Occupational Therapy

Common reasons why parents will consider pediatric OT:
• My child has difficulty with fine motor skills (manipulating objects, holding a pencil or silverware, etc)
• My child struggles with school activities such as coloring, handwriting, letter and shape recognition.
• My child has difficulty with eating certain types and textures of food.
• My child is struggling to upgrade to an age-appropriate method of drinking.
• My child is under-responsive or overly sensitive to certain sensations, sounds, touch, or movement.
• My child struggles to interact socially and engage with family and peers. • My child is easily distracted and unable to focus at school.
• My child shows delays in play skills.

Our pediatric occupational therapists start by evaluating your child’s current skill levels for playing, school performance, and daily activities. They will then compare those levels to what is appropriate for that age group to discover opportunities for improvement. Play is incorporated into sessions to help reduce any anxiety or fears and motivate children to accomplish their goals. Play can involve games, puzzles, toys, or physical exercises. Your therapist will help your child develop critical physical, cognitive, and sensory skills so they can independently perform daily tasks. The goal of pediatric occupational therapy is not only to help your child progress but also help build confidence in everything they do.

Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping children develop the skills they need to function effectively in their daily lives. It assists children to grow physically, cognitively, socially, and emotionally.

Pediatric occupational therapy aims to enable children to participate in everyday activities or “occupations.” These occupations often include self-care routines, leisure activities, school related tasks, social skills, and community participation.

The need for occupational therapy might not always be apparent, as signs can vary greatly depending on the nature of a child’s specific difficulties. However, here are some common signs that your child might benefit from occupational therapy:

• Delayed Milestones: Your child is not reaching developmental milestones at the expected time (such as sitting, crawling, walking, or talking).
• Difficulty with Fine Motor Skills: They need help with tasks that require precise movements, like using utensils, doing up buttons, holding a pencil, or doing puzzles.
• Difficulty with Gross Motor Skills: They struggle with activities that require whole-body movement, balance, and coordination, like jumping, running, or climbing stairs.
• Sensory Issues: They’re overly sensitive or under-responsive to sensory stimuli such as light, sound, touch, or certain textures in food.
• Difficulty with Self-Care Tasks: They need help dressing, feeding themselves, brushing their teeth, or using the bathroom independently.
• Trouble with Focus and Attention: They have difficulty staying focused on a task or activity for an age-appropriate amount of time or struggle to pay attention in a busy environment like a classroom.
• Difficulty with Social Interactions: They have difficulty making friends, interpreting social cues, or seem to be uninterested in playing with other children.
• Academic Struggles: They find handwriting, reading, or other school-related tasks challenging.
•Self-Regulation Concerns: They often have temper tantrums, seem overly active, or have difficulty adjusting to new situations.

Please note that these signs alone do not diagnose occupational therapy needs. They are potential indicators, and if you notice them consistently, it might be a good idea to consult a professional for further assessment.

OT can often be a good fit for kids with diagnoses including, but not limited to:

• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
• Cerebral Palsy and Down Syndrome
• Sensory Processing Disorder
• Developmental Delays
• Learning Disabilities
• Spina Bifida, Muscular Dystrophy or Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
• Genetic Disorders
• Prematurity
• Visual and/or Hearing Impairment
• Fine and Gross Motor Delays

If you are concerned about your child don’t hesitate to contact PediPlay and let us help you find the answers you’re looking for!

Occupational therapy (OT) for children is designed to assist them in developing or improving essential skills for daily life, such as fine motor skills, gross motor skills, sensory processing skills, self-care tasks, and social skills. It benefits children with physical, sensory, or cognitive issues that affect their function and independence.

Here’s what you can generally expect from a pediatric occupational therapy session:
Our occupational therapy programs help children build developmental skills in a safe, fun, and comfortable way. Throughout the initial evaluation and subsequent sessions, your child’s OT will develop goals to support areas of need, assess your child’s developmental and learning needs, implement appropriate activities to help meet a child’s goal, and make environmental changes if necessary. We know that each child is unique in their own way, which is why we customize treatment plans to ensure our patients are successful and have fun! It’s important that we understand your child’s daily environments, such as school, hobbies, recreational activities, and home life. This way, we can tailor exercises and developmental strategies to fit your child’s lifestyle.

Remember, every child is unique, and thus, their therapy will be tailored to their specific needs and interests