Occupational therapy assists children and their families in building on skills that enable them to participate in meaningful and developmentally appropriate activities with success. We use child-led, family-centered practices to ensure that your child develops intrinsic motivation and the confidence needed to engage their ‘occupations’ throughout their day. These ‘occupations’ are better known as regular daily activities such as play, dressing, socializing, school activities, and so much more! Your child should fulfill these tasks in an age-appropriate manner in order to properly mature, develop, and gain the confidence and independence they need for quality of life.
Your OT will analyze tasks which your child may be struggling with in order to determine the underlying difficulties that may be causing challenges.
Occupational therapists will focus on these underlying foundational skill areas to build on their development for optimal participation and independence throughout their day.
Fine Motor Skills
the small muscle movements in our hands and wrists required to carry out daily activities functionally.
Visual Perceptual Motor Skills
the coordination of visual information that is organized and perceived while being processed with motor skills.
Core Strength and Stability
the development of the torso muscles that stabilize, align, and move the trunk of the body. Poor core strength can cause poor posture which can also affect gross motor and fine motor skills as well as attention.
Feeding Therapy
Our occupational therapists take a comprehensive approach targeting motor coordination, sensory processing, independent feeding skills, and social experiences associated with eating.
Motor Planning and Praxis
motor planning requires a child to conceive or imagine a task, plan the steps required to complete a task, execute or carry the task out, and then rely on self-feedback for fluid and automatic movements. Motor planning relies on a child having an organized sensory system, as well as adequate body awareness. Therefore, if a child has difficulty with one or more of the senses this can lead to poor body awareness and motor planning difficulties.
Reflex Integration
If primitive reflexes are not integration, a child may display certain characteristics specific to the retained reflex, many of which limit their development and academic skills.
Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation
the interpretation of information sent to our brains via our senses and movement. Children rely on processing sensory input adequately in order to maintain focus and regulation as well as to engage in their everyday environments.
Executive functioning
Attention, problem solving, flexible thinking, working memory, self-control, planning, prioritization, ideation, organization, behavioral inhibition, self-monitoring, and self-awareness.