What does Occupational Therapy look like?
A common question we get is ‘What does OT look like?’ Here, we’ll break it down by pre-school and school-aged children. Keep in mind, Occupational Therapy is individualized to each child’s strength and needs.
For pre-school aged clients, OT sessions are typically 30 minutes, and a visual schedule is often used to improve a child’s ability to transition between activities.
Sessions may include the following:
A sensory warm-up activity, which can look like swinging, crawling, jumping, tactile play (sensory dough, bean/rice bin. These are used to help warm up the body for therapy activities
Transition to an adult-directed task, which targets the child’s goals. The activity may involve gross-motor, fine-motor, or self-care components. The majority of these activities incorporate play to promote engagement and participation.
Additional supports may be incorporated throughout the session, which may include additional swing time, deep pressure, and/or an environment change.
Finally, the child is rewarded with playing with preferred toy or game for their hard work.
For school aged clients, OT sessions are typically 30-60 minutes in length.
Sessions may include the following skills:
Gross-motor skills (like climbing, lifting, jumping, balancing, etc.) calm and organize the brain and nervous system. This improves a child’s ability to sit and focus during seated work tasks.
Ball skills are practiced to improve body awareness and visual tracking, which are required for reading/writing, sequencing of steps, and overall coordination.
Fine-motor skills (including writing) are addressed once the child’s body and mind are focused in order to develop skills needed for success in school as well as daily living skills.
Thinking that OT may benefit your child? Call our intake coordinator today to discuss your child’s strengths and deficits!