Core service
Pediatric physical therapy helps children move with more strength, balance and confidence, from infant head shape and milestones like sitting, crawling and walking to posture, coordination and sports. It is for more than injury rehab, and a diagnosis is not required to get started.
Offered atOrland ParkNaperville / Aurora
Pediatric physical therapy is for more than just injury rehab or treatment of a diagnosed motor condition. Many children need short term Physical Therapy to address minor challenges or concerns noted by parents. A diagnosis is not required or necessary.
Browse Specialties & Certifications
If your child does have a diagnosed condition, you can feel confident in our collaborative team approach that brings multiple specialties together to address the whole picture and make sure nothing falls through the cracks. Our therapists have a high commitment to continuing education and stay in tune with the latest research-proven methods for the treatment of:
Physical therapists assist children in reaching their fullest potential in functional independence and fitness.
Innovative programs are aimed at:
If you have questions or concerns, a free 30 minute screening with a Pediatric PT is a GREAT place to start. Our therapists work with children with or without a diagnosis.
My son Jayden is 11 and has been coming to BDI for the past 4 years. BDI has become family in the way they treat my son. I truly feel deep in my heart if it wasn’t for his PT my son wouldn’t be walking the way he is today. BDI hires only the BEST. Every child here is treated with respect and love and each parent is respected and appreciated for their role in their child’s treatment plan.”
Still not sure? Learn more about whether your child needs therapy here
One-on-one, 30-minute bike riding sessions with a licensed physical or occupational therapist who finds the missing pieces and coaches your child and family. Many children who already have some pedaling experience ride on their own in just three sessions.
Craniosacral therapy is a gentle, hands-on technique that uses soft touch to release restrictions in the connective tissue from the skull to the tailbone. Our CST-trained therapists blend it into sessions alongside functional skills to improve movement and body awareness.
Pronation is when the middle of the foot collapses inward, often called flat feet or low arches. Our physical therapists can check your child’s alignment and recommend or fit an orthotic during a screening, and refer families to an orthotist for custom bracing.
Posture is how the body is aligned in everything we do: sitting, standing, moving and even sleeping. Learn the red flags to watch for, why children (especially children with special needs) are at risk, and how good alignment lowers the risk of pain and injury later.
Ten clear signs that a pediatric physical therapist should take a look at your child’s feet, including pain, differences between the two feet and toe walking.
One-on-one scoliosis care with a Schroth Certified therapist. Scoliosis-specific exercises build postural awareness, strength and motor control, with the aim of stopping curve progression and reducing functional limits, alongside a brace if needed.
Serial casting is a noninvasive treatment that uses a cast, or a series of casts, to improve range of motion and foot alignment for toe walking, club foot and limited ankle motion. Most children walk on the cast and keep up with typical activities.
Treatment and prevention of sports and exercise injuries for young athletes. Growing bodies are at higher risk of injury, and our pediatric sports physical therapists help kids heal, restore joint mechanics and return to their sport.
Toe walking can be normal for a new walker, but it should fade as walking matures. If your child still walks on tiptoes after age 2, our occupational and physical therapists can screen for the cause. Early treatment can help avoid casting or surgery later.
Why tummy time matters, by physical therapist Sheri Ireland-Berk. Time on the tummy strengthens a baby’s neck and shoulders, builds the skills for rolling, sitting and crawling, and helps prevent flat spots on the head.
Physical Therapy is offered at BDI Playhouse Children's Therapy – Orland Park and BDI Playhouse Children's Therapy – Naperville / Aurora. Families come to us from Orland Park, Orland Hills, Tinley Park, Mokena, Frankfort, New Lenox, Naperville, Aurora, North Aurora, Montgomery, Oswego, Plainfield and nearby suburbs.
No, your child does not need a diagnosis to start physical therapy at BDI Playhouse. Many children come for short-term physical therapy to work on minor challenges or concerns a parent has noticed. Our therapists work with children with or without a diagnosis. If you have questions, you can schedule a free phone meeting with a First Steps Coordinator to share your concerns and learn more about our services.
Pediatric physical therapy can help with gross motor development and milestones like sitting, crawling and walking. At BDI Playhouse it also addresses balance, coordination, strength, posture, endurance, infant head shape, bike riding, sports performance, and bladder and bowel training. For children with a diagnosed condition such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, torticollis, spina bifida or scoliosis, our therapists use a collaborative team approach that brings multiple specialties together.
If your child still walks on their toes past age 2, it is a good idea to consult a physical or occupational therapist. Toe walking can be normal for a new walker, but it should fade as walking matures. Causes can include sensory processing issues, torticollis, leg length differences or vestibular disorders, and sometimes the cause is unknown. Our physical therapists can also tell you whether shoe modifications or bracing are worth considering. Learn more on our toe walking page.
BDI Playhouse offers several specialty physical therapy programs, and every one is available at both clinics. They include serial casting for toe walking and foot and ankle alignment; scoliosis care with a Schroth certified therapist; sports rehab for injuries and injury prevention; posture intervention; and aqua therapy, which uses the water to build strength, balance and movement skills, at Life Time Fitness in Orland Park and Rush-Copley Healthplex in Aurora. For orthotics and custom bracing, our physical therapists refer families to orthotist Gwen Ansier at Hanger Clinic, whom they consult with regularly; she is listed on our trusted professionals page.
Yes. Physical therapy sessions can take place by telehealth for families anywhere in Illinois, and many clinic families use a virtual visit when weather, illness or scheduling gets in the way. Evaluations and most sessions happen in person at our Orland Park or Naperville / Aurora clinic, where your child can use the gym equipment.
BDI Playhouse is in-network with Blue Cross Blue Shield PPO plans and a select number of BCBS HMO plans at both clinics. Aetna, United Healthcare and Cigna are out-of-network, but therapy can be billed to those plans' out-of-network benefits, and we can provide billing codes to help you confirm coverage. Some plans limit coverage, so check with your carrier. Discounted private pay rates are also available: in 2026, an evaluation is $275 to $350 and a single session is $120, with multi-session packages at a lower rate. Full details are on our insurance page.
