If a child has difficulty with fine motor skills, physical disabilities, coordination problems, and developmental delays, pediatric occupational therapy can be a beneficial treatment. Pediatric occupational therapy (OT) can help rehabilitate a child from injury, illness, or other conditions affecting daily functions. OT can improve fine motor skills, social, and cognitive skills with exercise, play therapy, and other therapy modalities. Benefits include, self-care—like feeding, dressing, and bathing—improved writing skills, better hand-eye coordination, and upper extremity mobility.

An occupational therapist (also referred to as an OT), can help children with feeding and dressing themselves, proper use of utensils and the skills required to cut, color, draw, write etc. If a child needs an assistive device like a cane, braces, or a wheelchair, the OT can help the child and his or her family properly implement the use of such devices. Some common conditions that can benefit from OT include: autism disorders, developmental delays, injury, ADD/ADHD, down syndrome and other genetic diseases.

Beyond exercises, a therapist might provide massage, ultrasound, biofeedback, electrical stimulation and other modalities if the child is faced with a painful condition. With practice at home and in the clinic, OT can help a child achieve his or her maximum functional levels.