About Playtime Physical Therapy & Associates
At Playtime Physical Therapy and Associates, we are dedicated to helping children from birth to three years old achieve their developmental milestones through the power of play.
Our pediatric therapy company specializes in providing evidence-based physical and speech therapy in an early intervention setting. We believe that every child deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential, which is why we engage in fun, interactive therapy sessions tailored to each child’s unique needs. We prioritize empowering parents and caregivers by offering coaching and support to ensure they can reinforce skills during everyday routines.
Together, we create a nurturing environment that fosters growth, confidence, and independence for every child we serve.
We believe a child’s job is to play.
Our mission is to unlock the potential of children from birth to three years old by providing compassionate, evidence-based physical and speech therapy.
Our Services
The Chesapeake Early Intervention Program provides state-funded services to support young children with developmental delays or disabilities. Playtime Physical Therapy and Associates is contracted by Chesapeake to provide specialized services to those in Early Intervention. We ONLY provide therapies and resources to promote growth and development from birth to age three for children enrolled in the Chesapeake Early Intervention Program.
Early Intervention
Early intervention refers to a set of services and supports designed to address developmental delays and disabilities in children from birth to age three. It aims to identify and provide assistance as early as possible in a child’s life to promote optimal development.
Key aspects of early intervention include:
Timeliness: Early identification and intervention can significantly impact a child’s development, helping to address challenges before they become more pronounced.
Customized Support: Services are tailored to meet the individual needs of each child and family, often involving a multidisciplinary team of professionals such as speech therapists, occupational therapists, and physical therapists.
Family Involvement: Early intervention emphasizes the role of parents and caregivers, providing them with resources, education, and coaching to support their child’s development in daily routines.
Developmental Areas Covered: Early intervention typically focuses on various areas, including cognitive, gross and fine motor, communication, social-emotional, and self-help skills.
Neuroplasticity: During the first three to five years, children’s brains are highly adaptable due to neuroplasticity, the brain’s ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections. This period is critical for learning and development, as experiences and interventions can profoundly shape the brain’s growth. Engaging children in therapeutic activities during this time can lead to more significant improvements and more durable outcomes.
Collaboration: Services are often delivered in natural settings, such as the child’s home or community, promoting integration into everyday life and consistency in learning.
Overall, early intervention seeks to enhance developmental outcomes, improve quality of life for children, and support families in fostering their child’s growth and success by taking advantage of the brain’s natural plasticity during these formative years.
Speech Therapy
Speech therapy in the early intervention setting focuses on enhancing communication skills for children from birth to age three who may experience delays. Delivered through engaging, play-based activities, therapists assess and tailor interventions to meet each child’s unique needs. Keeping the child actively engaged is essential, as it ensures that sessions are fun and motivating, making learning enjoyable and effective. Key areas of focus include articulation, language development, social communication, and fluency.
Involving parents and caregivers is crucial, as they receive strategies to support their child’s growth during everyday routines. By integrating therapy into natural settings, children learn in familiar contexts, promoting effective practice and reinforcing skills. Overall, this approach fosters children’s confidence and communication abilities, setting a solid foundation for lifelong learning and social engagement.
Physical Therapy
Physical therapy in the early intervention setting is designed to support the development of motor skills in children from birth to age three who may experience delays or challenges. Central to this therapy is the principle of neuroplasticity, which highlights the brain’s ability to reorganize and form new connections, particularly during these formative years.
Therapists use engaging, play-based activities to capture the child’s interest while targeting specific motor skills. This approach makes sessions enjoyable and encourages active participation, which is vital for effective learning. Repetition is another key element; frequent practice of movements helps reinforce neural pathways and support skill acquisition. By incorporating diverse activities that require children to move, balance, and explore, therapists create an environment conducive to mastering new physical skills.
Involving parents and caregivers in the process is crucial. Parents are coached on all recommended activities so they can reinforce these activities with their child between visits, further promoting their child's motor development in a familiar environment. Overall, physical therapy in the early intervention setting not only addresses specific developmental needs but also harnesses the principles of neuroplasticity to support lasting growth, setting children on a path toward increased mobility and independence.