Play to Learn Pediatric Therapy Center

Play-​to-​Learn provides excellent 1) pediatric occupational therapy (O/​T), 2) pediatric speech therapy (SL/​T), and 3) pediatric physical therapy (P/​T). They also provide extra enrichment like weeklong camps. They are wonderful, but can be VERY hard to find and easy to confuse with other places. I will explain why.
This particular therapy center is under the umbrella of Glendale Adventist Medical Center (GAMC) but few clients come to P2L via GAMC. Rather, P2L has a great reputation on it’s own. It’s also located physically apart from GMAC. However, because of the GAMC affiliation, they can be hard to find in a Unilocal or Internet search — since most people who go there know it as «Play to Learn Center,» and not «GAMC’s P2LTherapy Center» Also, the P2L Center shares it’s building with an ADULT therapy center, which is also under the umbrella of GAMC. I think it’s called the GAMC «Therapy and Wellness Center.» Even though they are affiliated, they are not the same thing. The pediatric center has separate therapists, office staff, entry and parking lot from the adult place. (My family has been a client of both.) Speaking of parking entrances, it can be hard to locate the first time. The two therapy centers are alone in a single one story building, which is across the street to the LEFT of the Target in Eagle Rock. The P2L Pediatric Therapy Center is in the BACK parking lot, and there is a single mirrored door. In contrast, the adult therapy center is accessed from the front parking lot and is well-​marked.
They start and end on time — the therapists get the kids on the hour and return them to parents in the waiting room at :50 minutes past the hour. Most people show up a little before the hour starts.
We have had Gemma and Steve as OT’s, and love them both. We start with an SLP next week. (I’m also having P/​T on the adult side.) They do seem to use Speech Assistants here: there is one SA who is quite popular and I was surprised to learn she was a SA rather than a SLP. The O/​T gym is VERY impressively equipped, and the O’T’s get together to change up the equipment every week. It’s pointless to sy how much my kid gained from the therapy, because kids are all there for different reasons and will respond differently. But I do believe that O/​T and S/​T… they really work.
When it comes down to it, it’s not the rating of the grammar school or hospital, the philosophy of the daycare that really makes the critical difference. It’s the actual teacher/​therapist/​person in the room interacting with the child.
There is not a single bad egg among the therapists here. At least, that’s what my child’s favorite therapist says of Play-​To-​Learn. And she adds that this is not the norm at other places she has worked. There is a big emphasis on evidence-​based research. The therapists really care about the kids and do their best for each one. No burnouts here.
The one frustration I’ve had here is probably the fault of my insurance. I have Cigna, which will apparently cover speech or physical therapy here as «in network,» but occupational therapy is considered «out of network.» It has something to do with the definition of «occupational» therapy. Many insurances will only cover «restorative» occupational, rather than «developmental» occupational, which this is for many little kids. The difference is whether you are re-​gaining a skill or learning for the first time.
Since places that offer developmental occupational therapy for little kids can be hard to find, it may help to know a couple of other places that offer it. Regional Centers like ELARC and Lanternmann RC can be invaluable to navigate this stuff.
In pasadena there is both:
CDK — center for developing kids — 626−564−2700 — They accept Anthem Blue Cross PPO only.
PCDA — Professional? Pasadena child development associates, — 626−793−7350 — They take Etna and Kaiser only.
In arcadia there is a place called Dynamic Therapy.
But again, call a regional center and let them guide you. Their missions is to make sure California kids get early intervention if they fall even a little behind. (Its a service from the State.) And if your insurance won’t cover your toddler’s speech, occupational or physical therapy, the regional center will pick up the tab.