A Parent’s Comprehensive Guide To Optimizing Your Child’s Diet

MyPlate nutrition diagram showing balanced portions for healthy child development.

ContentsUsing MyPlate to Give Your Child The Best Diet for Growth and DevelopmentMyPlate: A Nutrition Guide for Every Stage of LifeFruits and Vegetables: Eating the Rainbow for HealthParenting tip for Picky Eaters: Grains: Prioritizing Whole Grains for Lasting EnergyPractical tip for Introducing Whole Grains: Protein: Essential for Growth and DevelopmentTips for Increasing Protein:Dairy: Building Strong Bones with […]

Dressing Skills

By Christina Martinez MA, OTR/L Learning how to dress/undress yourself is an important self-care skill that we all can learn. It might be hard to tell if your little one is ready to start learning how to become more independent in dressing because there are so many factors involved in dressing. Here are some tips […]

Rolling

By: Nicole Crisan, PT, DPT Floor play time is an integral part of development and is one of the first ways a baby learns to explore their environment. Rolling is one of the first independent movements a baby can make. Typically, babies start to roll from their tummy to their back and vice versa between […]

What is Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC)?

By Rouzan Dishoian, MS, CCC-SLP Communication is a fundamental aspect of human interaction. For some individuals, articulating their thoughts verbally may pose a challenge. This is where Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) comes into play, offering a lifeline to those facing communication challenges. What does AAC stand for? Augmentative and Alternative Communication AAC encompasses all […]

When to seek PT services

By Francesca Resurreccion PT, DPT Parenthood is a journey filled with joy, wonder, and sometimes, unexpected challenges. For some parents, the realization that their child may need additional support in the form of pediatric physical therapy services can be both daunting and confusing. However, seeking early intervention is crucial in addressing developmental concerns and ensuring […]

The Power of Imitation: How It Boosts Speech and Language Skills in Children

By Pranali Shah MS, CF SLP Imitation is a remarkable ability that plays a significant role in a child’s development. From their earliest days, children are natural mimics, imitating the sounds, gestures, and expressions of the people around them. This innate tendency to imitate is more than just cute behavior; it’s a crucial building block […]

The Connection between Autism, ADHD, and Sleep 

By Christine Hemelians, MS, OTR/L Quality sleep is important and beneficial for everyone; however, it’s especially important for babies and toddlers. Sleep plays a crucial role in the development of mental and physical health for children. It impacts alertness and attention, cognitive performance, language and vocabulary acquisition, and learning and memory (Pacheco & Vyas, 2023). […]

Tummy Time

By Erica Gliga MOT, OTR/L Tummy time is a foundational time for your infant to be on their tummy while awake.   Why is it important? While in utero, you might think about how your infant is growing in the fetal position, curled up in what is a flexed position. Tummy time helps the body […]

Seasonal Sensory Bins

By Erica Gliga MOT, OTR/L ‘Tis the season for sensory bins. This post shares 2 different seasonal sensory bin ideas to inspire some of your own creations to incorporate into play routines during the holiday season. Generally speaking, sensory bins can support development in a variety of ways such as providing tactile, visual, auditory, and […]

Should I Buy a Baby Walker?  

By Francesca Resurreccion PT, DPT As a pediatric physical therapist, parents often ask if baby walkers help babies take their first steps. I’m here to tell you, sadly, they don’t. Let’s look into it together.    To prepare for walking, babies need to meet several milestones:   Rolling   Prop sitting  Independent sitting  Army crawling on their tummy  […]