Pediatrics
Cutting Activities for Preschoolers: Scissor Skills by Age and 30 Fun Ideas
How scissor skills develop by age, how to teach cutting, the right scissors, and 30 OT cutting activities for preschoolers, with free practice sheets.
Author
Payal Mehta, OT
Occupational Therapist · Co-founder, Occupational Therapy OT
Payal Mehta is a practising occupational therapist and co-founder of Occupational Therapy OT. She writes on pediatrics, sensory integration, and mental-health practice.
Articles by Payal (41)
Pediatrics
Hand Strengthening Activities for Kids: 40 OT Ideas for Better Grip and Writing
Why hand strength matters for writing, cutting and self-care, signs of weak hands, and 40 OT hand strengthening activities for kids of all ages.
Frames of Reference
Model of Human Occupation (MOHO): Concepts, Assessments and a Case Example
MOHO explained: volition, habituation, performance capacity, environment, the MOHOST and other assessments, Remotivation, MOHO vs PEO and CMOP-E, and a quiz.
Frames of Reference
Kawa Model in Occupational Therapy: The River Metaphor Explained with Examples
The Kawa model explained: water, river walls, rocks, driftwood and spaces, how to use it with clients, worked examples, and a free Kawa river worksheet.
Pediatrics
Motor Planning Activities for Kids: What Praxis Is and 30 OT Ideas
Motor planning (praxis) explained simply, signs of motor planning difficulties, and 30 OT activities for home, school and therapy.
Adult Rehab
Occupational Therapy Activities for Dementia: 35 Ideas by Stage
Meaningful occupational therapy activities for people with dementia, matched to early, middle and late stages, with evidence on OT programs and tips for carers.
Sensory & Autism
Occupational Therapy Goals for Autism: 40+ Examples (Neurodiversity-Affirming)
OT goals for autistic children: how to write respectful, functional goals, plus 40+ examples for sensory, self-care, feeding, play and school.
Pediatrics
Oral Motor Activities for Toddlers: Feeding, Chewing and Drooling (OT Guide)
What oral motor skills are, feeding milestones, signs of difficulty, and 25 safe oral motor activities for toddlers for chewing, drinking and drooling.
Pediatrics
Pediatric Occupational Therapy Goals: 60+ Examples by Skill Area and Age
A pediatric OT goal bank: how to write SMART and COAST goals, plus 60+ measurable examples for fine motor, handwriting, self-care, sensory and more.
Frames of Reference
Psychodynamic Frame of Reference in Occupational Therapy
The psychodynamic frame of reference: id, ego, superego, defence mechanisms, object relations, explorative vs supportive approaches, cases and a quiz.
Frames of Reference
Rehabilitative Frame of Reference in Occupational Therapy (with Examples)
The rehabilitative frame of reference: compensation, assistance levels, adaptive equipment, energy conservation, cases by condition, comparisons and a quiz.
Pediatrics
Toe Walking Exercises for Kids: 15 Stretches and Games to Try at Home
Simple toe walking exercises for kids: calf stretches, heel walking, squats and sensory games, how often to do them, plus a printable chart.
Pediatrics
Vestibular Activities for Babies: Safe Movement Play from 0 to 12 Months
Safe vestibular activities for babies by age: rocking, tummy time on a ball, gentle bouncing and swinging, how movement supports development, and safety rules.
Pediatrics
Crossing the Midline: Why It Matters and 20 Fun Activities for Kids
What crossing the midline means, when children develop it, signs of difficulty, how it links to handwriting and hand dominance, and 20 OT-approved activities.
Pediatrics
Bilateral Coordination: What It Is, Signs of Difficulty and 30 Activities
Bilateral coordination means using both sides of the body together. The 3 types, how it develops, signs of difficulty and 30 OT activities for home.
The Profession
Occupational Therapy vs Physical Therapy: What's the Difference?
OT vs PT explained by an occupational therapist: focus, goals, a real patient example, education, 2025 pay data and how to choose the right therapy.
Pediatrics
Dyspraxia (DCD) in Children: Signs, Diagnosis and How Occupational Therapy Helps
What dyspraxia or developmental coordination disorder is, signs by age, how it's diagnosed, and the evidence-based OT approaches like CO-OP that help children.
Pediatrics
Early Intervention and Occupational Therapy: A Guide for Families
What early intervention is, who qualifies, how the US process works from referral to IFSP, and how occupational therapists help babies and toddlers.
Pediatrics
Fine Motor Skills: Development by Age, Checklist, Activities and Tips
Fine motor skills explained by an occupational therapist: milestones by age, a free checklist, pencil grasp stages, signs of delay and 40+ activities.
