Occupational Therapy for Children

Occupational therapy (OT) focuses on helping children reach their developmental milestones by assisting with motor skills, overcoming sensory and behavioural problems, and helping with daily functioning difficulties and other learning issues.

Each child develops at their own pace. Therefore, the occupational therapist will assess and personalise the therapy to meet their needs and incorporate techniques that do not overwhelm them.

Signs Your Child Might Need Occupational Therapy

Every child develops at their own pace, but some challenges may indicate they need extra support if your child struggles with their motor skills, sensory processing, daily activities, or social interactions. In that case, the best pediatric occupational therapy can help them build essential skills for independence and confidence. Identification of these signs early on can make a significant difference in their development.

Struggles with Fine Motor Skills

It can help if your child is having difficulties with activities like writing, drawing, buttoning clothes or using scissors through different activities.

Challenges with Gross Motor Skills

Our OT addresses the challenges of gross motor skills like coordination, balance, running, or agility using fun activities.

Sensory Processing Issues

Pediatric Occupational therapy at Cadabam’s can help if your child is experiencing difficulties processing sensory stimuli, like being overly sensitive or underreacting to textures, sounds, or lights.

Difficulty with Daily Activities

Our occupational therapists can provide necessary interventions for those children to overcome daily task difficulties like dressing, feeding themselves, or using the bathroom independently.

Poor Hand-Eye Coordination

Our OT can help children with poor hand-eye coordination, like trouble catching the ball, colouring books, building blocks or solving a puzzle.

Behavioural Issues

Not all misbehaviour is severe, but some signs, like frequent tantrums, difficulty coping with changes in routine, or excessive frustration with tasks, need to be addressed.

Learning Difficulties

Learning difficulties can include trouble following instructions, organising tasks, recognising numbers, sorting colours or focusing on activities.

Social Challenges

Poor social skills include difficulty interacting with peers, making new friends, understanding social cues, or participating in group activities.

Delayed Speech or Language Development

Showing signs of delayed speech or language development, such as struggling with expressing needs, following instructions, understanding others, or having a limited vocabulary or gesturing.

Low Muscle Tone

Physical signs include appearing weaker or floppier than peers, being tired easily during physical activities, having poor posture and breathing problems, or being prone to falling.

When to Seek a Professional Occupational Therapist

If the symptoms persist for a long time and impair their daily functioning, seek professional help. Occupational therapists can support your child in reaching developmental milestones.

Cadabam’s Child Development Centre offers effective occupational therapy designed by paediatric experts. Our therapist can assess and diagnose different developmental disabilities, enhance fine motor skills, improve perceptual and coordination skills, help with sensory issues, and provide coping skills in a safe and controlled environment.

Selecting the Right Occupational Therapist for Your Child

Choosing any paediatric occupational therapy is not enough. There are a few checklists every parent needs to consider before selecting a pediatric occupational therapist for their children for better results.

Verify Credentials and Specialisations

Every mental health professional comes from a variety of medical backgrounds, and each serves different purposes. Verifying their credentials and specialisations can have immense benefits. Make sure your therapist is a licensed pediatric occupational therapy specialist.

Consider Experience with Specific Conditions

It is essential to check whether your therapist has experience treating the condition for which you're seeking help for. Their experience not only equips them with a wider range of approaches to addressing unforeseen challenges but can also help you understand the nature of the condition better.

Evaluate Communication and Rapport

It is very crucial to evaluate the therapist’s communication skills and ability to build rapport. Observe how the therapist interacts with your child during the initial sessions. Select a therapist who communicates well, listens attentively and creates a trusting environment. A strong therapist-child bond is key.

Ask About Therapy Methods and Techniques

It is always a smart choice to ask about their pediatric occupational therapy methods and techniques so that they align with your children's specific condition. Through this, you will be able to understand how they approach the condition.

Check Availability and Location

A few medical conditions limit long-distance travel as it can bring discomfort to your child. Therefore, If you're searching for the best pediatric occupational therapy near me or occupational therapy centre near me, it is important to find a well-equipped facility that aligns with your schedule and offers convenience.

Inquire About Insurance and Payment Options

Not everyone has the same financial resources, and thus inquiring about insurance and payment options that are comfortable within your funding can have immense benefits in planning and providing the best care available for your child.

Seek Recommendations and Reviews

It is advisable to check reviews online to gauge the perspective of the therapy and how the therapist works to treat unique symptoms. If you are lost in finding an occupational therapist, ask your primary physician for recommendations to help your child reach milestones.

Assess Facility and Equipment

It's crucial to assess care facilities and the equipment therapists use to ensure they can effectively support your child's needs. The facility should have a welcoming and child-friendly environment and be able to provide sessions in a non-judgmental, supportive space where every tool and equipment is safe and hygienic.

Understand the Therapist's Approach to Family Involvement

The best pediatric occupational therapy specialist will incorporate family members in the therapy sessions to educate about the child's conditions or needs. A therapist should help you understand the therapeutic methods being employed and the ways in which family members can take an active role throughout the process.

Evaluate Progress Monitoring and Reporting Practices

Occupational therapists should be able to assess your child's development regularly and provide clear, detailed reports on their progress, including specific goals achieved and areas needing further attention. Open conversation fosters a comprehensive approach to providing childcare.

