The Pediatric PT Playbook
Clinical Confidence for Pediatric Physical Therapy — Beyond Textbooks.
Created by Kyan Sahba, PT, DPT, PhD
Clinician • Educator • Researcher
A practical clinical guide designed for PT students, interns, and clinicians transitioning into pediatric practice.
“The Pediatric PT Playbook is a practical and insightful guide for students and clinicians interested in pediatric physical therapy. ”
— Emma Lee, BestReviewsClub (https://bestreviewsclub.com/the-pediatric-pt-playbook/)
School teaches theory. Clinical practice demands judgment.
The Pediatric PT Playbook bridges the gap between coursework and practice.
This guide provides a clear, setting-based framework for pediatric physical therapy across early intervention, school-based services, outpatient pediatrics, inpatient and acute care, and complex medical environments. It is designed to help students and early-career clinicians think clinically, prioritize effectively, and move from observation to confident participation.
Inside the Playbook:
✔ Clinical handling maps
✔ Session flow frameworks
✔ Sensory adaptation strategies
✔ Communication scripts
✔ Clinical observation checklists
What You'll Learn
How to structure pediatric evaluations with purpose
How to identify what actually matters in complex cases
How to document clearly and professionally
How to communicate with families and interdisciplinary teams
How to move from observer to confident clinical contributor
This is not about memorizing techniques. It is about developing clinical judgment.
Who is This For
Physical therapy students entering pediatric rotations.
New graduates in pediatric practice.
Clinicians transitioning into pediatrics.
Clinical instructors supporting student development
If you have ever thought “I do not know if I am prioritizing the right things,” this was built for you.
Students are rarely taught how to think in pediatrics. They are taught what to know.
This leads to:
Unfocused evaluations
Unclear documentation
Hesitation during clinical discussions
Anxiety about missing red flags
Feeling behind despite strong academic performance
This playbook exists to fix that.
About the Author
I am a physical therapist, educator, and researcher working across clinical practice and academic settings.
I created this playbook because neither school nor most clinical rotations taught me how to think in pediatrics. That gap cost me time, confidence, and clarity early in my career.
This resource is the guide I wish existed when I was a student.
"The book works like a roadmap for navigating the real environments pediatric physical therapists actually work in."