What is Occupational Therapy?

Many parents aren’t sure what occupational therapy is and if it could benefit their child.  Occupational therapy focuses on the various skills needed to do everyday tasks. Occupational therapy has many benefits for a child’s motor skills, social skills, problem solving and self-help abilities.

Occupational Therapy Services Can Address:

• Fine Motor Skills:  such as a child’s ability to manipulate toys, hold a writing or eating utensil, and complete classroom activities.
• Visual Motor Skills:  this includes the skills needed to complete a puzzle, copy noted from a classroom board, or cutting out a shape.
• Play Skills:  this includes a child’s ability to play appropriately with peers and to tolerate unpredictability of engaging with same aged peers.
• Self-Care Skills: such as hygiene, clothing management during a bathroom break, getting dressed in the morning, brushing teeth and safety awareness.
• School Skills:  this includes any skills required to be independent within a classroom, including cutting, coloring and writing letters.
• Self-Help Skills:  this includes a child’s ability to self-sooth when upset, manage frustrations and cope with unpredictability.
• Attention and Behavior difficulties:  therapy can provide guidance and suggestions to manage difficult behaviors at home and within a classroom.

Occupational Therapists have experience with the following…

• Sensory process disorders
• Premature birth
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Feeding problems
• Traumatic brain injury
• Intellectual impairment
• Cerebral Palsy
• Down Syndrome
• Autism spectrum disorder

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