When I first decided to become a physical therapist I was sure I would work in a big clinic with athletes. I was an aide in a clinic before PT school and I enjoyed it. The first time I became aware of the possibility of becoming a pediatric physical therapist was when a patient came into the clinic for back pain and brought her son who had special needs. He and I would play while his mom did exercises. My boss at the time said "you should go into pediatrics." Once I got into PT school I took every opportunity to explore pediatric physical therapy and I was hooked! I've been blessed to be able to work in a variety of pediatric settings in my career, my favorite being home therapy. Below is a list of 10 reasons I love working with kids in their homes:

The whole family can be included in physical therapy. When a family has one child with special needs, often the siblings can feel jealous or feel left out. I love when I can include siblings in games and activities. It's also great to have the parents there to assist with activities such as walking or bicycle riding so that they can learn how to better assist their child outside of physical therapy. There is nothing more rewarding than the look on the parents and child's faces when they complete a new skill for the first time.
We can work on functional activities in a natural setting. One of my favorite things to do is work at a playground with a child. This has so many benefits including strength, coordination, balance, sensory integration, social interaction and community mobility. We can also work on navigating a child's home environment safely, getting in and out of bed and on riding a bicycle all of which may not translate when worked on in a clinic environment.
Everyday is different. My schedule often ends up looking totally different at the end of the day than I had planned on at the beginning. This flexibility of scheduling is great for me and for families. I have also worked in homes with baby goats inside wearing diapers, in a hotel, at daycare's, in filthy homes and in (mostly) lovely homes. You never know what each day will bring! Also, you do not need to vacuum or worry that your house is messy before I come over, the mere fact that you considered doing that means your house is probably lovely and be assured I have seen much, much worse.
I get to be creative. I really enjoy having to problem solve and use my imagination to figure out the best way to achieve a patient's goals. I have used the squeaker out of dog toys for auditory feedback, can use a therapy ball to strengthen almost every muscle and incorporate a child's favorite toys into therapy sessions. Whatever works!
My garage is filled with toys. I love a good toy store, my favorite is Dandelion Toys in Fort Collins. Neighbors and acquaintances often ask how many children we have when they see our garage because of all the toys. Until recently, the answer was none, those are all my toys. They do come in handy when my nieces come to visit!

6. Children are hopeful and resilient. I am honored and humbled to work with families and children who have overcome so much. Even when dealt really difficult circumstances children are still smiling and never give up...It's truly inspiring.

7. My days are filled with laughter and smiles. Of course there are the occasional tears and tantrums as well, but they are far out numbered by laughing, smiling, playing, being goofy and having fun.

8 .Building long term relationships and watching kids grow up. Due to the nature of many childhood conditions, children may require prolonged physical therapy. While I wish that weren't the case, I do love the relationships that form and watching kids and families grow, progress and change over time.

9. When the weather's nice I get to work outside. I'm a Colorado girl and love being outside. One of the reasons I became a PT is that I didn't want to sit at a desk all day. During the summer, I often have to put on sunscreen because I'm outside for a lot of the day. Not only is that fun for me it is a great way for children to explore their environment and improve community mobility.

10. It's fun! I rarely feel as though I'm working and spend most of the day playing. I truly am lucky.