August 1, 2014
5 Things Being A Paediatric PT Has Taught Me

27 years ago I started my career as a paediatric Physical Therapist. My clients, families and colleagues have taught me many life lessons along the way……..
1. When you are with a child, they should be the center of your universe.
- Get down to their level, make eye contact, read their cues and follow their lead. Focus all of your energy on them in that moment.
2. Appreciate the small things.
- Each milestone, piece of art, hug, and “I love you” is a gift so treasure them all – they could disappear at any moment.
3. There’s always more going on than meets the eye.
- Development is complex. Remember that what you see on the outside is not necessarily what’s happening on the inside.
4. When a child is behaving badly, that’s when they need your understanding most.
- When a child is having a meltdown, it’s an opportunity to help them learn to calm. Later, you can have a conversation about what upset them. Together you can problem-solve and practice solutions, so they can manage the situation better the next time.
5. When you feel overwhelmed, get a hug and take a breath.
- Things are rarely the disaster they seem in the moment, so don’t panic. Deep breathing inhibits the sympathetic nervous system and a 20-second hug releases oxytocin. The bottom line? A big hug and a deep breath really does make everyone feel better.
This blog was written for Friendship Circle. Connect with them at www.friendshipcircle.org.
Shelley, with your permission I would like to use this and the round and round blog post as a reference in my feeding workshop for community therapists. Is that okay?
C
Hi Cathy, that would be wonderful! The more therapists we can get this information to, the better. Thanks for asking. Someday I’d love to attend one of your feeding workshops 🙂