What therapy services does Lumiere Children's Therapy provide?

Lumiere Children's Therapy offers comprehensive pediatric services, including speech therapy, occupational therapy, Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), social work, early intervention, autism testing, teletherapy, and a therapeutic preschool. Our multidisciplinary team collaborates to create personalized treatment plans that support every child's unique developmental journey.

At what age can my child begin therapy?

We serve children from birth through 18 years of age. Early intervention can help address developmental delays before they become more significant, while older children benefit from therapy that supports communication, learning, motor development, emotional regulation, and independence throughout childhood and adolescence.

How do you determine the right therapy plan for my child?

Every child begins with a comprehensive evaluation completed by a licensed therapist. We assess developmental skills, discuss your concerns and goals, and use standardized assessments when appropriate. Based on the results, our team creates a personalized treatment plan that evolves as your child grows and reaches new milestones.

Can my child receive more than one therapy service at the same location?

Yes. Because Lumiere Children's Therapy offers multiple pediatric therapy services under one roof, children can receive coordinated care from speech, occupational, physical, behavioral, and social work professionals. This collaborative approach improves communication among therapists and creates a more consistent experience for families.

Does Lumiere Children's Therapy accept insurance?

We work with many major insurance providers and help families understand their available benefits before therapy begins. Our experienced administrative team assists with insurance verification, claim submissions, billing questions, and payment options, making the process as simple and transparent as possible for parents and caregivers.

What should we expect during our first therapy appointment?

Your first visit focuses on understanding your child's strengths, developmental needs, and family goals. A licensed therapist will complete an evaluation, answer your questions, and explain recommended services. You'll leave with a clear understanding of the next steps and a personalized treatment plan designed for your child.

Why do families choose Lumiere Children's Therapy?

Families choose Lumiere Children's Therapy because we provide individualized care through a collaborative team of experienced pediatric specialists. From evaluations and insurance guidance to ongoing therapy and family education, we're committed to delivering compassionate, evidence-based care that helps children build lifelong skills and confidence.

How can I schedule an evaluation at Lumiere Children's Therapy?

Scheduling an evaluation is quick and straightforward. Simply call our office, send us an email, or complete the contact form on our website. Our friendly team will guide you through every step, including insurance verification, appointment scheduling, and preparing for your child's first visit so you can get started with confidence.

May 12, 2016

How Does Your Child Understand Body Movement?

What is the proprioception sense?

We are all familiar with the five common senses of smell, taste, touch, sight and sound. There are other lesser known and equally important senses such as the proprioception sense and the vestibular sense. Proprioception is how an individual perceives his or her body in space. Proprioceptive input is the input to our muscles and joints that assists in our body awareness and position in space. Receptors within the skin, muscles and joints allow a person to be aware where their body is in space and position. Vision assists with this body awareness but it not 100% necessary.

Every person falls along a continuum of how sensitive they are to this sense and how it is interpreted within their own body. It is when it starts to interfere with your child’s everyda physical-therapy y life and a family’s functioning that a child’s behavior may need to be addressed. If a child has a high threshold for the proprioceptive sense, they may be seeking out input their body craves in appropriate manners, such as:

Is your child extremely active?
Does your child have difficulty sitting still during mealtimes or at school?
Does your child enjoy rough housing?
Did your infant enjoy being swaddled or cuddled?
Does your child enjoy crashing into things such as couch cushions?
Does your child appear to bump into objects more frequently than peers?
Does your child use too much pressure or force when playing with toys?
Does your child have difficulty keeping their hands to him/herself?
Is your child clumsy or uncoordinated?

Having your child participate in heavy work activities can assist with regulating their proprioceptive sense and provide them with the input they are seeking to feel more organized throughout their day. Heavy work activities are activities that require a child to push, carry or pull objects to receive the input to their muscles and joints. Other activities require body movement or oral motor movement.

Suggestions of common heavy work activities include:

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Crawling over uneven surfaces such as pillows or couch cushions
Going to a park, climbing on equipment
Playing catch with weighted therapy balls
Playing tug o war
Animal walks
Obstacle course requiring child to climb over/under objects
Trampoline jumps, big jumps
Wall push-ups
Housework such as sweeping, mopping, watering flowers, vacuuming
Walking, hiking, biking, swimming
Going up going and down stairs
Carrying weighted backpack
Carrying grocery bags
Pushing laundry baskets filled with clothes
Wheelbarrow walks

Suggestions of oral motor heavy work activities:

Sucking on cold popsicles, cold vegetables or fruit
Blowing bubbles, whistles
Humming songs
Sucking on sucker or hard candy
Chewing on tough foods such as dried fruit, beef jerky, fruit leather
Sucking on thick consistencies through a straw such as yogurt or applesauce
Chewing gum
Eating crunchy granola bars

In general, the effects of heavy work activities are maintained within the body system for approximately 2 hours. It is important to try to incorporate these activities into a child’s everyday schedule and to monitor a child for adverse effects.

Answering yes to any of these questions does not necessarily mean your child has difficulty regulating the proprioceptive sense. Contact an Occupational Therapist for concerns and a more detailed evaluation.

Resources:

http://www.brainbalancecenters.com/blog/2015/08/proprioception-explained/

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/articles/proprioceptionhttp://www.spdaustralia.com.au/the-proprioceptive-system/

Kate Mroczynski

SUPPORT YOUR CHILD'S DEVELOPMENT

Looking for expert pediatric therapy services? Our team specializes in helping children reach their full potential through compassionate, personalized care.

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Book an Appointment → Call (312) 242-1665

Vasilikitsa “Kitsa” Antonopoulos

Vasilikitsa “Kitsa” Antonopoulos, MA, CCC-SLP/L is a licensed speech-language pathologist with over two decades of experience supporting children and families. After earning her Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Communication Sciences and Disorders from Saint Louis University, she gained deep clinical expertise working across pediatric hospitals, early intervention programs, and autism therapy settings.

In 2010, Kitsa founded Lumiere Children’s Therapy to create a holistic, collaborative space where children could receive personalized, multidisciplinary care. Her vision continues to guide Lumiere’s dedicated team of therapists, offering speech, occupational, physical, and behavioral therapy and more, to help every child reach their fullest potential.