Occupational Therapy

Our occupational therapists work with young children, their families and their schools to improve their performance and participation in everyday activities such as sleeping, eating, playing and schoolwork. Specifically, occupational therapists work on:

Sensory processing – this is about the way the body processes and responds to the sensory information it receives from the environment. Your child may demonstrate over or under sensitivity to certain sensations such as loud noises or certain items of clothing. Other signs your child might have sensory processing issues include difficulty maintaining a calm state, seeking constant movement, clumsiness, chewing on things, being picky with food, and difficulty with writing.

Fine motor skills – these involve the coordination of the small muscles to perform daily activities such as feeding, dressing, writing and using scissors.

Gross motor skills – these involve the large muscles of the body that are crucial for major body movements such as sitting, jumping, going up and down the stairs, and kicking a ball. These skills are needed in activities such as cycling, soccer and basketball. They are also essential in providing a stable base for many academic-related tasks such as writing.

Self-help skills – the ability to perform everyday tasks such as eating, toileting, dressing, grooming and sleeping can help build independence, confidence and self-esteem.

Attention, Alertness and Arousal level – effective control of these skills helps children concentrate without becoming mentally fatigued, facilitating their participation in academic and social settings.