What Sets an Occupational Therapy Assessment Apart?

Celebrating OT Month by Exploring the Heart of What We Do

April is Occupational Therapy Month, a time to shine a light on the meaningful, everyday work that occupational therapists do to help children and adults live fuller, more independent lives. In celebration, we wanted to take a moment to explain what OT is, how it’s different from other services, and what really sets an Occupational Therapy assessment apart.

What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy (OT) helps people of all ages build the skills they need to participate in daily activities: what we call “occupations.” For children, that means things like eating, sleeping, playing, communicating, moving their bodies, and managing big feelings.

An OT’s goal is to help a child do these things more easily and joyfully. But more than that, we work to uncover why something might feel hard in the first place.

How is OT Different?

There’s a lot of overlap between OT and other pediatric services like speech therapy or physical therapy, and collaboration is a big part of what makes care effective. But what makes OT different is our lens: we’re always looking at how a child’s underlying sensory, motor, emotional, and cognitive skills affect how they participate in everyday life.

We don’t just look at a child’s challenges in isolation. We look at the full picture – the child, their environment, and their routines – so we can find meaningful, practical ways to help.

What Sets an OT Assessment Apart?

An OT assessment isn’t just a checklist of skills or a quick once-over. It’s a deep dive into the whole child.

Here’s what makes it unique:

• Holistic lens
  We don’t just ask “What can your child do?” We ask how they do it, why it might be tricky, and what can make it easier.
  
• Play-based approach
  Especially for toddlers and young children, we assess through play. This helps us see real-life interactions in a way that feels natural and fun for the child.
  
• Sensory integration focus
  Many children have challenges that stem from sensory processing differences, and an occupational therapist is uniquely trained to assess and address these.
  
• Environment and routines
  We ask questions about your child’s daily life—mealtimes, bedtime, playtime, and more—because progress happens best in the context of everyday routines.
  
• Family collaboration
  You are the expert on your child. An occupational therapy assessment includes your insights and concerns every step of the way, and together, we make a plan that works for your family.

Our Approach to OT Assessments

At TheraPeeps, we know that every child—and every family—is unique. That’s why our assessments are designed to meet your child where they are, in the environment where they’re most comfortable.

We offer:

• Home-based evaluations
  For many young children, home is where they feel safest. We come to you, allowing us to observe your child in their natural routines and surroundings.
  
• Sensory-space evaluations
  We help parents identify and set up sensory-friendly spaces in the home that support regulation, movement, and calm. During the assessment, we may offer ideas for how to use your existing space—like a cozy corner or playroom—in ways that meet your child’s sensory needs.
  
• School-based evaluations
  We partner with local private schools in the Mountain View and surrounding areas to assess children right in their school setting when appropriate.

What to Expect During an OT Evaluation at TheraPeeps

Here’s how a typical OT assessment with us works:

We start with an interview

You and your child are the experts in your daily life, so we begin by listening. We want to understand your concerns, your child’s history, what daily routines look like, and what you hope to get out of the evaluation. This helps us shape the process to meet your family’s unique needs.

We include a standardized test (when possible)

We aim to complete at least one standardized assessment tool. But we know not all children are comfortable in testing situations—so if needed, we may use functional testing or play-based assessments instead.

We keep it flexible and child-centered

Some kids jump right in. Others need time to warm up. We follow your child’s lead while gathering all the information we need to understand their strengths and challenges.

We gather input from you too

Parent questionnaires are part of the process, helping us see patterns across settings and routines. Your perspective is essential to making the evaluation meaningful and accurate.

It takes about an hour of in person time

During that time, we’ll use both structured tasks and natural play to observe motor skills, sensory responses, attention, emotional regulation, and more.

We may ask for a little space to move

If we’re coming to your home, it’s helpful to have a small table and chairs available, along with an open space for gross motor play—like kicking balls or throwing beanbags.

We provide a detailed report

A written report will be provided to help you understand the impact of your child’s profile on their learning and development.

Parent education sessions

We know that learning happens best when we are calm and regulated.  For that reason, we provide a separate session for parent education without the child present where you can ask questions and learn.

Why OT It Matters

When we truly understand why something is hard for a child, we can create a support plan that actually works. Not just in the therapy room, but in real life.

So during OT Month, I want to celebrate the power of this kind of care. Because when we look beyond the surface, when we meet a child with curiosity instead of judgment, when we support families instead of just giving advice—that’s where the magic happens.

Whether you’re wondering if your child’s development is on track, or you’re looking for answers to daily challenges that feel overwhelming, an occupational therapy assessment can give you the insight and direction you’ve been looking for.

Curious if an Occupational Therapy Assessment is Right for your child?

We’re here to help. Reach out anytime with questions or to schedule a discovery call. We’ll figure it out together.