Occupational Therapy

Fine Motor Skills

• Speech sound disorders occur when a child has difficulty producing speech sounds correctly, which may affect how easily they are understood by others.

• Children with speech sound disorders may leave out sounds (saying "nana" for "banana"), substitute one sound for another (like "wabbit" for "rabbit"), or distort sounds.

• It’s normal for young children to make speech errors, but if your child’s speech is difficult to understand after age 3 or errors persist beyond developmental milestones, it’s a good idea to consult a speech therapist.

• These can be due to various factors, including hearing loss, developmental delays, oral structure issues (like a cleft palate), or no identifiable cause at all.

• Speech therapists can assess your child’s needs and create a tailored plan to help them improve their speech clarity, often through fun, play-based activities designed to build confidence and skills.

Sensory Processing Disorder

• SPD is a condition where the brain has difficulty receiving and responding to sensory information. This can include sights, sounds, smells, tastes, touch, movement, and body awareness.

• Kids with SPD may overreact or underreact to sensory input. For example, they might find certain sounds unbearable, avoid certain textures, or seek intense movement like spinning or jumping.

• SPD can affect a child’s ability to complete daily tasks, interact with peers, and participate in school or family activities.

• Occupational therapists (OTs) can help children with SPD by guiding them through activities that help their brain process sensory input more effectively. These activities may involve things like swinging, jumping on a trampoline, or working with different textures. OTs also help kids learn coping strategies to manage sensory challenges.

Play Skills & Social Interaction

• Children develop social skills and emotional intelligence through play. If a child struggles with play skills or social interaction, they might have difficulty making friends, understanding social cues, or participating in group activities.

• Play and socializing help children develop language, problem-solving skills, emotional regulation, and a sense of empathy. Without these skills, children might find it hard to navigate school, family activities, and friendships.

• Occupational therapists (OTs) help children develop play and social skills by creating opportunities to practice in a fun, structured way. For example, OTs can guide children through games that teach sharing, taking turns, and working with others. They also focus on helping children understand social cues, practice appropriate behaviors, and build self-confidence.

Self-Regulation & Emotional Control

• Self-regulation is the ability to manage and control one's thoughts, emotions, and behaviors in different situations. Emotional control is a key part of self-regulation, allowing children to respond appropriately to feelings like frustration, anger, excitement, or sadness.

• Children who have strong self-regulation skills can stay calm, focus, and make positive choices, even in challenging situations. Without these skills, children may have outbursts, difficulty transitioning between activities, or struggle to manage overwhelming emotions.

• Occupational therapists (OTs) can help children build self-regulation and emotional control by teaching them strategies to manage their feelings and actions. This might include activities like deep breathing, using a calm-down corner, or practicing mindful movement. OTs also help kids understand the connection between their emotions and behaviors, giving them tools to respond in healthy ways.

Daily Living Skills

• Daily living skills are the basic tasks and activities we do every day to take care of ourselves and function independently. These include activities like dressing, eating, grooming, cleaning up, and managing personal hygiene.

• Mastering daily living skills helps children gain independence, build self-esteem, and develop confidence in their ability to take care of themselves. Without these skills, children may rely heavily on others and struggle with routine activities.

• Occupational therapists (OTs) help children learn and practice daily living skills through structured activities and repetitive practice. They break down tasks into smaller, manageable steps and provide strategies to build confidence and independence. OTs may also suggest tools or modifications, such as adaptive utensils or visual schedules, to make daily tasks easier for your child.

Sensory Feeding/Self-Feeding

• Sensory feeding involves how children respond to the sights, smells, textures, tastes, and sounds of food. Self-feeding is the ability to feed oneself using utensils or hands, developing fine motor skills and independence.

• Children with sensory feeding challenges may have a limited diet, avoid certain textures or flavors, or become overwhelmed by the sensory aspects of mealtime. Self-feeding skills are important for promoting independence and building confidence, but children with fine motor or coordination difficulties may need support in learning to use utensils and manage mealtime tasks.

• These skills are key for promoting health, nutrition, and independence. Children who struggle with sensory feeding may not get enough variety in their diet, while those with self-feeding challenges might rely on others for feeding as they grow, affecting their independence.

• Occupational therapists (OTs) can support sensory feeding by helping children gradually tolerate new foods and textures in a fun, non-pressuring way. They can also assist with self-feeding skills by working on hand-eye coordination, grip strength, and teaching how to use utensils. OTs may use specialized tools or adapt feeding environments to make mealtime more enjoyable and manageable.