In this week’s incredibly honest and profound episode, we sit down with Jeff Loving, a husband, proud NICU dad, and the author of Holding Onto the Light: A Father’s Journey Through Loss and Healing. Jeff shares the deeply personal, often unspoken, side of grief: the...
270:Empowering Parents Through Play-Based Physical Therapy- Allison’s Story
Podcast Show Notes
Parents of medically complex kids often wonder where to begin with motor milestones—especially after long days of appointments and procedures. In this energizing episode, pediatric physical therapist Dr. Allison Mell—founder of Tots on Target—shares how to meet your child exactly where they are, use play as therapy, and celebrate small, steady gains over time. She offers practical tips for communicating with providers, weaving bite-sized PT into daily routines (think: diaper-change stretches!), and empowering yourself to advocate confidently for your child.
What You’ll Hear
- How play drives progress in pediatric physical therapy—and why “the long game” matters
- Simple ways to prep for PT sessions and communicate context to your care team
- Realistic, doable home-practice routines (5–10 minutes that actually fit your day)
- Meeting kids where they are: pacing, breaks, and shared decision-making with your therapist
- Encouragement for parents feeling overwhelmed: building blocks, not perfection
Resources Mentioned
🎉 Special Thank You for Our Listeners! 🎉
We’re giving you free access to our most popular pediatric masterclasses — How to Prepare, Support, and Respond to Your Child During Shots, Blood Draws, and Vaccines and How to Use Comfort Positioning in Pediatrics — a $250 value, completely free! All you have to do is leave a written review of the Child Life On Call podcast on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, then email a screenshot of your review to podcast@childlifeoncall.com. Once we receive it, you’ll get instant access to both courses — no strings attached. It’s our way of saying thank you for listening and helping more parents discover our show. 💛
The Child Life On Call Podcast is for informational and educational purposes only. The content shared in each episode, including stories, discussions, and interviews, is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking it because of something you heard on this podcast. The views and opinions expressed by guests on the Child Life On Call Podcast are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Child Life On Call. Child Life On Call does not endorse any specific medical treatments, procedures, or opinions shared in the podcast. If you or your child are experiencing a medical emergency, call 911 or seek immediate medical attention. By listening to this podcast, you acknowledge that Child Life On Call and its affiliates are not responsible for any decisions made based on the information provided.
You Might Also Like…
Understanding Homocystinuria (HCU): How a mother uncovered her son’s diagnosis- Melanie’s Story
As parents, we rely on routine tests to tell us our children are healthy. For Melanie and her husband, Ryan, in Vancouver, British Columbia, it took a routine eye doctor's appointment to uncover a startling truth about their 12-year-old son, Masen, an energetic hockey...
Autism, Advocacy and the Power of a Medical ID: Tara’s Story
“You don’t have good days and bad days — you have good moments and tough moments. And if you only count the bad ones, you’ll miss all the silver linings.”- Tara Cohen In this deeply moving and empowering conversation, Tara Cohen, Executive Vice President at Lauren’s...
