What is Occupational Therapy?
Having a child that struggles to develop necessary skills is a worrying and frightening experience. You love your child and want the best for him or her, but you fear they will be left behind. One area your child may struggle in is his or her “occupation,” or the daily activities he or she is expected to participate in. A child’s occupation usually includes playing, socializing with other children, completing schoolwork, and accomplishing hygiene tasks.
sensory tOT spot Occupational Therapy strives to help children strengthen their developmental skills through the use of occupational therapy. We believe in giving every child a chance to learn and grow and master the skills that may currently seem out of his or her reach.
The term “occupation” likely brings up the image of an adult workforce, and, in a sense, this therapy addresses a similar aspect. A child’s job, or occupation, is to develop the skills that will help him or her succeed later in life, including motor and social skills. If your child struggles to develop these skills on his or her own, occupational therapy can help your child through the process. By gaining these skills early in life, your child will gain confidence and independence. Your son or daughter will be able to keep up with his or her peers and fully engage in the activities required of him or her.
Common Childhood Occupations:
- Play
- Feeding
- Sleep
- Self-Care (Dressing, Bathing, Grooming)
- Cleaning Up After Self
- Age Appropriate Chores
- Sports & Recreation
- Toileting
- Education & School
- Learning
- Functional Mobility
- Community Participation
- Social Participation
Who would Benefit from Occupational Therapy?
Many children can benefit from getting occupational therapy. They do not need to be behind on anything to benefit from this type of therapy. However, if your child is behind on any type of development, they will get even greater benefits from customized occupational therapy.
Children do not see occupational therapy as work. Instead, they see occupational therapy as games to play. They get to have fun while mastering new skills. The more games they play, the more of those skills they will master and the further ahead they will get. Occupational therapy covers all types of skills, and allows children to get caught up, and in many instances, move ahead of their peers.
Some occupational therapy is meant to help with common daily tasks. This includes getting dressed, hygiene practices, writing, and processing information. Some occupational therapy is there to help children process their senses. This includes processing what they feel, smell, see, touch, and taste. This is common for children on the Autism spectrum, as their senses are commonly overly sensitive, which can make daily tasks more difficult to handle.
Some occupational therapy is dedicated to children confined to a wheelchair. This allows them to learn how to better function in their wheelchairs, and allows them to learn what their independence limitations may be. Motor skills are a big part of most occupational therapy sessions. This includes both fine motor skills, like using hands to write, and gross motor skills, like learning to kick a ball.
If your child needs help with any of the skills to help them accomplish daily tasks, contact us for an evaluation.
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All new clients will be scheduled for a Free of Charge Discovery Visit with one of our Occupational Therapy Providers this is an opportunity to get to know us more and for us to ensure we will be the best fit to help you and your child in therapy.
(518)952-0920 info@sensorytotspot.com