Are you a new parent of a special needs child in need of occupational therapy? We explain five of the most common occupational therapy myths to put your mind at ease.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy, one of the most well-known therapies, utilizes a range of fun and engaging activities to help children develop fine motor skills, hand-eye coordination, and general coordination. The goal is to improve functioning in daily activities and promote independence.

MYTH: Occupational therapy is just playing games and doing puzzles with kids.

Kids learn through play so, playing with toys and games is therapy in disguise. 

The benefits of occupational therapy at Tender Care PPEC include 

• Improved ability to perform activities of daily living
• Increased self-esteem and sense of accomplishment
• Improved social skills
• Increased motor skills
• Reduce or eliminate problem behaviors 

MYTH: Occupational therapy is expensive.

If you have Medicaid for your child, the therapy services at Tender Care are FREE!

MYTH: Anyone can do occupational therapy.

Occupational therapy can only be performed by a licensed professional that has experience and an occupational therapy degree. Therefore, not any healthcare professional can perform this therapy. 

MYTH: Occupational therapy and physical therapy are the same thing.

According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, physical therapy and occupational therapy are not the same thing. The two do work together at times but occupational therapy is primarily focused on helping patients do the things they want and need to do in their daily lives. For example, physical therapy can help you get out of bed and walk to the door but occupational therapy will meet you there and ask “Now what.” 

MYTH: Occupational therapy only works on the upper body.

Occupational therapy works on more than just hands. For any body part that is used in daily activities, occupational therapy will be involved in the rehabilitation process. This includes the entire body. 

Occupational Therapy at Tender Care PPEC

Tender Care’s pediatric occupational therapy team provides evaluation and treatment to children with a wide variety of diagnoses. They work with children who have short attention spans, learning disabilities, and/or sensory processing challenges. The function of a pediatric occupational therapist involves analyzing and treating skeletal, neuromuscular, or cognitive restrictions. Our program provides evaluation and treatment services for children who have difficulty performing everyday activities. We also design a comprehensive program tailored to your child’s particular needs. Our goal is to restore as much function and independence as possible.

Why should my child go to Tender Care PPEC?

Tender Care PPEC provides care for medically complex and fragile children from birth to 21 years of age in a daycare-like environment staffed with nurses, CNAs, and therapists. We are the first independently owned PPEC in the State of Florida with our initial center opening in 1988. This means we have an abundance of experience and knowledge in providing loving care to this special pediatric population. We have 6 Tender Care PPEC centers throughout Florida, with our newest facility located in Lake Park.

Our goal is to enhance the development of each child through collaborative relationships between families, physicians, nurses, and therapists. This holistic approach to care is carried out in an environment that allows the child to engage in social interactions with their peers. This results in thriving children, well-positioned to achieve their greatest potential. We also offer transportation at no cost and provide nutritious meals throughout the day. 

What sets us apart is that we care for and treat every child like family. We have passion in our hearts for our children and a desire to see them succeed.

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