Occupational therapy (OT) may sound like it involves finding a job or developing work skills, but it actually deals with strengthening fine motor skills of special needs children. These include tasks like writing, cutting, shoe-tying, using utensils etc. OT is commonly used in development programs for children with special needs. For adults recovering from an accident or stroke, OT may indeed include work-related skills. For children, whose "occupation" is school and play, it will focus more sharply on developmental milestones and skills required for holistic development, playground and academic activities.
Occupational therapists working with children typically use techniques and routines that seem like play. In reality, they are designed to target areas of delay and difficulty. Occupational therapists at Soulful Steps are also trained in therapy with a sensory integration approach. This method uses play-like activities to help children better process and tolerate the information they get through their sense.
As a parent, you may want to pursue private occupational therapy for your child. It's also a common service offered to children in early intervention and special education. Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) will outline the amount of time your child will spend in occupational therapy. Understanding an IEP for Your Child Individualized Education Plan. The plan will include your child's classification, services such as a one-on-one aide and therapies, academic and behavioural goals, a behaviour plan if needed, percentage of time in regular education, and progress reports from teachers and therapists.