Early Intervention Occupational Therapy can significantly benefit the outcomes of children and young people. Licensed professionals are able to offer a tailored approach to children who display delays in their development or have risk factors associated with developmental delay. 

The term early intervention is used to describe the effective implementation of services and support packages from a young stage in a child’s life. 

What is Early Intervention Occupational Therapy? 

Early Intervention Occupational Therapy is a service provided to children and their families to assist in the development of their cognitive, emotional, and physical capabilities. This type of early intervention therapy is suited to children who may have learning disabilities or have been diagnosed with autism and covers a range of issues such as sensory problems, feeding disorders, and behavioral issues. 

Early Intervention Therapy is a broader term used to describe a wide range of services. Some of these services include speech therapy, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, all aimed at improving, engaging, and developing the child. 

The need for these services can be assessed by a licensed professional who is able to carry out assessments on children, evaluate their needs and advise on the best services available for the child. 

Why is it necessary?

A child’s greatest period of development is within the first three years of life. It is therefore essential that children who display cognitive deficits are seen by a registered occupational therapist to achieve positive outcomes. 

Without intervention, children may lack the necessary engagement they require to develop successfully. Occupational therapy is a core component of the developmental pathway and provides the correct equipment, activities, and stimulation that parents and families are not able to achieve.

Studies show that pediatric occupational therapy improves a child’s level of engagement and helps them to participate in activities through a variety of different interventions. 

Where Do I Start?

For those parents who don’t know where to start, it can be a daunting and emotionally distressing period of time. However, the Milestone Therapy Group is a great place to begin.

Early intervention is a family-centered approach, and therefore we offer parents education to help them understand the reasoning behind certain behaviors such as sensory overload/sensory threshold. 

Families will be taught techniques to overcome difficulties and implement coping strategies. We take care to explain the rationale behind what we do so you can implement it effectively later on. 

Our friendly and professional team is on hand to offer advice, guidance, and support for children and their families. We have licensed Speech Therapists and Occupational Therapists available to discuss your needs, complete evaluations and offer the resources you need to enhance your child’s development. 

So if you’re looking for early intervention speech therapy in Philadelphia, PA, mainline or greater Philadelphia area, or believe your child could benefit from any of our other services then please get in contact with us by email or phone. Get the answers you need today.

Occupational therapy, particularly with children, is often unfamiliar. Some people confuse it with physical therapy and others think it is only used to help an adult get back to work. Even those that realize that occupational therapy can be done with children, may think it is just about playing games. Let’s clear up the misunderstandings and learn about five things you should know about occupational therapy for children.

1. Occupational therapy can be an important part of a child’s success

Occupational therapy for children is often the connecting piece in a child’s life for success. The occupational therapist’s overall goal is to allow children to perform their activities of daily life successfully. Occupational therapists will work on strengthening and range of motion, feeding or eating challenges, sensory processing challenges, attention challenges, behavior challenges, autism spectrum disorders and more. Occupational therapists bring the knowledge and skills together to achieve the daily life activity goals of the child.

2. Occupational therapists have an educational background that is uniquely qualified to help your child be successful.

Occupational therapists have a college degree or higher. They take courses on subjects such as anatomy, mental health, development, assistive technology, therapy practices with children, disability, life skills, and more. They have experience with hands-on practice both in and out of the classroom and have passed state licensing exams.

3. Pediatric occupational therapists utilize a variety of equipment and modalities during therapy sessions.

An occupational therapist working on fine motor skills may have at their disposal various games, peg boards,pencil grips, paperclips, cotton balls, coins or other manipulatives. Gross motor activity may incorporate the use of swings, balance boards, balls, trampolines, or obstacle courses. Exercise bands lead the way to strengthening. Various textures could be introduced and used for sensory integration. Assistive devices may also assist with function. There are a myriad of possibilities during a child’s therapy session.

