Center for Pediatric Therapy puts play in progress
Whether it’s rolling a giant dice, or the swings actually IN the office, once a child walks through the door of the Center for Pediatric Therapy, they aren’t thinking about therapy. They are thinking about fun.
“Each clinic is geared entirely around children — it sets the feel and tone of the whole office whereby everyone is supporting the children,” Director Dr. Tara Glennon said.
Therapy sessions are play-based to the extent that children don’t even realize that they are working on skills that are difficult for them – it feels like they are just playing.
The occupations of children include all the tasks they need to accomplish – such as tolerate food or clothing textures, figure out new ways to play, sit still at mealtime or when doing school-work, communicate effectively, etc. If a child is struggling with clumsiness, can’t produce the correct sound, has visual perceptual challenges, or other barriers to successful participation, CPT can help.
After this past year, parents need help to fill in the missing developmental moments more than ever. Glennon said the center’s work focuses on known diagnoses but also can help those developmental interruptions and “catch them up a bit.”
“Right now, we probably have a whole slew of kids who had their natural course of development interrupted because of modified school schedules and limited natural play opportunities with other children. And while these children don’t have a known diagnosis, I believe that they would benefit from some support to catch up,” she said.
Therapists are able to create individualized, intervention plans and provide one-on-one therapy sessions specifically designed to the child’s needs.
The center’s experts offer services to children from infant and toddler through to teenagers and consists of a staff of over 20, including occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and physical therapists.
Therapy is child-directed, based on the age of the child and therapists engage with them on things that are “hot and popular” with that group.
“Whether it’s Paw Patrol, the latest hot game, or what’s currently cool for kids, therapists engage with that particular age level by their topic of interest,” she said, “so that children enjoy playing while making progress.”
Glennon, who holds a doctor of education degree, is also a tenured professor of occupational therapy at Quinnipiac University. In 2017, Glennon received the Virginia Scardina Award of Excellence by the American Occupational Therapy Association.
Glennon also said she is fortunate to be part of a team of people who has skills that she might not.
“We have the ability to match your child’s struggles with the appropriate therapist who is an expert in what you need. Along with their general skills, each has a special area of interest that makes them an expert in that area,” Glennon said.
Most importantly, the Center for Pediatric Therapy emphasizes that parents are the first line of defense when it comes to what their children need, and if they need help evaluating — the Center is a phone call away.
“Parents, you know your children. If you think something is not quite right or your child is struggling, you have your finger on the pulse,” she said.
The Center for Pediatric Therapy, supporting children for over 25 years, has locations in Darien, Fairfield and Wallingford. For more information, visit centerforpediatrictherapy.com.