Occupational Therapy
When we hear the word occupation, as adults, we automatically think of the workforce. One area your child may be struggling in is their “occupation”, or their daily normal activities that they are expected to participate in. A child’s occupation is usually hygiene tasks, getting dressed, playing, socializing, handwriting and homework. Some children also struggle with skills and activities that, as adults, we find effortless. Skills like walking, balance, holding a pencil, or understanding right and left are actually indicators of developmental growth and maturity.
Sometimes, the skills are even less visible, but more frustrating to parents, like emotional regulation or sensory processing. A child that has trouble with emotional regulation can seem very angry, volatile, or clingy. If your child lacks the proper awareness of sensory input, they may be always wild and rough, or constantly be bothered by textures of clothes or foods. As parents, we often miss these signals, but they are signs that the necessary skills to navigate daily life aren’t being built properly. A variety of things can interfere with the ability to build these skills, but there are options to help!
Our trained therapists can help you identify areas where your child would benefit from intervention, and put them on a play-based plan to build the missing skills.
Occupational therapy (OT) helps children gain skills and independence related to movement, day-to-day activities, regulation, and self-care. Some of the indicators are:
• Lack of body awareness/runs into objects
• Difficulties with balance/frequently fall
• Appears clumsy or uncoordinated
• Lacks hand preference
• Using too much/little force
• Only uses one side of the body
• Difficulties making friends
• Over/under reacts to sensory information (textures, tastes, sights, sounds, smells)
• Craves rough play
• Always in motion
• Poor social interaction
Play and growth are the “business” of childhood. Occupational therapy is important to address any struggles. A child’s ability to process sensory information can have an effect on their ability to sequence activities or cope with the world around them. Therapists help by:
• Promoting development related to every routine such as play, rest, sleep, dressing, eating/feeding, education, and social participation.
• Identifying factors within the environment that are affecting a child’s ability to participate in learning and development activities.
• Working skillfully with children who have difficulties processing sensory input.
We believe that children grow and learn best through play. We only utilize therapy activities that promote a positive, unpressured, nurturing atmosphere. Some of our most common approaches are:
• Sensory Integration
• DIR/Floortime/Son-Rise
• Therapressure (Wilbarger Brushing Program)
• Handwriting Without Tears
We help your child build a variety of skills including:
• Gross Motor Skills: Balance, muscle tone/strength, flexibility, postural control, motor planning, coordination, ball skills, and playground skills.
• Fine Motor Skills: Handwriting, coloring, grasp, hand preference, use of scissors, finger isolation, object manipulation, hand strength, and coordination.
• Visual Motor/ Perceptual Skills: Tracing, scanning, letter recognition, spatial concepts, attention to detail, and figure-ground.
• Self-care Skills: Dressing, toileting, bathing, grooming & hygiene, meal preparation, feeding, and eating.
• Sensory Processing & Regulation: Understanding how environmental stimuli affect the ability to learn and participate in daily activities. Hyper/Hypo responsiveness, self-regulation, and modulation.
• Reflex Integration: Helping your child develop mature neurodevelopmental movement to allow for optimum functioning. Reflexes are automatic movements present at birth and shortly after to help us develop more appropriate movement patterns but if they don’t “integrate” and allow more mature movement patterns to develop they can cause problems in older children and adults.
Occupational therapy can address struggles stemming from a variety of conditions and factors:
- Autistic Spectrum Disorders
- Learning Disabilities
- Sensory Processing/Sensory Integrative Disorders
- Developmental Delays
- Developmental Coordination Issues
- Cerebral Palsy
- Orthopedic Disorders
- Genetic Syndromes Issues resulting from Premature Birth
- Emotional or Behavioral Disturbances
- Anxiety/Depression
- Psychosocial issues
- At-Risk family dynamic
If you’re wondering if your child could benefit from OT services, we would love to talk with you!
Our developmental experts will walk you through a simple assessment of what may be going on, tips for what you can do right now at home to help, and what your next steps should be to start helping your child reach their highest potential and happiness.