at-home therapy activities

How to Support Your Child’s Therapy Without Feeling Overwhelmed
How to Support Your Child’s Therapy Without Feeling Overwhelmed 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

Finding time to work on your child’s therapy can sometimes feel overwhelming, especially when the pressure of setting New Year’s resolutions starts to set in. Fortunately, supporting your child doesn’t have to mean adding more to your plate. There are plenty of ways that you can incorporate your child’s therapy into your everyday routine, helping to take some stress off of your shoulders in the process.

From using car rides to build language skills, to creating a consistent bedtime routine and more, here are 3 simple ways to support your little one’s development without feeling overwhelmed.

1. Use Car Rides to Build Language Skills

Whether you’re driving your kiddos to daycare, taking them with you to run errands, or are heading to the park, car rides are the perfect opportunity to work on building your little one’s language skills. Take turns spotting different colors, animals, or letters, narrate what’s going on around you, or simply check in and ask how they’re feeling and what they did that day. These small moments can truly make a big impact.

2. Turn Clean-Up Time Into Playtime

Turn clean-up time into playtime! Rather than taking on all the work by yourself, get your kiddos involved. You can ask them to gently toss their toys into the bin, reach up high to put their toys back on the shelf, or play pretend and have the toys walk back to their home. When you’re all done, celebrate with a high-five, or have a silly dance party.

3. Create a Consistent Bedtime Routine

One of the easiest ways to work on your child’s developmental goals without adding any extra pressure is to create a consistent bedtime routine. Start off by building language and fine motor skills during bath time, encourage independence by allowing your child to pick out and put on their pajamas, and work on speech and communication by reading a bedtime story. Your child will love the familiarity of having the same routine each night, and you’ll love how it turns the end of the day into a calm, connected moment for both of you.

From all of us at Pediatric Therapy Network, Happy New Year! Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) during January for more ways to work on your child’s therapy without feeling overwhelmed. Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support your family in any way that we can.

3 Activities to Get Your Little Ones Moving During National Physical Therapy Month
3 Activities to Get Your Little Ones Moving During National Physical Therapy Month 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

There’s a chill in the air and the leaves are slowly starting to change colors. This can only mean one thing… Fall has arrived! With the weather cooling down, it’s a great opportunity to warm up by enjoying some playful movement. It’s also the perfect time to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month! This wonderful month is a reminder of how physical therapy can help children build strength, confidence, and independence.

To kick off the celebration, we wanted to share 3 activities to get your little ones moving. We hope you enjoy partaking in these fun and silly games with your kiddos!

1. Ball Toss: With the weather warming up, now is a great time to get outside! This first activity allows you to do just that. Grab a ball of your choice, and make your way outdoors with your little one. Take turns tossing the ball to one another, and see how many times in a row you can catch it. Then, to make the game even more interesting, get a bucket, basket, or large container, and have your child try to toss the ball into it.

Bonus Tip: Incorporate balls of all different shapes, weights, and sizes.

2. Follow the Leader – Dance Edition: Follow the Leader is a classic game that you’ve probably played at least once, but have you ever tried the dance version? Not only is it perfect for getting your little ones moving, but it also lets them work on their balance and coordination. To start, have your child be the leader and shout out a dance move for you to follow. You both will have to perform that dance move until your child shouts out another move to try. Then, switch roles and have a turn at being the dance leader!

Bonus Tip: Play some of your child’s favorite music in the background to add even more excitement.

3. Yoga Safari: Clear a space in your house and lay down some blankets on the floor. Now, lead your child through some animal-inspired yoga poses. For example, you can round out your back like a stretching cat, squat down and hop like a frog, sit with your feet together and flap your knees to mimic a butterfly’s wings, or balance on one leg like a flamingo. Not only does this work on your child’s flexibility, strength, balance, and coordination, but it’s also a whole lot of fun.

Bonus Tip: Do your best to make the noise of each animal.

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long as we continue to celebrate National Physical Therapy Month. As always, please feel free to contact us to talk about if your little one could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your child however we can.

3 Therapeutic Activities That Encourage Bonding and Connection
3 Therapeutic Activities That Encourage Bonding and Connection 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

Our team knows how precious every moment with your little one is. That’s why, throughout September, we’ll be highlighting the importance of family time, starting with sharing 3 therapeutic activities to help you bond and connect with your kiddos. Each activity is simple, engaging, can be incorporated into your daily routine, and most importantly—fun!. The best part? You’ll be making memories together that you and your kids will cherish for years to come.

