Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapists (OTs) use occupation (meaningful and purposeful activity) to help children be as independent as possible in their school environment. OTs:
- Set up play, craft, and sensory activities to address skills that will help children succeed.
- Work with children during their classroom routines to promote independence.
The following are skills your OT may address:
- Fine Motor Skills: Ex: cutting and drawing
- Self Care Skills: Ex: putting on/taking off coat and shoes, manipulating buttons and zippers, and using utensils to eat.
- Sensory Processing: The way our central nervous system processes the sensory information we receive from our environment. This includes the following systems: Visual, Auditory, Tactile (Touch), Olfactory (Smell), Taste, Vestibular (Movement), and Proprioceptive (Deep Pressure).
- Set up play, craft, and sensory activities to address skills that will help children succeed.
- Work with children during their classroom routines to promote independence.
The following are skills your OT may address:
- Fine Motor Skills: Ex: cutting and drawing
- Self Care Skills: Ex: putting on/taking off coat and shoes, manipulating buttons and zippers, and using utensils to eat.
- Sensory Processing: The way our central nervous system processes the sensory information we receive from our environment. This includes the following systems: Visual, Auditory, Tactile (Touch), Olfactory (Smell), Taste, Vestibular (Movement), and Proprioceptive (Deep Pressure).
Tactile System: We often think of our sense of touch through our fingertips, but the receptors for our tactile system are located in all of our skin surfaces. The tactile system helps us detect textures, temperature, and pain.
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Vestibular System: The receptors are in our inner ear. The vestibular system gives us information about movement and gravity. It helps with spatial orientation and balance.
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Proprioceptive System: The receptors are in our muscles and joints. The proprioceptive system helps us know our body is moving. It's used for motor planning our movements.
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All of us process sensory input a little differently. OTs look for patterns in sensory processing to help put sensory strategies in place for children in their school environment. Our classroom teachers are wonderful at working on fine motor and self-care skills in the classroom, and collaborating with us to provide sensory strategies.