Occupational therapy is a form of treatment that utilizes occupations or tasks to complete activities of daily living.1 It has applications across generations: toddlers to adults benefit from how OT promotes independence and self-esteem and improves quality of life.2
While occupational therapy benefits many age groups, the reason for its implementation varies based on the client.3 For instance, pediatric occupational therapy helps children reach developmental milestones and can positively impact those with health conditions.2 Meanwhile, adults can undergo OT to recover from an injury or illness or manage a chronic condition.3 Occupational therapy for kids and adults has the same goal, regardless of the client: strengthening activities of daily living while adapting based on the needs that arise due to the client’s age, health, lifestyle preferences and developmental stage.3,4
Who Needs Occupational Therapy?
People of all ages can benefit from occupational therapy, whether child or adult, as occupations can be trained and strengthened to improve daily living, health and well-being.1 However, different age groups have distinct reasons for pursuing occupational therapy, and the skills focused on during therapy, as well as how these skills are practiced, may vary. 3
In toddlers and children, for example, a pediatric occupational therapist helps the patient reach developmental milestones, master basic life skills and improve social skills.2 This may include fine motor skills, learning, playing, school-focused abilities, such as writing and the use of scissors, and activities of daily living.
Occupational therapy for adults can help patients regain independence, manage chronic conditions and enhance quality of life.3 While occupational therapy for children helps children meet specific milestones and skills, occupational therapy for adults focuses on restoring an adult’s capabilities to regain their independence. 3
What is Occupational Therapy for Kids?
Occupational therapy for children helps them improve the skills to complete everyday tasks, which often align with developmental stages.2 For instance, knowing how to hold and use a pencil, dress oneself and eat independently are all developmental milestones that a pediatric occupational therapist can help children achieve.5
Why Would a Child Need Occupational Therapy?
Children who benefit from pediatric occupational therapy may have difficulty with:2,5
- Coordination
- Sensory processing
- Cognitive skills
- Self-regulation and coping skills
- Visual-perceptual skills
Some common health conditions that may require a child to see a pediatric occupational therapist include:6
- Autism
- Movement disorders
- Developmental delays
- Cerebral palsy
- Neurotrauma
- Sensory processing disorders
- Learning challenges
The associated symptoms may affect a child’s movement, sensory processing and self-regulation abilities. A pediatric occupational therapist can help them learn the skills needed to increase independence and reach developmental milestones.6,7
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do for a Child?
A pediatric occupational therapist can help children learn key task-oriented skills. The focus of each session will vary depending on the child, but some common pediatric OT techniques and interventions include developing self-care routines and peer interaction.8
With occupational therapy for kids, maintaining interest is critical. A pediatric occupational therapist typically introduces age-specific activities that keep the child engaged.8 The child may feel as though they’re playing or completing a fun activity as they’re developing fine motor skills or being exposed to new sensory inputs.
Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Children
By helping children meet their personal goals and age-appropriate developmental milestones, children can see the following benefits of pediatric occupational therapy: 2,8
- Improve self-esteem
- Gain independence
- Increase participation in school and social activities
These benefits boost self-esteem and build a sense of accomplishment by increasing independence in activities of daily living and improving school performance.2,8
What is Occupational Therapy for Adults?
While occupational therapy is often associated with helping children achieve developmental milestones, it also offers valuable, occupation-focused support for adults.1 Occupational therapy for adults helps them overcome challenges with daily activities. An injury, illness or aging may have made it difficult to perform daily tasks.3
What Does an Occupational Therapist Do for an Adult?
Occupational therapy for adults focuses on developing and enhancing skills to promote independence and mobility. It also involves exploring alternative strategies to achieve these goals and making home modifications to support daily tasks more effectively.1,3
For instance, someone who suffered a stroke and lost control of one side of their body may work on brushing their teeth and writing.3 An individual may have a chronic condition that makes it difficult to walk. An occupational therapist for adults may suggest ways to modify the home environment, such as installing shower chairs or introducing fall prevention methods so they can care for themselves.1
Occupational therapy for adults may include work on the following:3
- Concentration and memory exercises
- Learning and practicing skills for work
- Helping structure a daily routine
- Movement and perception exercises
- Using medical aids
Some adults may only need occupational therapy as they are recovering from an injury or illness, while those with chronic conditions may need long-term OT to manage their symptoms. 9,10 The treatment plan and therapy goals for each patient may differ.
Benefits of Occupational Therapy for Adults
By relearning skills, finding a new way to approach a task, and adapting the house, occupational therapy for adults can help them:3,9
- Regain or maintain independence
- Improve the quality of life
- Manage chronic conditions
- Prevent future injuries
Final Thoughts on Occupational Therapy for Kids and Adults
Occupational therapy can support people at all stages of their lives, from toddlers to adults. Occupational therapy for toddlers focuses on sensory processing and developmental milestones. OT for adults helps an aging population recover from an injury or illness or manage a chronic condition.2,3 The result for all age groups is the same: occupational therapy helps individuals become more independent while improving their quality of life.
If you or your child could benefit from occupational therapy, seek a professional opinion.
For those interested in helping children and adults as an occupational therapist (OT), an advanced degree through an OT graduate program is a critical step to launching your career. Discover how USAHS occupational therapy programs, including our Master of Occupational Therapy (MOT) and Doctor of Occupational Therapy (OTD), leverage hands-on experiences and faculty mentorship to prepare you for a future that’s focused on improving lives.
Sources
- “What is occupational therapy?” AOTA, 2023, https://www.aota.org/about/what-is-ot
- “How Occupational Therapy Encourages Independence in Daily Tasks,” Carry On Therapy, February 18, 2025, https://www.carryontherapy.com/blog/how-occupational-therapy-encourages-independence-in-daily-tasks.
- “In brief: What is occupational therapy?” NIH, 2024, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK561515/.
- “About Occupational Therapy,” WFOT, https://wfot.org/about/about-occupational-therapy.
- “What developmental milestones is your 4-year-old reaching?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2025, https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/actearly/milestones/milestones-4yr.html.
- Occupational Therapy for Children and Teens, Children’s Hospital Colorado, 2025, https://www.childrenscolorado.org/doctors-and-departments/departments/pediatric-rehabilitation/occupational-therapy/.
- “Signs and Symptoms of Autism Spectrum Disorder,” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024, https://www.cdc.gov/autism/signs-symptoms/index.html.
- “Pediatric Occupational Therapy,” Cleveland Clinic, June 21, 2023, https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/25094-pediatric-occupational-therapy.
- Rooker, K. “OT’s Role in Primary Care & Managing Chronic Conditions: A Scoping Review,” American Journal of Occupational Therapy, 77(Supplement_2), 7711505132p1-7711505132p1, 2023, https://doi.org/10.5014/ajot.2023.77s2-po132.
- Janssen, S., & Grabanski, J. L. “Occupational Therapy In Long Term Care,” NIH, 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537068/.
