As a parent, it’s natural to be concerned if your child seems to be delayed or having challenges in certain areas of development. Whether it’s difficulty with everyday tasks, trouble fitting in socially, or challenges in school, these concerns are valid and can be addressed. Early intervention is key, and in many cases, occupational therapy (OT) can offer the support your child needs to overcome these obstacles.
What Is Occupational Therapy?
Occupational therapy helps children build the skills they need to do everyday things like getting dressed, feeding themselves, keeping up at school, and playing with friends. It supports kids who face physical, emotional, or cognitive-based difficulties by working on a wide range of important skills, including:
- Fine motor skills: the ability to coordinate use of hands to complete daily activities like completing clothing fasteners, writing in school, cutting with scissors, and more
- Sensory processing: how a child interprets and responds to sights, sounds, textures, movement and other sensory inputs
- Executive function: skills that help with planning, focus, impulse control, following directions and managing emotions
- Visual perception and visual motor integration: how the eyes and hands work together to complete tasks like taking notes from a blackboard in class, putting together puzzles, or playing sports that involve catching/throwing
The Importance of Early Intervention
Like with many developmental difficulties, the sooner a concern is addressed, the better the results. Early intervention helps children build the skills they need to succeed in school, with friends, and at home, boosting their confidence and independence. Occupational therapists are skilled at pinpointing areas where your child may benefit from support, and can develop an individualized plan to support their unique needs.
What Does OT Address?
While every child is unique, there are common signs that may suggest OT could be helpful, as it supports children facing a range of difficulties. These often include:
- Physical developmental delays: If your child has difficulty with tasks that require coordination, like running, jumping, or catching a ball, OT can help improve strength, balance, and coordination.
- Fine motor skill difficulties: If your child has trouble with activities such as buttoning their shirt, using utensils, or writing, these are fine motor tasks that OT can help develop.
- Sensory processing challenges: Children who are overly sensitive to sensory input (like sounds, lights, textures, dynamic environments) or who seem unaware of certain sensory inputs might benefit from OT to help regulate and process sensory information. OTs can also help children if they seek out sensory inputs excessively that impacts a child’s ability to sustain attention, play safely, or participate actively in their daily activities and routines.
- Challenges with emotional regulation: If your child has trouble managing their emotions or controlling impulsive behavior, OT can provide strategies for self-regulation, improving their ability to cope in stressful situations.
- Difficulty with social skills: OT can also support children who have difficulties navigating social interactions, teaching them how to better understand social cues, self-advocate in social settings, play with peers, and engage in conversations.
Signs That Indicate Your Child May Benefit from OT
While some children may exhibit signs of delay, there are key moments when it may be time to seek an evaluation. Some signs to watch for include:
- Difficulty with participating in daily activities like eating, dressing, or bathing
- Trouble with tasks that require coordination, such as riding a bike or tying shoes
- Sensory sensitivities, like becoming overwhelmed by textures, sounds, or busy environments
- Sensory seeking behaviors that impact attention and/or safety in daily activities
- Persistent challenges with schoolwork, including handwriting, organizing tasks, or paying attention
- Difficulty making or keeping friends
- Frequent emotional outbursts, trouble calming down after being upset, or difficulty coping with frustration
What Happens During an OT Evaluation?
If you decide to pursue an evaluation, you may wonder what the process will look like. At More to Say, we use a variety of assessments to determine if your child can benefit from occupational therapy. We will complete a caregiver interview to hear from you about what is happening across environments, engage in play with the child to complete clinical. At the end of the evaluation, the OT will determine if your child qualifies for therapy, and they will create a personalized plan to support your child’s needs.
The good news is that an OT evaluation is a positive and proactive step. It is a great way to ensure that your child receives the appropriate support to grow and learn.
Benefits of Early Occupational Therapy
Getting therapy early in a child’s development can have a lasting impact on their life. Here’s why starting OT sooner rather than later is beneficial:
- Improved school performance: OT helps children develop the fine motor skills they need for handwriting and organization, and enhances their ability to focus and participate in class activities.
- Stronger social skills: By working with an OT, children can develop the skills necessary to understand social cues, form friendships, and interact confidently with others.
- Better emotional regulation: OT offers children strategies to cope with frustration and manage big emotions, which can lead to increased self-control and better relationships with family members and peers.
- Greater independence: Children who have difficulties with daily tasks like dressing or self-feeding can benefit from OT strategies that build their independence and boost their confidence.
Taking the First Step Toward Support
If you’ve noticed signs that your child might benefit from occupational therapy, the first step is to schedule an evaluation with a qualified therapist. This helps identify the right support to help your child succeed. Developmental milestones aren’t one-size-fits-all, but an early OT evaluation can help determine if OT can be beneficial for your child.
At More to Say, we offer evaluations and therapy for children in a welcoming, supportive environment. Our expert therapists will work with your family to create an individualized treatment plan based on your child’s unique needs and goals.
Call us today at (203) 828-6790 to schedule an occupational therapy evaluation or free phone consultation.
