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You may have come across patients recovering from prolonged illnesses or injuries, from strokes and fractures to neuromuscular diseases. You may have also seen children afflicted with similar deformities or illnesses in their youth, not being able to exhibit correct cognitive and sensory functioning.
Such children will find navigating life and performing day-to-day routine tasks incredibly challenging. However, there is a way to help such individuals live life to the fullest, which is Occupational Therapy for Children.
Occupational Therapy, also known as OT, is an allied health profession that helps patients recovering from physical and mental illnesses learn to perform day-to-day activities and participate fully in their everyday lives. In other words, some individuals may face limitations in performing everyday tasks; Occupational Therapy will work on their ability to do the things they hope to do and overcome these limitations.
Occupational Therapy can indeed be performed on individuals of all ages, including children; this is usually called “Pediatric Occupational Therapy” or Occupational Therapy for Children.
As a child grows, they learn to wash themselves, feed themselves, dress themselves, perform hygiene routines, participate in school, and navigate social settings. These are necessary skills to interact with their environment and lead a healthy life.
Children with impaired motor or cognitive functioning, or for other reasons, may find it challenging to perform such tasks. Barriers that limit their ability to perform such activities may cause hindrances in their overall growth and development. However, Child Occupational Therapy can help children engage in such necessary activities using calculated, supportive methods so they may grow into well-functioning healthy adults.
What’s important to understand is that a pediatric OT’s relationship between the child and their parents is an essential factor. Children live in a family unit and spend most of their time with their parents/caregivers. This is why Occupational Therapy for Children must be performed in collaboration with a child’s parents, guardian, and school/daycare facility. This is because, many times, Occupational Therapy treatment requires you to change a child’s immediate environment.
Occupational Therapy for children is used to treat children from a holistic perspective. However, such treatment doesn’t simply aim to help children develop life skills; they also determine where these limitations and delays are coming from. Once an Occupational Therapist can understand the reason behind your child’s limitations, they are better positioned to prescribe the appropriate treatment approaches.
A delay in development may be due to health issues such as autism, ADD/ADHD, Down Syndrome, feeding disorders, visual processing disorders, sensory processing disorders, birth injuries/defects, orthopedic injuries, etc.
However, with Occupational Therapy for Children, they can learn to work with these limitations and still develop essential life skills. Here is what Child Occupational Therapy can do:
Fine motor skills are performed using the muscles of the hand and wrist. These include holding and releasing objects such as toys, using a pencil to write, turning doorknobs, buttoning and unbuttoning clothes, opening and closing zippers, tying shoelaces, washing their hands, etc.
Child Occupational Therapy helps children master essential life skills such as eating, bathing correctly, and managing their hygiene.
Child OT Therapy helps children improve their eye-hand coordination needed to perform tasks such as throwing or catching a ball, writing down things, copying down text from a blackboard, etc.
It helps children develop social skills and positive behavior patterns to form healthy friendships with other children. They will further learn to manage their emotions such as anger, frustration, and sadness in healthy ways.
Child OT Therapy helps children develop visual processing skills such as spacing and sizing letters correctly when writing, recognizing words, letters and shapes, identifying objects amongst others, continuing reading in order, etc.
The therapy helps children process sensory input such as noise, smells, and sounds. This is particularly important for kids who seem to overreact to sensory input or find it difficult to concentrate attention in class.
How can you successfully identify if your child needs Occupational Therapy? For example, if you notice that your child has difficulty performing tasks at an age-appropriate level, it may signify that they need Occupational Therapy.
Signs That Your Child May Require Occupational Therapy:
You can support your Child’s Occupational Therapy treatment in the home and school environment. For instance:
Remember to reach out to your Child’s school teacher and review school class rules and routines so you may prepare your child beforehand. Also, make sure that your Child establishes a consistent routine for waking up and sleeping.
If you think your child needs Occupational Therapy, it is best to schedule a screening or consultation session with a professional. They will be better able to identify a) if your child needs OT and b) what approach of OT will suit your Child’s needs. You can ask your healthcare professional to refer you to a Child Occupational Therapist. You may also talk to a school nurse or guidance counselor for such a recommendation.
At Mobile Therapy Centers, we often receive such referrals; most parents aren’t aware of their Child’s OT needs for extended periods. Therefore, it is recommended that you seek professional assistance as soon as you detect signs of delayed development so your child can learn the skills they need at an age-appropriate level.
As a resident of Crystal Lake, Illinois, you can always visit your very own MTC clinic in your local area. At Mobile Therapy Centers, we are committed to helping children and adolescents develop physical, sensory, and cognitive functioning so they may regain independence in all areas of their lives.
A child capable of performing day-to-day activities on their own will have a unique sense of accomplishment and a boost in their self-esteem. These emotions are crucial if you hope that your child continues to develop and grow into a healthy, active adult. This is precisely what we hope to achieve…to see our children grow into accomplished adults!
If you seek professional services for Occupational Therapy for Children in Crystal Lake, IL, you can contact your nearest MTC clinic.
Our Child Occupational Therapists are fully licensed and certified to provide OT services for your Child’s development. Moreover, our Child Occupational Therapy services are incredibly flexible and can be provided however you prefer: at our cliics, in the comfort of your own home or at a child’s school/daycare.
Our Crystal Lake clinic also has “mock rooms” where children can learn to practice real-life skills in dedicated environments. These environments mimic real-life situations, so your Child can apply what they learn in real life, should they need to do so.
As a part of our Occupational Therapy treatment plan, we focus on the development of fine motor skills, gross motor skills, motor planning and sequencing, body awareness, bi-lateral and bi-manual skills, visual motor skills, sensory processing skills, and regulation/coping strategies.
If you are interested in learning more about our OT treatment plans, you can contact our professionals today by giving us a call at 815-526-0510! As a resident of Crystal Lake, Illinois, you may also schedule a FREE consultation/screening session with our qualified Child Occupational Therapists.
Crystal Lake is a city located in McHenry County, Illinois. The population was 39,337 as of 2020. Crystal Lake is the largest city in McHenry County. The median income for a household in the city was $85,321, and the median income for a family was $93,293. Crystal Lake is known for its crystal clear Lakes used for swimming, fishing, and boating. There are also several parks located within the city limits. Crystal Lake is home to the Crystal Lake Public Library, which serves residents with educational resources and recreational materials. The Crystal Lake Park District offers residents access to several beaches, playgrounds, and sports fields. Crystal Lake is also home to several businesses and industries, including Motorola Solutions and Caterpillar.
The history of Crystal Lake begins with the Potawatomi Native Americans who once occupied this land. The first white settlers arrived in 1835, and Crystal Lake was known initially as Nippersink. In 1837, the name of the community was changed to Crystal Lake.
Today, Crystal Lake is a thriving community with many things to do and see. Whether you enjoy spending time outdoors or prefer to stay inside and relax, there is something for everyone in this city.
via E Crystal Lake Ave and Erick St
Fastest route now due to traffic conditions
Elaina is a part of our MTC Occupational Therapy Department and received an education from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, McHenry County College, and Husson University. She has a strong passion for working with both animals and children. Elaina has always wanted to incorporate both of these passions into her career and is incredibly excited to bring Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) to Mobile Therapy Centers!
Rocky is an Australian Mountain Doodle who loves to learn, play, and meet new people. Rocky joined our MTC team when he was just 8 weeks old and has been training to support the clients of MTC from day one. His kind and loving nature makes him the perfect match for Animal-Assisted Therapy, and Rocky can not wait to meet all his new friends through the MTC AAT program!