Pediatric Occupational Therapy: A Guide to Common Questions Asked by Parents at Clinique Vivago
- Mélanie Haffar, MSc, OT
- 2 hours ago
- 5 min read
Written by: Melanie Haffar, OT, MSc
February 3rd, 2026
Is your child struggling with managing emotions, sensory sensitivities, playing with friends, or daily routines? Learn how pediatric occupational therapy can support your family in everyday life (P.S. no diagnosis or referral required!).
When everyday life feels different or harder than expected
“I don’t think anything is wrong with my child… but getting through the day feels exhausting.”
That feeling matters and is completely valid. Many parents begin with this exact question, followed by others like: What does my child need that I’m having difficulty grasping? How can I support them in daily routines? What strategies actually help?
This is when a pediatric occupational therapist (OT) can intervene — helping you understand how your child experiences the world and supporting daily life so activities like getting dressed, playing, eating, transitioning, and going to school feel more doable. Your child is meant to be understood. An OT’s perspective can help uncover what’s beneath the challenges and offer realistic, practical strategies to support your family and make everyday life more manageable.
A Neurodiversity-Affirming Approach
Neurodiversity is the idea that there are many different ways for brains to grow, think, feel, and learn, and that differences like autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and sensory processing differences are part of normal human variation — not problems to fix.
A neurodiversity-affirming approach starts from the belief that children are not broken. Their nervous systems, sensory needs, emotional rhythms, and ways of engaging with the world simply differ. Instead of asking, “How do we make this child fit the mold?” this approach asks, “What does this child need to feel safe, understood, and supported?”
For parents, educators, and support teams, this means focusing on strengths, honoring communication and regulation differences, and adjusting environments and expectations so children can thrive as themselves. It’s about connection over correction — and helping children grow with confidence and acceptance, not shame.
At Vivago, we believe differences are not deficits, and support should adapt to environments rather than force children to mask who they are. This philosophy aligns with participation-based health models and modern pediatric occupational therapy best practices, which emphasize meaningful participation, inclusion, and supporting children within the contexts of their everyday lives (WHO, 2001; AOTA, 2020).
When Socializing is Not a Child’s Forte
“My child avoids eye contact or prefers to play alone.”
Socialising is a skill that develops over time — we’re not born expert Oprah Winfreys. Many children connect and learn best without direct eye contact or may prefer parallel play (playing alongside others rather than face-to-face). This doesn’t mean they lack interest, empathy, or the desire to connect.
From an occupational therapy perspective, eye contact is not a requirement for learning or relationship-building. Some children actually process language more easily when they aren’t looking directly at someone, and the social pressure of constant interaction can feel overwhelming. Sensory input — noise, movement, visual clutter — can also make engagement harder.
At home, you can support connection by sitting beside your child instead of face-to-face, joining their play without directing it, and narrating what you notice rather than asking lots of questions. These small shifts reduce pressure, build safety, and open the door to more meaningful connection.
What Self-Regulation and Emotional Regulation Can Look Like
“My child lines up toys or needs things done a certain way.”
Self-regulation and emotional regulation help children manage their bodies, feelings, and reactions to the world around them. Self-regulation involves impulse control, alertness, and organization, while emotional regulation relates to understanding and expressing big feelings like excitement, frustration, anger, or worry.
Repetition and sameness often help children regulate their nervous systems, feel safe, and reduce uncertainty — especially when the world feels overwhelming. Engaging in routine activities can give children a sense of control when their environment feels unpredictable.
From an occupational therapy perspective, repetitive play is a coping strategy, not a problem. Routines or rigidity become a concern only when they cause significant distress or limit participation in daily life. Flexibility can be built gently over time. At home, you can support regulation by respecting repetitive play before introducing change, adding one small variation at a time, and keeping routines predictable while offering simple choices (Dunn, 1997; Case-Smith et al., 2015).
When Transitions feel like a battle after another
“Transitions cause emotional crises and meltdowns (especially dressing or leaving the house).”
Transitions place big demands on a child’s nervous system all at once: stopping a preferred activity, shifting attention, tolerating new sensory input, and often doing it quickly. When a child struggles during transitions, this isn’t defiance — it’s a regulation challenge.
From an occupational therapy perspective, transitions are one of the most common areas of difficulty. Small supports can make a big difference: offering time warnings (“five more minutes, then socks”), using visual schedules or photos, and turning transitions into playful games. These strategies help children feel prepared and move between activities with greater ease (Schaaf & Mailloux, 2015).
Our Sensory Systems: A Tapestry of How Experience The World
“Certain clothes are unbearable.”
Some children experience tactile sensitivity, where sensations like tags, seams, socks, waistbands, or certain fabrics feel intense or painful. This isn’t stubbornness — it’s how their nervous system processes touch.
From an occupational therapy perspective, sensory comfort directly affects regulation, focus, and independence. At home, offering two acceptable clothing choices, removing tags, choosing seamless fabrics, and getting dressed during calm moments can help significantly (Dunn, 1997; Schaaf et al., 2014).
“My child eats only a few foods.”
Selective eating is common, especially for children with sensory differences. Feeding is a functional occupation. Texture, smell, temperature, and appearance all influence sensory tolerance. Pressure often increases refusal, while trust and gentle exposure support progress over time. Including a safe food, allowing exploration without expectation, and avoiding food battles can help build long-term comfort (Sharp et al., 2017; AOTA, 2021).
“My child is overwhelmed by noise, lights, or crowds.”
Sensory overload occurs when a child’s nervous system receives more input than it can manage comfortably. Sensory thresholds vary for every child, and regulation strategies are meant to support participation — not avoidance. Planning quiet breaks, preparing ahead, and offering regulating input like movement or deep pressure can help.
If challenges are persistent, daily routines feel exhausting, participation is limited, or you feel stuck despite trying everything, it may be time to seek OT support. You can self-refer, no diagnosis is required, and support is allowed.
Above All
Meet your child where they are — not where the world expects them to be. Your child is not broken or bad; they need to be understood and supported in ways that honor how they experience the world.
Pediatric occupational therapy can provide insight, strategies, and tools to help everyday life feel more manageable and connected — for both your child and your family. With the right support, your child can thrive as their unique, wonderful self.
About the author: Mélanie Haffar, OT, MSc
Warm, dedicated, and deeply passionate about helping children shine, Mélanie Haffar is an occupational therapist who supports kids in developing the motor, sensory, emotional, and social skills they need for everyday life. She holds a Master of Science in Occupational Therapy from McGill University and brings a thoughtful, child-centered approach to her work.
Mélanie combines play-based therapy, sensory integration, and close collaboration with families, schools, and healthcare teams to create meaningful, real-life progress. With experience in both hospital and private pediatric settings, she provides evidence-based, compassionate care that empowers children to grow with confidence, joy, and a strong sense of self.
Keywords: pediatric occupational therapy, occupational therapy for children, sensory sensitivities in children, child transitions and meltdowns, neurodiversity-affirming therapy, OT without diagnosis
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