 Occupational therapy can help to improve a child’s motor, cognitive, sensory processing, communication, and play skills. The goal of pediatric OT is to enhance development, minimize the potential for developmental delay, and help families to meet the special needs of their infants, toddlers and school-age children.
Understanding child development delays The first three years of any child’s life are a critical time for brain development. During this busy period of cognitive, social and physical growth, children learn so much about how to interact with the millions of new stimuli occurring each and every day of their lives. From learning to crawl, walk, speak, listen, grasp, self-feed, self-dress, and how to play with toys, children are tasked with learning a lot in a very short time and they are constantly absorbing how to appropriately interact physically, emotionally and verbally with the world around them. Children who may be experiencing subtle-to-severe cognitive, social or physical delays will usually begin showing signs of these at any point between the ages of 0-4. If a child’s developmental delays are more subtle and nuanced, a pediatrician or infant and toddlers specialist may recommend a thorough battery of evaluations that includes an occupational therapy screening for concerned parents and caregivers. Why is an OT evaluation recommended? Occupational therapy is intended to treat a variety of problems associated with conditions resulting from birth injuries or defects, sensory processing disorders, traumatic brain or spine injuries, learning disabilities, autism, rheumatoid arthritis, mental or behavioral problems, orthopedic injuries, post-surgical conditions, injuries, and other chronic illnesses. An occupational therapy (OT) evaluation is one that is completed by a licensed occupational therapist (OTL/R) to assess a child's gross motor, fine motor, visual motor, visual perceptual, handwriting, daily living and sensory processing skills. OT professionals use a group of standardized assessment tools, non-standardized assessment tools, parent interview and clinical observations to assess a child's performance. The results of a formal OT evolution can help better determine things like how well a child’s hands work together, if the child processes what he sees, hears, feels, etc. and produces an appropriate response and even if the child is able to calm themselves or adapts to their environment. These types of sensory integrative issues can exacerbate the child’s development and be a reason for observed delays. What to expect at an OT evaluation The occupational therapist performing an evaluation on a child will determine a baseline for abilities and then perform play-based evaluations that include both standardized and clinical observations with the child performing functional skills. These vary by provider, but might include screening ball play, fine motor play, visual motor tasks, visual perception skills, gross motor tasks, self-care skills (eating, getting dressed), social interaction and visual processing skills. Once assessments are completed, the OT will summarize all information gathered and present the clinical impressions and recommended treatment goals that will best address any identified concerns. Often, this report will a time frame for the recommended treatment plan before a reassessment is warranted. If routine occupational therapy is recommended, the length of time and expectations will vary based on your child’s individualized therapeutic goals. How OT helps young learners A child who may be exhibiting delays with developing fine motor skills – i.e. those involving the small hand muscles – can work with an OT to improve strength, motor control and dexterity. Without these skills, kids will have difficulty drawing, using scissors and stringing beads. These types of delays are detrimental, especially for elementary academics, because seemingly easy tasks like turning pages, writing, using a computer, may be that much harder. Occupational therapists help children by working closely with them to learn skills that will foster independence and enable participation in daily activities, such as self-care, play and learning. An occupational therapist can also help to establish effective routines and break down information into steps that the child with delays will be able to follow. Occupational therapists can also help children diagnosed with sensory issues. For example, hypersensitive children (those prone to feeling “sensory overload”) can learn to better self-regulate in uncomfortable environments or advocate for themselves when they need beaks or quiet accommodations to learn. To help sensory seekers (those who seek a higher level of sensory arousal and regulation), OTs focus on teaching them ways to self-regulate using activities like swinging, crashing onto huge bean bags, and jumping on trampolines in areas known as “sensory gyms.” Learning these skills and practicing them at regular intervals can help children be able to sit and focus when it’s time to learn. Gross motor developmental delays can be addressed by the OT using exercises and activities to promote balance, coordination, strength, and endurance. These skills have a direct impact on how children walk, run, go up stairs, jumping, catching and other skills that will enable them to successfully participate in sports and recess activities – which are crucial elements for building social emotional strengths and self-esteem. How to get an OT evaluation While medical coverage may vary, many health insurance plans cover occupational therapy evaluations and services. Kinera Foundation provides occupational therapy (OT) services for children, teens and adults with disabilities and special health care needs. If you are concerned about your child's development, or your child is showing signs of or has been diagnosed with a sensory processing issues, please call for a confidential meeting and evaluation: 443-249-3126.
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 Target now has a line of adaptive costume options for children with a mobility disabilities Sensory-friendly and adaptive costume ideas and adaptive technology designs make Halloween fun for children of all abilities
With Halloween right around the corner, our kids are filled with excitement over candy, trick-or-treating, Halloween movies and dressing up as their favorite characters. While some costumes can be extremely uncomfortable for sensory-sensitive kids, there are many options to make your child comfortable while fulfilling their wishes to be "in character" for the big day. In addition, there is now a plethora of adaptive costume choices for children with mobility and assistive technology needs. Here are a variety of options, from DIY and homemade, to various store-bought choices: 1. Character Hoodies- Nowadays, there are hoodies that come in all different characters. From Spiderman, a unicorn, or Pikachu, the options are endless. Just pair the sweatshirt with pants and shoes that go along with the theme, and they will be set to not only be comfortable but warm on their night out collecting candy! New! Disney now has a line of adaptive costumes! 2. Cotton Pajamas- Cotton is a great material for kids who are sensory sensitive, and pajamas are the perfect way to find characters in that soft fabric. You can find spooky options like a skeleton, a Captain America set, or a onesie of their favorite animal or monster like Sully and Mike Wasowski from Monsters Inc. Not only will they have an elaborate costume, it can be worn in the most comfortable way possible. 3. Target’s Adaptive Halloween Costumes- Target has a brand of costumes adaptable to whatever your child needs! From robots, dragons, witches, and princesses, there are multiple options for your child to choose from. Not only do they have sensory-friendly costumes, but they also have wheelchair covers to help make their costume more realistic for children of all abilities. 4. Everyday Clothes Costumes- So many costumes are easy to craft DIY style with the clothes you already have at home! All black clothes with a pair of kitten ears make for a great, simple, black cat. A Where’s Waldo costume just requires jeans and a striped shirt. A minion only needs a pair of jean overalls and a yellow long sleeve. A cowgirl, a member of the Scooby Doo gang, and a pirate are just a few more of countless options that can be created right from your home. 5. Lab coat, soft-wash scrubs, or a cape- These are comfortable options that can be made into a doctor, a mad scientist, or a superhero that require no sensory sensitivity for your child. A few extra pieces can transform a wardrobe into anything creative and fun with the right material and a quick Pinterest search! Resources for finding costume ideas for children living with special needs: https://www.shopdisney.com/halloween-shop/costumes/adaptive-costumes/ Target sensory friendly and adaptive costume selections https://www.goodhousekeeping.com/holidays/halloween-ideas/g421/halloween-decorating-ideas/ https://livingwellmom.com/sensory-friendly-halloween-costume-ideas-kids-with-autism/ https://www.understood.org/en/learning-thinking-differences/child-learning-disabilities/sensory-processing-issues/6-diy-sensory-friendly-halloween-costumes https://www.hopebridge.com/blog/halloween-costume-ideas-for-kids-with-autism-and-sensory-disorders |
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