What is Occupational Therapy?
The “occupation” of living
Occupational therapy is an allied health profession that focuses on the “occupation of living.” Everything we do throughout our day occupies our time and is, therefore, an occupation. While occupational therapists work in a variety of different settings with a variety of people from all ages and stages of life, pediatric occupational therapy focuses on children.
Children may not have jobs, but they have many different occupations that they participate in during the day. Everything from feeding to dressing to leisure, play, and school are considered the occupations of childhood. Occupational therapists work with children to develop the skills needed in order to successfully and appropriately participate in these daily tasks.
Does my child need occupational therapy?
All children develop at different rates, based on a variety of biological and environmental factors. Most pediatricians will evaluate a child’s developmental milestones during regularly scheduled check-ups. If you notice that your child is not meeting their developmental milestones within the general time frame or if you notice other signs that concern you, talk with your child’s doctor about the possibility of an occupational therapy referral.
How can occupational therapy help my child?
When a child shows a delay in their developmental milestones, occupational therapy can help to strengthen fine motor, visual motor, sensory processing, and muscle strength skills to help children improve their daily occupational performance. We often focus on what a child’s strengths are, rather than their deficits, to help them improve their self esteem and adapt or modify activities when needed to help a child reach as much independence as possible.
How do I get occupational therapy services for my child?
In order to receive occupational therapy services you will need to speak with your child’s pediatrician to get a referral for an occupational therapy evaluation. We can help with this process if needed, just contact us!