We are a multi-disciplinary therapy practice that provides pediatric occupational, physical, and speech-language therapies. We work with children and their families from birth to 12 years of age, and provide therapy services in our center, homes, and community. We believe that children learn best through play.
The goal of pediatric therapy is to help children play, learn, and function in developmentally appropriate ways. We have a strong focus on social and emotional skills, self-regulation, and including the whole family in our sessions. We advocate for children and their families and provide resources for their families to help them grow and thrive.
Occupational Therapy
What is pediatric occupational therapy?
“Occupation” refers to the skills needed for the job of living. In pediatrics this can mean eating, playing, learning, dressing, and so much more. Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on a child’s motor skills, emotional development and literacy, sensory processing skills, play skills, and self- care abilities to help improve functioning in the home and community. The occupational therapist assesses each child’s needs and abilities. Structured activities and tests may be administered, depending on the child’s age and diagnosis.
How can OT help?
- Improve feeding and oral motor skills including lactation, bottle feeding, and selective eating
- Improve sensory processing, behavioral state, organization, and self-regulation for learning in a variety of settings
- Improve eye-hand coordination including balls skills, building with blocks, and coloring
- Improve fine motor skills such as dexterity and manipulation of objects
- Develop hand strength for skills such as handwriting, cutting, and buttoning
- Facilitate developmentally appropriate play behaviors including pretend play, interacting with peers, and play on the playground
- Promote independence in daily living skills such as brushing teeth, getting dressed and preparing a snack
- Provide environmental adaptations and/or equipment to enable increased independence
Physical Therapy
What is pediatric physical therapy?
Therapy looks like fun with pediatric physical therapy. This can be helping a baby learn to roll for mobility, throwing a ball to address coordination, or learning how to climb on playground equipment. Pediatric physical therapy is a specialty area of physical therapy. The therapist assesses areas concerning joint motion, muscle control, strength, coordination, balance, movement patterns, sensory issues, mobility, gait, and equipment needs.
How can PT help?
- Develop new gross motor and functional skills
- Promote age-appropriate mobility and motor skills such as running, jumping, and riding a bike
- Improve the quality of movement patterns that are often present when muscles are weaker or if there are differences in muscle tone
- Strengthen muscles through a variety of functional activities such as climbing, swinging, and navigating obstacle courses
- Improve coordination for all levels of gross motor development
- Enhance a child’s movement potential
- Assess equipment and mobility needs
- Decrease pain
Speech Therapy
What is pediatric speech-language therapy?
“Speech” refers to the act of making sounds, while “language” refers to putting words together to communicate and the understanding of words. Pediatric speech-language therapy provides assessment and treatment of a child’s overall communication skills. These include speech, language, play, social communication, oral motor skills, and interaction development. The focus of treatment may be on articulation, receptive language, social language skills, and/or voice or augmentative communication needs. Parents are provided with strategies to help children to communicate better at home.
How can ST help?
- Improve speech intelligibility so that family and peers can better understand a child and subsequently decrease frustration
- Improve sentence formulation and understanding directions
- Improve communication through the provision of augmentative communication devices (low and high tech)
- Facilitate social skills development including how to join in conversations, learn how to read non verbal social cues, and listening skill
- Facilitate play skills such turn taking skills
Delivery of Services
Our team provides individualized therapy services in our center, in our early learning program, and in the home. “In Home” could also be at a park, childcare or another natural environment that a child might spend time in. We contract with two early intervention brokers, A&I of Boulder county and Envision in Weld county. We roughly follow the St. Vrain Valley School district footprint.
Billing
We are Medicaid providers and contract with most major insurance companies. We always encourage you to check your benefits to see if TLC Learning Center is in network. We also can provide financial assistance as needed.
Therapy Services Inquiries
Please call Shari Karmen at extension 119 to inquire about therapy services. We focus on matching the therapist to your child to best meet their needs.