Occupational therapy is the use of purposeful activity to maximize the independence and health of an individual who is limited by a physical injury or illness, cognitive impairment, psychosocial dysfunction, mental illness, developmental or learning disability, or an adverse environmental condition.

For a child, purposeful activities include swinging, climbing, jumping, buttoning, drawing, eating and other activities that are included in a child’s daily life.   In essence, pediatric occupational therapists teach children to play, interact with others and their environment at an age appropriate level.