Most parents do not wake up one morning and decide to look for a paediatric therapist. It usually starts with a quiet worry that keeps coming back. Your child cannot stand certain clothes. Homework turns into a daily fight. Gym class feels like a nightmare instead of a break. Or a once-chatty kid starts holding everything inside.
At first, you might wonder if it is just a phase. Then a teacher mentions some concerns. A paediatrician suggests an evaluation. Before long, you are hearing new terms and trying to figure out what kind of therapy your child actually needs.
Paediatric therapy is not a single service. It is a mix of approaches that look at how a child moves, senses the world, plays, learns, and handles feelings. The most common options include occupational therapy, physical therapy, recreational therapy, equestrian therapy, and mental health therapy. Each one focuses on a different piece of the puzzle, and many kids benefit from more than one at the same time.
Starting point: Looking at the whole child
A good paediatric therapist does not just focus on one symptom. According to Strides Pediatric Therapy, a clinic in Utah: “A paediatric therapist observes how your child walks into the room, how they respond to changes, how they play, and how they react when something is hard. They may ask about sleep, school, friendships, and family routines.”
From there, they help you figure out which services make sense. For one child, that might be occupational and physical therapy. For another, it might be a mix of recreational and mental health support, with equestrian therapy added as a motivator and confidence builder.
The goal is not to turn your child into someone else. The goal is to make everyday life less stressful and more workable for them and for you.
Therapies that support the body
Occupational therapy
Occupational therapy is about daily life skills. Not careers, not jobs, but the real work of childhood getting dressed, eating, playing, learning, and taking care of basic tasks without constant tears or frustration.
You might hear occupational therapy mentioned if your child:
- Struggles with buttons, zippers, or tying shoes
- Has very strong reactions to textures, sounds, or light
- Fights you over toothbrushing, hair washing, or clothing
- Has trouble with handwriting, drawing, or using scissors
An occupational therapy session often looks like a well stocked playroom rather than a medical office. There might be swings, crash pads, textured bins, climbing structures, puzzles, and crafts. The therapist uses these tools to help your child organize sensory input, build fine motor skills, and feel more in control in their own body.
Progress shows up in quiet ways. Mornings are a little smoother. Shoes go on without a meltdown. A child who once refused to sit and write finishes a short assignment with less stress. Those changes matter a lot in real family life.
Physical therapy
Physical therapy focuses on bigger movements. If your child has trouble running, jumping, climbing, or keeping up with peers physically, a paediatric physical therapist looks at strength, balance, coordination, and range of motion.
Reasons a child might be referred include:
- Frequent falls or clumsiness
- Walking on toes or with an unusual gait
- Avoiding playground activities or sports
- Recovery after surgery or injury
Sessions usually involve active games. Your child might step across balance pads, kick balls, climb ramps, or practice stairs in a guided way. The therapist keeps things fun while quietly adjusting movements so that muscles, joints, and patterns develop in a healthier way.
When physical therapy works, you start to see your child move with more confidence. They join the game instead of standing on the sidelines. They climb the structure they used to avoid. That confidence often spills into other parts of life, including school and friendships.
Therapies that use play, creativity, and experience
Recreational therapy
Recreational therapy uses enjoyable activities as a tool for growth. Instead of sitting at a desk, children learn through things they naturally enjoy. Depending on the program, that might include art, music, swimming, games, nature walks, or community outings.
This kind of therapy is especially helpful when a child needs support with:
- Social skills and teamwork
- Emotional regulation during play or group activities
- Confidence and self-esteem
- Independent leisure skills that can carry into adult life
A child who hates traditional therapy may relax when the focus shifts to painting, playing a game, or trying a new sport. While your child is having fun, the therapist is quietly working on goals like communication, flexibility, coping skills, and planning. It feels less like treatment and more like a normal part of childhood, which is exactly the point.
Equestrian therapy
Equestrian therapy brings horses into the process. Many children who feel tense or guarded elsewhere soften the moment they step into a barn. There is a steady rhythm to grooming, leading, and riding that helps kids slow down and feel more grounded.
On the physical side, the movement of the horse engages core muscles, improves posture, and challenges balance in a way that is hard to replicate in a clinic. For children with motor delays or low muscle tone, this can be incredibly helpful.
On the emotional side, horses are honest and sensitive. They respond to body language and energy. Kids quickly see that when they stay calm and clear, the horse listens better. That experience teaches patience, self awareness, and responsibility without a lecture.
For many families, equestrian therapy becomes the highlight of the week. Children who dread most appointments may count down the days until they can see their horse again. That motivation can make a big difference in overall progress.
Therapy that focuses on emotional health
Mental health therapy gives children a safe place to make sense of what they feel. Kids experience anxiety, sadness, stress, and anger just like adults do, but they rarely have the words to describe it. Instead, it shows up as behaviour trouble, withdrawal, or sudden changes in mood.
A child might benefit from mental health therapy if they:
- Worry constantly or avoid situations that did not bother them before
- Have frequent outbursts that seem bigger than the situation
- Struggle with friendships or feel very alone
- Have gone through a loss, big change, or traumatic event
For younger children, therapy often looks like structured play. Toys, drawings, and stories become a language. For older kids and teens, sessions might involve talking through situations, learning coping strategies, and challenging unhelpful thought patterns.
Many therapists involve parents at certain points, not to blame anyone, but to give families tools for communication and support. Over time, the goal is for your child to understand their own feelings better and to feel less overwhelmed by them.
How these therapies work together
In real life, kids do not come with one neat label and one perfect therapy. A child might see an occupational therapist for sensory issues, a physical therapist for balance, and a mental health therapist for the anxiety that built up after years of feeling different from peers. Another child might pair recreational therapy with equestrian sessions to build independence and confidence in a way that feels natural.
When therapists communicate with each other and with you, the different services start to feel like one coordinated plan. The sensory strategies from occupational therapy make it easier for your child to participate in school. The strength built in physical therapy gives them the courage to try group sports. The emotional skills from mental health therapy help them handle frustration during all of it.
Your role as a parent
Parents sometimes worry they are not doing enough, but simply staying involved is powerful. Ask questions, share what you see at home, and be honest about what is realistic for your family. Therapists can usually give you a few small things to focus on between sessions rather than a long list that no one can follow.
It might be a simple breathing exercise, a short movement routine, or a change to bedtime. Small, consistent steps at home often matter more than occasional big efforts. Over time, those small steps, combined with the right mix of therapies, help your child move from constant struggle toward a life that feels more manageable and more hopeful.
Pediatric therapy is not about perfection. It is about giving kids the support they need to participate in their own lives with more comfort, strength, and confidence and giving families the reassurance that they are no longer trying to figure everything out on their own.
If you’re in the state of Utah and have been looking for ways to help your child, consider working with Strides Pediatric Therapy. Located in Eagle Mountain (just south of Salt Lake City), a qualified therapist will work with your child to determine the right type of therapy they need and then provide a treatment plan.
Ellen Diamond, a psychology graduate from the University of Hertfordshire, has a keen interest in the fields of mental health, wellness, and lifestyle.