“Motor development is not a sprint,” she explains. “It’s really about sequence, foundation, and supporting each child at their own pace.”
With more than 26 years of experience working with infants and children across hospitals, outpatient clinics, schools, and early intervention settings, Anne has built her practice around one simple idea: helping children become confident, independent movers through play-based, individualized care.
A Space Designed for Kids to Thrive
Walking into Steady Strides Pediatric Physical Therapy doesn’t feel clinical. It feels calm, welcoming, and playful — exactly how Anne intended it.
“I wanted families and kids to feel comfortable the moment they walked in,” she says. “Kids learn best through play. Therapy has to feel fun.”
Instead of rigid exercises or repetitive drills, sessions are designed around movement, exploration, and interaction. Babies spend time on the floor discovering new positions and movement patterns, while toddlers and young children work through obstacle courses, balance games, swings, wobble boards, and sensory play activities.
The goal isn’t simply completing exercises. It’s building strength, coordination, confidence, and foundational movement skills in ways that naturally fit into a child’s daily life.
Why Early Intervention Matters
One of the biggest themes Anne emphasizes is the importance of trusting parental instincts.
Parents are often told to “wait and see” when they notice concerns about their child’s movement or development. But Anne encourages families to think differently.
“Instead of wait and see, let’s go and see,” she says. “When in doubt, check it out.”
Early intervention can make an enormous difference because the developing brain is incredibly adaptable during infancy and early childhood. That neuroplasticity allows children to build stronger, more efficient movement patterns before compensations and dysfunction develop later on.
Even small concerns can create a cascading effect over time if they aren’t addressed early.
“If we can support development when something is just a little off,” Anne explains, “we can hopefully avoid those compensations that lead to bigger issues later.”
Signs Parents Shouldn’t Ignore
For parents unfamiliar with pediatric physical therapy, it can be difficult to know what’s considered typical development and what may deserve a closer look.
Anne encourages parents to pay attention to whether their baby seems comfortable in their body and moving symmetrically.
Some common concerns that may benefit from an evaluation include:
-
Difficulty tolerating tummy time
-
Persistent head-turn preference
-
Flat spots on the head (plagiocephaly)
-
Torticollis
-
Rolling only to one side
-
Delayed crawling or skipping crawling entirely
-
Butt scooting instead of hands-and-knees crawling
-
Balance or coordination difficulties
-
Delayed motor milestones
One topic Anne feels especially passionate about is crawling.
Although crawling was removed from certain developmental milestone checklists, she believes it remains critically important.
“Crawling is about so much more than mobility,” she says. “It supports shoulder and hip development, hand strength, coordination, and helps both sides of the brain work together.”
That reciprocal movement pattern can influence future skills like reading, handwriting, and overall coordination.
Supporting Families, Not Just Kids
At the heart of Anne’s work is family education.
Because therapy sessions may only happen once or twice a week, real progress comes from helping parents integrate supportive movement strategies into everyday routines at home.
That often means simplifying things instead of adding more.
“There are so many products marketed to parents saying this will help your baby stand or walk,” Anne explains. “But most families don’t need all of that.”
Instead, she focuses on teaching parents:
-
How to position their child during play
-
How to set up movement-friendly environments
-
Which toys actually support development
-
How to naturally encourage movement throughout the day
The goal is to empower parents — not overwhelm them.
Building Long-Term Relationships
For Anne, the most rewarding part of pediatric physical therapy isn’t just helping a child achieve a milestone in the moment. It’s seeing the long-term impact years later.
She recalls recently receiving a video from a family she worked with three years ago. Their son — who once struggled with movement skills — was now confidently jumping off ramps and riding a bike.
“That’s the fun part,” she says. “Watching kids grow into confident, independent movers.”
Her approach is deeply relationship-based, and many families continue reaching out over the years for guidance and support as their children grow.
Trust Your Gut
If there’s one takeaway Anne hopes every parent remembers, it’s this:
“Trust your gut.”
Parents know their children best. And while every child develops differently, seeking support early can provide reassurance, guidance, and sometimes intervention that changes the trajectory of a child’s development.
“It doesn’t hurt to go check it out,” she says.
To learn more about pediatric physical therapy services or connect with Anne directly, visit Steady Strides Pediatric Physical Therapy or find the practice on Instagram.
Dr. Madeline Klesk
Contact Me
