Little Hands Pediatric Therapy, LLC

Bowling for articulation! Our SLPs love to slip articulation cards under these bowling pins. When a child knocks one down, they practice saying the word on the card. We love making “work” fun!

Join Little Hands Pediatric Therapy and Virginia Hands & Voices for FREE pizza, cupcakes, popsicles and play to celebrate the new school year ahead! Deaf and Hard of Hearing families, professionals and DHH adults welcome!

Saturday, August 24
10am-12pm
Rain or shine!

Hal and Berni Hanson Regional Park, Pavilion 5
22831 Hanson Park Dr.
Aldie, VA
TICKETS ARE FREE BUT PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. RSVP here by August 19: VAHV_LittleHands_Back2School_Bash.eventbrite.com

Product recommendation: The Yugo Yoga Card Game! This calming and fun game is a great way to introduce your little ones to yoga. It teaches yoga poses as players improve flexibility, relaxation and balance.

Get yours here: a.co/d/04RnQE86

It’s another Playground Series video! Today SLP Christiana shows us how any way your child wants to play is a great way to play!

Watch here: youtu.be/_qUSGtmIC20?si=vonoa52BfBPAAyFo

Quick Tip: Well-child visits are crucial for your child’s health but also overall development checks! Be sure you are up-to-date on your pediatrician visits.

Only one more month of early 🐦 pricing on our very special two-day event with Cari Ebert!

DATES: Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5
TIMES: 8:00am - 4:00pm
LOCATION: Little Hands Pediatric Therapy Sterling Office in the main conference room at 21631 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, VA
WHO WILL BENEFIT: SLPs, OTs, PTs, teachers, therapists or parents of children birth through elementary school

SAVE UP TO $50 WHEN YOU BOOK BY AUGUST 31!

For all the details visit: littlehandspediatrictherapy.com/seminar

Change up positions to improve ✏️ grip and fine motor strength. Have your child draw/color laying down on their tummy as this positioning addresses shoulder strengthening and optimal wrist positioning when writing or drawing. To encourage a functional grasp, gather up your finest broken crayons and chalk pieces and let the kids go to town!

Let’s learn a bit about OT Lindsay!

FAVORITE TOY TO USE IN THERAPY: Hippity hop ball
FAVORITE HOT BEVERAGE: Coffee
FAVORITE SEASON: Spring and Fall
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND: Being outside - either taking a walk or reading a book
FAVORITE SNACK: Chips and queso
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Princess Bride and Goonies
FAVORITE LIFE HACK: SLEEP! 💤
FAVORITE PUT-YOU-IN-A-GOOD-MOOD MUSIC: 90s music from HS/college days
FAVORITE PART OF BEING A THERAPIST: Boosting kids' confidence and helping them see what they are capable of!

We all know that talking, singing and playing with your child is the very best way to encourage language development. But this cute toy might be the next best thing! Maggy the Talking Hamster repeats back all sounds and words your child makes. We especially love this for babies as they enjoy the back and forth interaction. Get yours here: https://a.co/d/6Yg645L

Plagiocephaly is a fancy term for a flat head. It happens when a baby's head rests in the same position for a long time. If your baby has a significantly flat spot on their head, you can help correct it with:

👶 Tummy time: Plenty of supervised tummy time strengthens neck muscles and helps prevent a flat head.
👶 Changing crib positions regularly: Alternate which way your baby faces in the crib to encourage them to turn their head.
👶 Limiting time in containers: Car seats, swings and bouncers can restrict head movement. Use them in moderation.

If the above strategies don't seem to be working for your child, our physical therapists can provide an evaluation.

It’s obstacle course time in the sensory gym today! 🎈 Make an appointment for your adventure seeker: littlehandspediatrictherapy.com/contact-us

Most babies do some “W sitting” when learning to sit on their own. It is only something to pay attention to if it's the only position your child prefers, delays crawling or walking or doesn't allow for easy movement in and out of the position. Here are a few tips:

* Show 'em another way: If your toddler loves W-sitting, gently guide their legs to a side sit or criss-cross for better hip development.
* Make sitting fun: Activity tables and chairs help proper posture while playing.
* Use props: Stack pillows or position toys to create a little "leg highway" that encourages your child to straighten their legs for reaching and playing.

Persistent W-sitting after age three warrants a consultation with a therapist, so give us a call! ☎️

The student becomes the teacher! Sami was working with a friend using these cute magnet boxes with creatures. He ran to get his animal book and she got to learn all sorts of bug facts! 🐛🦋🐞

Let them climb UP the slide! Physical Therapist Stefanie shows off some great techniques that work on balance and coordination for gross motor skill strengthening in this month’s Playground Series video. Watch here:

Playground Series: Gross Motor Skills Let them climb UP the slide! Physical Therapist Stefanie shows off some great techniques that work on balance and coordination for gross motor skill strength...

Happy 4th of July! 🗽 We hope you have a wonderful day celebrating with family and friends.

Conversation is a delicate balance and boy do our SLPs love to talk! Christiana recently used this conversation scale to teach about social skills, which can include taking turns back and forth. If one side is too heavy then a conversation is not quite balanced. This skill can be a tough one to master, but we've got our kids covered!

🎀🎀🎀 SHE’S BACK!!!!! 🎀🎀🎀

We are over the moon to announce that Cari Ebert will be joining us again for not one, but TWO days of learning in October!!!

