What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy?
Pediatric occupational therapy is treatment to help children build skills for growth, learning, and independence in their everyday lives.
While we may think of an occupation as a job, for children, an occupation is to play, learn, and take care of themselves through actions such as getting dressed and brushing their teeth.
When a child faces hurdles with these daily tasks due to a developmental delay, injury, sensory sensitivity, or motor skill challenges, a pediatric occupational therapist steps in.
The pediatric occupational therapists at Connections design customized strategies to help children overcome obstacles, build confidence, and reach their full potential. Our pediatric occupational therapy services are offered for those who are infants through age 21.
Does My Child Need Occupational Therapy?
There are multiple indicators that a child could benefit from occupational therapy. If your child struggles with daily tasks and meeting developmental milestones, consider pediatric occupational therapy, which can assist with:
- Sensory processing challenges
- Self-care
- Self-regulation
- Daily living skills (feeding, dressing, independent living tasks)
- Fine motor and upper-body coordination
- Play
- Visual–motor integration
- Social, emotional, and leisure skills
- Executive functioning (planning and focus)
- School-related skills (pre-writing, writing, cutting)
- Pre-vocational skill development
Supporting Your Child’s Progress
Connections provides pediatric occupational therapy in East Idaho, focusing on children’s individual progress and offering services to help them complete daily living tasks. We provide developmental milestone support for clients two months to five years old, as appropriate.
Our pediatric occupational services are offered in Idaho Falls, Blackfoot, Rigby, and Rexburg.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Services from Connections
Connections offers the following pediatric occupational therapy services to support children’s progress.
Premature and High-Risk Infants
Support for brain development using activities that help infants develop their self-regulation and attention; care may involve positioning infants in certain ways to help them feel comfortable and learn to control how their bodies move | Learn More
Early Intervention
Infant and toddler motor and feeding development; for children from birth to age 3
Feeding and Eating
Assistance with infant feeding; for fussy and picky eaters, those learning to self-feed, and to address failure to thrive | Learn More
Developmental Disabilities
Therapeutic support for children with autism, cerebral palsy, developmental coordination disorder, developmental delays, epilepsy, and other conditions
Learning, Cognitive, and School Skills
Offered for individuals with ADHD, executive function problems, dyslexia, dysgraphia, learning disabilities, visual impairments, and challenges with social and school skills
Sensory Processing and Self-Regulation for Life Skills
Services for those with autism, ADHD, ADD, problems with executive function, sensory processing deficit, and reactive attachment disorder
Social Skills
To help children develop social skills that support successful interactions at home, school, and in the community; attention on building friendships, working in teams, and feeling more confident in social settings
Congenital Abnormalities and Genetic Disorders
Cleft palate, Down syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, metabolic disorders, and spina bifida services
Neuromuscular/Orthopedic Disorders and Injuries
For amputation, orthotics and prosthetics management, cerebral palsy, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, spinal muscle atrophy, muscular dystrophy and scoliosis, spinal cord injuries, joint deformities, upper-body injuries, hand and finger injuries, and injuries impacting daily routines; physical therapists can treat lower body injuries
Head Trauma
Care for children who have experienced traumatic brain injury or concussions; offering ImPACT (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Testing) assessment
Learn more or schedule an appointment.
Occupational Therapy Focus Areas by Age
Connections provides client-specific services, with treatment for skill development based on individual circumstances.
While recognizing that care is personalized, here is an overall look at pediatric occupational therapy focus areas by age:
0-12 MONTHS (includes premature babies)
Feeding, muscle tone, sensory responses, developmental milestones
1-3 YEARS
Play, self-feeding, motor development, sensory regulation
3-5 YEARS
Fine motor skills, self-care, attention, social play
5-12 YEARS
Handwriting, classroom participation, self-regulation, organization
13-21 YEARS
Independence, life skills, executive function, social skills, preparation for adulthood/work
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Q&A
How can I tell if my child may benefit from pediatric occupational therapy?
A child may benefit from pediatric occupational therapy due to various conditions. If your child is struggling to complete tasks for day-to-day living or to reach developmental milestones, you may want to talk with a pediatric occupational therapist about treatment options and benefits. To schedule a free screening at Connections, please call (208) 535-1286.
What is the difference between occupational therapy and physical therapy?
Occupational therapy is care to support function, and physical therapy is care to support movement. For example, occupational therapy would focus on safety in the home, performance of day-to-day tasks, or fine motor skills, and physical therapy would be for balance improvement, rebuilding leg strength, or pain relief.
Occupational and physical therapy may be used in a treatment plan.
May I tour the Connections facilities?
A virtual tour of the Idaho Falls facility is available online. We also offer in-person tours. Please call one of our clinics to schedule.
What training do the care providers at Connections have?
Our multidisciplinary team consists entirely of highly qualified clinicians who hold advanced degrees in their respective fields, along with all required state licenses and national board certifications.
Does Connections accept insurance?
Yes. Connections accepts most major insurance, Idaho Medicaid, and Medicare.
Offering East Idaho Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Connections provides pediatric occupational therapy services in East Idaho at four locations: Idaho Falls, Rigby, Blackfoot, and Rexburg. We invite you to contact us about our customized pediatric occupational therapy services.
Call (208) 535-1286, text “Visit” to (208) 535-1286, or fill out our online form.