What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy is a rehabilitation profession within the healthcare field which helps others learn how to independently complete life skills or “occupations”. These skills can vary greatly depending on the person ranging from simple tasks such as brushing your teeth to more complex things like managing money for your household. Occupational therapists work with people in all stages of life starting at infancy and spanning until elderly and with varying levels of disabilities.

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Regarding children, their main occupation is to play. Pediatric occupational therapists are trained to work with children of all ages to teach them how to play and complete everyday tasks age appropriately.

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Pediatric occupational therapists can be found in homes, schools, hospitals, outpatient clinics, and other settings. They can help children who have developmental delays, muscle weakness, sensory processing difficulties, poor coordination, handwriting difficulties, as well as a wide range of other disabilities.

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To learn more about occupational therapy please refer to https://www.aota.org/~/media/Corporate/Files/AboutOT/Professionals/WhatIsOT/CY/Fact-Sheets/Children%20and%20Youth%20fact%20sheet.ashx