Services
Pediatric OT
A child's job is to play, learn and look after themselves — getting dressed, eating with a fork, holding a pencil, making a friend. Pediatric occupational therapy is for the child who is finding one of those harder than it should be. It happens through play, and it ends with a child who can do more on their own.
Why SportsCare
Why families choose SportsCare for pediatric OT
Occupational therapists who specialize in children
Pediatric OT is its own field — sensory processing, fine motor development, feeding and self-care are not part of adult practice. Our Cedar Knolls team does only this.
Family-centered, home-generalized
A skill that only works in the clinic is not a skill. Every plan includes strategies for home and school, taught to parents so progress carries across settings.
PT and OT under one roof
Many children need both. Our pediatric physical and occupational therapists work together, with your pediatrician and school, rather than in separate silos.
What we help with
Fine motor skills — grasp, pencil control, cutting, buttons, zips. Handwriting. Gross motor coordination and core strength that affects sitting and attention at a desk. Sensory processing — over- or under-reaction to touch, sound, movement and textures. Visual-motor and visual-perception skills: copying from the board, puzzles, letter recognition. Feeding difficulties and a very limited diet. Self-care: dressing, grooming, bathing, sleep routines. Social and play skills. Safety awareness and community skills for older children and young adults moving toward independence. Hand and upper-extremity injuries in children.
Signs it may be worth an evaluation
Sensory
Strong reactions to touch, noise or movement; frequent meltdowns in busy places; avoids or craves rough play; seems clumsy or falls often.
School
Trouble recognizing letters and numbers; illegible or laborious handwriting; struggles with scissors and colouring; difficulty following multi-step directions or staying organized.
Fine motor and play
Low muscle tone or poor endurance; no clear hand preference past age five; milestones reached late; difficulty joining in with peers.
Daily living
Cannot manage fasteners or dressing for their age; resists bathing or tooth-brushing; eats a very narrow range of foods; struggles with utensils; difficulty falling or staying asleep.
What treatment looks like
It starts with an evaluation that looks for the underlying skill gap — the reason the handwriting is illegible may be hand strength, may be visual perception, may be sensory — and a plan aimed at that rather than at the symptom. Sessions are play-based and structured; a child sees a game, the therapist sees a graded task. Parents are shown what is being worked on and how to carry it into the day.
Progress is measured against age-appropriate goals set with you. When a child also needs physical therapy, speech therapy or a developmental evaluation, we say so and help arrange it.
Where it is offered
Pediatric occupational therapy is offered at our Cedar Knolls clinic at 218 Ridgedale Avenue, for infants through young adults transitioning to college and independent living. Pediatric physical therapy is also available through the KidsCare Institute in West New York.
FAQ
Common questions
- What is the difference between pediatric OT and pediatric PT?
- Physical therapy focuses on gross movement — walking, balance, strength, mobility. Occupational therapy focuses on the skills of daily life — fine motor, handwriting, sensory processing, feeding, self-care and play. Many children benefit from both, and at SportsCare the two teams work together.
- Does my child need a referral?
- Not to start: New Jersey allows direct access to occupational therapy evaluation. Some insurance plans require a referral for coverage, and a note from your pediatrician or school helps us understand the concern. The clinic checks your plan when it verifies benefits.
- How long will my child need therapy?
- It depends on the goals. Some children need a short block of sessions and a home program; children with developmental diagnoses may be seen over a longer period with breaks. Goals and timelines are set with you and reviewed regularly.
- Can I watch the session?
- Yes. Parents are part of the process, and the plan only works if it carries over to home and school, so you are shown what is being worked on and why.
Sources
The clinical claims on this page are drawn from the following. Where the evidence is limited, we say so above rather than round it up.
- 1.Occupational Therapy's Role with Children and Youth — American Occupational Therapy Association
- 2.Your baby's development — NHS
Where we offer pediatric ot
This program runs at one of our clinics. Call ahead to check availability.
Cedar Knolls — Ridgedale Ave
Cedar Knolls, NJ
(973) 359-0777
Talk to a therapist about pediatric ot
Availability varies by clinic. Call the location nearest you and the front desk will tell you whether it is offered there and whether it suits your condition — or reach our East Hanover office at (973) 887-0115.
64 clinics across New Jersey, New York and Florida.