therapy

Beyond Individual Words: Gestalt Language Processing

Baby Steps to Independent Sitting