Pediatric Occupational Therapy: What To Expect
Occupational therapy (OT) helps a child with disabilities do everyday activities like eating, getting dressed, or writing. Occupational therapists find creative ways to help your child do anything that poses a challenge for them. If you are the parent of a child with disabilities, keep reading to find out more about pediatric occupational therapy and what to expect.
Expect Different Goals For Different Children
Every child is different and so are their needs. An occupational therapist focuses on the goals and needs of each individual child. A young child’s occupation is to play, learn, and socialize. Some children will need physical coordination or they may require social skills to interact with other children.
An OT helps children with motor, cognitive, physical, and speech delays to develop needed skills for life.
These children may include the following:
- Children on the autism spectrum
- Children with Down Syndrome
- Children with Cerebral Palsy
- Children with developmental delays
- Children recovering from a brain injury
An occupational therapist will work with you and your child to set specific goals or treatments, and then what defines success. An OT looks at your child’s diagnosis and understands how your child is affected. As the therapy treatment progresses, they will evaluate your child’s performance and adjust the activities to give them appropriate challenges going forward.
Children learn at their own speed, so some goals or treatments will last longer than others. As needs change, new treatments will begin in order to master a new skill.
Expect Your Child Will Learn Needed Skills
An occupational therapist will help your child to live a normal life. Your child will learn self care skills like brushing their teeth, taking a bath, getting dressed, eating, using the toilet, and how to act appropriately in school or in social situations.
Occupational therapy is essential for children with motor skills delays, sensory processing disorders, or coordination issues.
Contact TLC Pediatric Therapy at (407) 905-9300 for an evaluation if you have any concerns about your child’s development.