Pediatric occupational therapy addresses multiple areas of a child’s development from birth to age 21. Occupational therapists focus on an individual's occupations - anything they want or need to do in a day. For children, the main occupation we look at is play! Children learn countless skills and concepts through play, and OTs are passionate about helping children become successful players. We look at underlying neurological factors, sensory processing, motor function, motor planning, and coordination for everyday play and life skills. As a baby grows into a toddler, pediatric OT’s address their development for higher-level play skills, engaging with others in play, use of their hands to manipulate objects and toys, as well as their ability to move in space and explore their environment for play.

 

Pediatric occupational therapists also evaluate sensory processing difficulties in children of all diagnoses and developmental timelines. Pediatric OTs look at all areas of development in the baby’s first year of life, including visual tracking, facial imitation, reaching, grasping, and their ability to play with toys. We look at motor planning for babies to roll, crawl, and sit to gain functional skills for self-care and play. Through sensory processing, we also address self-regulation, attention, and behavior in terms of a child's engagement in the world around them.

 

Occupational therapists also address school readiness in areas like pencil skills, scissor skills, and other fine motor skills. Play and emotional regulation also have a role in school readiness, as children need to be able to effectively engage in the classroom with their peers. We believe in a growth mindset and that nothing is impossible.