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.

November 28, 2017

Occupational Therapy: Conquering the Zipper

As we enter the season of snowstorms and blustering winds, puffy winter coats and warm wool sweaters quickly take over our wardrobe. As your children grow up, they may insist on becoming more independent with self-dressing. In this fast-paced world, waiting 5-10 minutes for your child to zip their coat may be unrealistic. Learn about the important milestones leading up to coat zippering, as well as activities to encourage young ones to become independent at zippering.

Philippe Put

Skills Required

Learning to zipper a jacket can be a complicated but functional skill for kids to manage. Coat zipping is an intricate motor planning process requiring significant fine motor skills. Coat zippering requires bringing hands to midline, using one hand to hold down the zipper chamber while pulling the zipper up. Prerequisite skills for zippering include:

Pincer grasp and strength
Tripod grasp
Finger isolation
Bilateral coordination
Eye-hand coordination
Rotates forearm so palm faces up
Puts tiny object into small container
Uses both hands in midline
Strings 3 toddler sized beads
Strings at least 1 small bead

Developmental Milestones of Self-dressing

The following is the typical timeframe for self-dressing.

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18 mos.- 2 years:

Emerging zipper skills by unzipping a zipper with large tab, and pulling larger zipper tabs up if an adult holds the bottom

2 years:

Unbuttons large (1 inch) button

2 ½ – 3 ½ years:

Buttons 3 large buttons, but not necessarily in correct order
With clothing on, child may unzip and unsnap clothing

3 to 4 ½ years:

With clothing on, able to close front snap
Can button and unbutton while wearing front-opening clothing

4 ½ to 5 years:

Child can open all fasteners on any article of clothing

5 to 6 years:

Around this age, children are able to hook and zip up a zipper with the clothing on

Practice Makes Perfect

Start zipper practice with the coat or sweatshirt off. With hand over hand assistance, help your child feel and visualize how to hook the two sides of the zipper together. Incorporate other fine motor activities between practices including stringing beads, placing coins in a piggybank, or dropping buttons into a container with a slit. There are many resources available for teaching zippering including:

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Make your own activities:

Wide ribbon with plastic bread ties is a great initial zipping activity
Place toys in zip-lock bags to encourage your child to unzip bag in order to play with the toys
Add a ribbon or string to all coats and jackets while your child is still learning

Your child will feel a sense of accomplishment and success after their first coat zipping experience. Coat zippering takes a lot of practice, so allot 5-10 minutes in the morning for your child to explore the zipper on his or her coat. Most importantly, be patient! If your child is having trouble with self-dressing or other fine motor skills, contact Lumiere Children’s Therapy for an assessment with one of our Occupational therapists.

References:

Heffron, Claire. “Activity to Teach Kids to Zip and Button.” The Inspired Treehouse, 15 Nov. 2016, theinspiredtreehouse.com/kids-clothing-fasteners/.

Kiley, Christie. “One Simple Trick for Improving Kids’ Self-Dressing Skills.” Mama OT, 19 July 2014, mamaot.com/one-simple-trick-for-improving-kids-self-dressing-skills/.

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Kiley, Christie. “When Can Kids Learn to Button and Zip?” Mama OT, 16 Nov. 2016, mamaot.com/when-can-kids-learn-to-button-and-zip/.

“Teach Kids How to Use a Zipper.” The OT Toolbox, 23 May 2016, www.theottoolbox.com/2016/05/teach-kids-how-to-use-zipper.html.

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.

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.