What Is the TheraSuit Method and How Does It Help Children Build Motor Skills?

MetroEHS introduced Pelvic Floor Therapy last month and this new therapy will change the lives of countless children because of it. Pelvic floor therapy is a specialized field of physical therapy that focuses on treating conditions and symptoms related to the pelvic floor muscles in children.  Pelvic Floor Therapy involves training your child on how to contract and relax the pelvic floor muscles and with retraining and regular exercises, your child can learn how to better control and gain sensory awareness of these muscles, which play a crucial role in urination and stooling.

Who Could Benefit from Pelvic Floor Therapy?

Pelvic floor therapy can be beneficial for children who struggle with or are unable to gain control over their bowel and bladder. This therapy is often recommended for children who are diagnosed with one or multiple of the following conditions:

• Enuresis/Bedwetting
• Constipation
• Incontinence
• Overactive bladder
• Urinary frequency/retention
• Urinary incontinence
• Urinary urgency
• Frequent UTIs

What to Expect with Pelvic Floor Therapy?

The success of pelvic floor therapy often depends on the involvement and commitment of parents or caregivers. Adherence to recommended diet modifications and daily routines can greatly improve the outcomes of this therapy. At MetroEHS, our physical therapists take into account the family history and any life-changing events to tailor the therapy according to the specific needs of each child.

Gratitude is a valuable life skill that can enrich the lives of all individuals, including children on the autism spectrum. Teaching children with autism about gratitude can help them develop a more positive outlook, build stronger relationships, and improve their overall well-being. However, because children on the autism spectrum often have unique learning needs, it’s important to use tailored strategies to teach them about gratitude. Here are a few ideas.

1. Visual Supports

Visual supports are powerful tools for children with autism, as they process information in a more concrete manner. Create visual schedules or charts that incorporate gratitude activities into their daily routines. For example, you can design a “gratitude journal” with pictures or symbols representing things they are thankful for. During the month of November, you could draw a tree on a large piece of paper and add a leaf of gratitude every day with a drawn picture of what you are thankful or writing down simply one word. This can be a simple way to encourage them to reflect on positive aspects of their lives. As they add items to their gratitude journal, reinforce the positive feelings associated with each entry.

2. Social Stories

Social stories are narratives that describe social situations and appropriate behavior. You can create social stories that revolve around gratitude. Tailor the stories to your child’s interests and communication style. For instance, you might develop a story about a character who learns to express gratitude when someone helps them. Reading and discussing these stories with your child can help them understand the concept of gratitude and its importance.

3. Visual Modeling

Children on the autism spectrum often benefit from visual modeling, where they observe someone demonstrating a behavior or skill. Create visual examples of gratitude by using pictures, drawings, or videos. Show them how to say “thank you” or how to express gratitude through simple gestures. Repeated exposure to these visuals can help them imitate and internalize these actions. Make sure you are expressing your appreciation with the people around you while your child is watching.

4. Use Concrete Reinforcers

For many children with autism, immediate reinforcement is key to learning new behaviors. Use concrete reinforcers to motivate your child to practice gratitude. This could be as simple as providing a favorite treat or activity when they express gratitude, whether by saying thank you or engaging in a small act of kindness. The more they associate gratitude with positive outcomes, the more likely they are to embrace it.

5. Practice Mindfulness and Reflection

Gratitude often goes hand in hand with mindfulness and reflection. Teach your child techniques for being present in the moment and focusing on positive aspects of their lives. Simple activities like mindful breathing, meditation, or keeping a gratitude jar can help them develop an appreciation for what they have. Encourage them to reflect at bedtime about their day and share what they are thankful for, fostering a sense of gratitude as part of their daily routine.

Teaching children about gratitude is not only possible but also incredibly beneficial. Gratitude helps improve their emotional well-being, enhance their social interactions, and promote a more positive outlook on life. The key is to tailor your approach to their specific learning needs, using visual supports, social stories, visual modeling, concrete reinforcers, and mindfulness and reflection techniques. Remember that patience and consistency are crucial in helping children with autism develop this valuable life skill. By embracing these strategies, you can help them grow into more thankful, empathetic, and content individuals.

When your child needs therapy, it is common to hear about several different types of support. You may be told your child could benefit from speech therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or behavioral therapy. Each of these services can play an important role in your child’s development.

But for many children, progress can happen more smoothly when those therapies work together instead of separately.

That is the idea behind integrated therapy.

Integrated therapy means your child’s providers work as a team. Rather than having each therapist focus only on their own area, they collaborate, communicate, and build one coordinated plan centered on your child’s everyday growth and success.

Kids Do Not Develop One Skill at a Time

Children do not learn in neat, separate categories. A child who is working on communication may also need help with sensory challenges, motor skills, social interaction, attention, or behavior. These areas often overlap in daily life.

For example, a child may struggle to express their needs clearly, but that same child may also have trouble staying regulated, joining play, or managing transitions. One challenge can affect another.

When therapy is integrated, children can receive support in multiple areas at the same time. This often helps them make progress faster because the people helping them are all working toward the same bigger picture.

One Team, One Plan

One of the biggest benefits of integrated therapy is that your child is not working with separate providers who all have different goals. Instead, the therapists share strategies and work together.

A speech therapist may introduce a new way for your child to communicate. An occupational therapist may help your child practice that skill during play. A behavioral therapist may reinforce it during social routines or structured activities.

Because the same skills are being supported in more than one setting, children often have more chances to learn, remember, and use them.

This team approach can make therapy feel more connected and more purposeful.

Skills Are Practiced in Everyday Ways

Children learn best when they can use their new skills in real-life situations.

If a skill is only practiced during one therapy session each week, it may take longer for that skill to become natural. But when a child practices the same skill in different activities and across different therapies, it can start to stick more quickly.

This kind of repeated practice can help children build confidence, use their skills outside of therapy, and become more independent in daily life.

That might look like using communication skills during play, practicing motor skills during a routine activity, or learning how to handle transitions with support from multiple therapists who are using the same approach.

Parents Get Clearer Support Too

Integrated therapy is not only helpful for children. It can also make a big difference for families.

When providers work together, parents are more likely to receive one clear plan instead of separate instructions that may feel overwhelming or hard to connect. This can make it easier to understand what your child is working on and how to support that progress at home.

Many families find that a coordinated approach helps reduce confusion, makes home practice more manageable, and keeps everyone focused on the same goals.

When therapy feels more connected, it is often easier for parents to feel confident in the process.

Why Coordination Can Lead to Better Progress

Research has shown that children in coordinated, multidisciplinary therapy programs often experience strong benefits across many areas of development. These may include improved communication, better motor skills, more independence in daily routines, and stronger participation at home and at school.

When care is coordinated, children may have an easier time carrying new skills from one activity into another. Instead of learning something in isolation, they begin to use it more naturally in everyday life.

That is often where meaningful progress happens.

The Goal Is Real-Life Success

Therapy is not only about checking off goals in a session. It is about helping children communicate, move, play, participate, and grow with more confidence in their daily lives.

An integrated therapy model supports that by bringing people together around your child’s needs. It helps ensure that therapy is not fragmented, but connected in a way that makes sense for how children actually develop.

The Bottom Line

Children grow in many ways at once, and their therapy can work the same way.

When therapists collaborate as one team, children get more consistent support across different areas of development. That can help them build skills faster, use them more confidently, and make progress that carries into everyday life.

Because every child deserves support that helps them thrive.

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