Pediatrics
Gross Motor Skills: Milestones by Age, Checklist and Activities
Gross motor skills explained by an occupational therapist: milestones from birth to 5, a free checklist, signs of delay, how OT helps and 40+ activities.
Pediatrics
Handwriting Skills: Readiness, Common Problems and OT Tips That Work
How handwriting develops, pre-writing shapes by age, common problems like messy or slow writing, and OT strategies and activities that help.
The Profession
Occupational Therapy Aide: Job Duties, Skills, Training and Salary
What an occupational therapy aide does, how it differs from an OTA, training, 2025 salary, key skills, and how it can lead to an OTA or OT career.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for Anxiety Disorders: Assessment, Goals and Techniques
How OT helps anxiety: types and symptoms, assessment and goals, relaxation, coping skills, graded exposure, exercise and meaningful activity.
The Profession
Occupational Therapy Assistant (OTA): What They Do, How to Become One and Salary
Occupational therapy assistant career guide: duties, how to become a COTA, NBCOT exam, 2025 salary and outlook, supervision and career ladder.
Pediatrics
Occupational Therapy for Children: Assessment, Goals and Interventions
What pediatric occupational therapy is, who it helps, how OTs assess children, example goals, the main interventions and where children receive OT.
Sensory & Autism
Occupational Therapy for Autism: Assessment, Goals and Activities
How occupational therapy helps autistic children: assessment, sensory and daily-living goals, a real session example, activities and home strategies from an OT.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for Depression: Assessment, Goals and Activities
How OT helps depression: how symptoms affect daily life, assessment, sample goals, activity scheduling, CBT in action, groups and safety.
Pediatrics
Occupational Therapy for Down Syndrome: Early Intervention, Activities and Tips
How OT helps children with Down syndrome: milestones, early intervention, feeding, motor and daily-living skills, activities, safety tips and advice for parents.
Pediatrics
Occupational Therapy for Infants and Toddlers: Milestones, Reflexes and Play
How OT helps babies and toddlers: early reflexes, milestones, red flags, NICU and feeding support, sensory play, tummy time and the best toys by age.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy in Mental Health: Assessment, Approaches and Activities
How OT helps people with mental illness: problem areas, assessments, goals, approaches from CBT to recovery, group levels and activities.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for OCD: Assessment, Goals and Activities
Can occupational therapy help OCD? Yes. How OCD affects daily life, OT assessment, goals and objectives, exposure ladders and activity-based care.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for PTSD: Assessment, Goals and Activities
How OT helps PTSD: symptoms and daily life, trauma-informed assessment, goals, grounding and relaxation, routines and activities for all ages.
Mental Health
Occupational Therapy for Schizophrenia: Assessment, Goals and Interventions
How OT helps schizophrenia: symptoms and daily life, assessment, Allen levels, goals, life and social skills, supported work and relapse plans.
The Profession
Online Occupational Therapy (Telehealth OT): How It Works, Benefits and Apps
How online occupational therapy works: who it suits, what an OT can do by video, preparing, choosing a licensed provider, apps, benefits and limits.
The Profession
OT Month: 20+ Ideas to Celebrate and Promote Occupational Therapy
April is OT Month in the US and 27 October is World OT Day. Low-cost ideas to celebrate occupational therapy and promote it to the public.
The Profession
OT vs OTA: Roles, Education, Supervision and Pay Compared
OT vs OTA: what each does, education and exams, supervision, paperwork, 2025 BLS salary, and how to choose the right occupational therapy career.
Pediatrics
Pencil Grasp Development: Stages by Age and How to Help (OT Guide)
The 4 stages of pencil grasp development from fisted grip to tripod, ages for each, which grasps work, warning signs and OT activities for a better grip.
Pediatrics
Primitive Reflexes in Babies: List, Ages They Disappear and Retained Reflexes
A simple guide to primitive reflexes: Moro, rooting, grasp, ATNR, STNR and more, when each fades, what retained reflexes mean and what the evidence says.
Pediatrics
Toe Walking in Toddlers and Children: Causes, When to Worry and Treatment
Is toe walking normal? When toddlers usually stop, causes like idiopathic toe walking, autism and tight calves, warning signs, and how treatment helps.
Pediatrics
Visual Perceptual Skills: Types, Signs of Difficulty and OT Activities
What visual perceptual skills are, the 7 types like figure-ground and form constancy, how they affect reading and writing, and OT activities to build them.
Pediatrics
W-Sitting in Children: Is It Bad? What the Research Really Says
W-sitting explained: why children sit this way, what research says about hip dysplasia and posture, when it's a warning sign, and other ways to sit.