FAQ For Pediatric Occupational Therapy

 

If you are considering enrolling your child in occupational therapy at All 4 Therapy LLC, you are welcome to use this page to find answers to common questions.

 

For a list of general questions about our practice, such as insurance questions, location questions, or availability inquiries, please see our General FAQ page. 

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Questions regarding our work with children can also be found on our general FAQ page. 

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Scroll down or use the following links to jump to your question:

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What is occupational therapy? 

What conditions are treated by occupational therapy? 

What tools are used at All 4 Therapy LLC for occupational therapy? 

How long are sessions?

How will you involve the child in setting and tracking goals? 

What kids of OT activities and exercise will be used to address a child's specific needs? 

How will you work with the child's other healthcare providers? 

Do you recommend resources or tools for parents and caregivers to use at home? 

What kinds of training and experience do you have working with children? 

How will you ensure that the therapy is tailored to the child's individual needs and preferences? 

What's the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?

How do I schedule an evaluation?

 

What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy And Why Might My Child Need It?

Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on helping children with daily activities (occupations), such as self-care, work, school-related tasks, leisure activities, play, and social interactions.

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OT practitioners work with individuals who may have physical, cognitive, or emotional challenges that impact their ability to perform certain daily activities.

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Our pediatric occupational therapists use a client-centered approach to evaluate abilities and limitations, and then develop personalized treatment plans.

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OT interventions (treatments) often include exercises to improve strength and movement (mobility), motor skills, and cognitive or behavioral strategies to improve attention and focus.

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The goal of occupational therapy is to help kids thrive while participating in the common tasks of their daily lives.  

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Common Conditions Treated By Occupational Therapists

Some of the conditions that pediatric occupational therapists treat include:

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• Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

• Developmental delays

• Cerebral palsy

• Down Syndrome

• Sensory processing disorder

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

• Fine motor skill delays or deficits

• Gross motor skill delays or deficits

• Handwriting difficulties

• Visual perceptual difficulties

• Neurological disorders

• Orthopedic injuries

• Learning disabilities

• Genetic disorders

• Emotional or behavioral disorders

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Pediatric occupational therapists use various therapeutic techniques, exercises, and activities to help children improve their cognitive, physical, and motor skills.

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They also work closely with parents, caregivers, and other healthcare professionals to provide a comprehensive and individualized treatment plan for each child.

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Pediatric Occupational Therapy Tools

Here at All 4 Therapy LLC, our occupational therapists use various tools to treat many childhood conditions.

Here are just a few of the tools in our Haskell, NJ indoor gym space:

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Sensory integration tools examples: Weighted blankets, swings, or fidget toys (to regulate sensory input and improve attention and focus).

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Adaptive utensils and equipment: These are specialized utensils, cups, and plates designed for people with limited grip strength or dexterity.

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Therapeutic exercise equipment: Resistance bands, exercise balls, and balance boards (to help build strength, endurance, and coordination).

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Assistive technology: This includes a wide range of devices and equipment that help people with disabilities perform tasks they might otherwise have difficulty with, such as computers with voice recognition software, special keyboards, etc.

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Writing tools: Specialized writing tools, such as pencil grips or weighted pens, can help people with fine motor difficulties improve their handwriting and fine motor skills.

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Fine motor tools: These are items that help with precision and dexterity, such as tweezers, tongs, and small manipulatives.

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Our occupational therapists are experienced in working with kids of all abilities and backgrounds. We find the toys and tools that work best for each individual child, and we make occupational therapy fun!

 

What Are The Key Questions To Ask A Pediatric Occupational Therapist?

Below you will find a list of common questions that our office is asked about our pediatric physical therapy services. If you don’t see an answer to a question you may have, please reach out to our office.

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How often will the child receive therapy, and how long will each session last?

Sessions are normally half an hour, once or twice a week. However, our therapists may make adjustments depending on your child’s age and needs.

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How will you involve the child in setting goals and tracking progress?

When appropriate, we love to involve children in setting (and reaching) their own goals. We a kid meets an occupation therapy milestone, we all celebrate. Often, our kiddos go home with gifts and treats for a job well done.

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What kinds of OT activities or exercises will be used to address the child's specific needs?

Our occupational therapists have many “tricks” up their sleeves to make OT sessions fun! We believe that the best kind of work doesn’t feel like work at all. When your child is enjoying a therapy session, they will work harder without even realizing it.

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Here are just a few of the exercises, activities, and techniques that our occupational therapists may use:

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Sensory integration activities: swinging, bouncing on a therapy ball, or playing with different textures.

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Fine motor activities: tweezers, stringing beads, cutting, or doing puzzles.

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Gross motor activities: crawling, jumping, balancing, skipping, galloping, and fun coordination games.

Handwriting exercises: coloring, tracing shapes or letters, and practicing pencil grip.

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Visual perceptual exercises: matching shapes and colors, puzzles of all kinds, and memory games.

Self-care activities: brushing teeth, dressing, brushing hair, washing hands, and other activities to impact independence.

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Manipulatives: playdough, slime, kinetic sand, sensory bins, and more.

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Play-based activities: imaginative games of pretend or make-believe  (we love going on imaginary adventures in our kids OT and PT gym!).

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How will you work with the child's other healthcare providers, such as their pediatrician or speech therapist?

We believe in keeping all lines of communication open. We always welcome conversations with teachers, therapists, or caregivers. We are open to many forms of communication; to the best of our ability, we welcome any conversation that helps us improve children’s lives.

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Do you recommend resources or tools for parents and caregivers to use at home?

Parents and caregivers regularly go home with “homework” from our occupational therapists. But don’t worry! You and your child will enjoy the activities we recommend; it might be the only homework they’re going to actually want to do. 😊

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Here are a few examples of occupational therapy activities parents are caregivers may be able to do at home with their children (as recommended by a therapist):

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Playdough activities: Wookie cutters, rolling pins, and plastic knives make fine motor work fun.

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Cutting and pasting: Art is always a great way to improve hand-eye coordination, fine motor skills, and creativity.

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Household chores: Helping with chores, like sweeping, vacuuming, and washing dishes, boosts confidence. Plus it can improve independence and coordination. Did we also mention these types of OT activities also help keep the house clean?

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Sensory play: Sand, water, and rice can help improve sensory processing skills and promote relaxation.

Board games: For social skills, turn-taking, and problem-solving.

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Cooking and baking: Kids love measuring, stirring, and kneading dough.

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Yoga or exercise routines: Our OT may send clients home with exercise print outs or may recommend specific online videos, depending on the child’s needs.

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What kind of training and experience do you have in working with children?

Each of our therapists has a unique background, but all meet our strict criteria for excellence. We only work with the best therapists who can combine experience and intelligence, with friendly demeanor and a passion for working with kids. To learn more about our therapists, please visit our about page.

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How will you ensure that the therapy is tailored to the child's individual needs and preferences?

Our therapists will work with parents and caregivers to develop a specific treatment plan to ensure the best possible progress. We will also check in regularly regarding occupational therapy targets and what we can do to stay on track.

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Schedule An Evaluation With An Occupational Therapist In Our Haskell, NJ Office

If you believe your child may benefit from occupational therapy, please reach out to call our office and schedule an OT evaluation.

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Our occupational therapists will meet with you to discuss the child’s possible challenges, followed by a comprehensive, “whole-child” evaluation.

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Our occupational therapy services are covered by many insurances. Reach out to our office to discuss your unique situation.