Toddler girl in child occupational therapy session doing sensory playful exercises with her therapist

Occupational Therapy at Beyond the Spectrum (BTS)

Occupational therapy (OT) is a critical component in helping children gain independence and engage in a wide variety of daily activities. At Beyond the Spectrum (BTS), OT focuses on improving fine motor skills, sensory integration, visual-motor coordination, self-help abilities, and organizational skills.

For children with autism, OT primarily targets the development of play skills, learning strategies, and self-care routines. OT can also be an essential tool in managing sensory processing challenges, allowing children to better navigate their environment and daily experiences.

Child with speech therapist on therapy

Occupational Therapy Can Help:

  • Enhance functional, sensory, motor, and perceptual processing
  • Support muscle tone management and improve mobility for community involvement
  • Facilitate sensory integration for improved processing of sensory input
  • Strengthen balance, coordination, and motor skills for activities like play and recreation
  • Improve self-regulation, coping skills, and overall emotional control
  • Develop fine motor skills necessary for daily tasks
  • Increase awareness of sensory-behavioral connections
  • Promote visual-spatial awareness and understanding
  • Offer assistive technology solutions, modifications, and support based on individual needs
Little boy and his speech therapist at school

OT Developmental Milestones

At Beyond the Spectrum (BTS), we monitor developmental milestones related to OT to ensure that children are progressing in essential motor and sensory skills. Below are some typical OT milestones:

  • By 6 months: Your child will begin passing toys from one hand to the other, shaking rattles, clasping hands together, and reaching for toys with both hands, bringing them to their mouth.
  • By 12 months: Children should be able to bang two toys together, point with their index finger, place objects in containers, self-feed with finger foods, and wave goodbye.
  • By 18 months: Expect your child to point to a body part, draw marks on paper with a crayon, build a two-block tower, and bring a spoon to their mouth (even if it turns over).
  • By 24 months: Your child will be able to build a tower with five blocks, imitate a vertical stroke, unzip and zip a large zipper, remove shoes and socks, and wash and dry hands with some assistance.
  • By 3 years: They should be able to copy a circle with a crayon, turn book pages one at a time, fold paper in half, hold a small cup with one hand, and pull pants down with minimal assistance.
  • By 4 years: At this age, children typically draw a person with two to four body parts, touch each finger to their thumb, use scissors to cut across paper, copy some capital letters, and eat independently with a fork.
  • By 5 years: Your child should be able to print some letters and numbers, copy geometric shapes like triangles and squares, hold a pen or pencil correctly, complete simple “connect the dots” activities, and use a lacing board or lace shoes.
  • By 6 years: At this milestone, children are often able to copy sequences of letters and numbers, use a knife to cut soft foods, draw a recognizable person with distinct body parts, and complete a 16-20 piece puzzle.

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