In general, occupational therapy (OT) helps individuals gain independence in normal activities of everyday life. The occupations of children with sensory processing disorders (SPD) may include playing with peers and toys, having relationships, academics, and activities of daily living like eating, dressing, sleeping, bathing and toileting.

During OT sessions with Sensory Savvy Kids we build skills through PLAY. Our approach is rooted in relationships as we co-regulate through sensory experiences during child-direct, self-initiated play resulting in sensory integration. This means we work with collaboratively with children to accurately detect, regulate, and interpret sensations, as well as promote an adaptive response or an appropriate reaction to the sensations that allow children to participate in everyday activities to their fullest. 

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Therapy is performed in a sensory-friendly environment so that children have the opportunity to experience varied and novel multi-sensations over and over to allow sensory integration. During child-led play, we help the child develop the neural circuits to be more regulated and organized in their bodies, generate ideas and execute goal-directed actions, problem solve, and be socially engaged with others. 

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During therapy we grade sensory input to achieve an optimal level of arousal or self-regulation then we facilitate appropriate responses to sensation during child-initiated play in order to help the child achieve the "just right challenge" for learning new skills. Over time, the appropriate responses to sensation start to generalize to the child's natural environment, like home, school, or in the community.