Physical Therapy · Therapy Playhouse

What this looks like at TP.

Common reasons families reach out for pediatric PT. If any of these sound like your child, PT might be a fit.

Milestones are late.

Your baby isn't rolling, sitting, crawling, pulling to stand, or walking around the age most kids do — and you're wondering if it's time to look.

Movement looks different.

Asymmetric patterns, a preference for one side, a tilted head, or a way of moving through space that doesn't look quite right.

Posture and balance struggle.

Low tone, poor core strength, frequent falls, or trouble holding steady in positions that should feel natural for your child's age.

Equipment doesn't fit right.

A wheelchair, stander, AFOs, or other adaptive gear that needs fitting, adjusting, or family training — and nobody's walking you through it.

Who we help.

TP's PT team works with children from birth through the teen years, with the heaviest concentration in babies and young children — especially those in Florida Early Steps.

Age range

Birth → teens

Heaviest focus 0–5. For children under 3, PT may be delivered through the Early Steps program.

Common referrals

Developmental & medically complex

Developmental delay, prematurity, cerebral palsy, hypotonia, Down syndrome, torticollis, plagiocephaly, genetic conditions — and families who simply want a trained eye on motor development.

Where sessions happen

Home, school, community

Your living room, backyard, daycare, or wherever the motor skill you're working on actually gets used. That's where PT belongs.

How we approach it.

The clinical philosophy that runs through every TP PT session.

Natural environment

Motor skills transfer poorly from clinic to home. We work on the floor your child actually plays on, the stairs they actually climb.

Family-centered

You see your child move every day. We build the plan with you, and we train you on the positioning and handling that help between sessions.

Play is the medium

A child will reach for a toy they want longer than they'll do a drill. Our sessions look like play because that's how motor learning actually sticks.

How do I know if my child actually needs PT?

You don't have to be sure before reaching out. A lot of families start with "milestones feel late" or "something looks off" — not a diagnosis. We'll talk through what you're noticing and help figure out whether a PT evaluation makes sense.

What does a PT evaluation look like?

The evaluation happens in your home, not a clinic. The PT spends time with you and your child — observing movement, running developmental assessments, and talking with you about history and goals. It usually takes one or two sessions. You'll leave with a clear picture of where your child is and what sessions would look like.

How long does PT last?

It depends on the goals. Some children need a short, focused episode of care around a specific milestone. Others — especially children with complex or ongoing needs — benefit from long-term PT that evolves with them as they grow. We re-evaluate regularly and adjust the plan.

Is PT covered by insurance?

Most major Florida payers cover pediatric PT. For children under 3 enrolled in Early Steps, we bill your approved insurance first; if your plan isn't approved for billing, Early Steps covers services directly. Private pay and superbill options are also available. We'll walk through specifics based on your coverage before we start.

Do I need a referral from a pediatrician?

For some insurance plans, yes. For Early Steps, your child is referred into the program and services follow. If you're not sure, call us — we'll help you figure out what paperwork is actually needed for your specific situation.

What's different about TP's PT compared to a clinic?

The setting, mostly. Clinic PT works on a mat, with equipment your child won't see elsewhere. Home PT uses your floor, your couch, your stairs, your yard. Gross motor skills have to transfer to real life — we build them there in the first place.

Helping kids move through childhood.