Nationally-renowned speaker, therapist and consultant, Cari Ebert, M.S., CCC-SL is coming all the way from Missouri to share her evidence-based, clinically-important strategies. Having a son with autism and apraxia gives her a unique perspective, and she sees things not only as a professional, but also as a parent of a child with special needs.

DATES: Friday, October 4 and Saturday, October 5
TIMES: 8:00am - 4:00pm
LOCATION: Little Hands Pediatric Therapy in the main conference room at 21631 Ridgetop Circle, Sterling, VA
WHO WILL BENEFIT: SLPs, OTs, PTs, teachers, therapists or parents of children birth through elementary school

For all the details and to snag our early-bird pricing available only this summer, visit: littlehandspediatrictherapy.com/seminar

Meet SLP Katie R.!

FAVORITE TOY TO USE IN THERAPY: Doll with stylus for AAC
FAVORITE HOT BEVERAGE: Soy chai latte
FAVORITE EMOJI: 😅
FAVORITE SEASON: Fall
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND: Crafting
FAVORITE SNACK: Fruit or anything sweet
FAVORITE PART OF BEING A THERAPIST: I love teaching kids to use AAC systems so they can say whatever they want, whenever they want, to whomever they want.

Looking for ways to improve ✏️ grip and fine motor strength this summer? Here’s a super fun and easy one!

Practice writing letters or drawing shapes with chalk. Then dip a paintbrush in water and “paint” over the letters/shapes. We ❤️ chalk because the resistance of the ground requires more strength to grasp and control it when writing/drawing.

Please help us welcome Samantha "Sami" Johnson!

Sami first became interested in speech-language pathology while working with an elementary school SLP as a part of the Teacher Cadet Program in high school. She has worked with clients throughout the lifespan with speech sound disorders, language disorders, autism, hearing loss, fluency disorders, apraxia of speech, AAC, and genetic disorders.

Sami obtained her bachelor’s in communication sciences and disorders as well as psychology and master’s degree in speech-language pathology from James Madison University. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her friends and family, reading, and trying out new hobbies.

So glad you have joined us, Sami!

Plyometrics are explosive exercises like jumping and bounding used in physical therapy to build muscle power and strength. Some examples are jumping jacks, box jumps and plyo lunges.

These high-intensity movements require close PT supervision to ensure proper form. But when dosed appropriately, plyometrics can improve abilities like running, changing directions quickly and preventing injuries.

Happy Father’s Day! We are back with more dad jokes to give your family the giggles! 🤣

Q: What do you call a fish wearing a bowtie?
A: Sofishticated!

Q: Why do golfers wear two pairs of pants?
A: In case they get a hole in one!

Q: Why couldn't the bicycle stand up by itself?
A: It was two-tired!

In honor of National Fresh Fruit and Vegetables month AND Flag Day today, try this fun and yummy red, white and blue snack! 🍓🍌🔵

It's a proud day here at Little Hands Pediatric Therapy! We've been honored in the Loudoun Times-Mirror’s Best of Loudoun 2024. We are...

🎉 The WINNER for Best Physical/Occupational Therapy
🎉 A finalist for Best Company to Work
🎉 A finalist for Best Speech-Language Therapy

Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to all who voted for us! We will continue to make you proud.

Katie B. recently worked on speech articulation targets using stickers. Every time our friend said her target words she got to put a sticker on. Who doesn’t love getting a sticker? 💗

In our latest installment of our playground video series, OT Brittany takes us through how a day at the playground activates the movement center of our brain called the vestibular system. Let's play! 😃

Have you subscribed to our channel yet?

Playground Series: How to Meet Your OT Goals OT Brittany takes us through how a day at the playground activates the movement center of our brain called the vestibular system. Let's play!

Swimming is such an incredible physical therapy activity!

✔️ Provides gentle resistance to build strength
✔️ Improves flexibility and range of motion
✔️ Increases endurance and cardiovascular fitness
✔️ Allows for functional movements like kicking and reaching
✔️ Reduces stress on joints and muscles
✔️ Provides a fun, engaging way to practice PT exercises

Not that we have to twist your arm, but get your kiddos swimming this summer! 💦

We recently had developmental optometrist Dr. John Dresely, Jr. in for a staff Lunch and Learn. Dr. Dresely’s specialty is very different from that of a typical ophthalmologist as they are often focused on diseases of the eye and general vision acuity.

We learned all about vision challenges that can impact a child’s ability to read well, appropriately use their vestibular system and how difficulties may impact perception. Dr. Dresely even brought glasses to demonstrate how you might feel if your vision is not typically functioning. It was a real trip!

We learned so much and are thankful for this wonderful presentation from . Thanks, Dr. Dresely!

Let’s learn a bit about SLP Samantha (seen here with her trunk full o’ tricks!)

FAVORITE TOY TO USE IN THERAPY: Bubbles
FAVORITE HOT BEVERAGE: Vanilla latte
FAVORITE EMOJI: 🤩
FAVORITE SEASON: Fall
FAVORITE WAY TO UNWIND: Hanging out with my family and friends
FAVORITE SNACK: Hummus and pita chips
FAVORITE MOVIE: The Princess Bride
FAVORITE LIFE-HACK: The “Notes” app
FAVORITE PUT-YOU-IN-A-GOOD-MOOD SONG: “As It Was” by Harry Styles
FAVORITE PART OF BEING A THERAPIST: Watching kids blossom into their full potential and being able to support the families and kids along the way!