What does Occupational Therapy for Children Look Like?
Occupational Therapy is a branch of therapy that helps people of all ages who have physical, sensory, or cognitive problems. Our therapists will utilize everyday activities and exercises to help with barriers that may affect your child’s emotional, social, and physical needs. Occupational Therapy helps children play, improves their school performance, and aids their daily activities. It also boosts their self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.
Treatment and Individualized Care for Each Child
Our therapists use a variety of treatments to help your child develop skills needed for daily tasks. During an initial evaluation and follow up treatments, our therapists may measure a child's flexibility and strength, analyze how your child moves, assess how your child interacts with their environment and people around them, identify existing and potential limitations, consult with other medical and school personnel about an individual education plan (IEP), and provide instructions for a home exercise/activity program.
This is all so that the treatment plan they create, as well as the treatment sessions, will all be individualized and focused on your child’s specific needs. Each child may take less or more time to reach their goals than others. Everyone is different and because of this, your therapist will watch your child’s progress and adjust their treatments as necessary. They may also teach and provide instructions on activities to do at home between sessions. This will support your child’s progress. Our goal is to support your goals by facilitating growth and development in your child.
Occupational Therapy can specifically help children who have…
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Birth Injuries or Defects
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Developmental Delays
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Genetic Disorders
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Orthopedic Injuries
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Cardio-Pulmonary Conditions
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Effects of In-Utero Drug or Alcohol Exposure
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Musculo-Skeletal Disorders
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Acute Trauma
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Sports Injuries
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Sensory Processing Disorders
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Autism Spectrum Disorder
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Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis
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Mental Health or Behavioral Disturbance
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Neurological Disorders
What is the Difference Between Physical and Occupational Therapy?
Physical Therapy helps children with:
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Gross Motor Skills: coordination of large movements needed for play, dressing, bathing, and moving around in one’s environment
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Strength and Stability: the ability to apply the required force and speed of movement to successfully complete activities or to maintain one position for a duration of time to complete tasks
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Endurance: the ability to maintain activity for a prolonged duration of time needed to complete activities
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Visual-Motor Skills: the ability to coordinate your eyes and movements needed to manipulate objects, throw or kick a ball …
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Range of Motion: use of stretches or supports to allow the body to move as needed for daily tasks
Occupational therapy helps children with:
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Fine Motor Skills: coordination of small movements needed for coloring, writing, scissors use, getting dressed and play
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Gross Motor Skills: coordination of large movements needed for play, dressing, bathing, and moving around in one’s environment
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Strength and Stability: ability to apply the required force and speed of movement to successfully complete activities or to maintain one position for a duration of time to complete tasks
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Range of Motion: use of stretches or supports to allow the body to move as needed for daily tasks
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Endurance: the ability to maintain activity for a prolonged duration of time needed to complete activities
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Visual-Perceptual Skills: how to interpret the visual world around us as well as provide organization to writing, art, play …
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Visual-Motor Skills: the ability to coordinate your eyes and movements needed to manipulate objects, throw or kick a ball, feed yourself …
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Cognitive Skills: safety, sequencing, organization …
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Sensory Processing: body regulation needed for attention and processing to support leaning and development
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Social Skills: the understanding of how to manage social interactions, emotions and communication
Pediatric Occupational and Speech Therapy
Adult Speech Therapy
Chiropractic Wellness
43-875 Washington St.
Suite G
Palm Desert, CA 92211
Monday-Friday
8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
