Episode 30: What Is Occupational Therapy — And Could My Child Benefit From It? (OT Month Special)

"You might want to look into OT." Your pediatrician said it. You nodded. You took the paper. And then you Googled it and got a bunch of results about adults recovering from strokes.April is Occupational Therapy Month, and in this episode, Jean Hawney, a pediatric feeding specialist and speech-language pathologist, finally gives you the clear, honest answer that nobody seems to hand parents in the doctor's office: what OT actually is, who it helps, and why — as a feeding therapist — she works alongside OTs more than almost any other specialist.In this episode, you'll learn:What "occupation" actually means for a toddler — and why it has nothing to do with a job.How sensory processing differences show up at mealtimes — and why that's OT's territory.The difference between OT and feeding therapy — and why they're not competing, they're overlapping.What an OT session actually looks like (hint: it looks like play, and that's on purpose).How to get OT in Houston — including free options through ECI and your school district that most families don't know about.When to ask your feeding therapist whether adding OT makes sense — and what to say when you call.Whether your child is gagging at textures, melting down over haircuts, or you've been in feeding therapy and progress has slowed — this episode gives you the clarity to know what step to take next.Resources Mentioned:Courses: thelittleeaters.com/CoursesFree Downloads: thelittleeaters.com/FreeDownloadsBook an Evaluation: thelittleeaters.janeapp.comTexas Early Childhood Intervention (ECI): Look up your local ECI office for children under 3Follow Jean on Instagram: @littleeaters_talkersIf you found this episode helpful, please share it with another parent who needs to hear it. You're doing a better job than you think!