Pediatric Occupational Therapy

Occupational Therapy is a developmental intervention that enhances a child’s ability to successfully function within their environment, both at home and at school. In Early Intervention or a Preschool Special Education Program, Occupational Therapists work with children facing physical delays, educational delays, cognitive delays, self-care delays or sensory processing disorders that may affect their developmental performance. 

What is the focus of Occupational Therapy?

Play - interacting with age-appropriate toys, games, equipment and activities.
 
Education - achieving in the learning environment.
 
Social Participation - developing appropriate relationships and engaging in behavior that doesn’t interfere with learning, self-help, self-care or social relationships.
 
Sensory Processing Integration - ability to process and respond to sensory information within the environment. Therapists address deficits affecting the tactile (touch), proprioceptive (body/spatial awareness), and vestibular (movement) systems to improve children’s abilities to sense and appropriately respond to their environment. Treatment usually consists of interventions that focus on providing the child with different sensory experiences and helping them become accustomed to those experiences.

 
Upper Body Development and Fine Motor Development - strengthen and refine motor development skills in order to access and manipulate various educational materials, toys, and objects encountered by the child during everyday activities.