22 | DMI Therapy & Gross Motor Development | Becca Stoddard
Some children need extra support with movement, balance, strength, and coordination. Parents may notice that their child has low tone, delayed gross motor skills, difficulty crawling, trouble walking, poor sitting balance, or challenges keeping up with peers during play.
In this episode of the Autism Family Resource Podcast, Brian Keene speaks with Becca Stoddard, pediatric occupational therapist and owner of Breakthrough Therapy, about Dynamic Movement Intervention, also known as DMI Therapy.
Becca shares how DMI uses hands-on support, gravity, sensory input, and repetition to help children build new motor patterns and work toward important developmental milestones.
Listen to the Full Episode
Listen to this episode to learn how DMI Therapy may support gross motor development and what parents can do at home to encourage movement, strength, and confidence.
“Our brains want us to be vertical. They want us to be upright.”
In This Episode We Discuss
• What Dynamic Movement Intervention is
• How DMI supports head control, trunk control, sitting, crawling, standing, and walking
• Why repetition matters for motor learning
• How low tone and gross motor delays can affect play
• Why some autistic children may also have motor delays
• Simple movement activities parents can try at home
• When to ask for a screening or therapy evaluation
Key Themes From the Conversation
Becca explains that DMI is different from traditional therapy because it places children in specific positions that encourage automatic movement responses. Rather than simply asking a child to complete an exercise, the therapist uses gravity, positioning, and support to help the child’s body respond.
A major theme in this conversation is core strength. Becca shares that many motor skills begin with head and trunk control. Sitting, crawling, standing, and walking all depend on the child’s ability to stabilize and organize their body.
Brian and Becca also discuss the importance of opportunity. Children need safe chances to move, explore, climb, play, and practice using their bodies in different ways. For some neurodivergent children, differences in communication, safety awareness, or social participation may reduce access to the same types of movement play as peers.
Common Questions Parents Ask
What is DMI Therapy?
DMI Therapy, or Dynamic Movement Intervention, is a hands-on therapy approach that supports children with gross motor delays. It uses specific exercises, positioning, gravity, and repetition to help children build motor control and work toward developmental milestones.
How do I know if my child might benefit from DMI?
A child may benefit from DMI if they have delays with head control, rolling, sitting, crawling, standing, walking, balance, or overall strength. A therapy screening can help determine whether an evaluation or ongoing support may be helpful.
What can parents do at home to support gross motor development?
Parents can encourage playground play, tummy time, tall kneeling, stair practice, and play in different body positions. For babies, simple activities like gently leaning them back while seated on your lap can encourage core activation.
Why This Conversation Matters for Families
Gross motor skills affect more than movement. They shape how children explore their environment, participate in play, engage with peers, and build independence in daily life.
This episode gives parents a helpful starting point without creating fear. If you notice delays, it does not mean something is “wrong” with your child. It may simply mean they need more support, more practice, or a therapy approach that helps their body learn new movement patterns.
Resources Mentioned
Pathways.org
https://pathways.org
Breakthrough Therapy
https://www.breakthrough-therapy.com
Instagram
@breakthrough_therapy_DMI
About the Guest
Becca Stoddard is a pediatric occupational therapist and owner of Breakthrough Therapy. She provides DMI intensive therapy and ongoing weekly DMI therapy for children working on gross motor milestones.
Related Resources for Parents
If you found this episode helpful, you may also enjoy these resources:
• Make a Splash: How Aquatic Therapy Benefits Kids with Special Needs
• Physical Therapy Month Spotlight: How Pediatric PT Helps Kids Thrive
• When to Seek Help: Signs Your Child May Need Occupational, Speech, or Physical Therapy
• Understanding Developmental Goals in Pediatric Therapy
Explore more parent resources at:
https://pureheartstherapy.com/blog
