Pediatric Occupational Therapy in Fridley, MN
As children grow from infants to toddlers and from children to teens, they develop skills at different rates. But the key to your child’s wellbeing and confidence as they grow into adulthood depends on building positive experiences and skills. Our team at Metro Therapy understands this, which is why we offer pediatric occupational therapy for children of all ages in Fridley, MN. We’ll use our clinical expertise paired with your expertise as their parents to build the skills your child needs to be the very best they can be.
What Is Pediatric Occupational Therapy?
Pediatric occupational therapy is a specialized treatment that facilitates the development of children who have delays or disabilities. In this case, “occupation” refers to the activities your child participates in each day, such as completing their own hygiene routines, playing independently or with others, and building educational skills. Pediatric occupational therapy is designed to improve your child’s overall confidence and independence as they grow. Our expert therapists use evidence-based practice, proven activities and exercises to help children improve their fine motor skills, executive function, emotional regulation, sensory processing, and ability to participate in their own self-care.
Signs Your Child Might Need Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy is a great tool for children who may need additional support regardless of an underlying condition or diagnosis. Some of the common signs that could indicate a need for pediatric occupational therapy include:
Trouble grasping objects like toys or food
Trouble assisting in self care skills such as bathing, feeding or dressing
Clumsiness, like frequent tripping or bumping into furniture
Overreacting to sensory input such as loud noises, certain flavors, or clothing textures
Underreacting to sensory input such as movement, pressure or pain
Trouble maintaining personal hygiene
Frequent temper tantrums or meltdowns
Inability to follow routines or directions
History of trauma or anxiety
Difficulty with organizing room, backpack or desk.
The Goal of Pediatric Occupational Therapy
Our primary goal is to develop your child’s occupational skills and increase their self-confidence so they become more able to handle the activities of daily life. We improve your child’s ability to engage in their natural environments in a meaningful and purposeful manner with a comprehensive therapeutic approach combined with family involvement and education. We work with you and your child to ensure their customized occupational therapy treatment plan addresses their needs. With routine therapy, we’ll help your child be the very best they can be.
How the Pediatric Occupational Therapy Evaluation Process Works
When you arrive for your child’s first appointment, our occupational therapists will assess your child's skills in any areas of concern you have with standardized testing and clinical observations. Our comprehensive evaluation will include a discussion with you to learn more about your child's function in the home, school and community and address any concerns you have regarding their development. These steps ensure we understand the exact skill(s) your child should develop, which we use to create their personalized treatment plan.
How Occupational Therapy Can Help Your Child
Your child’s customized treatment will include activities and exercises that are specifically chosen to build up their occupational skills. Our OTs are also happy to educate you about your child’s therapy plan and provide activities to do at home that will help your child progress between their therapy appointments. With routine occupational therapy sessions and your encouragement, we can help your child:
Build their fine motor control and dexterity
Enhance their visual motor skills and hand-eye coordination
Develop their ability to follow multi-step directions
Increase their independence in self-care tasks like hygiene
Improve their ability to follow a schedule for daily routines
Strengthen their memory, problem solving, and other cognitive skills
Achieve their developmental milestones for academic and social success
Conditions We Treat
Children of all ages can reach their developmental goals no matter what when they are supported by experts who know how to build their skills. Our occupational therapists have years of experience empowering children who have many different conditions including:
Autism spectrum disorders
Learning disorders
Sensory processing disorders
Down syndrome
Dyspraxia (developmental coordination disorder)
Developmental delays
Seizure disorders
Anxiety and Trauma
Schedule a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Evaluation
Our pediatric therapists are ready to help your child master their occupational skills for more independence and confidence. If you're worried about your child's occupational milestones or your child has a delay or disability that impacts their quality of life, Metro Therapy is here to help. Our expert team will develop a customized treatment plan to help your child be the very best they can be. Schedule your child’s pediatric occupational therapy evaluation today.