If you think that occupational therapy is only good for adults, you are wrong. Many people think that kids don’t need occupational therapy after all they do not have occupation. That point is debatably wrong, because children have occupation and that is play and learning. Occupational therapist can evaluate a child’s school performance, skills for play activities, activities of daily living and compare them with what is developmentally appropriate for child. Occupational therapy is good for kids to help them improve many skills, including cognition, sensory processing, fine motor skills and interpersonal and self help skills. Occupational therapy focuses on children to achieve independence, while boosting self-esteem and sense of accomplishment.
According to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), aside from dealing with the usual individual’s physical well-being, occupational therapy professionals addresses the psychological, social, and environmental factors that may hinder an individual’s functioning in different ways. This unique approach makes occupational therapy an important part of health care. Occupational therapist commonly work with kids with following medical problems: birth injuries or birth defects, developmental delays, sensory processing/integrative disorders, traumatic injuries (brain or spinal cord), learning disorders/difficulties, autism, pervasive developmental disorders, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, mental health and/or behavioral problems, sports related and/or orthopedic injuries, post-surgical conditions, burns, spina bifida, traumatic amputations, cancer, severe hand injuries, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, and other chronic illnesses
Occupational therapy for children is a process that consists of screening, assessment, treatment, training and appropriate referral to other health care providers. Occupational therapists also teach the child to learn and relearn developmental function and if needed use assistive device to help remediate functional loss. Occupational therapists work with the family members and/or caregivers in safely and efficiently teaching their child independence as well as constantly communicating with medical, rehabilitation and school team to determine child and family goals’ progress. Occupational therapists extend their services by offering guidance to family members on the safety and efficient ways of caring for their child. They also communicate with the child’s doctors and teachers to make sure that the child is given appropriate treatment. PLAY is the child’s main occupation. Occupational therapists use play as an integral and therapeutic agent in addressing the child’s needs. Play as a therapeutic agent may address child’s cognitive, motor, sensory, social, language, self help skills that may help build and regain self esteem.
