Today’s question is answered by Emily Weimer COTA/L–an RSI certified occupational therapy assistant based in our Rexburg Pediatric Clinic and Madison School District.
Question: Why does my child’s occupational therapy session sometimes just look like play?
Answer: “For kids of all ages, play is the most important occupation. Play is how they learn important life skills. This means as occupational therapy practitioners, we use play to address skills like handwriting, fine motor grasp patterns, visual scanning, social skills, attention, sequencing, and so much more. Plus, by using activities that are motivating to our kiddos, we are able to keep their interest and get them to engage in tasks that challenge them.
To someone who is watching an occupational therapy session, they may see a child and therapist just playing in a ball pit. To me, I see a child working on social skills like practicing basic conversation starters and topics, while completing sensory regulation techniques to calm and regulate their body. This is one of the many things I love about occupational therapy, I’m able to use child directed activities to target goals and skills.”
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