Serving Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Scott, Dakota & Carver Counties
Our Services / Occupational Therapy
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Minneapolis Families Trust for Everyday Independence
From holding a pencil to managing sensory overwhelm, occupational therapy helps children build the physical and regulatory skills behind everyday tasks.
What is occupational therapy for children?
Pediatric OT focuses on the physical and sensory skills children need to manage daily life. That includes fine motor control for tasks like writing and buttoning clothes, gross motor coordination, and sensory processing, which affects how a child responds to sound, touch, movement, and their environment more broadly.
Occupational therapy for kids looks different from adult OT, since the goals are built around childhood tasks like play, school, and self-care, not returning to work after an injury.
Who this service is designed for
Occupational therapy is often recommended for children who show sensory sensitivities (to noise, textures, or crowds), difficulty with fine motor tasks like handwriting or using utensils, or challenges with body awareness and coordination. Many children receiving ABA or speech therapy also benefit from OT support addressing these underlying physical and sensory foundations.
What We Cover
What our OT program addresses
Play-based sessions, real-world goals
Occupational therapy sessions rarely look like traditional “exercises.” Our therapists use structured play, climbing, building, sorting, and sensory bins to work on the same underlying skills in a way that keeps children engaged and motivated, rather than resistant to the work.
Sensory strategies families can use at home
Beyond session time, our OT team teaches families practical sensory strategies for the moments that matter most: managing a meltdown at a grocery store, getting through a haircut, or handling a noisy classroom. These are the same regulation tools your child practices in session, adapted for wherever your family needs them.
Getting Started
Getting started with occupational therapy
Occupational therapy goals are identified during your child’s CMDE and built into their Individual Treatment Program. If your family notices sensory sensitivities or fine motor struggles that don’t seem to be improving on their own, mention them during your evaluation so our team can factor them into your child’s recommended plan.
Not sure if what you’re noticing is sensory-related? Call 612-298-2897 and describe what you’re seeing at home. We’ll tell you honestly whether an OT evaluation makes sense.
Common Questions
Common questions about occupational therapy
Is OT only for children with obvious motor delays?
No. Many children referred for OT have typical motor development but struggle with sensory regulation, which affects behavior, attention, and comfort in everyday environments just as much as physical coordination does.
Can OT help with picky eating or clothing sensitivities?
Often, yes. These are common sensory-related challenges that occupational therapists are trained to assess and address with gradual, structured strategies.
Progress
Small wins that build real independence
Occupational therapy progress often shows up in small, practical moments: a child tolerating a new texture at snack time, buttoning a coat without help, or staying calm through a fire drill. We track these specific milestones closely, because they’re the everyday markers of a child gaining independence, not just checking a box on a therapy plan.
Why Families Choose Us
Why families choose Elite Services Center Inc. for occupational therapy
Service Area
Service area
We serve families across Anoka, Hennepin, Ramsey, Washington, Scott, Dakota, and Carver counties from our Minneapolis office. Pediatric occupational therapy Minneapolis families receive with us is scheduled alongside your child’s other EIDBI services.
Ready to talk about occupational therapy for your child?
Reach out today and our team will walk you through how this service fits into your child’s overall plan of care.