Children
Occupational therapy helps children who are experiencing difficulties interacting in their daily environment, including the physical environment of school or home, and the social environment with peers and family. Activities, techniques, and environmental modifications, as well as sensory integration therapy, are utilized to facilitate and maximize performance and participation. The therapist and child work together to achieve independence in all aspects of the child’s life. For a child, this includes motor development, play, socializing, learning, and self–care.
Occupational therapy may be helpful if your child is experiencing three or more of the following difficulties:
- difficulties focusing attention, hard to shift to next task
- tends to lean on arms or slumps at desk
- needs more practice than others to learn new skills
- reverses some letters, can’t space letters on lines
- uses writing tools with heavy pressure, hand tires quickly, often dislikes doing written work
- dislikes jumping, swings, or having feet off the ground
- overly active, unable to slow down
- difficulty paying attention to or following instructions
- low self-esteem, lack of confidence
- dislikes swimming, bathing, hugs and/or hair cuts
- overreacts to touch, taste, sound, odour
- avoids sports activities or gym
- finds it difficult to make friends of the same age
Occupational therapy services of this type may be appropriate for those who have:
- Learning Disabilities
- Autism Spectrum Disorder
- Attention Deficit Disorder and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
- Sensory Processing Disorder
- Developmental Coordination Disorder
- Down Syndrome
- Attachment Disorder
- Visual Processing Disorder
- and developmental delays
