Pediatric occupational therapy is aimed at addressing a wide range of challenges that children may face in their daily lives.

• Fine Motor Skills: Improving hand-eye coordination, dexterity, and control for activities such as writing, drawing, cutting, and using utensils.
• Gross Motor Skills: Occupational Therapists can assist with coordination and balance for activities like playing on the playground, jumping, and climbing.
• Sensory Processing: Helping children regulate their responses to sensory input such as touch, sound, and movement to improve attention, behavior, and participation in activities.
• Self-care Skills: Teaching children how to independently perform tasks such as dressing, grooming, feeding, and toileting.
• Play Skills: Encouraging engagement in appropriate play activities that promote social interaction, creativity, problem-solving, and motor development.
• Executive Functioning Skills: Developing abilities such as attention, memory, organization, planning, and problem-solving to support academic success and daily functioning.
• Emotional Regulation: Assisting children in managing emotions, coping with stress, and developing positive social interactions and relationships.

Overall, pediatric occupational therapy aims to improve children’s independence, participation, and overall quality of life in home, school, and community settings.

Pediatric Occupational Therapy may be beneficial for children who experience challenges or delays in various areas of development that impact their ability to participate in daily activities.

• They’re not meeting developmental milestones for their age group.
• They struggle with motor skills like balance, hand-eye coordination, or rolling over.
• They have difficulty with fine motor skills like self-feeding, drawing, or dressing.
• They are displaying sensory processing challenges, such as sensitivity to certain sounds, textures or colors.
• They face social difficulties, such as trouble understanding how to interact with others or recognizing others’ emotions.
• They have cognitive delays, such as trouble with focus, attention, organization or following multi-step directions.
• They have challenges with self-regulation, such as frequent tantrums or difficulty calming down when upset.
• Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often benefit from occupational therapy to develop social skills, communication skills, sensory integration, and adaptive behaviors.
• Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may benefit from occupational therapy to improve attention, organization, self-regulation, and executive functioning skills.
• Children with learning disabilities may benefit from occupational therapy to develop strategies for improving academic performance, organization, time management, and study skills.

The ideal time to pursue pediatric occupational therapy is the moment you notice a concern. An evaluation will assess your child’s functioning, identify if therapy is needed, and help set goals. Since development is a continuous journey, obtaining information and assistance early on can only benefit your child.

• Falling behind on typical milestones for their age.
• Difficulty with balance, coordination, or handling objects.
• Challenges with feeding themselves, drawing, or dressing.
• Difficulty connecting with others or understanding social cues.
• Difficulty managing emotions and behaviors.
• Noticeable cognitive delays, such as trouble with memory or focus.
• Conditions affecting muscles, bones, nerves, cognition, or genetics, such as cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, injuries, surgeries, or muscular dystrophy.

Reston, Virginia features many highlights for residents.

Reston is a master-planned community in Fairfax County, Virginia, celebrated for its innovative design, focus on green spaces, and vibrant urban-suburban blend. As one of the first modern planned communities in the U.S., Reston embodies a vision of balanced living with its mix of residential areas, business hubs, and recreational spaces.

• Reston Town Center
• Lake Fairfax Park
• Walker Nature Center
• Art galleries and public art installations
• Reston Farmers Market at Lake Anne Plaza
• Reston National Golf Course
• Reston’s history is rooted in its founding principles, established by Robert E. Simon in the 1960s. Simon’s vision prioritized inclusivity, walkability, and access to nature.

Reston is known for its outdoor lifestyle, with over 50 miles of trails, 1,300 acres of open space, and numerous lakes and parks.

Our Pediatric Occupational Therapists look forward to meeting you and helping your child thrive.