A child’s job is to GROW, LEARN, and PLAY. Through play, children learn and develop physical coordination, emotional maturity, and social skills which are needed as they grow toward adulthood. At HHH Pediatric Therapy, our therapists build lasting relationships through play to help children reach developmental goals. In order to make therapy sessions fun and effective, we listen to who your child is, and what their interests are.

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. We have extensive experience assessing and developing skills in the areas of:

  • Dressing themselves independently 
  • Participating in self-care tasks (ie. hygiene, grooming, sleep)
  • Decreasing sensory sensitivities 
  • Increasing emotional regulation
  • Promoting functional vision
  • Improving handwriting skills
  • Developing play skills
  • Improving sensory processing skills
  • Improving gross motor skills
  • Integration of primitive reflexes

Developmental Milestones

Developmental milestones are behaviors throughout childhood that children should strive to achieve by certain ages.

Five to Seven Months:

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

Nine to Twelve 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

One to Two 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

Two to Three 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

Three to Four 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

Four to Five 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

Five to Six 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

Pediatric Occupational Therapy Evaluations

If you are concerned regarding your child’s development give us a call. We provide comprehensive, holistic, and professional occupational therapy evaluations. We promote direct parent involvement for we believe each parent is the expert of their child. From an evaluation you can expect a parent interview, completion of standardized assessments, an overview of observations, and a proposed follow-up plan. 

For expert, compassionate, and empathic pediatric occupational therapy in Elk River, Minnesota, call 612-230-0308 today.