Services

Child development is a process of physical growth and learning. To help our young clients reach these goals, the PEDI Center offers developmental screenings, individual therapy and functional play groups for a variety of ages. Services include:

• Developmental Wellness Screening
• Comprehensive Assessment
• Therapeutic Intervention
• Play Groups
• Education and Support
• Conditions Treated

Developmental Wellness Screening

PEDI Center believes strongly in early detection via regular screening for all children within each discipline. A skilled, experience therapist will do a screening of your child. You will leave with an idea of what skills are appropriate for your child's age, what are their strengths and weaknesses and specific activities to do at home. If the therapist has concerns a comprehensive evaluation will be scheduled, your pediatrician consulted and a plan of care determined.

• Screenings are recommended at 6 months,12 months, 18 months, 2 yrs, 3yrs ...yearly until 12 yrs

For information on scheduling free parent education seminars or developmental wellness screenings at your daycare, parents group or other community venue please contact Lisa@ pedi-center.com

Comprehensive Assessment

The evaluation process is specific to each child based on the presenting concern(s). A combination of parent interview, observation of functional performance, and standardized assessment is utilized in order to evaluate:

Therapeutic Intervention:

The evaluation results guide each child's individual intervention plan. Types of intervention and support include:

Play Groups:

Research shows parent involvement, peer interaction and social participation is an important component to learning. Parents are often hard pressed to come up with games that are age appropriate, fun and simple. Many community based play programs are available but often parents are unsure how appropriate they are for their child. The PEDI Center has put together groups and activities to optimize learning through play by incorporating all areas of development. Each program is developed by a team of certified therapists. All participants are screened by a physical, occupational or speech therapist who determines the most appropriate play groups for that child.

Classes Descriptions- (All Classes are 45 min. and REQUIRE PARENT INTERACTION)

Bonders: Fostering the bond between parent and child through simple lap games, floor time, songs, yoga and infant message. This class sets the stage for early language and learning skills as well as emotional self regulation and social interaction. (generally 6 weeks-10 months)

Explorers: Getting your child moving and exploring through movement to music, language concepts and multiple sensory interactions. All activities are centered around weekly themes that are explored through songs (Old McDonald) books (Barn Yard Dance) movement (Jumping in the Haystack) and relaxation activities. This class is usually broken down to Explorers I (11-20 months) and Explorers II (20-30 months)

Seekers: Focused on the integration of body and environment this class helps children develop physical, emotional and social balance. Activities utilize physical, verbal and sensory cues to regulate between high energy, low energy and a calmed state of alertness needed for learning. (generally 2.5-4 years)

Creators: These classes are geared toward the use of imaginary play skills to interact and bond with peers and parents. Activities involve story sequencing and comprehension coupled with large body movement and sensory/ environment exploration. The emphasis is on advanced communication and interactive personal skills. (generally 4-6 years old)

Handwriting Readiness: Based on the Handwriting Without Tears program this class combined movement activities to stimulate core stability and postural alignment as well as fun, entertaining, and educationally sound instructional methods to teach handwriting to all students: pre-k through cursive. Taught by Cynthia Wheeler OTR certified in the Handwriting Without Tears method.

GREAT NEW CLASS!!!

Artplay: Providing group art sessions for children with issues such as sadness, anger, shyness or fear. Using art making as a powerful but gentle process that helps children who have a hard time expressing their feelings verbally. Children learn self soothing, self awareness, tolerance of differences and change for better bonding and a sense of belonging. Presented by Artplay founder Elizabeth Tomko, BFA MAPC.

Signing with Your Baby: Offering both family workshops and weekly play classes that utilize music, movement, and play while incorporate approximately 10 - 15 signs per week. Learn to better understand your child, reduce frustration and promote early language development while having fun. This class is presented by Jenning Prevatte M.Ed and Jennifer Mathews M.Ed co-founders of Sprouting New Beginnings. Check out their website at www.sproutingnewbeginnings.com.

Education and Support:

The PEDI Center is dedicated to providing information and support to professionals, parents, and caregivers to help children learn and grow. Services might include:

• comprehensive expert opinion
• professional conferences
• monthly information sessions for parents
• home programming

Conditions Treated:

• developmental delay
• torticollis
• erb's palsy
• hyper & hypotonia
• cerebral palsy
• stroke
• trauma
• gait disturbance
• genetic syndromes
• sensory deficits
• motor incoordination
• speech delays
• feeding difficulties
• and many other diagnoses