Same swing. Different purpose.
If your child has been referred to therapy, you’ll probably hear OT and PT and wonder… aren’t those basically the same thing? Nope!
While therapy activities may sometimes look similar, the goals behind them are very different.
Pediatric Physical Therapy (PT): PT focuses on how your child moves.
Walking, running, jumping
Balance and coordination
Strength and endurance
Recovering from injury
PT helps kids move better.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT): OT focuses on how your child builds independence in daily life.
Handwriting and fine motor skills
Sensory processing and regulation
Attention and emotional control
Dressing, feeding, self-care
OT helps kids become more independent.
So why do they look so similar?
Both use play, games, and fun equipment–the difference is the goal behind the activity.
The Easy Way to Remember
PT = movement
OT = independence