Home PT Exercises Kids Can Do Between Sessions

Pediatric physical therapy sessions are productive, but they are also time-limited. A child might come in once or twice a week, which leaves a lot of days in between. What happens during those days matters more than most parents realize.

Consistency is what drives progress. The exercises a child practices at home reinforce the motor patterns being developed in the clinic. Without that repetition, gains can be slower and harder to hold onto. The good news is that home exercises do not need to be complicated, long, or feel like work to a child. LeMoine Physical Therapy designs home programs that are realistic for families to follow, built around what each child is already working on in sessions.

Exercises That Work Well at Home

The exercises below are commonly used in pediatric physical therapy. Before starting anything at home, confirm with your child’s therapist which ones are appropriate and how many repetitions are recommended based on your child’s individual plan.

Balance and Stability

Balance challenges are a staple of pediatric PT because they build core strength and body awareness simultaneously.

• Single-leg standing: Have your child stand on one foot for 10 to 15 seconds, then switch. They can hold lightly onto a wall if needed at first.
• Tandem walking: Walking heel-to-toe along a line of tape on the floor improves balance and coordination in a way that feels more like a game than an exercise.
• Standing on a pillow: Standing on a soft, unstable surface engages stabilizing muscles in the ankles and hips more than flat ground does.

Strength and Movement

These exercises target the muscle groups most commonly worked in pediatric sessions.

• Sit-to-stand repetitions: Using a low chair or couch cushion, having a child stand up and sit back down slowly builds leg and core strength.
• Crab walks: Moving sideways or backward in a low squat strengthens hip muscles and improves motor control.
• Wall push-ups: Good for upper body strength without requiring the full body weight of a floor push-up, making them accessible for younger children.
• Bear crawls: Crawling on hands and feet with knees off the ground is a full-body movement that develops shoulder stability, core strength, and coordination at the same time.

For families currently enrolled in Rosedale pediatric physical therapy, these strength-based movements are frequently incorporated into take-home programs based on what each child is working on in the clinic.

Flexibility and Mobility

Tight muscles are common in growing children, especially those with neurological conditions or postural challenges.

• Seated hamstring stretch: Sitting on the floor with legs extended, reaching gently forward toward the toes and holding for 20 to 30 seconds.
• Hip flexor stretch: A gentle lunge position held for 20 seconds on each side can make a real difference for children who sit for long periods.
• Calf stretches against a wall: Important for children who toe walk or have tightness in the lower leg.

Making It Stick at Home

Getting kids to follow through with exercises between sessions is often the real challenge. A few things help. Keep sessions short. Ten to fifteen minutes is enough for most home programs. Pair exercises with something your child already enjoys, like watching a favorite show or listening to music during stretches. Using a simple sticker chart to track completed sessions gives younger children a sense of accomplishment. And if an exercise causes pain, stop and contact the clinic before continuing.

A Note for Parents

Every child’s home program should come directly from their therapist. What works for one child may not be appropriate for another, especially when developmental delays, neurological conditions, or post-surgical recovery are involved.

Our team walks parents through each exercise before sending it home so nothing feels unclear or uncertain. If your child has been discharged and you have questions about continuing a home program, or if you are wondering whether your child might benefit from PT, connecting with our Rosedale pediatric physical therapy team is a straightforward next step toward getting the right support in place.