Benefits of Occupational Therapy
Many preschools such as Peekadoodle Academy work with Occupational Therapists to help support students’ development. If you have been wondering what exactly Occupational Therapists do, and how they work with children and students, we have created a summary below of the 5 W’s (who, what, where, when, and why) of Occupational Therapy. Currently, Peekadoodle Academy preschool partners with COAST SF for their Occupational Therapist services to students as needed in our preschool.
who do occupational therapists work with at preschools, such as peekadoodle?
Children
Parents
Teachers
Educational Staff
Administrators and Directors
what is occupational therapy?
The easiest way to define occupational therapy is by answering a simple question: What occupies your time? On a daily basis this may consist going to work, completing errands, spending time with family and friends, making breakfast or dinner, going to a yoga class, taking a shower, and sleeping.
Now answer the next question: What occupies your preschooler’s time? The answer may be playing with family, eating meals, going to school, playing at the park with a friend, taking a bath, and sleeping. The answers to those two questions are you and your preschooler’s daily occupations.
At Peekadoodle, pediatric occupational therapy can be defined as improving and facilitating the engagement of a child during his or her daily occupations in the preschool or home environment. This ultimate goal is accomplished by focusing on fine and gross motor skills, self-regulation skills, social interaction skills, and self-care skills in the child’s preschool environment.
What are occupations?
The eight main occupations include:
Activities of Daily Living (i.e. eating, toileting, bathing).
Play
Social Participation
Rest/Sleep
Education
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
Work
Leisure
when and where will occupational therapy services be provided at preschools such as peekadoodle?
Occupational Therapists from COAST SF will offer the following at the Peekadoodle facility on an as needed basis:
Small Groups
Social Dyads
Group Screenings
One-to-One Sessions
Teacher Trainings
Parent Workshops
why are there occupational therapy services offered at peekadoodle?
A variety of Occupational Therapy services are offered at Peekadoodle to enable children to engage in their daily activities to the best of their abilities. With a specific focus on child development, Occupational Therapy at Peekadoodle will focus on motor, self-regulation, social interaction, and self-care skills necessary for children to independently and confidently transition into kindergarten.
To learn more about how Peekadoodle works with Occupational Therapists, please contact our Director of Education, Stefanie Stoddard at stef@peekadoodle.com.