You’ve Been Referred for Occupational Therapy—What’s Next?
You’ve shared concerns with your pediatrician, and now your child has been referred for an occupational therapy evaluation. That’s an important step forward. Whether OT is familiar to you or completely new, this guide will walk you through what to expect, what your role looks like, and how we’ll work together to support your child’s progress.
What is Occupational Therapy?
One of the most common questions we hear is, “What is occupational therapy? I didn’t think kids had jobs!”
In pediatrics, a child’s “occupations” are the everyday activities they need and want to do; things like getting dressed, eating meals, playing, and participating at school.
Occupational therapy helps children build the skills needed to succeed in these areas. This can include:
Fine motor skills (like holding a pencil or using utensils)
Sensory processing (how the body responds to sounds, movement, textures)
Social and play skills
Daily routines and independence
We look at the whole child and the underlying skills that support their success.
What Happens at the First Evaluation?
For your child’s evaluation, plan to arrive about 15 minutes early with your insurance card. If your child is being seen for feeding concerns, please bring items from our feeding checklist.
The evaluation is designed to give us a full picture of your child, including their strengths, challenges, and how they engage with the world around them.
Your therapist may:
Complete standardized assessments
Observe how your child plays, moves, and interacts
Ask questions about daily routines, behaviors, and challenges at home or school
This is not a “pass or fail” appointment. It’s the starting point of a plan.
Your role is essential here. You know your child best, and your insights help us create a plan that truly fits your family’s needs and priorities.
Before your visit, it can be helpful to:
Notice what feels hard for your child during the day
Think about your top concerns or goals
Jot down examples you’d like to share
These details help us connect the dots faster.
What Comes Next?
After the evaluation, your therapist will walk you through:
Whether therapy is recommended
How often sessions should occur
Your child’s individualized Plan of Care
This plan outlines goals, areas of focus, and just as importantly, how to support progress outside of the clinic.
Because here’s the key: Therapy is not just what happens during your appointment.
Weekly sessions are where we introduce tools, build skills, and problem-solve together; but real, lasting progress happens in the day-to-day moments at home.
What to Expect During Therapy Sessions
At Connect the Dots, therapy is play-based, so it often looks like a lot of fun! Our therapists engage your child’s interests to motivate them to work on challenging tasks in an enjoyable way. Each session is a partnership between you, your child, and the OT to find solutions and trial them during therapy. You’ll leave each session with tools to try at home, where practice helps solidify your child’s progress.
We believe in a collaborative approach, which means regular check-ins with your therapist to review progress and adjust strategies as needed. Therapy is not just a once-a-week commitment—it’s an ongoing process that requires active engagement at home to see meaningful progress.
The Power of Partnership
The most meaningful progress happens when we work as a team: therapist + child + caregiver
As a medical provider, we bring clinical expertise, evidence-based strategies, and guidance. As a parent or caregiver, you bring insight, consistency, and the everyday opportunities for practice.
Both pieces matter.
To support your child’s success, we ask that you:
Attend sessions consistently (or have a caregiver attend)
Practice recommended strategies at home
Communicate openly about what you’re seeing
Share updates, changes, or concerns
Even small moments of practice (during meals, playtime, or daily routines) can create meaningful change over time.
Planning for the Future
From day one, our goal is to help your child build the skills they need – and then celebrate when they no longer need us.
Therapy is a season, not forever.
As your child meets their goals, we’ll begin preparing for graduation from therapy. This is an exciting step and a sign of real progress. It means your child is ready to use their skills more independently in everyday life.
At times, your child’s progress may plateau or their needs may change, and therapy may be discontinued. This can feel worrisome, but it’s often an exciting sign that your child has reached an important developmental milestone and is ready to integrate those skills more fully into daily life.
Your therapist will guide you in how to continue supporting your child’s progress through your home routines, so growth continues well beyond the clinic.
Join Us on the Journey to Success!
Starting therapy is a big step, and you don’t have to navigate it alone. At Connect the Dots, we see therapy as a true partnership: therapist + child + caregiver.
We bring the clinical expertise, evidence-based strategies, and guidance. You bring the insights, consistency, and the everyday opportunities to practice skills at home. Together, we turn small moments into big progress.
You can expect:
Hands-on coaching during sessions so you feel confident supporting your child at home
Clear, practical strategies you can use in daily routines
Regular check-ins to celebrate wins, troubleshoot challenges, and adjust plans
Your involvement makes a difference – every practice, every play, and every encouragement at home helps your child succeed. We’re not just supporting your child; we’re supporting your whole family through this journey.
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