1. Go on a Walk: Taking a walk together as a family is the perfect way to get some fresh air and relax after a long day. You can take a mindful walk in the park, stroll around your neighborhood, or even just go around the block. Ask your child to describe what they’re seeing, smelling, and hearing while outside. Point out different shapes, objects, and colors, or take this time to talk about your child’s day.

Bonus Tip: Stop at the park and have a quick family yoga session to unwind after a long day.

2. Bake a Healthy Treat: Sit with your child and work with them to come up with a healthy treat that you can make. Some things that you could bake include banana oat cookies, yogurt parfaits, or veggie muffins. Have your child help prepare your delicious snack by measuring, pouring, and mixing the ingredients. Then, when you’re ready to eat, consider setting up a tea party and enjoying your creation. Make sure to invite your child’s favorite stuffed animals to the tea party!

Bonus Tip: Have your child count each ingredient as they put it into the bowl.

3. Have a Family Storytelling Circle: After dinner, get everyone in your family together, lay some blankets and pillows down on the floor, and sit in a circle. Start by having your child talk about their day. Ask them to describe the emotions they felt, what their favorite part was, and something that they’re looking forward to tomorrow. This is a wonderful way to bond, and allows your child to express their feelings.

Bonus Tip: Have your child draw a picture of their day as they’re describing it to you.

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long as we shine a spotlight on the importance of spending quality time together as a family. As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

3 Speech-Based Activities to Help Kids With Language Development
3 Speech-Based Activities to Help Kids With Language Development 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

May is National Speech-Language-Hearing Month, and it’s the perfect time to highlight the importance of speech and communication—especially for young children. Communication is the foundation of everything we do, and there are plenty of ways that you can work on your child’s speech and language development at home. To help get you started, we wanted to share some activities that will help your kiddos with their speech, all while giving you the chance to spend time together as a family. From creating a story to playing with hand puppets and more, here are 3 of our top picks.

1. Create a Story: This first activity lets your child use their imagination while building important language skills. As your child comes up with their very own story, they will have to describe where it takes place, who the characters are, and what adventures they’ll have along the way. While they are explaining everything that’s going on, write it down on a piece of paper, and ask them to draw a picture to bring their story to life!

2. Play With Hand Puppets: Hand puppets can be utilized in many different ways, and are wonderful for supporting your child’s communication development. For starters, your kiddos can use hand puppets to express their emotions by telling you how they are feeling. Additionally, you can use hand puppets to talk through real-life scenarios with your child such as going to school for the first time or making new friends. This will help your child share their thoughts and feelings, alleviating some of their worries.

3. Have a Rhyme Time Challenge: This last activity is a playful way to boost your child’s speech skills. Start by sitting down together with your child and write a list of words on a piece of paper. Then, go through the list one word at a time, and take turns coming up with as many rhyming words as possible. Keep going until you’ve worked your way through the whole list! This is the perfect way to expand your child’s vocabulary, get their creativity flowing, and get in a laugh or too along the way.

Happy National Speech-Language-Hearing Month! Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long for tips, toys we love, and more! As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

3 Occupational Therapy Activities That Focus on Sensory Play and Fine Motor Skills
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April has arrived, which means that it’s time to celebrate Occupational Therapy Month! Occupational therapists (OTs) are wonderful, and the work they do truly makes a positive impact on so many lives. That’s exactly why we wanted to shine a bright light on OTs and highlight the difference they make and the incredible work they do. Thank you, Occupational Therapists, for the kindness, care, and compassion that you bring – we appreciate everything that you do.

In honor of Occupational Therapy Month, we wanted to share 3 activities that we know you’re going to enjoy trying with your kiddos. These activities focus on sensory play and are wonderful for helping your child work on their fine motor skills, all while giving you the opportunity to enjoy some fun together as a family. From creating a spring-themed sensory bin to making a paper flower and more, here are 3 fantastic activities to try during Occupational Therapy Month.

1. Create a Spring-Themed Sensory Bin: Creating a spring-themed sensory bin is the perfect way to engage your child’s senses all while celebrating this wonderful season together. First, gather the supplies that you’ll need to make the sensory bin. We recommend dyeing rice green to resemble grass, adding plastic bugs for a nature-inspired touch, and including measuring cups, spoons, and fake plastic tweezers. Once your sensory bin is complete, ask your child to identify the colors of the bugs and count how many are in the bin, scoop and pour the grass into cups, and use the tweezers to transfer the bugs from one end of the bin to the other.

