Frequently Asked Questions
What is Occupational Therapy for children all about?
Occupational therapy helps people participate more fully in the everyday activities that are meaningful to them. For children, these activities include play, socialization, academic tasks, and the development of fine and gross motor skills needed for success at home and in school.
At Kids’ Therapy Place, we use play and playful environments as the foundation for our work with children. By staying creative and continually updating our equipment, toys, and craft supplies, we create a fun and nurturing space where children are excited to engage—often without even realizing how hard they are working.
Through meaningful participation in these activities, children build important skills, gain confidence, and grow in their ability to participate more fully in their daily lives.
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How do I know if my child might need occupational therapy?
Children may benefit from occupational therapy if they are having difficulty with skills needed for everyday activities at home or school. This may include challenges with handwriting, fine or gross motor skills, coordination, attention, sensory processing, self-care skills (such as dressing or feeding), or participating in classroom tasks.
If you have concerns about your child’s development or daily functioning, an occupational therapy evaluation can help determine whether therapy would be beneficial.
Who can recommend my child for therapy?
A referral for an occupational therapy evaluation can come from many sources, including a child’s teacher, physician, other healthcare providers or therapists, a parent, or another family member.
What happens next?
Once we determine that an occupational therapy evaluation would be helpful, we will assess your child using both standardized and informal measures, including play-based activities and a parent interview. We will look at areas such as gross motor skills, fine motor skills, sensory processing, and overall functional abilities.
We are happy to communicate with your child’s school and conduct a school visit if needed. After the evaluation, we will discuss our findings and recommendations for occupational therapy.
What will my child work on in therapy?
Parents, teachers, and when appropriate, the children themselves, all play a role in creating therapy goals based on the child’s unique needs.
When determining the frequency and duration of sessions, we take into account not only the child’s needs, but also family logistics and financial circumstances. Our goal is to create a schedule that supports your child’s progress while making the process as smooth and positive as possible—so that both parent and child can move forward together.
How long are therapy sessions?
Most occupational therapy sessions last approximately 45–60 minutes. The exact length and frequency of sessions are determined based on the child’s needs and the goals established during the evaluation.
How long does therapy usually last?
The length of therapy varies depending on each child’s individual needs and goals. Some children benefit from short-term therapy to address a specific skill, while others may need longer-term support to build foundational abilities.
We regularly reassess progress and adjust goals to ensure therapy remains appropriate and effective.
Can I observe my child’s session?
We believe that a strong parent–therapist relationship is essential to every child’s progress in therapy.
That’s why we stay in ongoing contact with parents through regular meetings and phone calls. This helps ensure consistent follow-through at home and gives parents a clear understanding of both the therapeutic process and their child’s specific needs.
We also have an open-door policy and welcome parents to observe and participate in sessions. This collaborative approach allows us to offer suggestions and problem-solve together—whether addressing behavioral challenges, muscular difficulties, activities of daily living such as hygiene, feeding, toileting, and dressing, or challenges at school.
Do I need to do anything at home?
We provide a variety of strategies for parents to carry over at home to support their child’s progress. These may include stretching and positioning protocols, home exercise programs, sensory diets, visual schedules, daily routines, handwriting practice, positive reinforcement systems, and The Listening Program—just to name a few.
Children make the most progress when these supports are reinforced consistently at home as part of their daily routine.
Can you work with my child’s school?
We’re happy to collaborate with teachers and school-based interventionists to help support each child’s academic and social success.
When appropriate, we participate in staff meetings, conduct classroom observations, and offer teacher workshops to help educators better understand and support students with special needs.
How will I know if my child should see another specialist?
Occasionally, a child’s developmental or academic progress may raise concerns or appear significantly delayed. In these cases, additional referrals may be recommended to explore possible diagnostic considerations.
We support parents throughout this process by consulting with their pediatrician and other relevant medical or developmental providers, ensuring a comprehensive and collaborative approach to treatment and diagnosis.
Collaborating with physicians to problem-solve challenges affecting a child can be both helpful and insightful, and we are always happy to offer this support when needed.