Pediatric Occupational Therapy facilitates development of sensory and motor functions, which enables children to interact with their environment and participate in daily activities (learning, play, self care) as independently as possible.
Children have multiple occupations or "jobs" throughout their development. An infant's "job" is to learn more about themselves and their environment through play and sensory exploration. Toddlers "work" as both players and preschool students: practicing drawing, cutting, meal time participation, dressing and other self care tasks. Later, children are expected to become more independent in self care routines and mastery of writing, drawing, cutting and paying attention.
Occupation Therapy can help improve functioning in children who have difficulty with the following:
- Processing touch, sound, movement and other sensations
- Attending to tasks
- Organizational Skills
- Fine motor skills, especially in handwriting, coloring, drawing or cutting
- Eye hand coordination and whole body coordination
- Feeding skills, including sensory and oral motor development
- Independence in self care skills, including dressing and feeding
For the Occupational Therapy evaluation:
- Please bring copies of any recent evaluations or test results
- If your child wears glasses, be sure to bring them
- Have your child take all regularly scheduled medication
- Bring any splint or equipment that your child uses
- Standardized testing and/or clinical observation will be used
- You will be provided an opportunity to discuss your concerns
