Seeing our kids happy and watching them socialize with everyone are two of the most delightful experiences of parenthood. Although every child has their own pace of development, they generally start enhancing social skills in a predictable pattern. However, some children face difficulty expressing themselves and are slower at developing motor skills than their peers, especially the ones with Autism and ADHD. Fortunately, we are in 2025 and have evidence-based therapies like pediatric occupational therapy that help develop, improve, and recover a child’s everyday living and work-related abilities.
Many people, whenever they hear the term “occupational therapy,” picturizes someone who survived an accident and re-learning how to eat, write, and speak. However, OT extends beyond this limited imagination. Specifically, pediatric occupational therapy has proved to help improve the lives of children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
We know as a parent you might have a lot of questions regarding pediatric occupational therapy and its efficiency. And there are many myths about this therapy that are enough to misguide you. To help you with all your doubts about the efficiency of occupation therapy for kids, we have come up with this detailed guide for parents. So, let’s get started!
Pediatric Occupational Therapy is a specialized evidence-based therapy treatment carried out by professional therapists to help children develop and improve motor skills required to function and socialize.
The therapist helps children learn daily living skills so they can become independent. The focal points of these pediatric occupational therapy sessions remain improving the child’s overall well-being, health, and skill development.
A typical occupational therapy session starts by setting up a safer and more educational environment to support kids' learning and skill development. Whenever children participate in these activities, they start building awareness of themselves and their peers. The role of parents is undeniable as they can help therapists identify the development challenges their kids are experiencing.
Once therapist understands the needs of a child, they can better prepare for different activities to aid them in recognizing new skills and ways to express emotions. The occupational therapy can be helpful in the following conditions:
The first thing that differentiates pediatric occupational therapy from other therapies is that it is focused solely on children. While it may seem similar to other therapies, it has unique features that set it apart.
Pediatric OT helps children who struggle with tasks like writing, eating, dressing, or playing. Unlike physical therapy, which often targets gross motor skills like walking or jumping, OT emphasizes fine motor skills, sensory processing, and self-care.
At the same time, therapists incorporate games, toys, and creative activities to engage children while addressing their specific challenges. This makes therapy enjoyable and less intimidating for kids, unlike more structured or exercise-based therapies.
Additionally, it considers the child’s physical, emotional, sensory, and cognitive needs. For example, if a child has difficulty focusing in school, an OT might assess sensory sensitivities or motor coordination issues that could be contributing to the problem. Other therapies, such as speech or behavioral therapy, often focus on specific areas, but OT looks at how all these areas interact.
Although it is hard to find whether your child actually needs pediatric occupational therapy, there are some signs and symptoms you should eye for:
As mentioned earlier, every child’s development progresses at their own pace. However, there are many set milestones a child should hit at a specific age. These milestones help parents and caregivers track the development progress of their kids. These progressions include crawling, walking, self-feeding, and talking.
For instance, children generally start feeding themselves finger food by 10-12 months and learn to use use spoon by 18-24 months. If you find your child missing out on these key milestones, it's time to act fast as it could be a sign of development delay. A professional occupational therapist can help address the problem. Early intervention has proved to be valuable in speedy improvements.
Fine motor skills help a person perform small motions with hands, fingers, feet, and toes required for everyday tasks, including clapping, holding objects in fingers, or kicking a ball.
Most parents underestimate the importance of fine motor skills in toddlers, saying they are too young and will learn them over time. Nonetheless, these fine motor skills are vital for carrying out necessary tasks, such as bathing and eating.
Thus, children with such developmental delays generally struggle with learning, such as drawing, using scissors, etc. If you notice these signs in your toddler, the chances are higher that you need assistance from an expert pediatric occupational therapist. They use a variety of techniques to improve skills, such as:
These skills are the basics of learning how to type with a keyboard. And in today’s technologically advanced world, not being able to use keyboards would significantly limit their career opportunities.
In contrast to fine motor skills, gross motor skills help improve large body movements. These include making regular use of body parts, including arms, legs, or torso. Gross motor movements require the whole body to function. If you notice poor functions of gross motor skills in your child, they may also find themselves struggling with fine motor skills.
