5 Signs Your Child May Benefit from Occupational Therapy

Parents are always watching their children, marking their achievements, and occasionally worrying about their challenges. We want them to be happy and flourish. Sometimes that might involve looking for a little more assistance. It could be time to discuss pediatric occupational therapy if you find your child struggling with regular daily activities. 

You might be asking, “Occupational therapy? Isn’t that for adults?” Although occupational therapy (OT) helps adults pick back up lost abilities, it also helps children. Occupational therapy is important for children to acquire the skills they need to navigate their environment. Consider it like this: For most of them, playing, learning, and interacting with their surroundings define their ‘occupation.’ OT actually helps children become more independent and effective in their surroundings. 

What is pediatric occupational therapy? 

Pediatric occupational therapy works to help children from birth through puberty acquire the daily living skills they need. It tackles physical, cognitive, and sensory issues that can be affecting a child’s capacity for daily activities. Pediatric occupational therapy combines different treatment approaches with play-based activities to enhance:

• Fine motor skills (handwriting, using scissors, buttoning clothing)
• Gross motor skills (balance, coordination, sprinting, jumping)
• Sensory processing skills  (processing appropriately sights, sounds, touch, vestibular and other sensory information)
• Cognitive skills (attention, memory, problem-solving)
• Self-care skills (dressing, eating, bathing)
• Social skills (peer interaction, following directions, etc.) 

Five Signs Your Child Might Benefit From OT: 

Why would a toddler need occupational therapy, or any child for that matter? These five typical indicators point to a possible benefit for your child from occupational therapy:

• Struggle with fine motor skills: 

Does your child struggle with skills including using a crayon, using scissors, buttoning their clothing, or tying their shoes? Handwriting, drawing, and other daily tasks depend on these fine motor skills. Children’s hand strength, dexterity, and coordination can all be enhanced by an occupational therapist for children. 

• Problems with gross motor skills: 

Does your child struggle with coordination and balance, or are they clumsy and regularly fall? Problems with gross motor abilities can compromise their capacity to engage in sports, play on the playground, and even safely navigate their surroundings.

• Sensory processing challenges:

Does your child react excessively to specific sounds, textures, or smells? Do they seem to be too sensitive or seek out strong sensory experiences? Meltdowns, anxiety, and social interaction problems can all result from sensory processing challenges. OT can teach children coping mechanisms and how to control their sensory reactions.

• Difficulties with self-care:

Does your child struggle with dressing, eating, or bathing on their own? Building independence and self-esteem requires these self-care abilities. Children can learn the required skills to execute these chores with more ease by means of occupational therapy.

• Social and behavioral challenges:

Does your child struggle with social skills, behavioral control, following directions, or peer interaction? Sometimes social and behavioral problems stem from underlying sensory or motor limitations. OT can help a child’s social skills and emotional control develop by tackling these fundamental issues.

What does occupational therapy do for toddlers (and older children)? 

Toddlers may benefit from play-based activities including large motor abilities (such as navigating obstacle courses), fine motor skills (such as stringing beads or block stacking), and sensory exploration. Older children may need help with handwriting, organizing, or learning techniques for controlling classroom sensory overload.

Don’t wait and see

If you worry about your child’s development, don’t wait and see whether they ‘grow out of it.’ Early intervention is vital. One first step is talking to your pediatrician. If needed, they can offer a reference to an occupational therapist for children, or you can contact a pediatric occupational therapist directly. For kids dealing with developmental difficulties, occupational therapy helps children grow in all areas of life. It can help your child become more independent, confident, and successful. If you identify any of the above-described symptoms, explore Extra Steps for expert pediatric occupational therapy options. It might be the key to unlocking their greatest potential!