Occupational therapy services to children ranging in age from toddlers to young adults can help them prepare for and achieve their full potential in their life roles.  Comprehensive assessments, customized intervention, family support and consultation services can be provided by pediatric occupational therapists.

The development of play, self-care, school and social skills enable children to successfully perform their daily activities and prepare for adult life roles.

The occupational therapists team with the child’s parents, teacher and other professionals such as speech and language therapists, behaviour consultants and psychologists can provide a coordinated and effective plan that will help the child reach their potential.

Some examples of areas that occupational therapists can help support include:

• Self care skills such as dressing, bathing, eating
• Sensory and behaviour strategies for feeding
• Pre-printing, printing and cursive writing
• Fine and gross motor skill development
• Eye-hand coordination for play, writing and drawing
• Sensory strategies to improve attention and behaviour
• Environmental adaptations at home and school
• Social skills for play
• Organization, memory, planning and sequencing skills for homework completion
• Education and vocational planning
• Attendant care needs following accident or injury

When can an occupational therapist help?

Think of all the skills that children are trying to master at each stage.  When children experience difficulties at any stage of development, an occupational therapist is trained to evaluate the underlying deficits and create strategies to help remedy or work around the problem. 

Here are just a few examples of skills at each stage that occupational therapists may assist the child to develop:

• Toddlers: learning to self-feed, throw a small ball, soothing oneself to sleep, learning to walk and run.


• Preschoolers: learning to dress and undress, pouring from one container to another, turning the pages of a book, matching shapes and colours, colouring and cutting with scissors, hopping jumping and climbing, playing with friends, riding a tricycle.


• Elementary School Age: learning to print and write, throwing and catching a ball, copying from the blackboard, following moving objects with the eyes, completing puzzles, following directions, doing school work independently, completing simple household chores, attending birthday parties, participating in gym and sports.


• High School Age: developing life skills, managing time and money, planning and organizing to complete school work,  participating in work and social activities, exploring future education and vocational options.

For more information on our pediatric occupational therapy services in Toronto and Hamilton please Click Here.