Paediatric Physiotherapy Associates

There is still space in our upcoming Vision and Vestibular workshops and we have just extended the early bird deadline to allow for more time to register at a reduced rate.

We are also offering a discount for 5 or more registrations from the same facility. Reach out for more details.

Visit our website to register!

What should you expect in your child’s first year of life?

While this visual provides a brief overview, the most important thing to remember is that all babies develop at their own pace and there are ranges for development.

Be curious and informed but don’t get fixated on specific ages for skills.

Provide lots of opportunity for floor time and support all aspects of your child’s development through singing, reading, talking, movement and sensory stimulation.

If you have concerns that your child may be delayed, notice asymmetries or preferences to look in one direction, difficulties with transition movements or regressions in skills then reach out to a paediatric physiotherapist.

We are also happy to provide assessments for children who may be typically developing to provide education and answer any questions you may have.

It is essential that a person feels safe in their learning environment. This allows them the bravery to expand skills and try new activities.

Having the family involved in the session can assist with a child feeling comfortable enough to engage in the activities presented to them.

This co-regulation was just what was needed on this sunny day at PPA .

Registration now open for our Vision and Vestibular workshops. Visit our website (Education-Therapist Courses) to register online and secure your spot.

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We are thrilled to be part of the Beetle and Bear Child Youth and Family Network in East Toronto. As part of their summer series, we will be offering a free motor development workshop for caregivers and children age 0-3 years.

Join us on July 29th with your infant/toddler for a fun time learning about motor skills and play with your child.

Register at [email protected] or go to our website and register under education/parent and family workshops.

We are excited to announce our 2024 course which will be a 3 part live, online workshop series happening October 24, November 7 and 14th.

Beyond 20/20- a therapists guide to understand the role of the visual and vestibular system. 👁️ 🧠

These workshops will be taught by experts in the field and relevant to all health care providers who want a deeper understanding of the role of the vision and vestibular system during assessment and treatment of children and adults!

We will be opening registration in the next few weeks and will share our full course flyer soon. Please message us if you wish to be added to our course mailing list. We welcome course participants from all around the world. 🌎

We are so excited to invite each of you to celebrate our 20th anniversary with us. 🎉

We will be hosting a Family Fun Fest at Variety Village at on Saturday June 8th 2:30-4:30. There will be fun games and all inclusive activities for all ages. Everyone is welcome.

Please register by June 1st on the link in our bio or by heading to our website and searching under education/parent-family-workshops-events

Meet Roula, our amazing intake coordinator. She is the rock behind our business.

Roula is the first person you will talk to, or email, when you are looking for therapy services. ☎️

She works hard to triage each new client to the appropriate therapist, always striving for the best fit to meet your therapy goals.

In her spare time you might find Roula battling it out on the ball hockey rink 🥅 with PPA’s co-owner Stephanie.

And yes, she always has that SMILE on her face.

Surrounded by balls!⚽️ 🏀🥎

Did you know that one of the best ways to develop ball skills like throwing, catching and kicking with your child is simply by playing with balls.
Children learn by watching, trying, playing and practising, especially if these skills are developed in a FUN environment. And it is never too early to start (we are rolling balls back and forth in this picture).

Quick BALL 🏈 facts:

Throwing- starts as early as 12 months and is fully developed by 6-8 years

Catching- starts at 20 months (in standing) and is fully developed by 6-7 years

Kicking- starts at 18 months and is fully developed by 5-6 years

If your child struggles with any of these skills you can reach out to a paediatric physiotherapist or occupational therapist for individualized support and suggestions.

This week we recognize and celebrate neurodiversity. Every day we work hard to dispel the prejudices and stereotypes surrounding those who are neurodiverse.

At PPA, we welcome all individuals with open arms and strive to help each one reach their full potential.

We are so grateful when we see schools and communities who support inclusion and diversity. Swipe to see some amazing children’s books helping kids understand neurodiversity. These were featured at a local school during a recent celebration of Angelman Syndrome Day.

