You may be considering pediatric physical therapy for your child because you feel they need extra help developing the strength, balance, coordination, and motor skills they need to move confidently in everyday life. Or perhaps your child’s pediatrician referred your child to a physical therapist.
It’s natural to wonder what to expect. Is it difficult to get the process started? Will your child feel comfortable? Will it feel like rigorous exercise, or will it be more like play?
To help you feel informed, prepared, and reassured, this article explains what you can expect from the moment you contact a physical therapist, through your child’s evaluation, and into what therapy may look like once sessions begin.
Getting Started with Physical Therapy
Getting started with physical therapy usually follows a simple three-step process. You’ll reach out to a clinic, schedule an evaluation, and work with a therapist on a plan that reflects your child’s needs.
- Initial conversation
It all starts with a phone call to the physical therapy clinic of your choice. You’ll talk with a therapist or intake coordinator about your child’s motor development and the reasons you’re seeking therapy. If therapy seems appropriate, an in-person evaluation is scheduled. - Comprehensive evaluation
This is your child’s first official session and a chance for the evaluating therapist to get to know them. The therapist uses play-based activities and everyday movements, such as crawling, stepping, reaching, climbing, or standing up from the floor, to observe how your child’s body works. They may gently check balance, coordination, range of motion, or strength.
After the evaluation, the therapist goes over the results, answers your questions, and explains whether therapy is recommended. If you decide to move forward, a treatment plan is outlined based on your child’s needs. - Therapy planning
Your child is matched with a therapist who is a good fit based on experience, communication style, and personality. Their therapy program is tailored to your child’s goals and how they learn best. Together, you and the therapist create a session schedule that works for your family.
What to Expect in a Physical Therapy Session
Every session is customized to your child’s needs, and what they work on may vary each visit. Still, most pediatric physical therapy appointments follow a familiar flow, so your child knows what to expect.
Warm-up and rapport-building
Sessions begin with gentle movement and simple play that help your child feel comfortable and ready to participate. Your child may start by crawling, rolling, stepping onto low surfaces, or reaching for toys placed at different heights. These activities help loosen their body, build confidence, and set a positive tone for the session.
Play-based therapy
After the warm-up, the therapist introduces activities that look like play but are designed to help your child practice key movement skills. Play is one of the most powerful ways for children to learn, and pediatric physical therapy uses movement, toys, games, and interactive challenges to help your child build skills in a way that feels natural and enjoyable.
Session activities may vary from week to week as your child works on different goals in their treatment plan. For example, if the therapist is focusing on balance, your child might walk along a taped path or step from one balance pad to another as part of a playful obstacle. If coordination or strength is the goal, activities may include standing up from the floor without using their hands or tossing and catching a ball to practice working with both sides of the body.
Throughout these activities, the therapist encourages your child to repeat movements with breaks as needed. Gentle guidance, modeling, and positive feedback help your child explore what their body can do without pressure or correction.
Parent presence during sessions
Your presence during sessions depends on your child’s comfort level. Some children prefer a parent to remain close by, while others focus best when their parent watches quietly from a bit farther away. Occasionally your child’s therapist may ask you to offer support or encouragement, but you are not expected to run activities or direct your child’s movements.
At the end of the session, the therapist shares a brief summary of what your child worked on and how they responded. When appropriate, they may suggest simple ways to support movement at home to help reinforce new skills in a way that fits naturally into your child’s daily routines.
How Long Will My Child Need Physical Therapy?
Physical therapy is not about rushing, and there is no single timeline for pediatric physical therapy because every child develops at their own pace. The length of therapy depends on your child’s goals, how often they attend sessions, and how their body responds to movement over time. The aim is to help your child feel comfortable in their body and to build skills that make daily life easier.
Your child’s therapist will stay in communication with you about your child’s progress, what skills they are developing, and any changes to the treatment plan so you know what to expect each step of the way.
Reach Out Today
If you are in the Dacula, Gainesville, or Atlanta, GA, area and concerned about your child’s motor development, Tender Ones Therapy Services is here to help. Our pediatric physical therapists begin with a thorough evaluation to understand what your child needs and create a plan for how to support them. The earlier therapy begins, the sooner your child can start building skills that help them feel steadier, stronger, and more confident in everyday life.
Call us at (770) 904-6009 or fill out the online form to schedule your child’s evaluation. We are committed to guiding you and your child through the therapy process and celebrating each milestone along the way.
