Walking into KidPT in Raritan, New Jersey, feels different from walking into a typical medical office. Instead of exam tables and sterile walls, families find swings, climbing structures, and play spaces filled with laughter and motion. One child rolls in with a bright smile, another skips toward the swings, and another greets their therapist using an AAC device. However a child moves or communicates, they’re met with warmth, curiosity, and respect. Here, therapy feels like exploration—because play is how children learn, grow, and connect.
Where Movement Meets Meaning
Founded by Dr. Joni Redlich, a pediatric physical therapist with more than 25 years of experience, KidPT offers physical, occupational, speech, and feeding therapy for children with a wide range of developmental needs. But what truly sets KidPT apart is its philosophy—one that looks beyond what a child can’t do to discover their strengths and deeper potential.
“I wanted to create a place where families could see their child’s strengths—not just the challenges,” Redlich says. “When we look deeper at behavior through the body’s lens, we start to understand how a child experiences the world. That understanding opens the door to growth, connection, and confidence—for the child and for the whole family.”
As a neurodivergent person, Redlich brings both professional expertise and personal insight to her work. “I wanted to build a place where every child and every parent feels seen, understood, and included—where differences are celebrated and therapy is grounded in respect and joy,” she says.
A Family-Centered Start
Each family begins with a Discovery Visit—a free, 30-minute session focused on what matters most to the parent. During that time, a therapist listens, screens, and offers guidance, which might include a full evaluation or a referral to another specialist.
“We work with children from infancy through the teen years,” Redlich says. “That might mean helping a baby learn to lift their head or roll, supporting a child’s coordination or sensory needs, or guiding a teen toward more confidence and independence. Each child’s journey is different, and we meet them where they are.”
Transformation Through Play
Every day at KidPT, families see what’s possible when movement, connection, and understanding come together. A baby who once yelled in frustration because they could sit but not crawl is now happily exploring their world. A child who couldn’t express their needs is now using an AAC device to ask for what they want. A child who used to have stressful, tear-filled mornings with their parent is now getting dressed independently with the help of a visual schedule—bringing calm and confidence to the start of the day.
These moments capture what KidPT is all about—helping children and families find confidence, connection, and hope through play and body-based learning. Progress isn’t just physical; it’s emotional and relational too. Every new skill is a step toward a more joyful, empowered life for both the child and their family.
A Team Built on Shared Values
Alongside Redlich is a multidisciplinary team united by shared purpose.
“We’ve built a team of like-minded professionals—people who are passionate about their fields and share the same values of neuro-affirming care,” Redlich says. “We focus on child-led sessions, play-based learning, and presuming competence—really valuing every child’s communication abilities, whatever form that takes. Our goal is to support the entire family.”
Nina Britz, occupational therapy team lead at KidPT, oversees a team of four OTs.
“Occupational therapy helps children build the skills they need for everyday life,” Britz explains. “That might mean developing the motor and sensory foundations for play, supporting focus and self-regulation, or learning to handle routines like getting dressed, writing, or joining in at school. We look at the whole child—their body, emotions, and environment—to help them participate more fully and confidently in the world around them.”
Collaboration Beyond the Clinic
Britz emphasizes that progress doesn’t happen in isolation.
“We really believe in involving parents, families, and even teachers in the treatment process,” she says. “It’s not a ‘once-a-week and everything’s better’ kind of situation. The more collaboration and reinforcement there is, the more progress the child will make.”
From Worry to Hope
For Redlich, the ultimate goal of KidPT is to be a trusted space—one where families find not just therapy, but hope.
“My hope is that the kids leave feeling more confident and empowered in their daily lives,” she says. “And that families move from worry to hope—that they see a path forward and feel reassured that things can get better. So many parents come to us feeling scared and uncertain, and it’s incredible to watch their confidence grow alongside their children’s.”
At KidPT, every milestone—big or small—is celebrated. Because when a child grows in confidence, connection, and independence, their whole family grows too.
KidPT
Address: 575 NJ-28, Building 1, Suite 204A, Raritan, NJ 08869
Phone: (908) 543-4390
Website: kidpt.com