Occupational Therapy is concerned with the child ability to participate in all life activities or “occupations”. Occupational Therapists help children with social-emotional, physical, cognitive, communication, and adaptive behavior challenges. Through an understanding of the impact of disability, illness, and impairment on a child’s development, play, ability to learn new skills, and overall occupational performance, occupational therapists design interventions that promote healthy development, establish needed skills, and/or modify environments, all in support of participation in daily activities.
In the preschool and school settings, occupational therapists support the development and learning outcomes for children with and without disabilities by facilitating social skills development, motor development, literacy, and the development of adaptive and self-care skills.
Occupational Therapy:
- - Provides strategies to facilitate the full participation of all children in daily routines.
- - Plan and implement relevant intervention strategies and developmentally appropriate activities.
- - Help promote the development of play skills, fine motor skills, gross motor skills, academic skills
- (including handwriting skills), cognitive skills, social skills, self-care, and sensory integration/regulation.
See the fact sheets in Articles under the Resources tab for more information about how occupational therapy can help you and your child.
The above information was taken from the American Occupational Therapy Association Fact Sheets.
