First OT Appointment

[Invisiblemama22]

So my son has his first OT session tomorrow at home because its Spring Break, he will be seen at school after this week. What kinds of things will the OT work with him on? He destroys his playroom everyday because he just goes from one toy to another without cleaning up. Is that something she will help with? I want to be prepared with things I would like her to work on with him but I don't know what an OT really does.

[NYCmom2]

It depends on their age and needs. My kids have had OT since preschool. One child has more vestibular/balance/coordination issues and even went to a sensory gym for a time. My second child does not have the same issues but does struggle to sit still in class or stay in one spot on the rug and needs help with that. Both continue to get OT for handwriting as they’ve gotten older.

The OT will typically do an assessment as well as interview the parents and teachers to understand the needs. Then create a plan accordingly. But the plan can change and adapt as the child’s needs change.

For your playroom at home, depending on your child’s age and ability. I have found what works for my ADHD child is limiting the number of toys if possible, maybe putting some away in storage and rotating them out.

Then having all of the available toys in visible storage: on open shelves if possible or if in a box it’s visible and a single category. Each toy has its place and I will sometimes tape a photo of the toy to the spot where it belongs. ADHD kids need to see everything at a glance or they go rummaging around trying to figure out what exists and where it is.

[Invisiblemama22 in reply to NYCmom2]

Thank you for mentioning putting a picture, Im in childcare and thats exactly what we do. Yes, we bee going to reorganize his room as a family. His OT suggested things in 3s, 3 trucks/3 puzzles, things like that. My son is 5.

[Peerandparent]

The first appointment will likely be specifically to discuss what the focus will be on.

I have worked with a number of OTs as colleagues on a multidisciplinary mental health team, and while their approach can vary, the basic philosophy is a combination of assessing someone's strengths and challenges, finding ways to make use of their strengths to make challenges less challenging, and looking for ways to change their environment, routines and habits to smooth out life's bumps.

I'm a big fan of OTs as a profession, especially given that those I've worked with have an intensely strengths based approach.