Remember, at the end of the day “A kid is a kid is a kid”.

Time to feature another one of our amazing team!

Susan is originally from beautiful British Columbia and got her degree in physiotherapy from UBC. She has worked in paediatrics since graduating, with experience in a variety of paediatric clinics (including several years working in Hong Kong).

She currently works at SickKids in in-patient orthopaedics, along with providing some private physiotherapy services at the Variety Village clinic.

Susan also keeps busy with her young family, and when she is not with clients you may see her hanging out in the KidsGym or pool with her own children.

Pink Shirt Day- celebrating the unity, inclusivity and diversity of all people!!

Many of the children we work with require assistive mobility aids.

Children grow quickly and they may require different types of mobility aids over time so it is important to have knowledgeable therapists to provide assessments and recommendations.

At PPA we have several therapists who are ADP authorized, which means they can assess, work with vendors, prescribe equipment and help families access funding through the Assistive Devices Program (ADP).

Swipe to see the old ➡️ new walker that this young girl recently transitioned to.

Do you know that there are many factors that can impact movement and alignment, and one of those things is VISION!

It is important for therapists to look for signs that vision may be impacting movement, and we sometimes recommend that our clients get an assessment by a developmental optometrist to assess ocular motor function.

One of our therapists, who has a past history of brain surgery and multiple concussions recently decides to follow her own advice and got an assessment for herself. She left the appointment with a pair of prism glasses and within days is experiencing some incredible changes including:

➡️ Better head alignment
➡️ Improved posture
➡️ A relaxed jaw
➡️ Improved breathing
➡️ No more neck pain
➡️ Improved depth perception (no more hitting her head on objects overhead)
➡️ Improved strength
➡️ Better focus
➡️ And happy!

Our bodies are so interconnected and movement is so complex. As physiotherapists and occupational therapists, it is important to know when to make referrals to other professionals to optimize function.

Introducing another member of our team. Vivian is originally from Calgary but has been working in Toronto since graduating as a physiotherapist from the University of Toronto.

Vivian fell in love with paediatric physiotherapy through her involvement with a non-profit organization called The Taking Strides Children’s Foundation where she worked directly with children with disabilities in both aquatics and dry land programs to develop physical literacy. 🏃🏻‍♀️

Over the past few years, Vivian has worked in a wide range of practice settings including adult and paediatric acute and community care. She has provided physiotherapy at the Variety Village clinic and now focuses on home visits to families in the west Toronto area.

Vivian is an avid learner, having taken several post graduate courses and is always seeking to provide the best care to her clients.

In her spare time you will find Vivian hiking, long distance running, painting or playing the guitar or ukulele. 🎸

Introducing another member of our amazing team of therapists. 🎉🎉

Laurin completed a degree in Kinesiology with a minor in Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Waterloo prior to completing her Masters of Science in Physical Therapy at the University of Toronto.

Laurin has a wealth of experience in both in-patient and out-patient Rehab settings and has been part of Holland Bloorview’s Brain Injury team for concussion treatment, and also works in the Specialized Orthopedic and Developmental Rehab unit.

Laurin has taken numerous courses including:
⭐️ Vestibular Rehab
⭐️ Pelvic Physiotherapy
⭐️ Running Rehab
⭐️ Acupuncture
⭐️ Advanced Orthopedic and Manipulative Therapy
⭐️ Neurodevelopmental Treatment
⭐️ Gait Observation and Orthotic Intervention

In her spare time Laurin loves going on outdoor adventures with her dogs. 🐕 She also loves curling up with a good book. 📚

Laurin provides home visits in both midtown and downtown Toronto.

We recently had a donation of some Upseats from to trial with our clients. We are already a fan of using the Upseat due to the improved positioning of the spine, pelvis and hips compared to other seats on the market.

