Pediatric Occupational Therapy

What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy focuses on helping children develop the skills needed for the occupations of childhood. Some of these occupations include play, school, socialization, sleep, and self-care. Specific skills we work on include self help skills and hygiene skills, decreasing sensory sensitivities, increasing emotional regulation, promoting functional vision, improving handwriting skills, developing play skills, improving sensory processing skills, improving gross motor skills and the integration of primitive reflexes.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Minnesota

Developmental Milestones

5 to 7 Months

Transfers an object from one hand to another
Begins to reach forward with both arms
Finger feeds
Shakes and bangs toys

2 to 3 Years

Stacks a tower of six to eight blocks
Turns single pages in a book
Imitates a vertical line, horizontal line, and circle
Strings large beads
Holds a crayon with thumb and fingers
Uses scissors to snip paper

5 to 6 Years

Completes ten to twenty-five piece interlocking puzzle
Copies a triangle
Connects two dots with a straight line
Uses scissors to cut simple figures
Ties laces into a bow
Cuts soft food with a safety knife

9 to 12 Months

Reaches in all directions
Pokes with index fingers
Releases large objects into a large container
Assists with cup and spoon feeding
Bangs two items together
Removes socks

3 to 4 Years

Stacks a tower of nine to ten blocks
Folds and creases a paper
Completes three to eight piece inset puzzle
Snaps clothing
Uses fork and spoon with little spilling
Colors a large image attempting to stay within the lines

1 to 2 Years

Points with index finger
Places objects into a container
Uses both hands together at the middle of their body
Scribbles spontaneously
Stacks a two to six cube tower
Imitates a vertical line

4 to 5 Years

Imitates a four to six block design
Copies a diagonal line
Imitates an X
Draws three parts to a person
Buttons from opening clothing
Uses scissors to cut out a circle and square

Other Signs To Look For

Sensitivity to sensory input (dislikes the feeling of clothes, sounds, smells etc)
Difficulty knowing where they are in space- running into other people/objects
Excessive need for movement or "crashing" into objects
Low frustration tolerance
Emotional Outbursts
Difficulty maintaining focus/attention
Difficulty with fine motor skills
The appearance of being "clumsy" or uncoordinated
Difficulty with self-care tasks (dressing, brushing teeth/hair, toileting )that same age peers can accomplish
Difficulty with peer play and social interactions

During a pediatric occupational therapy evaluation, we assess various areas of a child's development to better understand their unique needs. This includes evaluating:

Fine and Gross Motor Skills: Assessing coordination, strength, and movement abilities.
Sensory Processing: Understanding how a child responds to sensory input like touch, sound, and movement.
Emotional Regulation: Observing how a child manages and responds to emotions.
Executive Functioning: Evaluating skills like planning, organizing, and problem-solving.
Visual-Motor Integration: Assessing how well a child coordinates visual input with motor skills.
Functional Vision: Understanding how well a child can use their vision to perform everyday tasks.
Self-Care Skills: Evaluating abilities in tasks like dressing, feeding, and grooming.
Handwriting Skills: Assessing legibility, grasp, and coordination needed for writing.

By looking at these key areas, we can create a tailored therapy plan to help the child reach their full potential.