Many students who pursue an occupational therapy assistant (OTA) degree do it because they love working with others, especially kids. Working in pediatrics offers a unique and rewarding opportunity to make a profound difference in the lives of kids with diverse needs. These might include anything from developmental delays to physical disabilities. Your job will be to help these kids develop essential skills that will ultimately foster greater independence and a higher quality of life. Whether you’re drawn to the bustling environment of a school, the personalized approach of home health care, or the specialized setting of a sensory integration clinic, there are lots of career paths to explore.
What Is a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Assistant?
A pediatric OTA works closely with children and families to provide individually designed developmental activities. These exercises help kids learn new hands-on skills to improve their daily functioning and movement. Many children see the exercises they do with their pediatric OTA as enjoyable, interactive games. However, every exercise has a specific goal behind it. Pediatric OTAs work closely with senior occupational therapists to create dynamic therapy plans. These plans document each child’s goals and activities that support those goals.
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Assistant Jobs
If you’re interested in a pediatric OTA career, these are just a few popular choices to check out as you search for clinical internship opportunities or enter the workforce after graduation.
School-Based Pediatric OTA
School-based OTAs work with general and special education students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade to support their developmental, physical, and sensory needs. Through meaningful activities, OTAs help students gain skills to promote greater focus on schoolwork, practice fine motor skills for play and leisure, and learn self-care skills. Common tasks include working with students to learn how to properly hold and use scissors as well as write with an appropriate pencil grip.
Early Intervention Pediatric OTA
Many young children at risk for developmental delays or disabilities benefit from early intervention. Working in preschool or daycare settings, early intervention pediatric OTAs work with infants and toddlers to develop essential motor, cognitive, sensory, and social skills during their critical first years. Pediatric OTAs help children practice buttoning, zipping, opening, and other motions that make daily activities easier. Another very important activity OTAs may help children with is holding a spoon or fork and feeding themselves. Potty training support also may come into play for OTAs in this kind of setting, as well as help with hand-washing and changing clothes. This career path may also involve using interactive play-based therapy to improve hand-eye coordination and encourage language enhancement.
In-Home Postpartum Support OTA
Moms can face a lot of challenges following birth, especially as first-time mothers. They may have difficulty moving around, dealing with emotions, or getting their baby to latch during feeding. In-home postpartum support OTAs help facilitate a smooth transition for both mother and baby. Strategies could include providing moms with home modifications and adjustments so they can move around more easily as well as showcase exercises to improve the baby’s sucking reflex to support the mother’s breastfeeding efforts.
How To Become a Pediatric Occupational Therapy Assistant
Aside from schools, daycares, preschools, and homes, pediatric OTAs can also work in hospitals, in-patient or out-patient facilities, and community-based programs. Villa Maria College offers a two-year ACOTE-accredited OTA degree program. Our facilities include a state-of-the-art two-story laboratory and functional kitchen designed for clinical use. Students who pursue an OTA degree program must pass the NBCOT certification exam to obtain their license. Villa will prepare you for your licensing exam and provide you with the skills to excel in any area of OTA, including pediatrics.
