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Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy supports children in developing the motor, sensory, and

self-care skills needed for play, learning, and daily routines.

Pediatric Occupational Therapists:

• Help children process and respond to sensory information

• Support the development of strength, endurance, and range of motion

• Improve balance, coordination, and overall body awareness

• Develop fine motor and visual-motor skills for play, school, and daily activities

• Increase independence with activities of daily living such as dressing, feeding, and grooming

• Support development of executive functioning and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs), such as planning and organizing school materials, completing chores, preparing simple snacks, managing time, and following daily routines

• Support developmental skill progression through play and meaningful activities

Our pediatric occupational therapists create engaging, play-based therapy sessions that motivate children while supporting growth, confidence, and independence. 

What are some functional skills for a child?

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• Regulate their emotions and body to participate in daily routines such as sleep, play, and learning

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• Attend and participate in activities at home, school, and in the community

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• Play, interact, and build relationships with others

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• Complete daily self-care tasks such as feeding, dressing, bathing, brushing teeth and hair

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• Eat and tolerate a variety of foods and textures

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• Use their hands and eyes together for activities like writing, drawing, building, and play

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• Develop strength, balance, and coordination for movement and play

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• Process and respond to sensory input such as touch, movement, sound, and visual information

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• Develop executive functioning skills such as planning, organization, problem-solving, following directions, and completing tasks independently

What are some of our programs?

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ZONES OF REGULATION: This approach teaches children to recognize different emotional states—such as feeling calm, frustrated, worried, or overly excited—and group them into four colored “zones.” Through play, visuals, and practice, therapists help children identify the zone they are in and learn strategies to regulate their body and emotions so they can participate successfully in daily activities at home, school, and in the community.
 

HANDWRITING WITHOUT TEARS: Occupational therapists often use the Handwriting Without Tears (HWT) program to help children develop strong handwriting and early writing skills. This structured, multi-sensory approach teaches letter formation, spacing, and pencil control through hands-on activities, movement, and visual supports. By breaking handwriting into simple, developmentally appropriate steps, OTs help children build the fine motor, visual-motor, and motor planning skills needed for successful writing at school.

 

SENSORY BASED FEEDING: OT can help address feeding with sensory based concerns by helping to facilitate tolerance to sight, touch, smell, and taste of foods through gradual food exposure, food play, and utilization of self-regulation strategies. Additionally, exposure of new or different foods through food chaining techniques. We can also provide guidance for the family and child for environmental supports and activities to promote success with seated attention and child participation during mealtimes. 

Could my child benefit from Occupational Therapy?

Children who could benefit from OT may display some of the following:

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  • Fine Motor & Visual Motor Skills

    • Difficulty using eyes and hands together (puzzles, stringing beads, mazes, activating toys)

    • Difficulty cutting with scissors

    • Handwriting difficulties

    • Difficulty with buttons, zippers, snaps or tying shoes

  • Strength, Posture, & Motor Control

    • Weak, stiff, or uncoordinated arm movements

    • Difficulty maintaining posture while sitting or working

  • Gross Motor Skills & Coordination

    • Appears clumsy or uncoordinated

    • Poor balance or body awareness

    • Delays in reaching developmental motor milestones

    • Retained primitive reflexes (ATNR, STNR, MORO)

  • Self-Care Skills

    • Difficulty completing dressing or grooming tasks independently

    • Trouble managing daily self-care routines

  • Sensory Processing Differences

    • Over – or under- reactive to touch, movement, sounds, sights, tastes, or textures

    • Avoids certain clothing textures

    • Frequently walks on toes

  • Attention, Regulation & Transitions

    • Difficulty sustaining attention

    • Constant movement or difficulty remaining seated

    • Trouble with transitions or changes in routine

    • Frequent big emotional reactions

  • Social Interaction & Confidence

    • Difficulty interacting with peers

    • Limited eye contact

    • Reduced confidence during tasks

How can we help?

Diagnoses and treaments include the following:

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  • Developmental Delays

  • Fine Motor Delay

  • Autism Spectrum Disorder

  • Sensory Processing Disorder

  • Brachial Plexus Injury

  • Cerebral Palsy

  • Down Syndrome

  • Traumatic Injury

  • Prematurity

  • Dyspraxia

  • Feeding Difficulties

Occupational Therapists promote sensory processing, strength, balance, coordination, improved range of motion, activities of daily living, and developmental progression through:

  • Neurodevelopmental Treatment (NDT)

  • Sensory Integration Treatment

  • Sensory Diet

  • Motor Control

  • Strengthening Programs

  • Parent Education/Training

  • Developmental Therapy

  • Adaptive Equipment

Specialty Programs include:

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  • Sensory Processing/Integration​

  • Handwriting Without Tears

  • Interactive Metronome

  • DIRFloortime

Ready to take the next step?

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