What is pediatric occupational therapy?
The primary occupation of children is play. Through play, children learn the foundation of skills necessary for success in school, among peers, and in activities of daily living. Play involves exploring/interacting with their environment, people, objects, and toys. As children grow older, they also take on the role of the student. As a student, the child is responsible for academic skills such as writing, drawing, cutting with scissors, and paying attention. If a child demonstrates weakness or inability in one or more of these areas, he/she could benefit from Occupational Therapy. Occupational Therapists are also trained to help children who have impaired self-care skills (dressing, eating, toileting), motor skills (fine or gross motor skills, balance, coordination), sensory integration concerns, etc.
As Occupational Therapists specializing in pediatrics, we are professionals who assist in the assessment and treatment of sensorimotor skills, perceptual motor skills, feeding, social interaction, attention, fine motor skills, upper extremity abilities, learning problems, children on the spectrum, and other functional skills of children. We help kids develop the skills to perform the tasks of their everyday lives using creative methods that are always fun. We use play, toys, music, humor, and games to motivate children to achieve the goals of their therapy. Occupational Therapists: • Assess and treat sensory processing disorders. • Improve upper extremity muscle strength, endurance, range of motion, coordination, fine motor abilities and function. • Address self care skills. • Recommend strategies for managing decreased or emerging function and movement which may include assistive equipment. • Work on social and peer interaction skills. • Provide education to caregivers. • Consult with
