Occupational Therapy Programs

We have developed an occupational therapy focused curriculum based on developmental milestones that can be tailored to your child based on their strengths and interests. This program ensures interest and motivation while teaching the core skills for their developmentally appropriate level. Assessment scores will determine what level your child is ready to start at. As well, documentation each week will track your child's progress and programs will be updated regularly to further develop their skills

Fine Motor Skills (hand use)

Grasp (how we hold things)

  • palmar (pick up large objects)

  • pincer (pick up small objects)

  • tripod (adult pencil grasp)

  • isolate fingers (using your index to point/trace, counting using your fingers)

  • in-hand manipulation (transferring an small object between fingers)

Hand-dominance

  • left, right, or ambidextrous

  • crossing midline

Bimanual Coordination

  • threading beads onto a string

  • lacing a card

  • fasteners: buttons, zippers, snaps, laces

Scissor skills

  • pre-scissor skills (spray water bottles, tongs, hole punch)

  • holding scissors to snip, cut a line

  • cutting out shapes

  • pasting onto a picture

Drawing

  • pre-drawing activities (bingo dabbers, finger paints, texture trays)

  • colouring within lines of a picture

  • pre-printing foundation shapes I -- O +

  • connect the dots, drawing within lines of a maze

  • connecting shapes to draw pictures (house, person, animals)

Printing

  • Hand Writing Without Tears program

  • build, trace, imitate, copy uppercase and lowercase letters

  • uses songs and multi-sensory tools to teach letters

  • Printing Like a Pro program, evidence based school curriculum

  • learn to type or use supported communication software programs

Sensory Processing

Sensory Diets

  • Vestibular (movement): find appropriate ways to move for the active child

  • Proprioception (body awareness): use deep pressure activities to calm

  • Tactile (touch): activities to reduce sensitivity to make self-care tasks easier

  • Auditory (hearing): reduce sensitivity and tune out background noise

  • Visual (sight): assist with attention and reduce distractions

  • Taste/Smell: assist with broadening a child's food preferences

ALERT Program

  • How does your engine run? high, low or just-right

  • teaching self-regulation activities to be at the 'just right' level of alertness

Zones of Regulation

  • Blue, Green, Yellow, or Red zones

  • social emotional learning

Integrated Listening Systems (iLS)

  • child listens to filtered music with bone conduction while doing exercises

  • improves auditory processing, language, attention, self-regulation

Rhythmic Movement Training (RMT)

  • passive and active movement exercises to integrate primitive (baby) reflexes

  • stimulates vestibular, proprioception, tactile senses for improved body awareness

  • level 1: for attention/concentration (ADD/ADHD)

  • level 2: for emotions, memory, behaviour (trauma, fear, stress)

Vestibular Rehab

  • series of movement exercises to retrain the vestibular system (balance)

  • treatment for nausea, vertigo, BPPV (Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo)

Relaxation Techniques

  • Direct teaching to children to assist with learning how to wind down at bedtime

  • Progressive Muscle Relaxation

  • Guided Imagery

  • Deep Breathing techniques

Equipment Recommendations

  • Classroom learning aides: pencil grips, wiggle cushions, weighted lap pads

  • Visual supports: Boardmaker schedules, calendars

  • Social stories: individualized story of a child successfully doing a challenging task

Gross Motor Skills (body use)

Ball skills

  • throw, catch, kick, bounce, aim

  • play a game of catch

  • play a sport (soccer, baseball)

Bilateral Coordination

  • crossing midline

  • riding a bike

  • swimming

  • climbing

  • swinging

Balance

  • walking along a line/balance beam

  • standing on one leg

  • hopping, jumping, skipping

Bal-A-Vis-X Program

  • A series of Balance / Auditory / Vision eXercises: www.bal-a-vis-x.com

  • Rhythmic patterns improve: auditory skills, understanding and following directions, participation in discussions and pronunciation of words.

  • Visual improvements: ocular mobility (tracking), binocularity (eye teaming skills), visual form perception (discrimination of details) and eye-hand coordination.

  • Behavioural changes: decrease in impulsivity, increase in focus and attention, increase in self-esteem and confidence.

  • Balance and body coordination improvements

 Neuro-Developmental Therapy (NDT/Bobath Approach)

  • hands-on approach to promote functional movement patterns in children with movement disorders (CP)

Children's Yoga

  • fun stretching exercises

  • energizing poses to help wake you up

  • relaxing poses to help calm you down

Self-care (activities of daily living)

Dressing

  • taking clothes off, putting clothes on

  • planning what to wear

  • fasteners (buttons, zippers, snaps, laces)

Washing

  • washing hands, face, body

  • bathing, showering

  • grooming (brush hair, cut hair, cut nails)

Feeding

  • drinking from a cup

  • use of utensils (spoon, fork, knife)

  • increase tolerance to a variety of foods

Toileting 

  • bathroom routines

  • toilet training (habit training or rapid training)

  • teaching to request/initiate

Sleeping

  • sleep hygiene

  • relaxation techniques

  • fall asleep and stay asleep

  • sleep on their own

Community Participation 

  • transportation (car, bus, walking safely)

  • shopping trips

To learn about our OT treatment plan click here