Occupational therapist work with children to achieve the following results:

 

• Help kids work on fine motor skills so they can grasp and release toys and develop good handwriting skills.

• Address hand-eye coordination to improve kids’ play and school skills. (hitting a target, batting a ball, copying from a blackboard, etc.)

• Help kids with severe developmental delays learn basic tasks. (such as bathing, getting dressed, brushing their teeth, and feeding themselves)

• Help kids with behavioral disorders maintain positive behaviors in all environments. (e.g., instead of hitting others or acting out, using positive ways to deal with anger, such as writing about feelings or participating in a physical activity)

• Teach kids with physical disabilities the coordination skills needed to feed themselves, use a computer, or increase the speed and legibility of their handwriting.

• Evaluate a child’s need for specialized equipment, such as wheelchairs, splints, bathing equipment, dressing devices, or communication aids.

• Work with kids who have sensory and attention issues to improve focus and social skills.

 

Apart from the above mentioned things, as a parent can expect more things from OTs for their kid.

Self-care skills - The OT will train kids in doing self-care tasks which are crucial to build their independence. OTs can help children build their independence when getting dressed by including fasteners (buttons, zippers) or teaching how to tie shoe-laces. Moreover, they will work on the sequencing, motor planning, and motor skills.

School Readiness - OTs can help kids with developing printing skills by building strength in their hands and coordination. By building child's printing will boost their confidence, and even parents.

Play skills - Regular playing can help kids in developing social, cognitive, motor, and interactive skills. It helps in gaining appropriate fine motor skills, strength, and hand-eye coordination to increase your child’s ability.

Social Regulation - OTs can help developing the ability to self-regulate when they need to focus or engage with peers. Moreover, they help children to develop skills to monitor their regulation and develop better ways to regulate, etc. Parents can expect that their kids are socially engaging which is a good thing.