The Power of Connection: It’s What Drives Us
Childhood is a tapestry made from many connected threads, and at Connected Therapy, we embrace the significance of connection in every sense of the word.
As pediatric occupational therapists, our work rests on the understanding that human beings are innately social creatures. We know that human connection is the thread that ties together a child’s world from their earliest moments of life, promoting emotional regulation and resilience, fostering a positive self-image, and laying a foundation for future social relationships.
We know that all children have an innate desire to connect socially with others (although their behavior sometimes indicates otherwise). By tapping into that drive, we help young children understand communication, empathy, and cooperation. We empower older children tonavigate more nuanced social interactions, such as nonverbal communication, perspective-taking, and social problem-solving.
Building Functional Capacity
We also explore the connections between the sensory, physical, cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of your child’s growth and development:
Sensory-integrative processing skills are the building blocks of your child’s functional capacity. We look at the connection between sensory input and motor responses, considering the vast stream of sensory input that shapes a child’s understanding of the world. By understanding how your child perceives and responds to sensory information, we can address their challenges and harness their strengths to create optimal engagement with their environment.
Motor skills – fine, gross, visual, and oral – refers to how your child uses his or her body to engage in daily activities. We employ play-based activities and exercises to improve coordination and dexterity across all daily tasks, working to unlock your child’s potential for fluid movement, coordination, and exploration.
Children in need of OT services often struggle with self-care skills, including tooth-brushing, bathing, dressing, feeding, sleep and more. By establishing ourselves as a supportive, connected presence in your home, we can effectively collaborate with your child, problem-solve for any skills deficits, and motivate them to complete these tasks more independently.
Fostering Executive Function
Early childhood experiences lay the foundation for executive function skills such as working memory, self-control, and mental flexibility. We consider the many neural connections that underlie learning and understanding. We follow your child’s lead, using anything from alphabet blocks to zoo animals to ignite the neural pathways that foster creativity, problem-solving, and critical thinking.
Our commitment to connection extends beyond your child. We work to forge connections with families, educators, and other healthcare professionals to create a robust support system for your child and your family.
Childhood is an intricate tapestry of connections. It’s about bridging the gaps, weaving the threads, and nurturing the ties that enable children to flourish. Just as your child depends on you to guide them on their journey, you can depend on Connected Therapy. We help unlock the potential within your child and lay the groundwork for a lifetime of meaningful connection and growth.