What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy?

An occupational therapist’s role is to help an individual maintain, regain, or improve their independence and participation in everyday life. But what does this mean when we are working with children since they do not have jobs?  

An ‘occupation’ is more than a vocation, it is any activity that a person values and spends time doing. Children have many occupations that make up their daily lives – such as playing, learning and participating in meaningful activities. Children grow and change rapidly as they explore and play, developing motor coordination, social skills, self-care, and planning abilities.  

Occupational therapy is designed to use purposeful and meaningful activities to help individuals develop ‘skills for the job of living’. This might include learning to ride a bicycle or pump a playground swing, navigating a playground effectively, writing their name, getting dressed or tying shoes. Older children may need help leaning how to organize themselves during daily routines and homework and participate in chores and meal preparation at home.  

Combining principles of neuroscience, development, and play, a pediatric occupational therapist addresses the foundations and specific skills at each stage of development to ensure greater success in activities of daily living. The environment and tasks are modified to allow the child to experience success at each step of the process, moving them towards independence.  

Every child has unique strengths, needs and goals, and an occupational therapist’s role is to help support each child to be their best. 

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