What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 6:30pm Tuesday 9am - 5:45pm Wednesday 9am - 7pm Thursday 8:45am - 7pm Friday 9am - 5:45pm Saturday 8am - 1:30pm

Westchester Physical Therapy - Sensory Jim Pediatric Physical Therapy

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Scarsdale, NY
Westchester Physical Therapy - Sensory Jim Pediatric Physical Therapy

Visit: www.westchesterpediatricpt.com www.westchesterpediatricpt.com

Westchester Physical Therapy is a state of the art pediatric PT center serving infants, children, and adolescents residing in Westchester County and Fairfield County, CT. Westcheter Physical Therapy is a state of the art pediatric PT center serving infants, children, and adolescents who reside in Westchester County, NY and Fairfield County, CT.

02/06/2026

I had the privilege of sharing my expertise on Sensory Processing Disorders with the mothers of the Eastern Region of Jack and Jill of America, Inc. this past weekend.

It was an honor to present to such an engaged and dedicated group of mothers who are committed to understanding and supporting children with special needs in our community.

As a member of the We Are One Committee, I'm proud to be part of an initiative that ensures mothers have access to quality education and resources about children with special needs. This work is close to my heart, and I'm grateful to contribute to a mission that empowers families with knowledge and practical strategies.

Thank you to the Eastern Region leadership for the opportunity to serve our beloved community. Together, we're building a more informed, compassionate, and supportive network for ALL our children.

02/05/2026

The magnificent, amazing, and criminally underrated vestibular system

Let me tell you something most people don’t know:

The vestibular system is implicated in ALMOST EVERY child who needs therapy.

Not most. ALMOST EVERY.

And yet, so many therapists aren’t fully aware of this hidden sensory system that—when working optimally—is absolutely amazing, but when impaired, can derail typical development entirely.

When the vestibular system is working:

Balance is automatic , Vision stays stable when moving
No problem with reading a car, Coordination is effortless, Anxiety is low, Focus is sharp, Movement feels safe

When it’s impaired:

You may see one or more of the challenges

Balance issues, Motion sickness, Poor coordination and
Reading difficulties

Here’s what you need to know:

Your child’s therapist MUST understand the vestibular system. Not just acknowledge it—UNDERSTAND it.

Because you can do all the physical work in the world, but if you’re not addressing the BRAIN’s ability to process movement, balance, and spatial orientation, you’re missing the foundation.

Improving brain function not just physical work.

The vestibular system is the hidden key to:

Reflex integration
Sensory processing
Motor planning
Visual processing
Emotional regulation
Attention and focus
Learning and development
If your therapist isn’t assessing and addressing vestibular function, ask them why not.

Because this system? It’s EVERYTHING.

🎥 Video: (stellar visualization of the vestibular system)

Save this. Share this. Make sure your child’s team understands this.

02/04/2026

What you're seeing in this cocoon exercise

The Setup:

Child suspended in hammock swing (gravitational insecurity work)
Snuggled in soft blanket (tactile input + deep pressure)
Pulling green resistance band (bilateral coordination + strength)
Gentle swaying motion (linear vestibular input)

What This Addresses:
Fear of movement - The cocoon provides safety while suspended, helping kids who avoid swings, climbing, or being upside down

Poor coordination - Both arms working together strengthens the connection between left and right brain

Weak upper body - Resistance builds shoulder, core, and grip strength for handwriting, sports, self-care

Sensory regulation - The wrapped, swaying sensation and heavy work organizes the nervous system through tactile, proprioceptive, and vestibular input

Assessment Piece: If a Moro reflex is retained, this activity can activate it.Giving us important diagnostic information. But this isn't how we integrate the reflex. It's how we reveal it WHILE building other skills.

The child benefits either way.

Comment 💚 if this is helpful!

02/03/2026

That feeling in your gut when something doesn't seem right with your child? Trust it.

As parents, we are the first ones to notice. We see the struggles before anyone else. We watch our kids fight harder than they should have to just to keep up. And then we get told "oh don't worry, they'll grow out of it."

Here's the truth. Many kids don't grow out of it. They just get better at hiding it. They wire anxiety into their nervous system trying to cope with something that needed support a long time ago. By the time someone finally takes a second look, the child has been struggling silently for years.

You are not being dramatic. You are not overreacting. You are paying attention.

It doesn't hurt to get a second opinion. It doesn't hurt to ask questions. It doesn't hurt to advocate for your child.

Trust your gut. You know your child best.