Meet Our Expert Occupational Therapist for Your Child

Explore Occupational Therapy for Your Child

Explore how our tailored interventions can enhance their daily skills, boost independence, and foster a brighter future.

Sensory Integration Techniques

Techniques: Our sensory integration techniques which are designed to help children who have difficulty in processing sensory information. This can include various stimuli from their environment, like touch, movement, and spatial awareness.

Activities: Activities might include playing with sensory bins filled with rice, beans, or water beads to improve tactile sensitivity or using swings and balance boards to enhance vestibular and proprioceptive senses.

Fine Motor Skill Development

Techniques: Fine motor skill development focuses on strengthening the small muscles in the hands and fingers to improve the child's coordination and also their ability to perform tasks like writing, buttoning, and cutting.

Activities: Our activities include threading beads onto a string, using child-safe scissors to cut along lines, and playing with playdough to enhance hand strength and dexterity.

Gross Motor Skill Development

Techniques: This involves improving the child’s control over the large muscles in the body which aid in activities such as walking, jumping, and maintaining balance.

Activities: Cadabam’s gross motor activities may include obstacle courses, hopscotch, or ball games to promote whole-body movement and coordination.

Visual Motor Integration

Techniques: Visual-motor integration combines visual perception and motor control to enable children to coordinate their movements based on what they see. This is crucial for skills like reading and writing.

Activities: Drawing, assembling puzzles, and playing catch with a ball can help improve visual motor integration by requiring the child to use their vision to guide their hand movements.

Social Skills Training

Techniques: This aims to improve children's ability to interact with others, understand social cues, and communicate effectively, which is important for their overall development.

Activities: Role-playing games, storytelling, and group projects are some of our activities that can foster social skills by encouraging children to work together, share, and express their feelings.

Cognitive Skill Development

Techniques: Cadabam’s cognitive skill development focuses on enhancing children's thinking, problem-solving, and memory skills.

Activities: Activities like memory card games, solving age-appropriate puzzles, or engaging in strategy games like simple board games can boost cognitive abilities.

Self-Care Skills

Techniques: Self-care skills mean enabling a child to gain greater independence through their daily living activities which include dressing, eating, and personal hygiene.

Activities: In practice these may consist of pretend play with cooking and cleaning as well as the use of dressing frames for practicing buttoning and zipping.

Handwriting Skills

Techniques: This aims to enhance children's writing skills such as the pencil grip, letter formation, and alignment. It is necessary for scholastic success and personal confidence.

Activities: Handwriting skills can be developed and mastered using enjoyable and effective methods such as letter tracing, writing in sand or shaving cream, and completing handwriting worksheets.

Executive Functioning Skills

Techniques: This area targets the development of skills necessary for planning, organising, and executing tasks. It's crucial for academic achievement and daily functioning.

Activities: Activities that require the following steps, like cooking simple recipes or building models from instructions, can majorly help improve executive functioning skills.

Emotional Regulation Techniques

Techniques: With the use of our emotional regulation techniques, children learn to manage feelings which influences their social functioning and self-regulation

Activities: Deep breathing exercises, mindfulness, colouring, and using feeling charts are some activities that can support children in identifying and coping with their emotions in a healthy way.

How Does Occupational Therapy Benefit Children?

Occupational therapy focuses on helping children acquire the abilities necessary to carry out daily tasks and participate in activities that are significant for them. This therapy can be used to treat different neurodevelopmental disorders such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), Learning Disability, Down syndrome, and many others.

OT can provide several benefits, supporting your child in reaching developmental milestones at their own pace. Such as:

• Improves Fine Motor Skills

• Enhances Gross Motor Abilities
• Supports Sensory Processing
• Boosts Independence in Daily Activities
• Develops Social Skills
• Fosters Academic Performance
• Promotes Play Skills
• Encourages Self-Confidence
• Improves Cognitive Skills
• Aids Emotional Regulation
• Customised Interventions
• Supports Family and Caregivers

Success Stories: Real-Life Improvements After Occupational Therapy

Online vs. In-Person Therapy for Occupational Therapy

Online and in-person occupational therapy both help children carry out their daily tasks without much difficulty and reach developmental milestones. If you're searching for the best pediatric occupational therapy near me or considering online therapy, it's essential to understand the differences.

In-person therapy provides face-to-face assessments and diagnoses with the therapists in a facility or clinic. In contrast, online therapy allows parents to have sessions from the convenience of their home, based on what works best for their schedules.

Why Cadabam’s CDC?

Watching your child struggle to achieve developmental milestones can be challenging, and we understand your concerns. Cadabam’s Child Development Center is dedicated to providing specialised Occupational Therapy services that help children overcome these challenges and reach their full potential.

If you're seeking expert support for your child's mental health or developmental challenges, Cadabam's Child Development Centre (CDC) is here to assist. Our multidisciplinary team of specialists is dedicated to nurturing every child's unique potential in a safe, stimulating, and inclusive environment. We offer comprehensive services, including screening, assessment, diagnosis, therapy, and intervention, to address various developmental and behavioural concerns.

Contact us today at +91 95355 85588 to learn how we can support your child's journey toward a healthier and happier life.