Every child begins physical therapy with a comprehensive evaluation to understand their unique strengths, challenges, and movement patterns. During the assessment, the therapist looks at areas such as muscle strength, balance, coordination, flexibility, posture, endurance, gait, and overall mobility. They also consider the child’s developmental milestones, medical history, daily routines, and any concerns shared by caregivers, teachers, or other providers.
The goal of the evaluation is to identify what may be impacting the child’s ability to move comfortably, safely, and independently. From this information, the therapist creates an individualized plan of care tailored specifically to the child’s needs. This plan outlines clear goals, targeted treatment approaches, and strategies that support progress both in the clinic and at home.
A child’s plan of care may include therapeutic exercises, balance and coordination training, gait-focused activities, motor skill development, strengthening programs, and functional movement practice. Therapists also collaborate closely with caregivers, providing recommendations, home activities, and guidance to reinforce the child’s progress in everyday environments. As the child grows and develops, the plan of care is continually updated to ensure therapy remains effective, engaging, and aligned with their evolving needs.
Strengthening activities help build the muscles children need for safe and confident movement. Therapists target key muscle groups, such as the core, legs, and shoulders, to improve stability, endurance, and overall functional ability. Stronger muscles support better posture, improved balance, and greater independence in daily activities like climbing stairs, getting up from the floor, or playing on the playground.
Mobility training focuses on helping children move their bodies efficiently and safely. Therapists work on walking, running, jumping, climbing, and transitioning between positions, such as sitting to standing or kneeling to standing. These skills allow children to participate more fully in school, play, and home routines.
These activities help children learn how to control their bodies during movement. Improving balance reduces the risk of falls, while coordination training helps with tasks like catching a ball, navigating obstacles, or moving smoothly during sports and play. Strong balance and coordination lay the foundation for confident participation in everyday activities.
Gait training helps children who have difficulty walking or who use inefficient movement patterns. Therapists assess how a child walks—looking at stride length, foot placement, balance, posture, and overall coordination. Treatment focuses on improving strength, stability, and motor control so walking becomes safer, smoother, and more efficient. Gait training can help with challenges such as toe-walking, in-toeing or out-toeing, uneven steps, poor balance, or fatigue during walking. Therapists may also use equipment or playful movement activities to support improved walking mechanics.
Learning to safely go up and down stairs is an important functional skill that requires leg strength, balance, coordination, and confidence. Therapists help children practice stepping patterns, weight shifting, and safe foot placement while building the strength needed to climb stairs independently. This training helps children who feel fearful on stairs, rely heavily on handrails, use uneven steps, or struggle with endurance. Improving stair skills increases safety and independence at home, school, and in the community.
Crawling is a foundational skill that supports strength, coordination, bilateral integration, and core stability. Some children skip crawling or struggle to maintain the position due to low muscle tone, decreased coordination, or retained reflexes. Therapists use guided activities to help children develop crawling patterns that strengthen the arms, legs, and core while improving overall motor planning. Crawling practice can enhance later skills such as walking, running, climbing, handwriting, and even reading by promoting strong body awareness and cross-body coordination.
Therapists teach children how to maintain proper posture during everyday activities. Good alignment supports efficient movement, reduces fatigue, and helps prevent injury or pain. Posture training may include strengthening weak muscles, stretching tight muscles, and teaching strategies for maintaining good body mechanics during play, schoolwork, and rest.
Some children benefit from equipment that supports safe movement and greater independence. Physical therapists assess whether tools such as orthotics, braces, walkers, standers, or specialized seating may help a child move more efficiently and participate more fully in daily life. Therapists also provide training on safe and effective use.
These skills help children safely navigate their home, school, and community environments. Therapy may include practice with stairs, curbs, ramps, uneven surfaces, and tight spaces. Improving functional mobility allows children to move more independently and confidently in their everyday routines.
Pediatric physical therapists also support children recovering from injuries or managing orthopedic conditions. Therapy focuses on restoring strength, mobility, alignment, and confidence following events such as fractures, sprains, sports injuries, or post-surgical recovery. Treatment plans are tailored to each child’s needs and may include targeted strengthening, flexibility work, gait retraining, balance activities, and functional movement practice. The goal is to help children safely return to their daily activities, reduce pain, and improve overall physical function while preventing re-injury.
Play is at the heart of pediatric physical therapy. Therapists incorporate games, obstacle courses, sports-type activities, and fun challenges to make therapy engaging and motivating. Through play, children practice motor skills, build strength, and develop coordination in a natural, enjoyable way.
Caregiver education is essential for long-term progress. Therapists provide parents and caregivers with strategies, home exercise programs, and recommendations that reinforce therapy goals between sessions. This ensures that children continue developing skills during daily routines and activities.
Physical therapy (PT) focuses on supporting a child’s physical development and helping them move safely, efficiently, and confidently. PT enhances mobility, strength, balance, coordination, posture, and overall physical function. It is designed to help children who experience challenges due to developmental delays, motor coordination disorders, muscle weakness, injuries, neurological conditions, or orthopedic concerns.
Pediatric physical therapy is always individualized, meaning each child receives a plan tailored to their unique needs, goals, and daily routines. Therapists use play-based, child-friendly activities to build motor skills, improve endurance, and support functional independence. PT helps children participate more fully in school, play, sports, and everyday activities while building confidence and promoting long-term health and well-being.
