Occupational Therapy (OT) Month

OT Month

April is Occupational Therapy (OT) Month, a time to celebrate the impact that occupational therapy has on the lives of children and their families. You may be asking yourself…

 What is pediatric occupational therapy? 

Pediatric occupational therapy focuses on supporting children as they develop skills necessary for participating in activities of daily life. These are called occupations; they are the things that occupy your day that you like to do and need to do. Some occupations that children like to do are: playing outside, building with Legos, completing craft activities, and socializing with peers! Some occupations that children need to do are: completing homework (with legible handwriting), doing chores at home, getting dressed before leaving the house, brushing their teeth. Occupational therapy practitioners (OTPs) work to identify what is causing a challenge with participating in these occupations. OTPs may work on the following skills to promote participation in meaningful tasks: 

Fine Motor Skills Visual Motor Skills Gross Motor Skills Strength Coordination Balance (Moving and Seated) Motor Praxis

Social Skills Emotional Regulation Sensory Modulation Executive Function And More!

Who can practice occupational therapy? 

There are two types of professionals who can practice occupational therapy: occupational therapists (OT) and occupational therapy assistants (OTA). Both professionals are highly qualified to provide occupational therapy services, but let’s learn about them both. 

• Occupational therapists complete a master’s or doctoral degree program in occupational therapy where they study anatomy, physiology, child development, and a breadth of other topics! After completing their education and >12 weeks of clinical rotations, OTs must pass a national certification exam to become licensed to practice. After achieving their national licensure, most states require OTs to hold a state license to ensure competence. OTs are responsible for evaluating patients, developing treatment plans, providing interventions, and completing updates to plans of care (interpreting progress, making decisions regarding discharge). 

• Occupational therapy assistants complete at least an associate’s or bachelor’s degree program in occupational therapy. They also need to pass a national certification exam and obtain state licensure (in most states) to become licensed to practice. Once licensed, OTAs practice under the supervision of a licensed OT. OTAs assist in carrying out the treatment plan created by the OT, providing interventions and caregiver education. 

Occupational therapy can support children as they increase independence, develop confidence, and work towards their goals. If you are interested in the child-led and play-based approach that we use at Good Nature Therapy Services, we invite you to explore how our occupational therapy services may benefit your child. We would love to work alongside your family, growing your child’s skills one nature-filled adventure at a time. Visit our website for more information and to contact us.