Kidz at Play Therapy is offering a dedicated time (one day a month) for the assessment of children with developmental needs. This day will focus on infants and children recently discharged from the Neonatal Intensive Care Unity (NICU) or an acute care hospital setting. The developmental physical therapy assessment will identify children at a high risk for developmental concerns an/or those children requiring assessment for eligibility of rehabilitation, early intervention, and or school-based services.

Evidence has shown that children being discharged from the NICU would benefit from receiving a developmental assessment between 1 and 3 months of age to assist in the identification of early developing motor patterns. The developmental clinic will ensure services to the child and family are accessed in the clinic or in the home of the child. Our team is dedicated to ensuring that these children and their families receive interventions and guidance for successful outcomes.

  • The Developmental Physical Therapy Assessment: The assessment will focus on the developmental needs of the high-risk child and their family. Standardized Assessment Tools such as the Bayley Scale of Infant Development-3, Test of Infant Motor Development, and other family centered care assessments such as the Safety Assessment of Function and Environment for Rehabilitation (SAFER) Tool may be administered during the assessment.
  • Benefits: There are vast benefits from the completion of comprehensive assessments of development. It can eliminate any disruption of services being received in the NICU or hospital. The assessment(s) may provide a global view of an infant/child’s deficits and recommendations for further intervention.
  • Who would be taking charge? R. Bertie Gatlin, PT, DSc, PCS has over 31 years of specialty clinical care experience in the NICU and Outpatient Developmental follow up clinics in Germantown and Memphis, TN. She is a Board Certified Pediatric Physical Therapist with clinical expertise with the high-risk infant and child population.
  • The Assessment Team: Based on the needs of each individual child and their family, the assessment team may include the following disciplines: Physical therapy, Occupational therapy, Speech therapy, dietitian, and/or parenting resources.

    • Another program that we would like to highlight is our team approach to treating torticollis. Our PT staff has a special interest and experience in this area. They plan to pursue ongoing training. This program involves a lot of parent education and support. Infants with torticollis often have feeding issues; when this is the situation, our speech and PT staff have been working collaboratively. Our speech therapy staff also have experience addressing feeding concerns related to torticollis.

    PT can assist with positioning during feeding to encourage appropriate muscle positions that can improve feeding. The earlier that therapy intervention is implemented, the more favorable results and progress will be noted and observed. We are certified to assess and/or treat infants and their families in community settings, home settings with Early Intervention services (our provides are EI certified), and in our outpatient clinic settings. Our staff is eager to answer any questions and can provide further information for concerned parents/guardians and providers.

    What is it?

    The mission of a Pediatric Feeding Evaluation at Kidz at Play Therapy is to provide diagnostic information as well as treatment planning options for children from birth to 18 years of age whose medical and/or developmental needs are affecting their feeding and general nutrition. We offer a comprehensive, cross-disciplinary, and whole-body (child) approach to general and complex feeding difficulties.

    Who is it?

    Our team is composed of a Speech Pathologist and Physical and/or Occupational Therapist and works with each family to address the multiple factors involved with eating. Family education and training are provided as feeding is a complex network of dynamic systems. Consultations with a Nutritionist and/or Social Work staff are also available as indicated.

    What do we provide?

    Therapy: The feeding program offers outpatient feeding services with Speech Therapy, Physical and/or Occupational Therapy involving regular visits to the clinic. The goal of outpatient therapy is to meet the children’s needs not only by addressing the oral-motor, sensory, and dietary needs, but also by helping caregivers develop and implement an effective home-based feeding program. The frequency of treatment and disciplines involved are based on the child’s specific needs. Our team works closely with medical providers to ensure optimal treatment outcomes and to address all areas of need involved in a child’s specific feeding disorder.

    Consultations: Consultative services may also be provided to families and therapists following an initial evaluation. These visits would be treated as a follow-up for additional therapeutic suggestions for those accessing local services elsewhere and/or when therapy services cannot be obtained.

    Our therapists are trained in the following areas/modalities:

  • SOS Approach to Feeding
  • Therapeutic Tummy Time
  • OMT – Orofacial Myofunctional Therapy
  • Myofascial Release
  • Beckman Oral Motor

    Are you concerned with your baby/child’s feeding? Do you have questions or want to reach out for assistance?

    Feeding Questionaire

  • Is your baby/child able to tell you that they are hungry? YES or NO
  • Do you feel like your baby/child eats enough? YES or NO
  • How long does it take to feed your baby/child (mininutes)? <5 5-30 >30
  • Do you use anything special when feeding your baby/child? YES or NO
  • Is your baby/child able to tell you that they are full? YES or NO
  • Based on the above questions, do you have concerns about your baby/child’s feeding? YES or NO

    If 2 or more answers are YES, contact your pediatrician. Kidz at Play is here to help!

    • Transition Services

    Services We Provide

    Interdisciplinary therapy services of OT, PT, and SLP come together to help plan the smoothest transition for individuals with disabilities into the next stage of life.

    Examples:

  • Middle school to high school
  • High school to the adult world

    Community Integration, Resources, and Advocating

  • The goals of transition services is to screen individuals with disabilities and to identify key performance areas in their life where they can benefit from services to successfully transition from one stage of life to another.
  • We provide intervention, resources, and advocate for the needs of each individual client. We work with the client and their family to determine the next phase in their lives and the steps required to get there. We want to help each serviced individual reach their short-term and long-term goals.

    Costs of Services

  • Cost depends on the individual’s insurance provider.
  • If additional finanical assistance is needed, waivers are availiable for residents of Smyth County who meet eligibility requirements.

    • NEW EMPLOYEE COMING SOON!

    Animal-assisted therapy is proven to be beneficial for patients with physical disabilities, anxiety, sensory processing differences, social limitations, cognitive deficits, and emotions associated with past trauma.

    The goal of Animal Assisted Therapy at Kidz at Play is to provide therapeutic services for children from birth to 18 years of age whose medical and/or psychosocial needs are affecting their participation in daily activities.

    Ask your pediatrician about animal assisted therapy.

    Our therapy dog, Archie, has received certification through Alliance of Therapy Dogs, which is an AKC (American Kennel Club) recognized organization. Upon passing his test, he will be required to complete 3 supervised visits (2 at a medical facility) before earning his official certification.

    Archie is a friendly and gentle beagle who is currently in training to become a certified therapy dog through High Hopes Dog Training in Roanoke, Virginia. Archie has completed his Basic Obedience and Good Manners class, as well as Intermediate Obedience and Problem Solving. Later this year, Archie will complete his final two classes in order to take The Canine Good Citizen Test and The ATD Therapy Dog Evaluation.

    Our animal-assisted team will comprise of a therapist/dog duo. While Archie is hard at work, his handler, Brianna Blevins, an Occupational Therapist with Kidz at Play Therapy, is also learning new skills! In addition to training Archie, she is completing various Animal Assisted Therapy courses in order to learn how to best use Archie’s abilities for the populations they will be serving together.

    Check out the Alliance of Therapy Dogs website to learn more!

    About the Alliance of Therapy Dogs