We provide inpatient and outpatient treatment in occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), speech and language therapy, social and nutritional services, and family resource coordination.
A variety of approaches help children reach their potential in mobility, daily living, social skills abilities, and communication. Exercises include large and small muscle groups, sensorimotor activities, play, technology, self-care practices, feeding acitivities, and the design and fitting of orthotic devices.
Children's Therapy also participates with Valley Medical Center's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to offer evaluation, treatment, and followup for premature and full-term infants experiencing developmental and/or feeding problems.
Special programs offered by Children's Therapy include:
- Feeding therapy
- Orthopedic therapy
Feeding Teams
Infants exhibiting a suck problem—or a child who is a picky eater and who only eats one or two different foods—can develop a "failure to thrive," meaning they cannot eat enough to grow.
The Washington State Community Feeding Teams provide an interdisciplinary approach to address feeding/nutrition concerns for children with special healthcare needs in a comprehensive, cost-effective manner. In concert with this state agency, VMC's Children's Therapy works directly with families to help parents/caregivers resolve important issues related to feeding and nutrition. The team approach can benefit a family by avoiding duplication of services and allow all issues of food and feeding to be addressed by one team with identification of subsequent services/therapies needed.
Birth to Six--Growth & Development:
What Parents and Caregivers Should Look For
These informational charts will help you look at the whole child, watching and listening for milestones at each age level.
English Spanish
Resource for Children with Special Healthcare Needs
Seattle & King County Public Health publishes a quarterly newsletter with information regarding the identification and management of special health issues for children. Read the current issue or search archives.
Toy Selection Tips from Occupational Therapists
Occupational therapy practitioners are experts in promoting participation in activity, including play. Read this toy selection checklist, developed by occupational therapy practitioners, to assist you in selecting toys that can help your child learn and develop while having fun.
AppropriateToy and Play Development Tip Sheets
Birth to 12 months English Spanish
1 to 2 year olds English Spanish
3 to 5 year olds English Spanish
6 to 8 year olds English Spanish
9 to 12 year olds English Spanish
Children's Therapy and Bright Horizons Partner during April, National Disabilities Awareness Month
After a successful collaboration during Read for the Record last October, Children’s Therapy is once again partnering with Bright Horizons Childcare during April for National Disabilities Awareness Month.
WEEK 1: To bring awareness to autism on Blue Light Day, Children’s Therapy will hand out blue light bulbs on April 2. Bulbs supplied by Bright Horizons.
WEEK 2: As part of the Muscular Dystrophy Association’s week-long Hop-a-Thon, an educational program teaching children, ages 2 to 7, about physical disabilities, Children’s Therapy will focus on hopping activities and have MDA education materials available.
WEEK 3: Children’s Therapy therapists will visit Bright Horizons to talk about kids with special needs and present a "show and share” of therapy equipment.
WEEK 4: Children’s Therapy will celebrate Occupational Therapy month with Bright Horizons who will be mirroring some of the fun OT activities at Children’s Therapy.
What is Occupational Therapy? Watch this award-wining video to find out how OT changes lives.
April is a Busy Month! In addition to Autism month and OT month, did you know April is also National Child Abuse Prevention month? Find out more about Pinwheels for Prevention, a national child abuse prevention organization.
Autism Day an Awesome Success for VMC’s Children’s Therapy!
On August 11, 2012, VMC’s Children’s Therapy staff joined a crowd of 400+ families touched by autism at the Autism Day WA at Jubilee Farm in Carnation, WA. Children’s Therapy has been a part of this event since it began in 2001. Since then, the event and our participation has become a much-anticipated tradition and important resource to local families, helping them connect with community services, support groups and vendors, as well as other families, experiencing autism spectrum disorders.