What is Occupational Therapy?


Occupational therapy is the promotion of health by enabling people who may be limited by injuries or impairments to complete meaningful and purposeful occupations. Although many definitions exist, occupation can be defined as the active process of looking after ourselves as well as others--while being socially and economically productive throughout our lives. Occupational therapists work with individuals, families, and entire communities to promote health through active involvement in the occupation. For a child, these meaningful and purposeful occupations include a myriad of activities including jumping, climbing, drawing, eating, swinging, and running. Our occupational therapists at Centra Pediatric Therapy play a critical role in the development of children by facilitating motor development, coordination skills, and cognitive and social development.

Our services and treatments help improve

  • Feeding treatments

  • Feeding behavior issues

  • Self-feeding delays

  • Oral defensiveness

  • Oral motor delays

  • Developmental treatments

  • Developmental delays with play

  • Gross and fine motor skills

  • Self-helping skills

  • Handwriting skills

How do I know if my child needs an occupational therapist?

If you think that your child may need an occupational therapist for any reason, please contact us for an evaluation of your child. We can be reached at centrapediatrictherapy@cox.net or call us at (714) 731 - 4668

  • Does not grasp objects when placed on the palm

    Does not lift one foot after the other when helped with walking

  • Has difficulty raising their arms and legs in smooth fluid motions

    Does not maintain balance while sitting

    Cannot obtain an object (eg. Rattle) on his own.

  • Cannot use arms to move forward 3 feet

    Unable to sit alone unsupported

    Cannot crumple paper with palms

  • Unable to use table objects for support to get into a standing position

    Falls when lowering self from standing to a sitting position

    Has problems maintaining balance while sitting and manipulating the toy

    Cannot release an object (eg. Cube) into the adults hand

    Cannot clap hands on their own

  • Unable to walk unaided for 5 steps

    Fails to maintain balance while rotating head in kneeling position

    Does not smoothly stir a spoon in a cup

  • Cannot quickly walk 10 feet

    Unable to walk backward 5 steps

  • Cannot run forward 10 feet without falling

    Unable to walk sideways for 10 feet while leading with the same food

    Cannot jump forward 4 inches without falling

    Unable to kick a ball forward 3 feet

    Unable to throw a ball 3 feet underhanded

    Has difficulty drawing a smooth vertical line

  • Cannot walk down 4 steps without support

    Unable to run 30 feet

    Needs assistance when jumping down from a 16-inch object

    Cannot properly stack 8 to 10 blocks

  • Cannot simultaneously both feet to jump 2 feet forward

    Cannot stand on one foot for 3 seconds

    Unable to draw a smooth circle

  • Cannot run 15 yards in 6 seconds or less

    Unable to balance on one foot for 5 seconds

    Cannot cut paper into two even pieces

    Has problems tracing a horizontal line

  • Has problems standing on their toes without moving

    With an overhand toss, is unable to hit a target 5 feet away

  • Cannot complete a perfect forward roll without deviating 15 degrees

    Unable to hit a target 20 feet away with an overhand toss

    Has difficulty drawing a square

    Unable to quickly touch each finger to thumb

  • Cannot independently complete 3 proper sit-ups

    Has difficulty folding paper in half with edges parallel

    Cannot easily color between vertical lines

  • Cannot hop 20 feet in 6 seconds or less

    Has trouble doing 5 proper sit-ups

    Has problems doing 8 proper push ups

    Cannot fold paper in half twice with edges parallel

Next

Physical Therapy