“Occupations” aren’t just about jobs?! What is OT?

By Nicole Raisin, M.S., OTR/L

A pediatric occupational therapist will identify a child’s unique strengths and use them to provide support, build skills, and guide their family to boost success in everyday activities! 

What is occupational therapy? 

Occupational therapists (OTs) are healthcare providers that help people, of all ages, engage in meaningful activities that they want or need to do in their everyday lives. In pediatrics, an OT will work with the child and family to support engagement in the activities that are meaningful to them. OTs use play activities, specifically tailored modifications and supports, and family home programs to support a child’s success in daily activity participation. 

For an OT, “occupations” are the meaningful activities that we want and need to do in our everyday lives, from brushing your teeth and getting dressed to eating meals with your family or going to school.

Everyone, of all ages, participates in occupations. An OT provides services that support engagement in these activities!

 

 Occupations are those tasks and activities that help us in day-to-day life. Brushing your teeth, getting dressed in the morning, using the bathroom, socializing with friends, eating meals with our loved ones, going to school or work… they might seem like small beans at first, but having these skills can make a world of difference!

Occupational therapy is about more than handwriting. Just a few of the skills we could work on in OT include:

Self regulation, emotional or behavioral difficulties  

Problem solving, attention, and organization 

Hand- eye coordination 

Handwriting or typing skills 

Dressing skills like buttons, zippers, shoelaces 

Bathing & toileting 

Feeding and eating challenges 

Sensory processing concerns 

Accommodations and supports 

Play and peer interaction skills

Self confidence, self advocacy 

Activity persistence or perseverance 

Flexible thinking skills 

Does my child need occupational therapy? 

Signs that your child may benefit from OT services might include: 

  • Child appears clumsy or uncoordinated 

  • Frequent emotional outbursts 

  • Delayed fine motor or gross motor milestones 

  • Difficulty playing with a variety of toys 

  • Trouble with potty training 

  • Sensitive to the physical touch, clothing, or messy play 

  • Sensitive to loud or unexpected noises 

  • Trouble sitting still or “always on the move” in a way that interferes with daily life 

  • Difficulty “staying on task” and organized during a routine activity 

  • Trouble playing and cooperating with peers 

  • Difficulty with fine motor tasks, such as handwriting, buttoning, or shoe tying 

  • Child is a picky eater and it is interfering with their ability to eat a varied, healthy diet 

Diagnoses seen by OTs

Believe it or not, OTs work with a HUGE variety of people, diagnoses, and conditions. If you’re in need of support with the skills we’ve mentioned, an OT just might be the person you’re looking for! Some common diagnoses that OTs often see and provide support for are listed below, but please remember that every child’s needs are different, so check with your pediatrician or give us a call if you would like to know more.

autism

〰️

ADHD/ADD

〰️

sensory processing disorder

〰️

behavioral or mental health conditions

〰️

neurological conditions

〰️

dyslexia

〰️

genetic disorders

〰️

intellectual & developmental disabilities

〰️

developmental delays

〰️

traumatic brain injury

〰️

cerebral palsy

〰️

chronic pain or fatigue

〰️

autism 〰️ ADHD/ADD 〰️ sensory processing disorder 〰️ behavioral or mental health conditions 〰️ neurological conditions 〰️ dyslexia 〰️ genetic disorders 〰️ intellectual & developmental disabilities 〰️ developmental delays 〰️ traumatic brain injury 〰️ cerebral palsy 〰️ chronic pain or fatigue 〰️

In other words…

Occupational therapy can be a super valuable form of support across the life span. It’s important to find a provider who will focus on individual needs/wants, functional goals, proven methods, and meaningful progress. That’s why Northshore Pediatric Therapy has welcomed Nicole Raisin, MS, OTR/L to the clinical team! If you want to find out more about OT at Northshore, click the link below and we’ll get you in touch with Nicole!

Curious about OT?

Previous
Previous

Creating a “Calm Down Corner” for Your Child

Next
Next

An Important Point