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.

January 22, 2018

Occupational Therapy: Shoe Laces👟

David Sifry

Goodbye Velcro shoes, hello laces! As children enter elementary school, they become more independent with self-dressing. Children begin to learn how to tie their own shoes between 5-7 years old. Tying shoe laces requires strong fine motor skills including finger isolation, bilateral hand coordination, visual perceptual skills, hand-eye coordination and hand strength.

Learning to tie shoelaces for the first time can be very rewarding. It may also be frustrating for kids if they become overwhelmed. For a positive shoe tying experience, follow these tips:

Let your child pick out their first pair of tennis shoes. The new pair of shoes will help motivate your child!
Do not practice shoe tying when you are in a rush. Try practicing after school instead of during the morning rush.
Remain calm and relaxed while practicing. Model the process on your own shoes.
Practice one step at a time. Do not move on until your child has conquered the current step.
Be consistent with word choice: Loops, bunny ears, twist, knot, etc.
Begin with the shoe off until the skill is mastered. Laces become tight when on the foot, making tying more difficult.
Avoid using the words ‘left’ and ‘right’ unless your child is proficient at distinguishing the two. Instead put a sticker or sharpie dot on the child’s dominant side, and refer to the ‘sticker’ or ‘non-sticker’ side. Using two different colored laces is a great alternative as well.
Print off a visual step-by-step picture and hang it near the shoes.

As with everything, practice makes perfect. Continue to encourage your child to keep working at tying his/her own shoes. Below are some resources to help ease the process.

YouTube Educational videos:

Clever Way To Practice Shoe Tying for Kids: MamaOT creates a life hack by gluing together two different colored shoelaces for a better visual.
The Easiest Way to Tie Shoes: If your child is having difficulty with shoe tying, try this alternative method!

Introducing shoe lacing without the pressure of a real shoe:

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I Can Tie My Own Shoes
Melissa & Doug Deluxe Wood Lacing Sneaker
Children’s Wooden Lacing Shoe Learn to Tie Laces Educational
DIY Shoe Lace Tying Board

Make your own practice materials:

Egg Carton Shoe tying: Punch holes into the tops of an egg carton and string two different color laces through the holes as if you are lacing a shoe. Use the laces to practice tying a shoe.
Shoe-tying practice board: Watch this tutorial for an easy and effective way to make a practice shoe board using cardboard and laces!

References:

Henry, Sarah. “Developmental Milestone: Self-Care (Age 5).” BabyCenter, 30 Sept. 2015, www.babycenter.com/0_developmental-milestone-self-care-age-5_66682.bc.

Kiley, Christie. “Clever Ways to Teach Shoe Tying for Kids (Tips & Modifications).” Mama OT, 22 July 2016, mamaot.com/teach-kids-tie-shoes-tips-tricks-modifications/.

“Shoe Tying Methods.” Therapy Fun Zone, Therapy Fun Zone Https://Therapyfunzone.net/Blog/Wp-Content/Uploads/2016/04/Tfz-Logo-Copy.png, 19 July 2014, therapyfunzone.net/blog/shoe-tying-methods/.

“Shoe Tying Tips and Tools for Kids.” The OT Toolbox, 5 Oct. 2015, www.theottoolbox.com/2015/10/shoe-tying-tips-and-tools-for-kids.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.

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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.

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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.