This can be because both fine and gross motor skills rely on the basis of support. And that base of support in your body is your torso., which provides a stable base for your arms.
If your child shows gross motor skill issues or is showing persistent balance, consider booking an expert pediatric occupational therapy session at Kick Start Therapy.
Every person has five basic senses: smell, sight, hearing, touch, and taste. However, these senses aren’t felt the same by everyone. Children with sensory processing disorder (SPD) often get easily stressed, overwhelmed, and anxious while experiencing specific sensory information.
For instance, a normal kid would not be disrupted due to background noises, such as traffic or any other. However, they can bring extreme reactions in toddlers with SPD. If you think your child is struggling with SPD, here are some signs to be sure:
In such conditions, a professional occupational therapist can help the child increase their tolerance to sensory stimuli.
Self-care is of utmost importance in every person’s life, especially toddlers who are just starting out their social lives. The self-care habits include feeding, dressing, and hygiene and these skills should develop over time, generally by the age of 4.
For instance, if a kid is too young to brush their teeth, they can help by putting toothpaste on the toothbrush. Self-care skills are vital in enhancing the sense of independence in your child.
They are essential for academics and social outings. Thus, children struggling with such skills are at high risk for future social consequences, including low self-esteem and bullying.
Kids who find it hard to express emotions generally take longer to calm down during emotional and stressful situations. They might experience temper tantrums more often than their peers.
If your child can’t regulate emotions, you might experience that they become angry and upset easily, sometimes without any reason. An occupational therapist can help address the underlying cause of their behavior swings. Additionally, they can suggest some self-calming strategies to help your child overcome future emotional outbursts.
During a pediatric occupational therapy session, the therapist first tries to understand what the child struggles with. They may talk to the parents and ask questions to get a clear picture. Sometimes they watch how the child does certain activities to see where the problem might be.
Once they understand the child’s needs, they create a plan. This plan includes fun activities that help the child practice the skills they need. For example, if a child has trouble holding a pencil, the therapist might use special games that strengthen their hand muscles.
The sessions are created to be enjoyable. Therapists use toys, games, and other tools to make the exercises fun. This way, children are happy and engaged while learning important skills.
Parents are often involved too. They might be given tips and exercises to do at home with their child. This helps revise what the child is learning during therapy sessions.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT) helps kids overcome challenges they face in everyday life. Here’s how it works for specific problems:
Parent’s involvement is vital in the OT process. Your support can help your child make the most progress. Here’s what parents should know about the OT process:
Here are some simple ways parents can support their child's progress at home:
Parent’s involvement and support in pediatric occupational therapy are crucial for the success of the therapeutic process. Your active participation can better understand the child's needs, strengths, and challenges. This involvement allows them to reinforce therapeutic strategies at home, creating a consistent and supportive environment that promotes progress.
Additionally, parents who are engaged in the therapy process can communicate more effectively with therapists, ensuring that goals are aligned and personalized to the child's unique circumstances.
Pediatric occupational therapy helps children develop, improve, or regain skills needed for daily activities, play, and learning. It focuses on enhancing fine motor skills, sensory processing, coordination, and self-care abilities, enabling children to participate more effectively in home, school, and social environments.
A child may need occupational therapy if they face challenges with motor skills, sensory processing, handwriting, self-care, or social interactions. Conditions like autism, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, or injuries may also necessitate therapy to support their growth and independence.
The primary goal is to help children achieve independence in daily activities, improve physical and cognitive abilities, and enhance participation in school and social settings. It aims to build confidence, develop essential life skills, and address barriers to learning and development.
Occupational therapy can be stopped when the child achieves their therapy goals, gains independence in targeted skills, and no longer requires support. The decision is made collaboratively by therapists, parents, and caregivers based on the child’s progress and needs.
The cost varies based on location, therapist expertise, and session duration. On average, a session can range from $100 to $250. Insurance coverage, clinics, or school-based services may reduce costs, but it’s best to check with providers for specific pricing.
