Occupational Therapy
About Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy practitioners work with children, youth, and their families to promote active participation in activities or occupations that are meaningful to them. Occupation refers to activities that may support the health, well-being, and development of an individual.
For children and youth, occupations are activities that enable them to learn and develop life skills (e.g., school activities), be creative and/or derive enjoyment (e.g., play), and thrive (e.g., self-care and care for others) as both a means and an end.
Occupational therapy practitioners work with children of all ages (birth through young adulthood) and abilities. Recommended interventions are based on a thorough understanding of typical development and the impact of disability, illness, and impairment on the individual child’s development, play, learning, and overall occupational performance.
Occupational therapy practitioners provide services by collaborating with other professionals to identify and meet the needs of children experiencing delays or challenges in development; identifying and modifying or overcoming barriers that interfere with, restrict, or inhibit a child’s functional performance; teaching and modeling skills and strategies to children and their families to extend therapeutic intervention; and adapting activities, materials, and environmental conditions so children can participate under different conditions and in various environments.
Developmental Needs
- Helping a child sit independently or crawl
- Helping a child follow multi-step instructions
- Developing the ability to dress independently
- Learning to cope with failure or disappointment
- Educational Needs
- Voice Disorders
- Reducing extraneous environmental noise for a child who is easily distracted
- Building skills for sharing, taking turns, and playing with peers
- Using toys and materials in both traditional and creative manners.
Occupational Therapy can help with the following
- Sensory Processing
- Fine Motor Development Delays
- Handwriting problems
- Self-care Training
- Assistive Technology consulting and training
- Motor Planning
- Feeding Difficulties
- Environmental Adaptations/Adaptive Equipment
- Play and Socialization
- And More
Common Diagnoses
- ADD/ADHD
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Down Syndrome
- Cerebral Palsy
- Genetic Conditions
- Developmental Delay
Finding the Right OT Program
Pediatric occupational therapy helps children be successful at the “jobs” of childhood, including self-care, play, school performance, and social interactions. Occupational therapy can help kids with various needs improve their cognitive, physical, sensory, and motor skills and enhance their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment. Using activities that seem like play to children, occupational therapy provides challenging tasks in a one-on-one setting strategically designed to improve the skills children need in their daily life.
Our occupational therapy program includes several other specialized treatment programs including SOS (Sequential Oral Sensory) Approach to Feeding Therapy for children with feeding aversions, Handwriting Without Tears handwriting curriculum, Integrated Listening System, and which both assist with motor planning, sensory processing, and cognition.
If you feel your child could benefit from pediatric occupational therapy, please contact us for a free phone consultation. Don’t wait! Research proves that early intervention is vital! We will consult with you on appropriate treatment and will set up an occupational therapy program customized for your child’s needs that fits your schedule.