4. Occupational therapy sessions will be as unique as the child is themselves.

Sessions are personalized to meet the needs of the individual child. Activities may include any of the following:

• Feeding skills
• Self-care skills
• Fine and gross motor activity
• Socialization work
• Regulation of emotion
• Sensory processing
• Visual work
• Skills for daily living

5. A child needing occupational therapy doesn’t mean that there is a failure on the part of their parents.

Many parents can be hesitant to reach out for services for their children. They may feel judged or inadequate in some way to meet the needs of the child. That is not the case at all. The parent that is able to give their child the gift of pediatric occupational therapy has opened the door to the world for their child. It is the gift of independence, learning, friendships, satisfaction, self-esteem, and success.

Milestone Therapy Group is there for those looking for a children’s occupational therapist in the Philadelphia area. Their team of occupational and speech therapists is here to work in collaboration with parents to reach the developmental milestones and goals each child requires. So, whether the need is for speech therapy in the Mainline area, speech therapy services in Philadelphia, or occupational therapy in either of the mentioned, there is no time to lose in seeing children succeed.
 We are Milestone Therapy Group – a growing family of licensed and certified therapists driven by the sole purpose of helping children with various types of challenges find their path to healthy childhoods. Call us at 610-753-5695 to book a consultation with us and let’s get started helping your child take those first steps towards living their greatest life.

Occupational therapy can immensely benefit children who need assistance to participate in daily life. Perhaps a child is on the autism spectrum. They might have challenges with sensory input. This may make them have difficulty being in a room with a lot going on. This can impact their ability to learn and focus on school work. Children that have oral sensitivity may find it tough to eat specific foods. Children with muscular weakness may struggle with self-care. Whatever the case may be, occupational therapy may be the answer.

Occupational therapy is a profession that helps individuals participate in everyday activities that give them a source of purpose in their lives. While some activities of daily living for children, such as personal hygiene and self-care, the expectations for a child at each stage of development are specialized, unique, and appropriate to the child’s cognitive and physical development.

A children’s occupational therapist in Philadelphia is required to have a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a school that is ACOTE (Accreditation Council for Occupational Therapy Education) certified and must be licensed. Occupational therapists are professionals that are trained in rehabilitating the body in order to assist individuals with becoming independent in their daily lives. They are trained to evaluate and treat fine motor skill deficits, cognitive ability, processing obstacles, and visual awareness skills, and feeding and eating challenges. Occupational therapy for kids is no different.

Pediatric occupational therapists may treat children from birth through adolescence. Early intervention occupational therapists generally see children up to the age of 5. They may help with teaching young ones to self-soothe, facilitate movement to the child’s developmental stage, improve feeding, help with toilet training, or assist with regulating senses. Working with older children, occupational therapists may work with children to improve their ability to get dressed, do their chores, manage homework/classroom time, socialize with their peers, improve the way that they eat, and so much more.

Child therapy services in Philadelphia often include occupational therapy as an important part of a child’s healthcare team. Knowing what to expect can help ease the transition for a child starting services with Milestone Therapy Group. The child’s occupational therapist will get to know the child at their first appointment, evaluate their needs, and develop a treatment plan. It is helpful for parents to come prepared with any concerns or questions they may have. The first appointment will be a detailed one. The occupational therapist may ask a lot of questions. They will then observe the child and see how they manage their world in the environment of the clinic.

There is a range of possible activities a child may participate in while in occupational therapy. The goal of therapy is to help children become independent and reach developmental targets. In order to accomplish this, therapy may include strengthening, range of motion exercises, games, drawing, practicing fine motor skills, feeding and eating, or even the use of adaptive equipment that will help them gain freedom in their actions.

Those looking for, “occupational therapy for kids near me” or “children’s occupational therapist near me” should look no further than Milestone Therapy Group. At Milestone Therapy Group, therapists know the importance of helping a child succeed. They have the skills and experience to take the child’s function to a higher level and put a smile on their face as they are able to face their world head-on and be triumphant in the process.