Bonus Tip: Bury small items in the rice and have your little one try to dig them out with a spoon.

2. Make a Paper Flower: Making paper flowers with your kiddos is an excellent way to work on their fine motor skills while letting their creativity bloom. To begin, grab a piece of paper and draw the outline of a flower with a pencil. Then, have your little one use child-safe scissors to carefully cut out the flower. Your child will now have to rip and tear off pieces of the tissue paper and glue it onto the flower. Keep going until most of the flower is covered, let your creation dry, and then hang it on the fridge for everyone to see.

Bonus Tip: Attach a popsicle stick to the back and ask your child to “plant” the flower in a cup of playdough or rice. 

3. Hopscotch: Our featured therapist for Occupational Therapy Month, Beckett, suggested using child-safe chalk during playtime. Chalk is very versatile during playtime, and one of our favorite ways to use chalk is to play hopscotch. This is a great way to incorporate a movement break into your child’s play routine. Work with your child to draw a colorful hopscotch board, and then take turns stepping, jumping, or hopping to each numbered space. Then, if you and your little one are up for it, try hopping from space to space backwards!

Bonus Tip: Keep the fun going by having your child draw fun designs and shapes on the hopscotch board.

Happy Occupational Therapy Month! Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all month long for tips, toys we love, resources, and more. Furthermore, please don’t hesitate to contact us to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our kind and compassionate team is here to support you and your child in any way that we can.

Stress-Free Ways to Work On Your Child’s Therapy in the New Year
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We understand that the new year can feel overwhelming, especially for parents who are facing the pressure of setting resolutions. However, we’re here to tell you that it doesn’t have to be stressful! There are many ways that you can help your child work on their therapy in the new year, without having to worry about finding time to do so. How, you may ask? By seamlessly fitting your child’s therapy into your daily routine. To help get you started, we wanted to share some of our favorite ideas with you, so that you can worry less about fitting in your child’s therapy, and focus more on spending time together as a family.

Ready to learn more? Let’s get started! From cooking a meal together, to sorting laundry, and more, here are 3 stress-free ways to work on your child’s therapy in the new year.

Cook a Meal Together

Your child will love cooking with you and getting to create a delicious meal. Start by choosing what meal you want to make, and head to the store. While here, have your child assist you in grabbing ingredients by reaching up high or squatting down low. When you get home, it’s time to cook! Allow your child to help measure and mix the ingredients, and once you’re ready, set the table together, and enjoy your tasty dish!

Sort Laundry

The next time you start putting your clean laundry away, let your child join in on the fun! Work with your child to sort, fold, and put away all of their laundry. You can ask them to sort their clothes by color, count the number of items in each pile, or identify each article of clothing. An additional way to get your kiddos involved in laundry time is to have some fun putting their dirty laundry into the hamper by asking them to aim and try to throw it in.

Go on a Walk

Combine exercise with your child’s therapy by going on a walk. First, bundle up, go outside, and get ready to go on an adventure. Now head to the park or explore your neighborhood while partaking in therapy-based activities. While walking to your destination, you can ask your child to identify different objects, play “I Spy,” or take turns being the leader and performing different moves for the other person to follow.

Happy New Year from all of us at Pediatric Therapy Network! Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout the month of January for more stress-free ways to work on your child’s therapy in the new year, along with tips, resources, and more! As always, please don’t hesitate to contact us at any time to discuss if your child would benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your child in any way we can.

Reflecting on 4 Things That We’re Thankful for This Year
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Can you believe that it’s already November? We love this time of year, as it gives us the chance to reflect and express our gratitude for everyone who has made this past year so very special. 

We love helping your little ones work on their developmental skills, and we couldn’t do it without our PTN families and therapists. You all play such an important role in the lives of your kiddos, and we have such admiration for the support you show them each day. You make what we do so special, and for that, we thank you.

To continue to show our gratitude and express how much you mean to us, we wanted to take some time to reflect, and share with you 4 things that we’re thankful for this year. From our incredible PTN kids, to our caring PTN families, hardworking therapists, and more, here are 4 things that gave us an attitude of gratitude in 2024.

