Believe it or not, children have a job to do. It may not fit the perception of what people believe “work” or “a job” to be. But children do have a job. A very important one, in fact.

A child’s “job” is to play and to learn. 

For a child, activities like running, swinging, climbing, buttoning, drawing, and writing are their “occupation.” For some children, this comes naturally. For others, these activities can be challenging.

That’s where we come in. As Pediatric Occupational Therapists, we help children engage, participate, socialize — through playing and learning. 

In the process, they gain confidence and a sense of independence. 

Behavior, appropriate or inappropriate, builds upon the sensory systems. If a child can’t control their body, they will try to control the environment around them — resulting in inappropriate or maladaptive behavior.

Learning and academic performance complete the picture. An easy way to think about it is that sensory integration affects and influences behavior and behavior affects and influences the ability of a child to pay attention and learn.

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