Occupational Therapy (OT)

OT helps children build the skills they need for everyday life playing, learning, dressing, eating, socializing when something is holding them back, whether that’s physical, sensory, cognitive, or emotional.

Sensory Integration (SI)
SI is how the brain organizes input from the senses (touch, movement, body position, sound) into a useful response. When it doesn’t work smoothly, kids may melt down over textures, seek constant movement, avoid loud places, or struggle to sit still and focus.

How SI-based OT helps: through structured, playful sensory activities (swinging, climbing, weighted work), it helps the nervous system process input more efficiently building regulation and focus over time, not just managing symptoms.

Not every child needs SI work. OT also helps with:

• Fine motor delays: handwriting, cutting, buttoning, pencil grip
• Gross motor/coordination: balance, bilateral coordination, sports skills
• Executive function: planning, organizing, following multi-step directions
• Self-care independence: dressing, feeding, toileting routines
• Social-emotional skills : turn taking, frustration tolerance, play skills
• School readiness: attention, following routines, classroom participation

OT meets whatever skill gap is in the way sensory is one common reason, but far from the only one.

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