We’re thankful for…

1. Incredible PTN Kids: We cannot begin to express how thankful we are for all of the wonderful PTN kiddos we get to work with. The joy and cheerfulness you radiate during each therapy session is truly inspiring, and you really bring such a bright light into everyone’s lives. You make what we do so special, and we cannot wait to see what wonderful things you accomplish in the future. Thank you, PTN children.

2. Caring and Supportive PTN Families: To our kind PTN families, the love you have for your children is unmatched, and it doesn’t go unnoticed. Thank you for allowing us into your homes, and for being so incredibly supportive throughout each therapy session, and for helping your kiddos work on their therapy skills, too. From parents to parent figures, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, and everyone in between; thank you for everything that you do.

3. Hardworking PTN Therapists: We have an immense amount of gratitude for our team of amazing PTN therapists. You make such a positive impact on the lives of our PTN kiddos and families, and we cannot thank you enough for all the hard work and enthusiasm that you bring to each therapy session. We appreciate each and every one of you, and know how much you mean to all of our PTN families and children. Thank you, PTN therapists!

4. Being Able to Help Support Your Little Ones: The best part about what we do is being able to work with your kiddos, and help support them with their therapy needs. We love seeing their smiling faces each therapy session, and watching them learn, grow, and develop those essential skills. We look forward to working with all of our PTN kiddos and families for years to come, and cannot wait to see what the future holds for all of your incredible children. 

We hope that you have a Happy Thanksgiving! Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all November as we continue to express our gratitude, and share some wonderful at-home activities, resources, and more. Further, please don’t hesitate to contact our team to learn more about how pediatric therapy could benefit your little one. We’d love to support you in any way that we can.

4 Fun Activities to Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month
4 Fun Activities to Celebrate National Physical Therapy Month 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

October is one of our favorite times of the year. The weather is cooling down, the leaves are falling, and best of all, it’s National Physical Therapy Month! Physical therapists are so kind and caring, and make such a significant impact on the lives of others. Fortunately, we are so lucky to have an incredible team of physical therapists at PTN, including our October featured therapist, Katie Akhurst, PT, DPT.

In honor of National Physical Therapy Month, we will be sharing tips, toys, and advice from Katie on our social media pages. But right now, we are very eager to get the celebration started, which is why we wanted to give you 4 activities to try out with your little ones throughout the month. Not only are these activities a lot of fun, but they also incorporate physical therapy in an engaging way. 

Walk Like an Animal: Get ready to be silly! Take turns with your little one, and pretend to walk like a specific animal. Then try to guess what animal the other person is imitating. For example, you could walk like a crab, gallop like a horse, or slither like a snake. Use your imagination and try to come up with as many animals as possible. For some added excitement, try your best to make the noises of each animal!

Play Balloon Tennis: This next activity is sure to get you and your children moving. To begin, grab two tennis rackets and blow up a few balloons. Next, take a sheet and tie it to two chairs to create a net. Now, it’s time to play! Have your child stand on one side of the net, while you stand on the other side, and hit the balloon back and forth as many times as you can without it hitting the ground. Make sure to keep track of your high score!

Go Water Bottle Bowling: Another wonderful activity that you can do at home is water bottle bowling. Get some empty water bottles and a ball, and set up a fake bowling alley inside of your living room or kitchen. Then, take turns with your child rolling the “bowling ball” down the lane, and see how many pins you can knock down. This activity is a blast, and is one that your whole family is sure to enjoy.

Search For Treasure: Not only does this last activity incorporate physical therapy, but it also will get your creativity flowing. First, gather some items that can be used as “treasure”, and hide them around the house. Then, create a fake map that your child can use to help them find the treasure. Your child can then use that map to run around the house and search for their prizes. As a bonus, switch roles and have your child hide the treasure and create a map for you!

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout October as we celebrate National Physical Therapy Month. Additionally, please feel free to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

4 Activities That Allow You to Spend Quality Time Together as a Family
4 Activities That Allow You to Spend Quality Time Together as a Family 1080 1080 PTN Chicago

At PTN, we understand the importance of spending quality time with your little ones. That’s why, throughout September, we want to highlight the significance of family and togetherness, starting with sharing 4 activities that allow you to spend quality time together as a family. There is truly nothing like spending time with your loved ones and partaking in activities that allow you to strengthen your bond. We can’t wait for you to try out these fantastic activities with your kiddos – let’s make the most of these special moments together!