Here are some things to consider when using the Upseat:

➡️ Only use these seats when your child has enough head and trunk control to sit up without falling to one side or falling forward

➡️ As with any positioning device, use in moderation, as having your child on the floor practising rolling, tummy time etc. is always recommended

➡️ Your child no longer needs this seat once they have learned to sit independently (unless you are using as a feeding chair)

➡️ The Upseat can be useful for children who have plagiocephaly (skull asymmetry) as it gets them out of infant seats where they may naturally position their head on their flat spot and allows the forces of gravity to help with some remoulding of the skull.

Speak to your physiotherapist if you have further questions and ask us for the PPA discount code if you are interested in ordering an Upseat.

Our OT Rowena takes you behind the scenes to see some of the steps that occur during a new wheelchair assessment with custom seating.

♿️ The client has clearly outgrown his old chair

♿️ Rowena works together with a seating specialist and a custom mold is created

♿️ New seating is made from the custom mold for trial

♿️ The new wheelchair is completed with upholstery covers over the custom seat

♿️ Happy outcome with the client well supported in a new chair and custom moulded seating

Several of our therapists are ADP certified which means they can provide assessments and do paperwork for mobility and seating equipment. They work closely together with vendors to find the right product for their client and ensure it is the right fit

Feel free to reach out if you have additional questions or need a seating or mobility assessment.

Time to introduce another amazing member of our team.

Pankti has been working with Paediatric Physiotherapy Associates since 2020. She has her Doctorate in Physiotherapy and started her career in paediatrics in the States. She has experience working with orthopaedic, neurological, sensory and developmental paediatric populations in both the home and clinic setting. She has worked with children of all ages (and adults too!)

Pankti loves continuing education and has taken many post graduate courses to broaden her expertise in treatment interventions.

In her spare time Pankti loves to travel, hike and keeps active with running. She is also an avid tennis fan. 👟🎾

Pankti provides home visits in east Toronto including Riverdale, Leslieville, the Beaches and East York. She is also happy to travel a bit further to provide expert care to her clients. We are very thankful to have her on our team.

In honour of Occupational Therapy Month we are introducing our amazing OT’s who provide services through PPA. They treat a wide range of children and teens both in the clinic and through home visits in the Toronto and Scarborough area. Together they have an impressive treatment toolbox which includes training in some of the following treatments:
Sensory Processing and Integration, Fine motor and handwriting, Feeding (Beckman Oral Motor and the SOS approach), Safe and Sound protocol, Astronaut training, DIR Floortime, assessment for ADP funded equipment, Therapeutic Listening and much more. Stay tuned to learn more about what our amazing OTs get up to in the clinic and more about occupational therapy month later this week!!!

We are excited to introduce Emma Schotanus who will spend the next five weeks with us for a student placement.

Emma is in her 2nd year of the MScPT program at the University of Toronto and did her undergraduate degree at Queens University where she graduated with a BSc (Hons) in Kinesiology with a certificate in disability and physical activity.

Emma is originally from Calgary and was a competitive dancer. She loves to cook, bake, exercise and do crafts in her spare time. 🧁🧘‍♀️🧶

Give Emma a warm welcome when you see her at the clinic!!

We are exciting to be hosting together with the 2nd annual Allied Health Networking event.

If you are a paediatric PT, OT, PTA/OTA, SLP working in the greater Toronto area (including Durham, Peel, Halton, York) you are invited to join us for an evening of networking.

This event will be held on Sept 28th drop in between 7-9pm at Variety Village in Scarborough.

We will have a special focus on sharing resources for community participation for our clients and will hear from guest speaker Archie Allison, Director of Access and Awareness

To register go to the link in our bio or head over to our website and look under Education-Community Events.

Hope to see you there!!

We are so thrilled that our therapists are continually seeking ongoing education and learning, no matter what stage they are at in their career.

We have a group of therapists who are passionate about growth and development.

