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SERVICES

Occupational Therapy for Children

At Bright Star we believe all children should have the opportunity to learn, grow, think, and do. Yet we've seen that for many of our clients, these fundamentals are inaccessible. We've seen barriers such as cognitive, sensory, mental, or physical issues all be obstacles for children, holding them back from all the things in life they should be able to do. 

What is occupational therapy?

Occupational therapy, also called OT, is a type of healthcare that breaks down the barriers affecting your child’s life skills, emotional well-being, abilities to do daily tasks, self-esteem, and more. When you work with us at Bright Star to help your child, they’ll be receiving care from our registered occupational therapist. But first, we'll have to get to know them.

 

That’s why we always begin by taking the time to do a parent intake session, potentially followed by an OT assessment. This first session is all about understanding your child's strengths, as well as areas where they may benefit from OT support. Once we understand the unique way your child sees and reacts to the world, we’re able to be more deliberate and strategic with the support we give them. Our OT sessions at Bright Star are strength and play-based.

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With some time invested into occupational therapy, your child can:

  • Improve their fine motor skills

  • Improve their hand-eye coordination

  • Improve their body awareness and coordination

  • Develop and master their self-help skills like hygiene, dressing, eating, etc.

  • Develop self-regulation skills

  • Develop confidence and social skills needed to form meaningful relationships

Who can benefit from occupational therapy?

There are many signs to watch for in your child that indicate they may benefit from occupational therapy. These include:

  • Low self-esteem 

  • Trouble with paying attention

  • Impulsivity

  • Extreme emotional reactions

  • Trouble with making or keeping friends

  • Sensory issues (extra sound sensitivities, sensitivities towards certain clothing, excessive seeking of movement)

  • Challenges with daily routines such as getting dressed, eating, or using the washroom

  • Trouble with feeling or understanding bodily signals, such as the need to eat or use the washroom

  • Struggles with fine motor skills (writing, typing, playing with small toys, adjusting clothes, etc.)

  • Trouble with finding calming strategies when upset

  • Anxiety

  • Sleep issues

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Over time, our occupational therapist will learn more about which of these issues your child is struggling with, and help them to overcome the barriers that stand in their way. Our OT has specialized training in pediatrics and years of experience helping children improve their skills across the board from fine motor skills, to, visual-perceptual skills, sensory skills, and thinking skills. 

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Our Feeding Program

Our Occupational Therapists are trained in sensory feeding implement the Sequential Oral Sensory (SOS) approach developed by Dr. Kay Toomey. This approach is centered on the foundation of using the theory of sensory integration, analyzing behaviors, assessing the child’s cognition level, and considering environmental factors that hinder successful feeding habits. The overall approach centers on the principle of exploring and trying new foods with the concept that range will lead to volume.

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Our team will help your child’s explore the variety of ways in which each one of our sensory systems reacts or over reacts to food.
We start with the basic trinity of systems with further investigation of others as well. Visual components such as color and shape are critical to consider. Some children will eat only one color scheme of foods or certain shapes of foods. Textures, smells, and flavors of foods are also important sensory qualities to assess. Some children may seek potent foods such as a spicy chip with no reaction. In contrast, there are children who avert from having yogurt or any form of puree touch their hands or mouth.

If you have more questions about occupational therapy for your child, or if you’d like to book a consultation today, let us know.
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