1. Make Homemade Pizza: A really great (and delicious) way to spend some time with one another is to have a homemade pizza night. Gather your ingredients, find a good spot to work, and get ready to have some fun! Sit together and begin to carefully roll out the dough, spread the sauce, place the toppings on your pizzas, and get them in the oven. When the pizzas are out of the oven and cooled off, enjoy eating your creations!

As a tasty bonus, use the ingredients to make funny faces on each of your pizzas!

2. Play Charades: Charades is a classic game that families have enjoyed playing for many years. Not only does it allow you to get moving and be a little silly, but it also lets you spend that oh-so-important quality time with each other. To begin, work together to come up with 10 different things that you can act out, and write them on pieces of paper. Then, take turns picking a piece of paper, act out what’s on it, and see if the other people in the room can correctly guess what you are trying to imitate.

3. Go on a Nature Walk: Being outside together as a family and enjoying the nature around you is something very special, and can strengthen the bond between you and your kiddos. That’s why we suggest going on a nature walk. Get outside, walk around, and enjoy the beauty of the world around you. See what you and your children can find along the way, and try to spot out as many flowers, plants, birds, and animals as you can. Don’t forget to bring some water and healthy snacks along with you!

4. Play Balloon Volleyball: This last activity is one of our favorites, as it gets you up and moving, and is also a whole lot of fun! Take a sheet and tie it to two chairs to use as your volleyball net. Then, blow up a balloon, and get ready to play. Divide your group into 2 teams, and have each team stand on one side of the net. Then, hit the balloon back and forward over the net, and see how long you can keep it up in the air! As a bonus, to introduce some friendly competition, keep track of your points and celebrate with a healthy and delicious treat!

Follow us on social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) all September as we highlight the importance of family bonding by sharing activities, tips, resources, and more! Further, please feel free to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

Therapy and Back to School Routines
4 Tips For Incorporating Your Child’s Therapy Into Their Back-to-School Routine
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It’s almost time to get your kiddos ready to go back to school! Making the transition from being in the summer sun to heading back to the classroom can be tough on your child, and it’s important to try and ease them back into their school time routine. Though, we understand that for parents, creating a routine that also incorporates your child’s therapy can be somewhat challenging. But that’s where we come in! We’re here to help give you 5 wonderful tips for incorporating your child’s therapy into their back-to-school routine. Our hope is that these tips can help make the transition of sending your children into the new school year a little easier.

1. Work With Your Kiddos to Make Lunch: An easy way to incorporate your child’s therapy into their back-to-school routine is to make their lunch together. After your family sits down for dinner, ask your child to help you prepare their school lunch for the next day. You can ask your child to do things such as peeling an orange, spreading jelly or jam onto a sandwich, or using a cute cookie cutter to turn slices of fruit into fun shapes. Your child will love being your little helper!

2. Fit Therapy Into Your Child’s Morning Routine: There are so many opportunities to fit your child’s therapy into their morning school routine. In fact, your child is probably doing many of these tasks already! After your child has woken up and eaten breakfast, get them into a simple routine that they can follow day after day. For example, you can have your child brush their teeth, help pick out an outfit and get dressed, do some light stretching, make their bed, and help pack their school bag. This will make mornings go a whole lot more smoothly for both you and your child.

3. Make Time For Play: Being away from home and working hard at school all day can be tiresome for your kiddos. This is why it’s important to try and incorporate play when they get home! Not only will this give your child a chance to relax and work on their therapy, but it also allows you to spend some quality time with one another. Some easy ways to engage in play therapy with your little ones include:

  • Turn on some music and show off your best dance moves.
  • Have your child draw a picture of their day and explain how it makes them feel.
  • Get outside with your kiddos and enjoy a game of Simon Says. 
  • Try an easy family workout to get you and your children moving. 

4. Read a School-Themed Book at Bedtime: Last but certainly not least, we suggest ending the day by reading a book with your child. There are many books that relate directly to going back to school, that we just know you and your child will enjoy. If you aren’t sure where to begin, some of our favorite school-themed books include:

Follow us on our social media (Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest) throughout August as we continue to celebrate your little ones going back to school! Additionally, please don’t hesitate to contact us to talk about if your child could benefit from pediatric therapy. Our team is here to support you and your family in any way that we can.

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