Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services
Emotional Regulation
Emotional regulation is the ability for a child to recognize and respond to their own emotions, as well as the emotions of others. Within emotional regulation, occupational therapists help in the identification of emotions, including physical or body response.
Feeding
Feeding with occupational therapy can look like a variety of different things depending on the clinic. At Divergent, our occupational therapists focus on sensory feeding and tolerance of various textures (food and non-food) prior to trying new foods.
Fine Motor
Fine motor skills involve the precise movements of the hands, fingers, and wrists used in everyday tasks like writing, eating, and self-care. When children struggle with hand strength or coordination, occupational therapists can help identify the cause and support skill development through targeted activities.
Primitive Reflexes
Primitive reflexes are automatic gross motor reactions that act as a protective reaction in early infancy and childhood. These are typically integrated by age 3 as the brain matures; however, when these reflexes fail to integrate or become retained, they can lead to developmental challenges and learning difficulties.
Self Care
Self care skills are the activities completed in everyday life to get ready for the day! With occupational therapy, we look at a child's ability to dress themselves, brush their teeth, bathe, wash their hands and hair- just to name a few.
Sensory Processing
Did you know you actually have EIGHT sensory systems? They are the visual, auditory (hearing), olfactory (smell), tactile (touch), gustatory (taste, oral), proprioceptive, vestibular, and interoception systems!
Social Skills
While occupational therapy doesn't develop communication skills (woohoo, speech therapy!), we do help develop social skills. This can look like learning impulse control for safety or body coordination skills.