Pediatric occupational therapy involves the use of play, movement and exercise to help kids develop or regain age-appropriate, functional skills to participate in home, school and community activities.
Pediatric occupational therapy is designed to help infants and children improve independence with daily activities, such as feeding, dressing, playing, and learning skills by improving their motor, sensory, behavioral, and cognitive capabilities.
When to refer
Delayed milestones
Poor fine motor skills
Strengthening and coordination
Decreased hand-eye coordination
Fine motor skills and hand function
Limited independence with self-care skills
Trouble "keeping up" with the activities of same-aged children
Clumsiness/difficulty coordinating the use of both hands together Activities may include but are not limited
Experiencing difficulties in school with visual-motor or visual-perceptual activities, such as copying from the board and so on
Sensory Integration (Sensory integration therapy is used to help children learn to use all their senses together – that is, touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing which leads to difficulties in processing sensory information . Therapists also sometimes suggest that Sensory integration therapy can help with other autis characteristics, like difficulties with play and emotional regulation)