What is Occupational Therapy?
Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) helps children with physical, mental, behavioral, and developmental conditions become more independent and functional in their daily lives. Occupational therapy sessions are typically 30-45 minutes in length and 1-2x a week depending on the needs of the individual child.
OTs work with children to improve skills that they use frequently, such as:
- Fine motor skills: Grasping and releasing toys, developing handwriting, and using small objects
- Eye-hand coordination: Playing and doing school skills like copying from a blackboard or batting a ball
- Basic life skills: Bathing, getting dressed, brushing teeth, and self-feeding
- Cognitive skills: Problem-solving, memory, and attention
- Social skills: Taking turns, thinking of others, and cooperation
- Sensory processing: Dealing with different textures, adjusting to movements, and managing emotions and behaviors related to sensory systems