Occupational Therapy

We provide in-home occupational therapy for any age (children and adults) to those who either cannot access the community due to mobility issues, lack of childcare, or simply those with very busy schedules. After being in the home environment, we are able to provide personalized recommendations to meet YOUR needs.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy helps individuals participate in the things they want and need to do through the use of therapeutic daily activities, also referred to as “occupations”. Our pediatric occupational therapist helps a child when they are facing physical, sensory or cognitive challenges that are making daily activities difficult to do.

Core Focus Areas in Pediatrics

Now, you might be thinking that children do not have “occupations”. Occupations for children include any activities that fill their day including eating, play, bathing, etc. An occupational therapist can help provide them with strategies to regain independence with activities. They will look at each of the developmental areas for children, listed below:

• Self-Care Skills: Working towards independence in essential tasks e.g. dressing, feeding, grooming, toileting
• Play and Socialization: Achieving the motor, cognitive and social skills to be able to join in age appropriate play, using their imagination
• School Readiness and Performance: Developing the skills related to academic success such as writing, fine motor development for cutting and using various objects, sustained attention and organizational skills
• Fine Motor Skills: Working on developing strength, dexterity and coordination with the hands to do basic skills including holding a pencil, fastening, drawing and using various tools
• Sensory Processing: Assisting a child with taking in information with their senses and responding appropriately. This helps a child learn to respond to different stimuli in different environments

Occupational Therapy (OT) vs Physiotherapy (PT): A Collaborative Approach

What is the difference in PT vs OT? Ultimately, PT and OT have the same goal – to increase independence in the child! They attain that goal by looking at different systems in the body.

• The Focus of Pediatric Physiotherapy (PT): The physiotherapy profession focuses on how our bodies move and the mechanics behind it. Our pediatric physiotherapist specializes in gross motor skills, overall mobility, strengthening, balance, coordination and endurance. This will include an assessment of their motor milestones like walking, crawling, jumping, climbing as well as a look at their ability to maintain postures and stability. Physiotherapy can be thought of as building and tuning a stable “engine”
• The Focus of Pediatric Occupational Therapy (OT): Occupational therapy focuses on the specific functional tasks that utilize those gross motor skills. This often involves assessment of their hands, eyes and cognitive sequencing. OT looks at the specific skills which relies on the physical foundation often built by PT.

Our Unique Approach: Building the Foundation for Function

We believe that starting a child with strong foundations helps to set them up for success. Functional impairments often begin with an underlying postural weakness e.g. a child cannot focus their energy on writing (OT goal) if they do not have the core stability to sit upright at a desk (PT goal). Our pediatric physiotherapist provides the critical physical skills to unlock all their “occupations”. We address the engine so the driver can succeed.

How our OT and PT Team Help Your Child Thrive

Having both on our team allows us to provide a comprehensive intervention that addresses both the physical cause and the functional execution of daily activities.

A. Contributions from Our Occupational Therapist

Our OT is very skilled at designing treatment plans that focus on meeting your child where they are at currently. These plans might include:

• Sensory Integration: We work with your child on processing input (touch, movement, sound) to lead to improved focus, decreased meltdowns and better regulation in different environments (e.g. school. home, grocery store)
• Fine Motor Mastery: Our OT will give your child creative and engaging activities that address hand strength, dexterity and their ability to use visual-motor integration for high level tasks like writing, typing, etc.
• Adaptive Strategies: For complex self-care or school tasks, occupational therapists can design adaptations to break down those tasks into more manageable steps which helps to boost a child’s confidence.

B. Contributions from our Pediatric Physiotherapist

Physiotherapists specialize in movement patterns and making sure the body has the correct control to be able to address the OT’s functional goals.

• Core Strength & Endurance: Physiotherapists build the foundational trunk strength needed to prevent fatigue while a child is playing, sitting, etc. Without this stability, all basic tasks can become difficult and fatiguing.
• Gross Motor Coordination: We address any underlying impairments in balance, coordination (e.g. running, jumping, crawling) that can affect their ability to participate on the playground, sports or any other type of activity
• Posture & Stability: By improving joint stability and body awareness (proprioception), the physiotherapist will provide the initial stability to allow the occupational therapists handwriting and self-care strategies to succeed.

Conditions We Address with OT

Our occupational therapist treats a wide variety of complaints but we have broken them down into different categories below. If you are looking for a specific condition and do not see it listed here please reach out!

• Sensory Processing and Regulation: Addressing Sensory Processing Disorders, a child that is over or under responsive, sensory seeking behaviors and difficulties with self-regulation, attention or emotional control
• Fine Motor and Handwriting Delay: Support and strategies for difficulties holding a pencil or utensil, tying shoes, managing buttons and zippers and poor visual-motor integration
• Feeding and Oral Motor Challenges: strategies for picky eaters or aversions to certain textures, struggles with chewing or swallowing mechanics, and reliance on limited food repertoires.
• Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD): Addressing a child’s ability to plan movements, balance and any coordination issues that might be leading to clumsiness.
• School Success and Executive Function: As a child grows supporting organization, attention and sustained focus required for academic tasks.
• Low Muscle Tone (Hyptonia): improving core and global strength, stability and endurance to be able to complete activities of daily living

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Why Choose Our Integrated Team for Functional Needs?

Our approach is delivered in the comfort of your home where your child is surrounded by their own toys and familiar faces. We found that having OT and PT in your home takes away the stress of taking a child to a new place and not knowing how they will react in new surroundings.

A. Comprehensive and Integrated Care

Unlike clinics and single discipline companies, our PT and OT have an open line of communication to fully support your child and make sure they are getting the help they need. This means that instead of having one driver, your child will have 2, both with the goal of providing the best care for your child.

B. Targeting Root Causes and Skills

We will address both the skill (OT) and strengthen the area (PT) that is being targeted to make sure they can execute a skill with confidence and without fatigue. This approach ensures the best long term outcomes for the child.

C. Play-Based and Engaging

Every session is based on your child and what they would like to do. We have many creative play-based activities to help your child achieve their goals. They often don’t realize it is anything other than “fun”.

Our OT Team

Our OT Catchment Area

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a referral required to see an occupational therapist?

No! If you have noticed your child is struggling with anything we are happy to come in and assess to create a treatment plan. The only time we need a referral from your doctor is if you insurance company wants one – this rarely happens anymore.

What age range do you work with?

We work with children from 0-18! We will also work with adults depending on their needs and goals.

What area does your occupational therapist travel to?

We currently travel within all of Winnipeg and surrounding area. Virtual appointments can also be arrange if you are not within our catchment area. If you aren’t sure please reach out and we would be happy to discuss further.