Pediatric Occupational Therapy

What is Pediatric Occupational Therapy?

A child’s “job” or occupation is to play, interact with children, and explore their surrounding environment. Because children’s bodies are growing and their minds are developing, their needs and challenges are unique from those of adults. Pediatric occupational therapy helps children gain independence and strengthen their ability to perform daily activities at home, in school, and socially. Our therapists may address sensory, social, behavioral, motor, and environmental issues.

What do we do?

Pediatric occupational therapists focus on children’s occupations—including play, school, and home—and how children function and develop in those specific environments. Their goal is to help children gain greater independence in all areas of their occupations.

How do we help?

Several intervention techniques are utilized to help each individual child meet their goals and gain better independence in their environment, including:

• Addressing skills including attention, handwriting, problem solving, and visual perception
• Addressing social skills
• Age appropriate play skills
• Aquatic therapy
• Awareness of self and environment
• Independence with daily living activities at home, school, and/or work
• Participation in dressing tasks
• Participation in fine/gross motor skills
• Sensory difficulties with feeding and oral motor strengthening
• Sensory integration techniques
• Therapeutic use of music