Here is just one example of their commitment…this summer our amazing OT Jennifer drove 🚙 across Canada to take part in Kim Barthel’s Moving to Higher Ground workshop which connected therapists from across North America for professional learning, collaboration and treatment sessions. This was an incredible opportunity for her and we look forward to hearing about her experience.

If you are interested in learning more about Kim Barthel’s workshops you can find her at kimbarthel.ca

Early bird registration for the upcoming paediatric pelvic health course closes in less than 3 weeks. Register today to secure your spot!

This course is beneficial for all paediatric physiotherapists and occupational therapists and will increase your knowledge and provide new treatment approaches with instructors Shelley Mannell and Julie Wiebe

Part 1 is virtual so can be joined by therapists all over the world!!

See link in bio to register or email [email protected] for more info.

We love introducing our team and we are so happy that Juliana has been part of the PPA team since 2019.

Juliana is originally from Brazil and worked for many years in a leading rehabilitation hospital doing both inpatient and outpatient paediatrics. She completed the Bridging program at U of T in 2019 and has jumped right into sharing her expertise as a paediatric physiotherapist at both SickKids and PPA. Her smile and fun-loving personality are contagious!

In her spare time Juliana and her husband love to travel the world (which is how they met) and she will also take any opportunity to go back and visit family in Brazil. 🇧🇷

Juliana provides home visits in the downtown Toronto area.

We love showing parents how to encourage tummy time with their infants.

Check out this little one engaged in looking at herself in the mirror. She is able to push through her forearms and lift her head, shoulders and upper chest up off the support surface.

The use of mirrors, toys or another person lying directly in front are all good motivators to encourage your little one to practise holding their head up during tummy time.

If you struggle to get your baby to stay on their tummy you can reach out to a paediatric physiotherapist to give you some tips and suggestions.

We are so grateful for the generous donation from one of our families through the newly established “Courageous Hayes Scholarship Fund”.

This annual donation will be used to purchase therapy items which can be trialled or loaned out to families.

Some of these items may include:

➡️ SPIO or compression garments
➡️ Benik shorts or theratogs
➡️ Abdominal binders
➡️ Adapted bike pedals
➡️ Weighted blankets
➡️ Sensory toys
➡️ Hokki stools
➡️ Yoga wedges
➡️ And more..

It takes a village to support each other and we are so grateful for the generosity of the amazing families we work with every day!

Welcome to Canada 🇨🇦 Julia!

Julia is a physiotherapy student from Poland 🇵🇱 and found us on social media/online.

She decided she was going to spend a few weeks of her summer coming to volunteer and learn from Canadian paediatric physiotherapists. She is especially interested in finding out more about hydrotherapy as she loves the water and is a lifeguard and swim instructor at a large aquatic centre in Poland.

We are thrilled to meet Julia and we applaud her motivation and adventurous spirit to travel across the world to volunteer and learn more about paediatric physiotherapy.

During the next few weeks you will find her at our clinic or Be sure to give her a warm Canadian welcome.

In the middle of a heatwave is a great time to let your kids enjoy some of the amazing splash pads around the city (with proper protection from the ☀️ and lots of hydration).

Water play is an amazing sensory experience and allows children to explore and play creatively. Getting wet is the best part!

We enjoyed our adventure with this little one and .with.brittany today. Get outside and play!

Registration is now open for our upcoming paediatric pelvic health course instructed by Shelley Mannell and Julie Wiebe

This course will benefit all paediatric physiotherapists and occupational therapists in understanding the complex systems involved in pelvic health and will provide learning opportunities for practical assessment and intervention strategies to use in clinical practice.

This course is 2 parts including the option of a one day virtual course (November 4) and both the one day virtual and additional in person day (November 4 and 11)

Please note that space is limited for the in person session so register early to ensure your spot (we are already filling up).

To register visit our website or see link in bio. Email info@paediatricphysiotherapy for more info