Occupational Therapy In Schools

Occupational therapists and teachers both help people on a daily basis. Occupational therapy is closely linked to speech/ language therapy and are essential to excelling in school. Occupational therapy helps people develop life skills, builds fine motor skills, and gives the worker a flexible schedule. Occupational therapy helps kids develop life skills. Although people say school does too, OT’s help with different skills. Occupational therapists mainly help kids with disabilities. They help with skills such as how to brush your hair, tie your shoes, and brushing your teeth. In contrast, teachers teach you how to read, write, and properly use grammar. You can’t reach your full potential in school if you have a mental or physical set back.
Though the skills taught in school are important, If a child needs occupational or speech therapy, it is essential to help for them to be able to excel in school. Pediatric Occupational therapy helps build fine motor skills such as building with legos, beading string, coloring and writing, and cutting. These skills are extremely important to have developed before entering grade school because it schools don’t continue to help develop these skills after second to third grade.
When you are an occupational therapist, you are usually able to choose what days and hours of the week, month, and year you want to work. Depending on you and your patients schedule, the worker may be able to have a flexible and relaxed schedule. This is great because it allows you to spend a great amount of time with your family. Teachers schedules are less flexible. Usually, the school day is from 8:30-3:15, and most teachers stay after to plan the lessons for the week or help kids who are struggling. Though teachers have a certain amount of days they can take off and have Spring, Winter, Thanksgiving, and Summer break, they are far apart and mainly the only days off. Occupational therapists improve fine motor skills, teaches life skills, and have flexible working hours.