Think about the activities and tasks you perform every day, from getting dressed in the morning to brushing your teeth at night. In between, you complete household chores, interact with your peers at work, and spend time with friends and loved ones. Your child isn’t any different (just swap work for school). But some kids need a bit more help than others. That’s what occupational therapy for children is all about.
Occupational therapy is a healthcare field focused on helping people perform activities of daily living (ADLs), such as getting in and out of a bathtub, combing their hair, or cooking dinner. Adults often utilize occupational therapists after a major injury, illness, or surgical procedure as they work to relearn or readjust to day-to-day tasks that may be challenging for them.
Pediatric occupational therapy at Mark Their Words Therapy Services is the same basic idea but adapted for children. We help kids develop the skills and strategies they need to thrive in their day-to-day lives. However, we don’t just help children who’ve been injured or are struggling with an illness (although we certainly can). In fact, we mostly work with kids with different developmental delays, whether physical, cognitive, or behavioral.
If your child struggles with ADLs–whether holding a toothbrush, fixing themselves a snack, or interacting well with others–our pediatric occupational therapists can help! We’ll develop a customized program that speaks to your child’s strengths while helping address any impairments.
Want to learn more? Read our overview here–or schedule an initial consultation at our Clarksville clinic!
Would My Child Benefit from Occupational Therapy for Children?
Parents choose to utilize pediatric occupational therapy for all sorts of reasons. If your child struggles with any day-to-day activities (like writing, feeding themselves, learning at school, and so on), our pediatric occupational therapists can help!
We generally work with children who need help with the following areas:
- Fine Motor Skills: These skills allow you to perform small movements with your hands, such as holding a pencil or using scissors.
- Cognitive Skills: This includes skills needed for learning at school, plus other thinking-related skills like decision-making, paying attention, or problem-solving.
- Emotional Skills: We can help your children manage the complexities of interacting with others, such as resolving conflicts or forming appropriate relationships.
- Sensory Processing: If your child struggles with any kind of sensory processing (i.e., getting easily overwhelmed), we can give them the tools to manage it.
- Self-Care Skills: Finally, we can help your child with basic self-care skills, such as getting dressed or bathing themselves.
If your child struggles with any of those skills, they may be a good candidate for pediatric occupational therapy. Occupational therapy is also great for kids with certain neurological, muscular, cognitive, or behavioral conditions, such as the following:
- Autism
- ADHD
- Cerebral palsy
- Down syndrome
- Developmental delays
- Sensory processing disorder
If you aren’t sure if occupational therapy is right for your child, schedule an appointment with us! We can provide more personalized information to help you make the best decision for you and your family.
What Can I Expect from Occupational Therapy for Children?
The Mark Their Words Therapy Services occupational therapists utilize several different approaches to help kids develop the skills they need to thrive in their day-to-day lives. To do this effectively, we always begin with a comprehensive evaluation that lets us get to know your child and their needs.
This evaluation will include a full health history plus a chance for our OTs to observe and interact with your child during playtime. We’ll perform simple, play-based tests to help us better understand your child’s strengths and weaknesses, and we’ll get to know more about your child’s interests and favorite activities. From there, we’ll create a customized treatment plan.
While we tailor every plan to your child’s needs, one thing they’ll all have in common is that we’ll make them feel like playtime. The activities included in your child’s treatment will be age-appropriate and designed around your child’s unique interests.
We also take a strength-based approach to occupational therapy, emphasizing your child’s abilities rather than focusing on their weaknesses. This approach will help your child develop good self-esteem while working on their specific skills. For example, if a child struggles to communicate effectively with speech but loves to draw, we might encourage them to communicate through image-based communication boards or their own simple illustrations.
Our pediatric occupational therapist will also bring your child’s community into play. We’ll work closely with you, your family, and your child’s school to provide strategies and suggestions to help your child work on their skills when not in an OT session. We can also help your child learn how to advocate for themselves–such as requesting accommodations in a classroom or letting friends know they need some time to themselves.
Get Started with an Initial Appointment Today!
The Mark Their Words Therapy Services pediatric occupational therapists would love to help your child develop the motor, cognitive, or emotional skills they need to thrive in school, on the playground, and at home. To get started with an initial assessment, schedule an appointment today. We can’t wait to get to know your child!
Sources:
- https://www.aota.org/-/media/Corporate/Files/Practice/Children/SchoolMHToolkit/Promoting%20Strengths%20REVISED.pdf
- https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/25094-pediatric-occupational-therapy
Tags: Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapist, childhood development, occupationaltherapy, Mark Their Words Therapy Services