02/01/2026

Private Investigative Work

1. Retained Primitive Reflexes:
ATNR (asymmetrical tonic neck reflex) - interferes with crossing midline, bilateral coordination
STNR (symmetrical tonic neck reflex) - affects eye-hand coordination
Spinal Galant - causes trunk instability affecting seated work

2. Vestibular Dysfunction:
Poor balance → unstable visual platform
Cannot stabilize head/eyes while hand moves
Affects spatial processing

3. Proprioceptive Deficits:
Poor awareness of hand position/pressure
Cannot feel where pencil is without looking
Inconsistent force (too light or too heavy)

4. Visual Processing Disorders:
Visual perception deficits
Eye tracking/convergence issues
Visual memory problems

5. Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD/Dyspraxia):
Motor planning difficulties
Cannot sequence movements
Affects all fine and gross motor tasks

6. Sensory Processing Disorder:
Tactile defensiveness → poor pencil grip
Sensory seeking → poor body awareness
Under-responsive → low muscle tone

You need a practitioner that understands the challenges and can help remediate…..At Wescthester Physical and O……PLLC, Sensory Jim TM Pediatric Therapy …..we get it and get your kids back on track…

01/31/2026

LIKELY CLASSROOM BEHAVIORS:
Based on these deficits, this child probably:

Avoids writing tasks - "I don't want to," "I'm done" (after minimal effort)
Erases excessively - knows it doesn't look right

Works very slowly - everything takes 3x longer
Complains of hand fatigue - "My hand hurts"
Acts out during written work - behavioral escape from frustrating task
Rushes through - gives up, submits poor quality work

Copies incompletely - misses words, lines when copying
Appears "lazy" or "not trying" - actually neurologically unable

01/30/2026

Model → Child’s Copy → Analysis

Circle
Irregular oval/blob, lumpy edges
→ Poor closure, unsteady hand control

Cross (+)
Lines don't intersect cleanly at center
→ Spatial planning deficit, poor precision

Square
Rounded corners, uneven sides, wobbly
→ Cannot maintain straight lines, angle formation poor

X (diagonal)
Lines don't meet at center, unequal angles
→ MAJOR RED FLAG - diagonal line difficulty indicates developmental delay

Intermediate Shapes 👇

Triangle
Poorly formed, angles incorrect, sides unequal
→ Cannot form consistent angles

Diamond
Severely distorted, looks more like irregular quadrilateral
→ CRITICAL - diamond copying typically achieved by age 6-7; this is significantly impaired

Tall Diamond
Attempted but shape integrity lost, proportions off
→ Spatial relationships not understood

Rectangle with diagonals
Attempted but very poor - rectangle distorted, internal lines don't meet corners properly
→ Complex visual-motor planning breakdown

Two complex divided rectangles
Both severely distorted - outer shapes warped, internal divisions don't meet at proper points, angles incorrect
→ SEVERE IMPAIRMENT - cannot integrate multiple visual elements simultaneously

Stay Tuned for Associated Classroom Behaviors on Saturday

01/29/2026

FOUR MONTH BABY DEVELOPMENT WITHOUT DIFFICULTIES

What you're seeing:
1. Thumb sucking (self-soothing + oral development)
2. Excellent head control
3. Opposite hand exploring body (midline awareness)
4. ATNR reflex integrating on schedule by approximately 6 months old
5. Palmar grasp reflex active (should turn off in 2 monts)
6. Abdominals getting stronger with pelvic tilts (not shown in this photo)

This is how it's SUPPOSED to look.

If your 6-month-old looks different, one arm stuck extended when head turns, can't bring hands together, hates tummy time, struggles with head control, they might have retained ATNR.

Retained ATNR red flags in babies that they don't just disappear especially without a trained eye:

"Fencing" position persists past 6 months
Can't bring both hands to midline
Difficulty rolling/crawling
Poor coordination

01/26/2026

Outdoor Fun:

Tactile (Touch)
Snow sculpting - build snowmen, forts, shapes
Snow painting - spray bottles with water + food coloring
Snow angels - whole body tactile input
Catching snowflakes - gentle tactile on skin

Proprioceptive (Heavy Work)
Shoveling snow - excellent heavy work activity
Building snow structures - packing, lifting, pushing
Snowball making - packing/squeezing snow firmly
Snow obstacle course - jumping, crawling through snow

Vestibular (Movement)
Sledding - speed, directional changes
Snow sliding - on cardboard, discs
Rolling down hills - rotational input
Ice skating - balance, gliding

Visual
Watching snowfall - calming visual input
Snow crystals - observe with magnifying glass
Icicle hunting - visual tracking

Indoor Fun:

Tactile
Fake snow play - baking soda + shaving cream
Cotton ball "snowballs" - soft tactile
Shaving cream "snow" - messy play
Cloud dough (flour + oil) - moldable, snow-like texture

Proprioceptive (Heavy Work)
Indoor obstacle course - cushion climbing, crawling
Wall pushes - push against walls like pushing through snow
Animal walks - bear crawls, crab walks walking in deep snow vs shallow snow
Carrying laundry baskets - full of “supplies"
Build pretend snow forts with sofa cushions

Vestibular
Blanket swinging - parent holds corners, gentle swing
Rocking chair time - calming linear movement
Dancing to winter music - directional changes
Indoor "sledding" - cardboard on carpet
Rolling in blankets - burrito rolls

01/25/2026

THE GOOD NEWS?
This reflex CAN be integrated with the right therapy!
Follow for more reflex integration tips!

Address

Scarsdale, NY

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 6:30pm
Tuesday	9am - 5:45pm
Wednesday	9am - 7pm
Thursday	8:45am - 7pm
Friday	9am - 5:45pm
Saturday	8am - 1:30pm

Telephone

+19145746493

Website

http://www.westchesterpediatricpt.com/

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