Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is concerned with the child’s ability to participate in desired daily life activities or “occupations.” The Occupational Therapists at Kiddos' Clubhouse use their unique expertise to help children prepare for and perform important learning and developmental activities. Occupational therapists support the achievement of developmental and learning outcomes for children with and without disabilities, by facilitating social skills development, motor development, emergent literacy, and the development of adaptive and self-care skills.
Occupational therapists hold two broad goals for the children they serve. These goals are to improve a child’s functional performance and to enhance the child’s ability to interact within his/her physical and social environment. Through the facilitation of an occupational therapist these skills can be taught to further your child’s level of independence.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy is concerned with the child’s ability to participate in desired daily life activities or “occupations.” Occupational therapists use their unique expertise to help children prepare for and perform important learning and developmental activities. Occupational therapists support the achievement of developmental and learning outcomes for children with and without disabilities, by facilitating social skills development, motor development, emergent literacy, and the development of adaptive and self-care skills. Occupational therapists are particularly skilled in helping children access curricular activities by contributing to the design and planning of activities, including identifying any needed accommodations or modifications. Additionally, they play a key role in training parents, caregivers about the development of children with diverse learning needs. * Taken from American Occupational Therapy Association.
Benefits from OT
Occupational therapists hold two broad goals for the children they serve. These goals are to improve a child’s functional performance and to enhance the child’s ability to interact within his/her physical and social environment. Through the facilitation of an occupational therapist these skills can be taught to further your child’s level of independence.
Who needs it?
Traditional occupations of the child are self-care, play, and school and work activities. Occupational therapists evaluate a child’s fine motor skills, cognitive skills, visual perceptual skills, visual motor skills, handwriting skills, self-help skills, play skills, motor coordination and sensory processing abilities. Children who have needs in any of these areas would benefit from a formal evaluation by an occupational therapist to determine strengths and deficits.
Below is a list of the most prevalent conditions that require occupational therapy. For further information on these and other conditions, please contact the professional therapists at Kiddos’ Clubhouse.
- ADD/ADHD
- Asperger's Syndrome
- Autism
- Cerebral Palsy
- Chromosomal Anomalies
- Coordination Difficulties
- Developmental Delay
- Down Syndrome
- Feeding Disorders
- Handwriting Difficulties
- Hypotonia
- Motor Planning Difficulties
- Pervasive Developmental Disorders (PDD)
- Sensory Integrative Dysfunctions