Pediatric occupational therapy is a healthcare profession that helps children develop the skills and abilities needed to participate in meaningful everyday activities, known in occupational therapy as occupations.

For children, these occupations include self-care, play, learning, rest and sleep, and social participation. Occupational therapists examine how a child's motor, cognitive, sensory, and social-emotional abilities interact with daily routines, task demands, and the environment. Through individualized, occupation-based interventions, occupational therapy supports functional performance, independence, and participation in everyday life.

In occupational therapy, an occupation is not simply a job. It refers to the meaningful activities people need, want, or are expected to do in daily life.

For children, occupations may include getting dressed, brushing teeth, participating in family meals, playing with peers, completing schoolwork, and following daily routines. Occupational therapy focuses on helping children participate successfully in these activities, rather than developing isolated skills without a meaningful purpose.

Occupational therapy focuses on participation in meaningful daily activities and the interaction between a child's abilities, the demands of an activity, and the environment. Physical therapy primarily addresses movement, mobility, and physical function. Speech-language therapy primarily addresses communication, language, speech, and swallowing.

These professions often address overlapping developmental needs. Occupational therapists collaborate with other professionals to support a child's functional goals across home, school, and community settings.

Daily routines provide meaningful opportunities for children to develop and apply new skills.

For example, getting ready for school involves more than dressing or packing a backpack. It may require planning, sequencing, attention, time management, motor coordination, and adapting when something unexpected happens. Occupational therapists analyze these everyday activities to identify what supports or limits a child's performance and develop strategies that fit the child's real-life environment.

Not necessarily. Occupational therapy considers how a child participates in everyday activities, not simply whether the child has a particular diagnosis.

Children may experience challenges with daily routines, self-care, organization, school participation, or other meaningful activities for many different reasons. An occupational therapy evaluation can help determine whether skilled OT services are appropriate and identify the child's strengths, functional needs, and priorities for intervention. A medical referral or other documentation may still be required in certain circumstances.

Occupational therapists evaluate progress by examining changes in a child's ability to participate in meaningful activities.

Outcomes may include improved occupational performance, greater independence, more efficient completion of daily routines, reduced assistance needs, or increased participation at home and school. Progress is assessed using individualized goals, clinical observations, caregiver input, and appropriate assessment measures. The emphasis is on meaningful functional changes, not simply improvement on isolated developmental tasks.

Your child's first session is an opportunity for us to get to know your child, understand your family's priorities, and identify meaningful goals for occupational therapy.

Depending on your child's needs, the session may include a caregiver interview, clinical observations, play-based activities, and assessment of functional skills related to everyday routines and participation.

If your child has already completed an occupational therapy evaluation elsewhere and you are seeking intervention only, we welcome you to share the previous evaluation report. We still recommend a brief clinical assessment to verify that the findings accurately reflect your child's current abilities and needs, identify any changes since the previous evaluation, and ensure that the proposed intervention plan is appropriate.

Our goal is to establish a clear understanding of your child's strengths and needs so that therapy can begin with an individualized, evidence-informed plan.

Yes. Parent and caregiver involvement is an important part of pediatric occupational therapy. We value family collaboration and encourage caregivers to participate in ways that best support their child's needs and therapeutic goals.

For children ages 0–3: We strongly recommend that a parent or caregiver remain with the child throughout the session. Their presence provides emotional security, supports engagement, and creates opportunities to learn strategies that can be incorporated into everyday routines.

For children ages 4–12: Parents and caregivers may choose to participate in the session or remain in the designated waiting area, depending on the child's individual needs, comfort level, and therapeutic goals. For some children, participating independently may support confidence, self-regulation, and engagement with the therapist.

For all in-clinic sessions: A parent or designated caregiver must remain on-site and be available throughout the appointment in case the child needs assistance, reassurance, or additional support.

Regardless of whether caregivers are present in the treatment room, we emphasize ongoing communication and collaboration to help children carry new skills into their everyday lives.

A typical occupational therapy session at Andante Pediatric Therapy lasts approximately 60 minutes, including 45–50 minutes of individualized intervention and 10–15 minutes of caregiver consultation to review progress, discuss observations, and share strategies for supporting your child at home. The actual session structure may vary based on your child's evaluation findings, individual needs, and the occupational therapist's clinical judgment.

Regular and consistent therapy plays an important role in achieving meaningful progress. Depending on your child's needs and goals, more frequent sessions may provide additional opportunities to practice, reinforce, and build new skills. However, lasting progress depends not only on therapy frequency but also on consistent participation, caregiver involvement, and opportunities to apply learned skills in everyday routines.

Ongoing collaboration between families and therapists is essential. Through regular communication, progress monitoring, and shared decision-making, we can adjust treatment frequency, goals, and intervention strategies as needed to ensure that therapy remains responsive to your child's evolving needs and focused on meaningful, measurable outcomes.

We understand that planning for your child's care is an important decision, and financial considerations are a meaningful part of that process.

Andante Pediatric Therapy is a private-pay practice, which means families pay directly for services, and we do not bill insurance companies.

For eligible occupational therapy services, we can provide a superbill that you may submit to your insurance provider for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Coverage and reimbursement vary depending on your individual insurance plan and are not guaranteed. We encourage families to contact their insurance provider to understand their benefits before beginning services.

We believe families deserve clear information and peace of mind when making decisions about their child's care. We are always happy to explain our fees, payment policies, and superbill process so you can make an informed decision that feels right for your family.

We would love to hear from you! Whether you have questions about your child's development, would like to learn more about our services, or are simply exploring your options, we are here to help.

You are welcome to schedule a complimentary 15-minute consultation to discuss your concerns and explore how Andante Pediatric Therapy may support your child and family.

If the available consultation times do not fit your schedule, please feel free to email us at info@andantepediatrictherapy.com or reach out through our website's Contact page. We will be happy to explore alternative appointment times whenever possible.

We look forward to connecting with you and learning more about your family!