Pediatric occupational therapy helps children develop the skills needed to participate in their daily "occupations" — the meaningful activities of childhood including play, self-care, learning, and social interaction. We work with children to improve their motor, cognitive, sensory processing, and social skills that are essential for functioning in their home, school, and community environments.

While there is some overlap, physical therapy (PT) primarily focuses on gross motor skills, strength, mobility, and physical functioning. Occupational therapy (OT) addresses how these physical abilities and other skills (sensory, cognitive, emotional) impact a child's ability to participate in daily activities. For example, a PT might help a child improve balance and coordination, while an OT would help that child use these skills to successfully dress themselves or engage in playground activities.

If your child struggles with daily activities like handwriting, dressing, managing emotions, participating in physical activities, or shows sensory sensitivities that impact their daily functioning, they may benefit from occupational therapy. We offer comprehensive evaluations to determine specific needs and whether OT services would be beneficial.

Sensory integration is the neurological process through which our brain organizes and interprets information from our senses to help us interact effectively with our environment. It's the foundation that allows us to make sense of all the sensory input we receive—not just from the commonly known five senses (sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell), but also from our vestibular system (balance and spatial orientation) and proprioception (body awareness).

When sensory integration functions well, a child can:

• Filter out irrelevant sensory information while focusing on what's important

• Coordinate movements smoothly and with appropriate force

• Maintain an optimal level of alertness for learning and social interaction

• Respond appropriately to sensory experiences rather than being overwhelmed or under-responsive

• Participate comfortably in daily activities that others might take for granted

Sensory integration challenges occur when the brain struggles to process and respond to sensory information efficiently. For some children, certain sensations may feel overwhelming or uncomfortable (over-responsivity), while others might seek out intense sensory experiences because they don't register sensations as readily (under-responsivity).

School-based and telehealth sessions last between 30-60 minutes, and the time will be agreed upon before hand so that you know what to expect. In-home sessions are typically 60 minutes in length. The last ten minutes are usually reserved for answering questions, parent coaching, and wrapping up the session.

The frequency of sessions is determined by your child's individual needs. Most children benefit from weekly sessions, but some may require twice-weekly sessions initially, while others may transition to every-other-week as they progress. We'll discuss the recommended frequency after your child’s evaluation.

The format of sessions varies widely based on your child’s needs and the location of the session.

In community settings we might meet at a grocery store or park to problem solve a specific challenge that you are encountering. Or we might meet at your child’s music class to support their regulation and attention in a group setting.

Telehealth sessions will be preplanned with structured activities that I will guide you through. Together we will coordinate preparing materials for the virtual session.

Therapy sessions at home are more predictable and will usually follow the following format:

• A check-in with parents/caregivers

• Structured therapeutic activities disguised as games

• Sensory or movement activities

• Practice of daily living skills in context

• Parent coaching and demonstration of strategies

• A wrap-up with recommendations for home practice

School-based occupational therapy provides support directly in your child's educational environment. For children receiving primarily school-based therapy through our practice:

• We develop a School Support Plan (SSP) during the initial evaluation that includes whether we'll use a push-in model (working in the classroom) or pull-out model (working in a separate space)

• Before therapy begins, we hold a collaborative meeting with parents, teachers, your child’s therapist, and any necessary support staff (counselors, reading specialists, etc.) to go over results of the evaluation and to finalize the SSP

• During sessions, we work directly with your child at school, focusing on skills that impact educational success and school participation such as fine motor development, sensory processing, executive function, and more

• Services include teacher collaboration and environmental modifications, with regular communication to ensure a consistent approach

To get started with school-based services, after our initial consultation, we will reach out to your child’s school to discuss our collaborative partnership in your child’s education and gain approval to provide therapy at school. If we have already established a partnership with your child’s school, we will reach out directly to your child’s teacher to coordinate the initial evaluation.

Yes! Group sessions are created based on the common needs of the children receiving services and can be a cost effective way for your child to receive support at school. Group therapy sessions typically consist of 2-6 children and can focus on a variety of skills. Some common skills that group therapy can address are social skill development, handwriting and fine motor development, executive functioning, social-emotional learning, and self regulation. If you would like to be added to the list of families interested in group therapy sessions, you can let us know at any time!

We highly encourage parents/caregivers to be present during home, community, and telehealth sessions. Your participation helps you learn strategies to support your child between sessions and leads to better progress. School-based sessions will occur during the school day, so parents are typically not present, but you are always welcome to join if it is okay with your child’s teacher!

The duration of therapy varies greatly depending on your child's needs, the complexity of their challenges, and how quickly they progress. Some children require 3-6 months of intervention, while others benefit from ongoing support over longer periods. We will regularly review progress with you and adjust our plan accordingly. 

Contact us directly at kathryn@homefrontpeds.com or via our contact form to discuss your group's needs, preferred topics, available dates, and expected number of participants. We offer flexible scheduling options including evenings and weekends to accommodate various groups.

Our mobile OT toolkit includes scooter boards, yoga balls, sit-n-spins, sensory body socks, weighted vests and lap pads, specialized scissors, broken crayons, visual timers, oral sensory tools, therapy putty, and more! Every one of your child’s sessions will be thoughtfully planned and will utilize both tools from our toolbox and items you already have in your home or your child’s school.

As an out-of-network provider, Home Front Pediatric Therapy does not accept any form of insurance, and therefore all services are self-pay. Self-pay is a benefit to the client, as the clinician and family are together able to make decisions regarding services that are not contingent upon insurance 'approval'. We will gladly provide you with a monthly invoice, called a “Superbill”, that you can submit to your insurance company for potential out-of-network reimbursement.

We aim to prioritize the needs of the child and family first. Often, insurance companies will dictate how many sessions of therapy a child is allowed to receive, how often those sessions need to occur, and when assessments need to occur. By not participating with insurance, we are able to schedule sessions to fit your needs; putting you in control of your healthcare decisions. Additionally, you know the cost of each session and service up front, without any surprise bills from insurance companies months later.

No, you do not need a referral from your pediatrician to access occupational therapy services with us. As a private pay practice, we offer direct access to therapy, which means you can contact us directly when you have concerns about your child's development.

Benefits of Direct Access:

• Schedule evaluations and therapy without waiting for medical appointments

• Begin services immediately when you notice developmental concerns

• No insurance pre-authorization delays or restrictions

Insurance Considerations: Although we don't accept insurance directly, we provide detailed superbills that you can submit to your insurance company for potential reimbursement. Some insurance plans may require a physician's referral for reimbursement purposes, even for out-of-network services.

Rates vary widely based on the duration, location, and context of sessions. Please contact us directly to discuss current rates for assessments and therapy sessions. We will send you a complete pricing guide after your free phone consultation so you know exactly what to expect.

Yes, occupational therapy services are typically eligible expenses for Health Savings Accounts (HSA) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA). If you would like to use your HSA or FSA to pay for services, we can work with you to submit any necessary documentation to your insurance company.