In-home pediatric physical therapy brings skilled, personalized care directly to the place where your child is most comfortable — your home. For many families, this eliminates the stress of travel and waiting rooms, and allows the therapist to see your child in their natural environment, which often leads to better engagement and more realistic goal-setting.
The First Visit
The initial session is primarily an evaluation. Your therapist will spend time getting to know your child, observing how they move, play, and interact with their surroundings. Expect questions about your child's developmental history, current concerns, daily routines, and your family's goals for therapy. This is also your opportunity to ask questions — there are no wrong ones. By the end of the first visit, you should have a clear picture of the therapist's observations and a proposed plan of care.
What to Prepare
You do not need to do much to get ready. Clear a small space in your living room or playroom — about the size of a yoga mat — so there is room to move. Have a few of your child's favourite toys available, since familiar objects help children engage more readily. Dress your child in comfortable clothing that allows easy movement. If your child is napping, that is fine — the therapist will work around your family's schedule.
A Typical Session
Sessions generally run 45 to 60 minutes and are entirely play-based for younger children. Your therapist will guide your child through targeted activities that address their specific goals — whether that is building core strength, improving balance, working on transitions like sitting to standing, or practising a particular gross motor skill. It should look like play, because for children, play is how learning happens best.
Parents are active participants. Your therapist will demonstrate techniques and exercises for you to carry over between sessions, because what happens in the other 167 hours of the week matters just as much as the hour of therapy. Progress tracking is ongoing, and goals are adjusted as your child grows and develops.