Pediatric Occupational Therapy for Self Regulation Challenges
in San Diego, CA
Compassionate Support for Children Who Struggle with Self-Regulation
Every child will go through phases in their behavior, such as refusing to wear shoes or not wanting to share with others. These are stages of typical development that most children will outgrow as they build more developmental skills. But occasionally, children don’t outgrow these behaviors, or they get more severe over time.
If your child has trouble staying calm and regulated, our pediatric occupational therapists can help. Keep reading to learn how support from our experts can give your child the skills they need to thrive in all areas of life.
What Are Behavioral Challenges?
When we talk about behavioral challenges, we don’t mean typical, age-appropriate behaviors for children like refusing to eat vegetables or calling everything “mine.” By behavioral challenges, we mean persistent disruptive behaviors that affect not only your child’s daily life, but the lives of those around them.
For example, it may be perfectly understandable for your child to throw a tantrum if they missed their naptime and they’re exhausted or hungry. It might be a behavioral challenge, however, if your child is frequently throwing tantrums or having meltdowns that lead to them injuring themselves or others.
Common Types of Behavioral Challenges in Children
Some of the most common signs of behavioral challenges in children include:
- Frequent, severe temper tantrums or meltdowns
- Difficulty or resistance to following rules
- Aggressive behaviors like hitting, biting, or kicking
- Struggling to calm down after getting angry, scared, or sad
- Impulsivity and hyperactive behavior (seeming to act without thinking)Struggles with starting or maintaining conversations
What Causes Behavioral Challenges?
The root cause of behavioral challenges is difficulty with self regulation and sensory processing. In the same way that a child who is overly tired or hungry might act out because their body needs rest or food, children with these conditions tend to struggle with their behavior because they’re more sensitive to environmental conditions like noise or light.
Challenging behaviors are often a child’s way of trying to cope with something that is bothering them or otherwise communicate their needs.
How Pediatric Occupational Therapy Can Address Behavioral Challenges
Our pediatric occupational therapists are experts at uncovering why children display certain behaviors. Through play-based and proven therapeutic methods, we help children build their emotional regulation skills to give them the tools to handle changes in their environment more effectively. Our goal is to help your child not only increase their tolerance for environmental stimuli, but also learn how to better communicate when they feel uncomfortable or overwhelmed.
We personalize our approach to each child’s needs and offer families strategies to support your child’s growth and wellbeing at home. We also encourage parents and caregivers to participate in your child’s treatment sessions so that you can learn how to best help your child thrive in different environments.
Why Choose SmallTalk?
When it comes to helping your child gain independence and confidence, you want a team that not only understands child development but truly connects with kids. That’s exactly what you’ll find at SmallTalk!
We help children throughout San Diego achieve their greatest potential. Our occupational therapists are committed to helping your child grow through playful, goal-oriented sessions. Whether we’re working on motor coordination, sensory processing, or self-care routines, we make therapy meaningful and fun.
We also know that parent involvement is key. That’s why we prioritize open communication and teamwork, so you always feel supported and involved in your child’s progress.
Schedule Your Child’s Evaluation Today
Our experts at SmallTalk Pediatric Therapy are ready to help your child build the skills they need to thrive at home, at school, and in life. Let’s work together to support your child’s confidence and wellbeing.
Call us at (619) 647-6157 to schedule an evaluation for pediatric occupational therapy today.